International Education
Semester Program in Akita, Japan

Mandatory Pre-departure Meeting

Study-abroad students are required to attend a mandatory pre-departure meeting on the Advising Day in the semester prior to study abroad. Advising Days are offered:

Late October for spring semester or winter break study abroad
Late March for summer or fall semester study

Meetings are 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for semester or academic year participants

Phase 2 Pre-Departure Forms Due

Phase 2 SMCM IE Office required forms are due by:
November 7 for spring semester study abroad
April 15 for fall semester study abroad

See "How to Apply" link for details about forms. 

Passports and Visas

A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue or verify United States passports. Proper documentation and identification is required for entry into your destination country and for re-entry into the United States. Each country has its own special requirements for entry based on your citizenship, purpose of visit and length of stay. Find out which requirements pertain to your situation, and plan in advance; obtaining documents from embassies or consulates can take from one hour up to three months.

Passports 
Source: U.S. Department of State

Visas: Foreign Entry Requirements
A visa is a form attached to a page in your passport. A visa indicates that you are eligible to travel for a particular purpose to another country as far as the port of entry (airport or land border crossing) and ask the immigration officer to allow you to enter the country. Visas must be obtained from the embassy of the country to which you are requesting entry.
Source: U.S. Department of State

Travel Documents
Source: Study Abroad Student Handbook, Center for Global Education

Blackboard Courses

In the Akita Blackboard Course, you will learn about:

1. Akita International University (AIU)
2. Applying to Akita
3. Academics at AIU
4. Financing Study at Akita
5. Health in Japan
6. Safety in Japan
7. Pre-departure Planning, Checklist and Logistics
8. Living at AIU
9. Travel Resources in Japan
10. Returning Home from Japan
11. Study-Abroad Resources

In the Pre-departure Blackboard Course, you will learn about:

1. Pre-departure Planning at SMCM
2. Health Resources and Considerations
3. Safety Resources and Considerations
4. Pre-departure Planning, Checklists and Logistics
5. Living Abroad
6. Travel Resources
7. Returning Home

8. Study-Abroad Resources

Pre-departure Handbook for Japan from Center for Global Education