International Education
Semester Program in Akita, Japan

Academics in Japan

Studying abroad at Akita International University, "Kokusai Kyoyo Daigaku," will be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life. Through a semester or one-year term, international students can study Japanese language, culture, and society in the Japan Studies Program. Students may also take courses in the Global Studies Program or the Global Business Program which are all offered in English at AIU.

Curriculum Structure

Basic Education/Global Education
AIU curriculum covering Japan Studies, Japanese Language, Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Math and Natural Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, World Languages and Linguistics, Health and Physical Education, and Computers. This part of the curriculum is intended primarily for students in the first and second years of university education (freshmen and sophomore). However, some courses, particularly in the area of Japan Studies, may be appropriate for more advanced International Students.

Advanced Education: Global Business or Global Studies
AIU curriculum intended primarily for students in the third and fourth years of university education (juniors and seniors). AIU offers only two majors: Global Business and Global Studies (see below).

Global Business Program
Study of economics, finance, management of knowledge, information, and technology, strategy, leadership, entrepreneurship, international business, and other related courses. The Global Business program emphasizes both theory and application, and development of the capacity to think in creative, critical, independent, and global dimensions.

Global Studies Program
Study of politics, economics, culture, arts and other social studies. The Global Studies program is divided into 3 tracks: North America studies, East Asia studies, and Transnational studies.

Academic Credit for Coursework Abroad

Credits earned abroad will count toward your degree at St. Mary's, often fulfilling Core Curriculum, major requirements, or elective credit. Each course is evaluated for its equivalency at St. Mary's.

To transfer credits to St. Mary's, SMCM students complete the Pre-Approval of Transfer Credit Form and return it to the Office of International Education. The IE Office will work with the Registrar and department chairs to determine equivalencies for individual courses taught abroad.  As stated in the catalog, the College may refuse to grant credit for study-abroad courses taken by the student that have not been pre-approved. 

More information about how to ensure credits earned abroad transfer successfully to St. Mary's is available in the College catalog under Academic Policies and on the Pre-departure Blackboard course.