All East Asian Study Track courses are taught in English, offering a wide variety of topics related to contemporary Japan and East Asia. Students may choose one course from each group shown below for a total of 6 credits. Students enrolled in these courses will be both international students and KGU students. Classes are held Monday through Friday, with frequent activities and excursions. Some field trips may be on the weekends. Full course descriptions will be provided at the time of application. All courses will transfer back to Nazareth and are worth 3 credit hours.

Group A:

International Relations of East Asia

Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Asian History

Cross-Cultural Adolescent Psychology

Group B:

Contemporary Japanese and American Politics and Society

Dark Personality Traits Across Cultures

Japanese Economy and Business

Before the program commences in Osaka, the group of students from Nazareth will travel with faculty to Tokyo and its surrounding areas. Stops in this journey will include visits to Enoshima and Kamakura where the group will hike to Jochi-ji Buddhist temple and visit a number of shrines and beautiful parks and gardens. You will also explore all that Tokyo has to offer, including visits to the Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine, the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Tower, and the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing. The group will also take a day trip to Sengokuhara to hike Mount Ashigara where you will have a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji. Upon conclusion of the Nazareth portion of travel, the group will take the bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka to start the program at KGU.

While at KGU, fieldwork activities will provide valuable learning opportunities for everyone. By participating in the fieldwork and cultural excursions, you can apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom and increase a better understanding of your study subject. You will have a chance to participate in various types of Japanese cultural activities, such as Wadaiko (Japanese traditional drums), Yuzen-zome (Yuzen dyeing), watching a basketball match, and Takarazuka Review Viewing.

On top of these activities, there will be organized excursions to one of Japan's most popular automobile manufacturers, Mazda in Hiroshima. You will tour the Mazda Museum and a part of their plant to learn about their latest technology, production system and business strategy. While in Hiroshima you will also visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Museum and take a boat out to the world famous Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima Island.

Another destination the group will visit is Matsuyama, where students will be able to discover the many aspects of Shikoku area which includes industry, a mine, traditional hot springs, pottery making and more. In addition, students can elect to participate in an optional field trip to the Panasonic Eco Technology Center in Kobe. There will also be an opportunity to visit Kyoto. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Japanese gardens, visit temples, and other historical architecture, and sample traditional cuisine - gaining valuable insight into a variety of concepts in traditional Japanese aesthetics.

KGU offers two accommodation options for this program - homestays and the International Dormitory. You can indicate your preferred choice at the time of application (please note your choice can not always be guaranteed). 

Homestays - All host families are registered directly with KGU. Staying with a Japanese family is a very effective way to improve your Japanese language skills and gives you a great opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the Japanese lifestyle.

International Dormitory - Located within a 10 minute walk from the Nishinomiya Uegahara Campus, the dormitory is self-catering with shared facilities, such as kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and lounge. WiFi will also be available at the dorms.

Please note, the cost of living can vary depending on where you stay, your lifestyle and budget. On-campus cafeterias and convenience stores provide affordable meal options. There are some local grocery stores near the campus, so preparing meals is very easy for those who stay at the KGU International Dormitory. Daily meals are not included while staying at the international dorm, while 2 meals on weekdays and 3 on weekends are provided with the homestay option. The KGU Training Center is also open to program participants for no additional fee for the entirety of the program. It is also important to note that Japan is still very much a cash society, so it is advised to bring cash to exchange or have a debit card to withdraw JPY. USD will not be accepted for everyday purchases.

Program Fee: $3,100 USD before funding

Funding Sources:

For SPARK eligible students, you will receive the $1,500 SPARK Grant from the Center for Life's Work, making your final program fee $1,600.

For non-SPARK eligible students, you will receive $700 in funding from the Center for International Education, making your final program fee $2,400.

Program Fee Includes:

• All classes, extracurricular activities, and excursions offered throughout the program
• All day and overnight trips
• All accommodation for the duration of the program (and most meals for those who select the homestay option)
• Six credits of KGU tuition
• Bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka
• KGU Training Center (Gym) fees
• International travel and medical insurance
• Meals for the portion of travel in Tokyo and Mt. Fuji

The following is NOT included in the program fee:

• Round-trip airfare (Students must arrive in Tokyo and can elect to depart from Osaka or Tokyo airports)
• Public transportation to get to/from accommodation and KGU campus
• Meals not included in itinerary (all meals for those staying in the international dorm and only lunches not included for those staying with a host family)
• Other personal travel expenses or miscellaneous expenses (such as souvenirs, personal care items, etc.)

Applications can be completed online and are available from one month prior to the deadline. However, you must apply through the Nazareth CIE office to be granted a nomination for this program. Please set up a meeting with Josh Fess to express your interest and speak about the program in greater detail. Once KGU receives your nomination, further information about the actual application will be provided directly to the nominee. Please see the important program dates below:

Mid February to Early March: Nomination Deadline

Mid March: Application Deadline

Early April: Admission Results

June 2: Arrival in Tokyo (Will need to depart on June 1 to account for the time difference)

June 2 - 6: Travel in and around Tokyo and Mt. Fuji with Nazareth students only

June 6: Arrival in Osaka by train with Nazareth group to start KGU program

June 9: Orientation Day at KGU

June 10: First day of classes

June 13: Symposium on "US-Japan Relations and the New International Order"

June 17: Day trip to Panasonic Eco Technology Center in Kobe

June 19 - 21: Overnight trip to Yamaguchi, Hiroshima, and Miyajima Island

June 26 - 28: Overnight trip to Matsuyama

July 9: Farewell Ceremony

July 10: Check-out & Departure Day (a chartered bus will take you to Kansai International Airport in Osaka or you can elect to depart from another airport in Japan)

Late-August: Transcripts issued to your home institution 

• Open to undergraduate and graduate students
• Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Must be currently enrolled (graduated seniors are not eligible)
• Strong academic performance

Please note this program is limited to only 12 student participants from Nazareth so if you are interested please reach out for an application as soon as possible.