3. WHAT WILL I STUDY IN OUSSEP?
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"Osaka, Japan and the World
Culture, Science and Technology"
is the catchphrase 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 2005 and the Spring
semester of 2006 (page 23-30). 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. Those who wish to take the Independent
Study Course must fill out the Independent Study Proposal (Form:Ind.Study-1
and Form:Ind.Study-2) along with the other application documents.
* When the amount of 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 four Japanese Courses (3 credits each semester), according to their proficiency
level. Students must take a placement test and Japanese language classes will 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 the Japanese Language
and Independent Study courses, 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 Affairs 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 or
in English, instead of the International Exchange Subjects.
Field Trips
OUSSEP offers 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 Miyazu Power Station |
Field trip to Lake Biwa Musium |
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International Exchange Activities
In addition to the academic programs, 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 the Osaka University Host
Family Program (OHP) and provides 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, 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 out 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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