California State University, Sacramento
Study Abroad Program
Study in Japan at Yokohama National Universtiy
Yokohama National University, situated in the center of Japan's second largest city, is one of the foremost institutions of higher education in Japan. It is located on a hilltop and is only 4 kilometers from Yokohama Station, the city's transportation hub. While its history can be traced back to 1874 with the founding of the Kanagawa Normal School, YNU took its present name in 1949 when four different colleges merged to form the university. YNU has approximately 10,700 undergraduate and graduate students. Bachelor's degrees are offered in four faculties: Education and Human Sciences, Economics, Business Administration, and Engineering. Master's programs are available in Accounting and Management Systems, Business Administration, Economics, Education, Engineering, Environment and Information Sciences, and International and Business Law. YNU also offers doctoral degrees in a few select fields.
Yokohama has been a port since 1858 and a city since 1889. The city has an interesting combination of old and modern architecture and has a vibrant international community. Yokohama is convenient to Tokyo, the ancient capital of Kamakura, and the hot springs of Hakone. The mild climate is marked with clear seasons. Summers tend to be hot and humid with some days exceeding 86° F. During winter the high temperatures range from 41° F to 50° F with only occasional snowfall. Temperatures in the spring and fall range from 59° F to 68° F, and there is little rainfall.
COURSE OFFERINGS
Students who would like to study in Japan while still enrolled at this university have an excellent opportunity through this study abroad program. Those with limited proficiency in Japanese will participate in the JOY program, which is designed for undergraduate students interested in studying for between six months and a year at this prestigious national university. The JOY program offers courses taught in English for students who wish to learn more about the Japanese society, culture, business, and environment, and advances in technology and science of Japan while working on their Japanese language skills. Japanese language courses are offered from beginning to advanced levels. To allow for as much contact as possible with students from Japan, JOY courses offered in English also are made available to regular students of YNU, and our students with sufficient language skills also can attend regular classes in their discipline offered in Japanese.
Most courses offered through the JOY program are two credits each and in the past have included the following:
Fall Semester (October to February)
Aspects of Japanese Culture A, Aspects of Japanese Culture C, Developmental Psycholinguistics, General Physics, Industry and the Environment-Industrial Ecology, Japan and the East Asian Economies, Japan and the World Economy, Japan during the American Occupation, Japanese Automobile Technology, Macroengineering and Architecture, Management in Japan, National Accounting of Japan, Recent Advances in Materials Science and Technology, Recent Progress in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Spring Semester (April to August)
Advanced Lecture Series on Japanese Corporations; Aspects of Japanese Culture B; An Introduction to Articulatory Phonetics and Phonology; Automobile and the Environment-Industrial Ecology of the Automobile; Contemporary Economic Issues in Japan; Cost Management of Japanese Companies; Electronics Industry in Japan; Finance, Employment, Growth and Environment in the Japanese Economy; Foundations of Generative Grammar; Japanese Economy, Industry and Corporation; Japanese Film and Literature; Japanese Management; Japanese Production Management; Materials in Today’s World and Vacuum Technology; Postwar Japanese History; Rethinking the Atomic Bombings.
All JOY students are required to complete an Independent Research Project (2 credits) each semester. The project begins with the project proposal that prospective JOY students submit as part of their application and culminates in the final paper and presentation session at the end of the semester. Participants should obtain approval in advance from the appropriate department at this university for their project topics. Students with internship requirements at this university can put together a project in order to pursue the internship in Japan (with prior approval from the appropriate department at California State University, Sacramento)(1 credit). An internship may be taken only one semester out of two, (likely the second semester of a year-long program), and the student is responsible for finding the internship.
Each class in the JOY program, other than language instruction courses, meets once a week for a 90-minute period (though some classes may require students to attend additional sessions for field trips, etc.). There are four periods a day, with classes offered every day from Monday through Friday.
SERVICES FOR JOY STUDENTS
The newly-built International Student Center is the main site for the JOY program. The Center offers international students Japanese language instruction, counseling on living and studying in Japan, and assistance with other matters. Two of the Center's nine faculty, a professor and an associate professor, are specifically assigned to coordinate the JOY program. All JOY classes are held at the Center, and the Center lounge provides a social gathering point for overseas and Japanese students. All JOY program students will be assigned an advisor in the faculty to which they belong who, along with the two JOY program professors, will offer basic supervision. JOY students will be assigned counselors from among the Japanese student population to help them adjust to the university and life in Japan.
