Curriculum & Courses (Exchange Students)
Aoyama Gakuin University Curriculum
This page provides an overview of the courses that exchange students can take at Aoyama Gakuin University, how to search for courses, and rules regarding course enrollment.
The latest "List of Courses Available for Exchange Students" and how to register for courses will be provided at the course registration orientation held after your arrival in Japan.
Characteristics of exchange students' course enrollment
At Aoyama Gakuin University, exchange students can take a wide range of courses from the "List of Available Courses" for exchange students, including courses not only from their own faculty but also from other faculties and campuses, as well as The Aoyama Standard courses. However, the following courses are for regular students and cannot be taken by exchange students.
?Foreign language subjects (e.g. French, Chinese, German, Spanish, etc.)
?Teacher training course subjects
?Physical education subjects
Main rules regarding course registration
?Each lesson is 90 minutes long. In principle, lessons are held once a week, with 15 lessons per semester.
?Undergraduate students cannot take master's course subjects.
?Exchange students enrolled in a master's program at Aoyama Gakuin University can also take courses for undergraduate students.
?Exchange students who are enrolled only in the first semester cannot take "year-round courses."
?Our university does not have a system for auditing classes, so you must register for classes in order to take them.
English courses
Please see the link below for English courses available to exchange students. However, the courses and number of courses offered may change each academic year.
For information about courses offered in English for graduate students, please contact the International Center.
The following faculties and graduate schools offer a certain number of courses in English each academic year.
<Faculty>
College of Literature (Aoyama Campus)
School of Business (Aoyama Campus)
School of International Politics, Economics and Communication (Aoyama Campus)
School of Cultural and Creative Studies (Aoyama Campus)
School of Global Studies and Collaboration (Sagamihara Campus)
<Graduate School>
Graduate School of Literature (Aoyama Campus)
Graduate School of Business (Aoyama Campus)
Graduate School of International Politics, Economics and Communication (Aoyama Campus)
Graduate Graduate School of Science and Engineering (Sagamihara Campus)
< Professional Graduate Schools >
Graduate School of International Management (Aoyama Campus)
Japanese language courses
In principle, exchange students can take classes taught in Japanese alongside regular students. However, they must have sufficient Japanese language proficiency to fully understand the class content and to be able to give presentations, take exams, etc. in Japanese.
Courses for Exchange Students
Our university offers the following courses for exchange students with the aim of improving their language skills and deepening their understanding of Japanese society. All courses are optional. Japanese language courses are aimed at exchange students with CEFR-A2 level or above. There are seven levels at Aoyama campus and four levels at Sagamihara campus. Regular Japanese language courses must be taken at the campus where you are enrolled.
Japanese (A), (B), (C), (D): Once a week for each. Total of 4 times a week (1 credit each)
(A): Aim to improve listening skills (B): Aim to improve speaking skills
(C): Aim to improve reading skills (D): Aim to improve writing skills
Go to the "Study Japanese Culture and Japanese Language at Aogaku" page
(1) Japanese Language (regular subject, with credits)
If you wish to take regular Japanese language courses, you must follow the instructions of the International Center and take the Japanese language placement test that will be administered before entering the country. Your level will be determined by your instructor based on the results of the placement test.
(2) Japanese language classes taught in English (extracurricular, no credits)
International students who have never studied Japanese, or who are instructed to take Japanese classes in English based on the results of their Japanese placement test, can take extracurricular (non-credit) beginner classes held at Aoyama Campus. Exchange students enrolled at Sagamihara Campus must also take these classes at Aoyama Campus. These classes are held 10 times per semester, once a week.
(3) Japanese Society and Culture (A)-(N): Once a week (2 credits each)
The goal is to deepen understanding of Japanese culture and society, as well as Japan in the global context (Japanese language, Japanese culture, Japanese society, etc.). Lectures are offered in both Japanese and English. Some courses may have Japanese language proficiency requirements. Please check the syllabus for the semester and campus in which the course is offered.
(4) Japanese Studies A: Once a week (2 credits each)
This course is for exchange students and explores the history and evolution of Japanese culture and society from ancient times to the present day across a wide range of fields. The semesters offered vary by campus.
(5) Japanese Studies B: Once a week (2 credits each)
This course is offered in the second semester and allows students to learn about traditional Japanese performing arts such as Kabuki, tea ceremony, and Japanese dance through demonstrations and hands-on experience.
Go to the "Study Japanese Culture and Japanese Language at Aogaku" page
Lecture content search
When searching for course content, you can check the course content, the days and times of the course, the campuses where the course is offered, etc. Please note that the search results may also include courses that exchange students cannot take.
Before registering for courses, please be sure to check the "List of Courses Available to Exchange Students" distributed at orientation to confirm that the courses you wish to take are included.
At our university, the academic year begins in April, and the syllabus for the new academic year is released in late March each year.
?Syllabus search: Enter the name of a course to search and find out the course content, assessment method, instructor, language used, and more.
?Timetable search: By selecting the day of the week, time period, and campus where the course is offered, you can display a list of courses offered on that day and time period.
Number of credits taken
?Undergraduate exchange students are required to register for at least 14 credits per semester. This is the number of credits required by Japanese law for international students who have been issued a student visa. If your home university requires you to register for at least 14 credits, please comply with this. The average number of credits registered for international students is 16-20 credits per semester.
?Even if you are only taking courses offered in English, you must register for 14 credits or more (approximately 7 or more courses).
?Exchange students enrolled in a graduate school are required to take at least one course offered by their graduate school.
Course registration schedule
?Course registration and cancellation must be completed within the designated period. Details will be explained at the orientation after your arrival in Japan.
?You will not be able to add courses after the course registration period has ended. Please be sure to complete the procedure within the course registration period.