3. WHAT WILL I STUDY IN OUSSEP?
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"Osaka, Japan and the World
Culture, Science and Technology"
are the catch words of OUSSEP. |
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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 2003 and the Spring semester of 2004 .
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, "Live Locally, Grow Globally(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 focused deeply.
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 three
(for the Fall semester of 2003) or four (for the Spring semester of 2004) Japanese Courses
(3 credits each semester), according to their proficiency level. Students must take a placement
test and 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. |
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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 (2 credits) 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 |
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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. |
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Yearbooks "THE OUSSEPIANS"
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OUSSEP Original T-shirts
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| OUSSEP Assembly |
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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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