ACTIVITIES
Field trips to local places of interest, study trips to businesses, factories, and government organizations, as well as cultural activities are available to JOY students as curricular and extracurricular activities during their stay at YNU. On campus, JOY students can join one of the many student clubs centered on special interests in arts, sports, hobbies, or various fields of study.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Applicants should have (1) upper division standing with a declared major at this university by the time of departure, (2) good academic records, (3) a 3.0 cumulative grade point average or better at the time of the application deadline, (4) one semester of university-level Japanese or the equivalent, (5) one Asian culture-related course, and (6) lower division requirements completed in the field of study to be studied in Yokohama (with the exception of Japanese language). The applicant also should be prepared to accept the challenge of study in a country with an educational system different from our own. The Writing Proficiency Examination must have been passed at this university prior to participation in this program. Applications will be accepted for one semester or one academic year; however, academic year applicants will be given preference for any scholarships associated with this program. Students are required to be full-time while studying in Japan and, thus, take the equivalent of 15 units during each semester.
CALENDAR
The academic year at YNU is divided into two semesters: fall semester, which starts around October 1 and ends in late February, and spring semester, which starts around April 1 and ends in mid-August. Please note that due to the late February end date of the fall semester in Japan, students who participate in the YNU program during the fall semester only will not return to Sacramento in time to participate in the spring semester at this university.
SCHOLARSHIPS
For information on scholarships for study abroad, you should register for and attend a scholarship workshop in the Office of Global Education.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Students accepted to the program will pay the usual California State University, Sacramento fees, remain eligible for financial aid (except work/study), if otherwise qualified, and receive resident credit just as if they were attending classes at this university. (Please note that equivalency of courses falls under the jurisdiction of the academic department.) YNU has agreed to waive non-resident tuition, approximately $4,800 per year, making this a particularly attractive opportunity for participants. Students will pay for their travel to and from Japan, room and board, books and incidentals; however, there are scholarships for which students can apply. In addition, each student must have the required insurance during his or her stay in Japan.
Expenses for a semester (6 months) in Japan are estimated at the following:
University fees (residents only) Round-trip transportation Room (single in dorms) and utilities Meals (students cook own food in dorms) Local transportation Medical insurance (mandatory) Textbooks and school supplies Settling in expenses Miscellaneous expenses (entertainment, laundry, etc.) $ Total (single room) 8,564.00
The estimated expenses for an academic year are about $16,178. Please note that off-campus housing, food, and transportation would cost about $1200 per month. This estimate is given for planning purposes only and is subject to changes from currency fluctuation, inflation, and fee changes. Keep in mind that the costs to obtain a passport and a student visa are not included in this estimate.
HOUSING
Yokohama National University will endeavor to provide all JOY program participants who so desire with accommodations in university housing for foreign students, which is located near the campus. The university has two international dormitories: the YNU International Student House and the Minesawa International Student Dormitory. JOY students may stay in single rooms, which are furnished with a bed, desk, bookshelf, and closet. Students may stay at their initiative in private apartments in the Yokohama area; however, costs will be substantially more (see Financial Responsibilities above).
YOU SHOULD CONSULT THESE RESOURSES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
You should consult these resources for further information:
The Office of Global Education home page: http://www.csus.edu/oge/
The JOY Program home page: http://www.isc.ynu.ac.jp/eng/joy/joy.html
( includes program course descriptions and information on the Japanese language
courses)
Yokohama National University home page: http://www.ynu.ac.jp/index_en.html
The Office of Global Education has a copy of the JOY booklet, but for the most updated information please visit the website.
For information on Yokohama and Japan, visit: http://www.city.yokohama.jp/en
http://www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/eng/tourism
http://www.jnto.go.jp (Japan National Tourist Organization)
To obtain an application or to speak with a study abroad advisor, please call the Office of Global Education at 278-6686 or go to Lassen Hall, Room 2304. Applications, references, and transcripts should be sent to the address below. The deadline for materials to be received is February 29 to participate beginning in the fall semester and October 1 to participate beginning in the spring semester. Please note that there is an interview process for this application, also.
| Monica
G. Freeman Coordinator, International Programs Office of Global Education Lassen Hall, Room 2304 or California State University, Sacramento 6000 J Street Sacramento, CA 95819-6012 |
Janis
Silvers |
