OSAKA UNIVERSITY SHORT-TERM STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM |
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.
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.
INDEPENDENT STUDYOsaka 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 |
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.
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