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International Exchange Courses: Content Courses
International Exchange Courses: Content Courses
Hokusei Gakuen University requires all international exchange students to take Japanese language courses while studying at Hokusei; however, the university also offers elective content courses, most of which are taught in English, that are designed to allow students to learn about Japanese culture, society, economy, and history, or to explore international topics. These courses are also open to regular students at Hokusei, which allows international students to meet and interact with Japanese students in these courses.
Below are lists of the elective content courses offered each semester to international exchange students. For each course, the English title is written above the Japanese title. To the right of each course title is the language in which that course is taught and the number of credits students receive for that course.
Following the course lists is an explanation of general course requirements, credits, and grades.
Course List
Key:
〔INT〕= Indicates International Exchange courses that are open to both international exchange students and regular Hokusei students.
※ = Indicates courses open only to international students.
(A) / (B) = Indicates whether the course is taught in the spring (A) or fall (B) semester. The content of these courses is the same each semester.
| 2024 Spring Semester (April to July) | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Japanese Literature〔INT〕(A) 日本の文学〔国際〕(A) |
English | 2 |
| Japanese Subcultures〔INT〕(A) 日本のサブカルチャー〔国際〕(A) |
Japanese with English Interpretation | 2 |
| Introduction to Japanese Society〔INT〕(A) 日本の社会〔国際〕(A) |
English | 2 |
| Language and Gender in Japanese Society〔INT〕(A) 日本社会における言語とジェンダー〔国際〕(A) |
English | 2 |
| Introduction to Japanese Finance and Economy〔INT〕(A) 日本の金融と経済〔国際〕(A) |
English | 2 |
| Management〔INT〕(A) マネジメント論 〔国際〕(A) |
English | 2 |
| Introduction to Japanese Culture〔INT〕(A) 日本の文化〔国際〕(A) |
English | 2 |
| Economic Relations between Japan & Europe after World WarⅡ〔INT〕(A) 日欧（経済）関係〔国際〕(A) |
English | 2 |
| Comparative Culture〔INT〕(A) 比較文化〔国際〕(A) |
English | 2 |
| Japanese-Korean Comparative Culture〔INT〕(A) 日韓比較文化論〔国際〕(A) |
Korean and Japanese | 2 |
| Communication〔INT〕(A) コミュニケーション論〔国際〕(A) |
English | 2 |
| Special Lecture K(A)〔INT〕Asian Economy and Society 国際交流特別講義K〔国際〕(A) |
English | 2 |
| Special Lecture C(a)〔INT〕Japan Now: A Canadian Perspective 国際交流特別講義 C(a)［国際］ |
English | 2 |
| 2024 Fall Semester (September to December) | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Japanese Literature〔INT〕（B） 日本の文学〔国際〕（B） |
English | 2 |
| Japanese Subcultures〔INT〕（B） 日本のサブカルチャー〔国際〕（B） |
Japanese with English Interpretation | 2 |
| History of Japan〔INT〕（B） 日本の歴史〔国際〕（B） |
English | 2 |
| Introduction to Japanese Society〔INT〕（B） 日本の社会〔国際〕（B） |
English | 2 |
| Language and Gender in Japanese Society〔INT〕（B） 日本社会における言語とジェンダー〔国際〕（B） |
English | 2 |
| Introduction to Japanese Culture〔INT〕（B） 日本の文化〔国際〕（B） |
English | 2 |
| International Economics〔INT〕(B) 国際経済〔国際〕(B) |
Japanese with English Interpretation | 2 |
| Economic Relations between Japan & Europe after World WarⅡ〔INT〕（B） 日欧（経済）関係〔国際〕（B） |
English | 2 |
| Comparative Culture〔INT〕（B） 比較文化〔国際〕（B） |
English | 2 |
| Japanese-Korean Comparative Culture〔INT〕（B） 日韓比較文化論〔国際〕（B） |
Korean and Japanese | 2 |
| Media Literacy in the Age of Social Media〔INT〕（B） メディア論〔国際〕（B） |
Japanese with English Interpretation | 2 |
| Communication〔INT〕（B） コミュニケーション論〔国際〕（B） |
English | 2 |
| Environmental Economics〔INT〕(B) 環境経済〔国際〕(B) |
Japanese with English Interpretation | 2 |
| Special Lecture C(a)〔INT〕Japan Now: A Canadian Perspective 国際交流特別講義 C(b)［国際］ |
English | 2 |
| Internship〔INT〕（B） ※ インターンシップ〔国際〕（B）※ |
Japanese | 3 |
Course Requirements, Credits, and Grades
Course Hours and Scheduling
Each content course consists of fifteen 90-minute classes. During the 13-week semester, each course meets for 13 regularly scheduled classes and two classes outside the weekly schedule.
Due to scheduling necessities, some courses are offered in the same time slot. Students can register for only one class offered in each time slot.
Enrollment
Hokusei requires all international exchange students to enroll in courses that meet for a minimum of eight 90-minute classes per week. There is no maximum number of courses that students can enroll in. Students should consult with their home institutions regarding course requirements that they must fulfill for their home institution.
Registration
International exchange students register for courses at the beginning of each semester. Registration closes within two weeks after classes begin; students cannot add courses after the registration deadline.
Mid-way through the semester, there is a Course Withdrawal Period (two days) during which students can withdraw from up to TWO courses without the grade for those courses will not be incorporated into the student’s GPA. The grade for those courses will not be incorporated into the student’s GPA.
Attendance
Course instructors take attendance during every class, and class participation is usually one factor in determining a student’s grade. Hokusei’s standard attendance rule is that students who are absent from more than one-third of all classes during a semester will fail that course. Instructors who use a stricter attendance rule will explain their rule in the syllabus of their course.
Credits and Grades
According to the Japanese system, the Intensive Japanese course is worth 12 credits; Non-intensive Japanese and Advanced Japanese are worth 3 credits; and each content course is worth 2 credits. Each partner school can determine how this credit system corresponds to their system and calculate credits accordingly.
Students will receive a letter grade on their transcript for each course they enroll in. If a student receives an “F” for a course, that course name and grade will not appear on the transcript; however, the “F” grade will be incorporated with all the other letter grades in the calculation of the student’s GPA. See the chart below that explains how many grade points are awarded for each letter grade.
Hokusei will send a transcript to each student’s home institution after the end of each semester.
Letter Grades and Grade Points
| Letter Grade | Grade Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest passing grade | A+ | 4.0 |
| A | 3.5 | |
| B+ | 3.0 | |
| B | 2.5 | |
| C | 2.0 | |
| Lowest passing grade | D | 1.0 |
| Failing grade | F | 0.0 |
| Withdrawal | W |
Enrolling in Courses in Other Departments
Regular University Courses Taught in Japanese
International exchange students who have passed level N-2 of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) are eligible to take courses taught in Japanese at Hokusei Gakuen University (School of Humanities, College of Economics, and School of Social Welfare). There some restrictions, such as courses that have a size limit or which require prerequisite courses, and the permission of the course instructor is required. Also, the semester for regular courses lasts 15 weeks, which is two weeks longer than the semester for the International Exchange courses. Students interested in taking such courses should consult the International Office staff for details.
Courses Taught in English
International exchange students who have academic-level English ability are eligible to take courses taught in English in the School of Humanities at Hokusei University. (There are no classes taught in English in the School of Economics or School of Social Welfare.) There some restrictions, such as courses that have a size limit or which require prerequisite courses, and the permission of the course instructor is required. Also, the semester for regular courses lasts 15 weeks, which is two weeks longer than the semester for the International Exchange courses. Students interested in taking such courses should consult the International Office staff for details.