Study Abroad in Japan

The Department of Modern Languages is pleased to offer an exciting summer study abroad program at the Akita International University in Akita Prefecture, Japan.

Akita International University (AIU)

Established in April 2004, AIU is a small liberal arts college with global orientation, located in beautiful Akita Prefecture on the northern Japanese seaboard. AIU offers undergraduate studies in English, Japanese, Chinese, Global Studies, and Global Business. Despite its short history, AIU has already been ranked among the top universities in Japan according to a number of influential surveys and statistics.

AIU has characteristics that make it exceptional among institutions of higher education in Japan, not only for Japanese students, but for anyone who is seeking a university education that prepares the student to understand and meet the challenges of today’s global environment. As of November 1st 2007, AIU has 60 partner institutions in 20 countries and regions. International students come from these countries and study at AIU for one semester or longer. They have plenty of opportunities to experience Japanese traditions, arts and crafts, as well as to participate in local festivals and home stay programs to get to know local people.

The campus is set in a beautiful rural area, surrounded by forest on three sides and a large State-run sports facility across the road from it. It is within 30-40 minutes by car from the center of Akita City (population of 300,000) and only 10-minutes away by bus from a large shopping center. The clear demarcation of four seasons in Akita makes it a wonderful place to live, work and study. The average temperature for the full year in Akita is 53ºF/12ºC.

Program
Japan Studies offers Japanese courses at all levels, as well as courses on Japanese culture, business, economics, politics, and history. In addition to regular semester courses, it offers an intensive summer program:

• 6 weeks from June to August
• Levels: elementary
• Six semester credits (90 class hours)
• On-campus housing with Japanese and international students
• Weekend visit to local sites and other cultural learning opportunities

For more information:
Go to: http://www.aiu.ac.jp/is/index.html
Or contact:
Dr. Naoko Taguchi
Department of Modern Languages
Carnegie Mellon University,
Baker Hall 370
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Email: taguchi@andrew.cmu.edu

Other institutions for Study Abroad

CMU has an exchange program with Keio University (Tokyo, Japan). Keio does not offer an intensive summer/winter program, but offers a semester-length program.

For more information,
go to: http://www.ic.keio.ac.jp/

Subject Areas Available:

• Business
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Humanities
• Natural Sciences
• Social Studies

For other institutions, visit CMU study abroad page: http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/sab/index.cfm

View the university’s Office of International Education: http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie

Other Study Abroad Scholarships
Our department along with The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is offering study abroad scholarship opportunities for students to study for a semester, full-year, or summer overseas. Scholarships can be put towards tuition, room and board, airfare and/or book expenses at any accredited study abroad program. Click for more information about these awards.

Additional campus resources may be helpful for students who are evaluating whether to pursue a study abroad program:

Visit the university's Study Abroad page:
http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/sab/index.cfm

View the university's Office of International Education:
http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/