Japanese

Academic Information

All courses are taught in English at AIU, so short-term international students are welcome to take any subject matter course, without field restrictions, as well as Japanese language courses and other languages.

(Some courses, such as English for Academic Purposes, capstone thesis courses, and study abroad preparation courses, etc. are restricted to degree-seeking students. See the Course Offerings for details.)

What you can study at AIU

Japanese Language Program

AIU offers 6-credit, core Japanese courses from beginner to advanced levels, so you can earn a total of 18 credits (36 ECTS) of core Japanese in a single year, including the Winter Program. You can also take additional skill-specific courses, as well! Our small sizes, internationally experienced professors, and extracurricular activities will give you many opportunities to practice and improve your Japanese skills.

Japan Studies Program

AIU’s diverse range of Japan Studies courses offer scholarly and experiential perspectives on Japanese culture, society, and sensibilities from a variety of academic disciplines. Get the most out of your time in Japan by immersing yourself in the local culture and participating in community outreach activities, traditional festivals and AIU student clubs to put your studies into practice.

Global Business Program

AIU’s Global Business program provides students a firm grounding in economic theory as well as practical education in in-demand skills, such as marketing, leadership, and business data analysis. AIU offers students the opportunity to develop their business strategy skills in an interactive environment that will enable them to compete in today’s market, respond to changes in the market, and lead, no matter what challenges the future may hold.

Global Studies Program

The Global Studies Program is composed of three Clusters (academic fields): Global Society, Political Science and International Relations, and Sustainability Studies. Through interactive lessons with Japanese and exchange students from around the world as well as our diverse faculty, you will have access to a wealth of international perspectives as you and your classmates work together to deepen your knowledge of global issues.

Global Connectivity Program

In our complex global society, where information spreads globally in an instant, we need to understand how digital technologies and innovations such as AI are changing us, and how we can live meaningful lives in a world that is in constant flux. In the Global Connectivity Program, students explore both the humanities-culture, literature, and philosophy- to find meaning and values in our lives, and technology, such as computation and AI, which are the foundation of our modern society. Students identify and explore connections between the humanities and technology and develop a holistic appreciation of their connectedness, allowing them to serve as effective bridges between these two domains in future society.

Useful Academic Resources

The resources below will help incoming short-term international students to search available courses and descriptions to prepare their study abroad plans.

  • Course Offerings
    Start here for a list of available courses in each semester. This document will also note whether courses are restricted to degree-seeking students or require any prerequisites/ language ability.
    Important: You will need to download this document and refer to it when using our online syllabus search function, below.
  • Class Schedule
    Next, review the day and time each of your classes is offered and arrange your schedule as necessary so that none of your class times conflict with each other. Class times will also be listed in the online syllabus,
  • Syllabus Search Guide
    Find out how to search for syllabi for the current or past semesters for specific details on course contents.
  • Course Registration 
    Find schedule availability, registration, and add/drop dates, as well as credit registration requirements here.
  • Credit and Grading System
    Find our Credit and Grading System and information on end-of-semester exams and academic transcripts.
  • Academic Calendar
    See the Academic Calendar for important dates, such as Arrival, Orientation, Course Registration Period, and Final Examination week.

The Division of Student Records
Akita International University
Okutsubakidai, Tsubakikawa, Yuwa, Akita-city, Akita 010-1292
Tel. +81-(0)18-886-5870
Fax. +81-(0)18-886-5910
E-mail: [mail studentrecords]
(Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)