3. WHAT WILL I STUDY IN OUSSEP?


"Osaka, Japan and the World
Culture, Science and Technology"

are the catch words of OUSSEP.

Courses offered in OUSSEP

i) International Exchange Subjects

    In each semester, we offer a series of lecture courses (2 credits each) in English taught by academic staff from different faculties of the University. Listed are the titles and a brief description of the courses to be given in the Fall semester of 2002 and the Spring semester of 2003. Half of the courses are in physical sciences, including engineering and health sciences, and the rest are in humanities and social sciences.

    OUSSEP tries to equalize the number of students majoring in each of these two fields. Students may select their courses according to their major and interests. However, students are encouraged to take courses outside their own major. This will help students to broaden their perspectives and at the same time gain a deeper understanding of Japanese society and culture.

    The University has officially designated these courses as International Exchange Subjects. They are specially prepared for OUSSEP and are taught in English. The University also offers these courses to its regular students as well as to other international students so that all can study in a truly international atmosphere.

    The courses cover a wide variety of subjects from culture to science and technology. The students, both domestic and international, will also learn about Osaka and Japan. We believe this will help students to understand the world and the importance of international awareness and mutual respect. This program underscores the motto of Osaka University, "Be rooted in the community and grow into the world".

    Due to the fact that we can offer only a limited number of courses taught in English, but must also try to satisfy students of different majors and from different universities in different countries, the courses often cannot help but be broad in scope rather than deep. Truly specialized studies are also possible by taking the Independent Study Course, described in the following course descriptions.

ii) Independent Study Course

    One of the unique features of OUSSEP is Independent Study (2 credits per semester). Students can propose a study topic and be assigned to a supervising professor in an appropriate faculty. The students may wish to study a particular subject that is not found in the International Exchange Subjects (Individual Study) or to conduct a research project on a particular theme (Independent Research). The student and their supervising professor will agree upon the scope and depth of the study at the beginning of the program.* The study usually continues for two semesters. At the end of each semester the student will submit a report on the topic to the supervising professor. Refer to "Guide to Independent Study", found at the end of the OUSSEP Syllabus, for further details.

* When the amount of the work required for the study is particularly large, the supervising professor and the International Student Committee may decide to grant up to 4 instead of 2 credits per semester for Independent Study. Refer to "Guide to Independent Study" for details.

iii) Japanese Language Course

    In addition to these courses, OUSSEP students may take either of Elementary, Intermediate or Advanced Japanese Courses (3 credits), according to their proficiency level. First, students have to take a placement test. The Japanese language classes take place three times a week.

    OUSSEP is a special program in English, designed for students from overseas who want to study in Japan but who do not speak Japanese well or who have not studied Japanese at all. Therefore, OUSSEP is not suitable for students whose major objective is to master the Japanese language.



Completion of OUSSEP

    All the courses offered in OUSSEP, including Japanese Language and Independent Study, are elective.* Students will select and register for the courses of their choice at the beginning of each semester. The minimum requirement for satisfactory completion of OUSSEP in each semester is 13 credits. The International Student Committee of Osaka University will award those students who have successfully completed two semesters of OUSSEP a  Certificate of Completion.

* Students who are particularly fluent in Japanese may apply to take, in each semester, one regular course taught in Japanese instead of the International Exchange Subjects.
 

Field Trips

    OUSSEP offers frequent field trips for students in order to give them opportunities to see as many things and to meet as many people as possible during their one-year stay in Japan. They visit industries and public institutions as a part of the academic courses and also go on trips, including overnight trips, to different parts of the country to meet local people and experience local cultures.


Field trip to Ohi Nuclear Power Station

Field trip to Panasonic


International Exchange Activities

    In addition to the academic programs the students are encouraged to participate in various international exchange activities throughout the year, which the International Student Center of Osaka University organizes. Other groups within the University and in the neighboring communities will participate in these programs. One of them is named Osaka University Host Family Program (OHP) and provides the international students with an opportunity to closely interact with a Japanese family in the neighboring community.
 
Yearbooks "THE OUSSEPIANS"
 
OUSSEP Original T-shirts
 
OUSSEP Assembly


The Class of OUSSEP

    The whole class of OUSSEP meets once every week for half an hour, or so, at the OUSSEP Assembly, like a homeroom, where students exchange information. The OUSSEP coordinators give out announcements about academic programs and other events. Plans for social and sport events are proposed and discussed among the students. The students take turns in chairing the meeting. It has become customary for OUSSEP students to edit and publish a yearbook at the end of each academic year. Each student as well as the coordinator contributes an essay about their year in OUSSEP. It has also become a tradition of OUSSEP to design and print  original T-shirts every year. All these activities are carried on the students' own initiatives. Students also communicate closely each other via a mailing list, set up on the Internet, for the class of each year, and remain in contact even after they leave Osaka.

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