OSAKA UNIVERSITY SHORT-TERM STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM

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

STUDY FOR A YEAR IN OSAKA IN ENGLISH

Guide to Independent Study


Independent Study is one of the unique features of OUSSEP. Students can propose a study topic and be assigned to a supervising professor (called Supervisor hereafter) in an appropriate faculty. Independent Study is not compulsory but is elective. Students who want to undertake the Independent Study must prepare and submit a proposal for their course of study. Independent Study has been introduced to the short-term exchange programs at some Japanese national universities, including Osaka, due to a strong desire of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). It is a new concept to Japanese universities and is still in the process of being established as an educational program. We encourage all the students to take part in this course.

Students must propose a study topic before coming to Osaka. They may have different objectives for the Independent Study. The following are some examples.

  1. to study a particular subject, which is not found among the International Exchange Subjects, under a particular professor of Osaka University. (Individual Study)
  2. to study a particular subject, which is not found among the International Exchange Subjects, at a particular Faculty of Osaka University. (Individual Study)
  3. to study a subject which is a part of the course requirements at the student's home university but is not found among the International Exchange Subjects. (Individual Study)
  4. to conduct a research project on a particular theme under a particular professor of Osaka University. (Independent Research)
  5. to conduct a research project on a particular theme at a particular Faculty of Osaka University. (Independent Research)
  6. to conduct a research project on a particular theme that is possible only in Osaka or in Japan. (Independent Research)

OUSSEP is basically an undergraduate program. Each student should propose study plans which will meet his/her own ability. Students tend to propose a broad theme for the Independent Research, but it must be concrete and specific. The graduate students who are applying for OUSSEP may propose a more extensive research project.

The student and the Supervisor should agree upon the scope and the depth of the study at the beginning of each semester. Immediately after that the student must submit, to the Director of the International Student Center of Osaka University, an official registration form for the Independent Study Course signed by the Supervisor. The study usually continues for two semesters. At the end of each semester the student must submit a report on the topic to the Supervisor.

The student will be granted 2 credits* per semester for successfully completing the Independent Study. If the student wishes to have the credits for the Independent Study approved later at the home university, we recommend that the student, before coming to Osaka, discuss the proposal and the plan with the academic adviser at the home university.

*When the amount of the work required for the study is particularly large, the Supervisor and the International Student Committee may decide, at the beginning of each semester, to grant up to 4 instead of 2 credits for the Independent Study. We usually grant undergraduate students 2 credits for the Independent Study and up to 4 credits to graduate students depending on its work load. We may grant 3 credits to undergraduate students, if the work includes extensive laboratory work or field work.

The Supervisor will tell the student, at the beginning of the program, in what manner he/she will be able to give advice to the student during the course of the study. The Supervisor usually assigns a graduate tutor to the student. The tutor will provide supplementary advice to the student for the study. The Supervisor may allow the student to take part in the seminars which he/she conducts for his/her regular students. Such seminars are usually intended for students in the 4th year of the undergraduate program and those in the graduate school, and are usually conducted in Japanese. The tutor will help the student at the seminars. The student should expect to do the study mostly independently and should not expect too much help from the Supervisor or the tutor.

When a student proposes a study under a particular professor of Osaka University, we may make an arrangement for the student to contact the professor in advance of their coming to Osaka. In some cases the student's academic adviser at the home university may already have contact with the professor of Osaka University.

Students should expect that textbooks and reference books related to the subject of the study and written in English might be scarce in Japan. We recommend that the students bring English books from their home countries whenever possible (particularly in the case 3 above).

All the students who are applying for admission to OUSSEP must complete Form: Ind. Study-1 and include it in the application package. Those who would like to take the Independent Study Course must also write Form: Ind. Study-2 and attach it to the Form: Ind. Study-1.


Form: Ind. Study-1


INDEPENDENT STUDY

Osaka University Short-term Student Exchange Program (OUSSEP)


Every student who is applying for admission to OUSSEP must complete this form and attach it to the application form. Please, typewrite or print.


Semester of Admission to OUSSEP: [)B  ]Fall or [  ]Spring , 19 ___
Name: _____________________________________________________________
Home Institution: _________________________________________________

Are you going to take the Independent Study Course?  [)B  ]Yes. [  ]No.

If, yes, do you have any particular professor of Osaka University
under whom you would like to do your Independent Study?  [)B  ]Yes. [  ]No.

If yes, give the professor's name and the Faculty which he/she belongs to.
   The professor's name: __________________________________________
   Faculty (or Institute): ___________________________________________

If no, do you have any particular Faculty (or Institute) of Osaka
University at which you would like to do your Independent Study,
though you do not know any particular professor there?  [)B  ]Yes.  [  ]No.
If, yes, give the name of the Faculty (or Institute).
   Faculty (or Institute): ___________________________________________

Do you classify your proposed Independent Study as Individual Study or
Independent Research? (Refer to the Guide to "Independent Study" for
their definitions.)
             [)B  ]Individual Study [  ]Independent Research


Form: Ind. Study-2

Follow the instruction below when you write the Form: Ind. Study-2.

Please, typewrite or use a word processor. Write your major field of study at your home university, irrespective of the study topic your are proposing. Describe the subject of your Independent Study and your plans for the study in the space (1) and (2). Read carefully the Guide to Independent Study, before you write your proposal. Propose a title for your study in space (1). A total of around 500 words would be appropriate. If you need more space, may feel free to write it on a separate sheet.


INDEPENDENT-STUDY TOPIC


Full name: _______________________________________________________
Major field of study at your home university: __________________________________________________________________

(1) Specify the theme of Independent Study you wish to do during the program.


(2) Describe in more detail how you would implement your plan for study.