In this blog series, learn about each of MBU’s exchange partners. MBU undergraduate students who meet the specified criteria are encouraged to study abroad at our partner institutions. With the exception of DWCLA’s JSP program, up to one student/ academic year or two students/ semester are eligible to apply.
MBU has three exchange partners in Japan. Learn more about each of them below:
Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts (DWCLA)
DWCLA is a women’s college located in Kyoto, Japan that offers a Japanese Studies Program (JSP) each fall from September to December.
The JSP program is very small, as a maximum of ten students worldwide can participate each year. Students participate in small classes with many hands-on learning experiences including field trips to other Japanese cities and club visits. Students are expected to take four culture courses and four Japanese language courses each week. Previously offered culture courses include:
- Anime/pop culture
- Zen tea culture
- Nature in Japan
- Kyoto history and culture
- Intercultural skills for living in Japan
*As this is a Japanese studies program, applicants are required to have one year of previous Japanese language study. A 3.0 GPA is preferred.
Kansai Gaidai University
Study abroad for a semester or year at Kansai Gaidai University, a co-ed international university with a study abroad program that focuses on Asian Studies coursework. Kansai Gaidai is located in Hirakata, a city found between Osaka and Kyoto.
Most classes are directly related to Japan and/or East Asia and are taught in English.
- Art, including studio art and fashion design
- Music
- Business, marketing and finance
- Gender/sexuality
- History
- Political Science and International Studies
- Religion
It is also possible for students studying at Kansai Gaidai in the spring to apply for summer internships.
*Participants must have a 3.0 GPA to apply for this study abroad program. Preference is given to applicants who have undertaken previous Japanese study. Japanese language courses must be taken at Kansai Gaidai while the student is abroad.
Soka University
Soka is a co-ed university located in Hachioji near Tokyo.
Since Soka follows the Japanese academic calendar, students must study there for the spring semester only OR for an entire academic year (fall semester to spring, ending in the summer). No previous Japanese language study is required to participate.
Soka offers a wide variety of courses across disciplines:
- Foreign Languages: German, French, Spanish, Korean.
- Education
- Economics and Finance
- History
- Political Science and International Studies
- English
- Asian Studies
- Communication
- Some basic offerings in Biology, Physics, Earth Science and Engineering.
Students also have the opportunity to apply for work-study positions as English conversation partners while at Soka.
*Students must have a 2.0 GPA to apply for this study abroad program.
