Japan: Osaka

Program Snapshot
Semester: Fall, Spring, or Full Year
Offered: Annually
Estimated Dates: Fall: late August to mid-December, Spring: Mid January to mid-May
Program Focus: Language Intensive
Prerequisites: JAPN 102 with a 3.0 GPA or better in the language and cumulative 3.0 GPA or better. Students must satisfy the Words and Numbers CORE requirement before participating in an overseas program.
Housing: Apartments/Dormitories
Campus Contact: Satomi Newsom,
Instructor of Japanese, Japanese Section Head
satomih@lclark.edu, 503-768-7388


Program Design

In cooperation with CET, Lewis & Clark College offers students a semester or full-year program on the campus of Osaka Gakuin University (OGU). Study focuses on language immersion and developing linguistic competency. The program provides a rigorous and intensive study of the language, and students are expected to spend a great deal of time on language study both in the classroom and outside of class. Independent study trips to other sites in Japan, as well as excursions to cultural sites of interest in and near Osaka, enhance the students’ understanding of life in contemporary Japan. Past excursions have included a trip to Mie to visit a re-created ninja village, pottery making in Kagawa, and a visit to the natural hot springs in Arima.

The program is based at Osaka Gakuin University. OGU is located near two train lines, and only 15 minutes away from downtown Osaka. Students have access to OGU’s great library, study lounges, sports facilities, and lovely campus. The CET Center is within the International Center building on campus. This is where students take their classes, link up with staff, meet for J-chat (Japanese conversation), or just hang out with peers.

Full Year Participation: Students applying for a full year will need to demonstrate academic success during their first semester abroad.  All students planning on a full-year of study will be asked via email during their first semester abroad to affirm their intention to continue into the next semester.  Approval is contingent upon approval of the student’s advisor and the Overseas Office.


Academics

Requirements Fulfilled:

General Education - This program fulfills the Global Perspectives general education requirement for students who successfully complete 8 or more semester credits.

Students who complete Japanese 201 or higher fulfill the World Language proficiency general education requirement.

Major/Minor Requirements: This program fulfills the overseas study requirement for the Asian Studies major and the World Languages major with Japanese as the primary language. Select courses can be applied to the Japanese minor.

Credits: Credit earned varies based on courses completed but students may earn up to 19 credits. Overloads are not permitted.

Curriculum: JAPN 145: Japanese Language Pledge and Cultural Immersion (1 credit): Students will improve oral proficiency and cultural immersion skills on the Osaka Gakuin CET overseas program by taking a modified language pledge, and meeting with CET staff and Japanese roommates in cultural immersion activities.

Additional courses chosen at the University will include at least 12 credits of Japanese language classes. Students will also take one to three cultural classes, which are chosen from an Asian Studies curriculum in the humanities and social sciences. These classes are taught in Japanese or English. Each student’s course level will depend on the results of a placement test taken at the beginning of the program.


Student Life

Housing: Students share a furnished, off-campus living space with local roommates. Students’ Osaka homes are authentically Japanese—small, but comfortable, and located in a cozy, residential neighborhood. Each student’s housing is a short walk or train ride from campus. Residences have many layouts, but there is always one roommate for every one student…perfect for practicing Japanese. Local roommates are Osaka Gakuin University students selected by CET. The local students who are chosen as roommates are enthusiastic about the program, interested in international life, and excited to share their culture with a new foreign friend. Roommates abide by the same Japanese language pledge as the students do. English practice is not their goal. Instead, they may help students with homework, or teach them some Japanese slang. Students can learn everything they need to know about Japanese college life from their local roommate—the exact rules in your new favorite TV game show, the best 100-yen shop near campus, the newest must-have apps for your phone. Some roommates invite CET students back to their home for dinner or a weekend away, giving them a glimpse of Japanese family life, too.

For meals, students can take their pick of the city’s many cheap eateries, try out the campus cafeteria, or cook with their roommate in their shared kitchen. Grocery shopping is a great way to learn about the local community—local vendors have sustained the neighborhoods for decades. Don’t like to cook? Don’t worry. Japanese grocery stores carry a wide variety of ready-to-eat foods.

Cultural Activities: Each term, the program offers different activities that let students explore Osaka, learn about Japanese culture, practice their language skills, or just unwind with their classmates and roommates. Examples of cultural activities from past programs include practicing calligraphy, taking a biking tour of Kyoto, singing at karaoke, hiking a nature trail, learning to make sensu (handheld fans), exploring temples, and going on a city-wide scavenger hunt.


Cost

2023-2024 Fee Breakdown*

Total Fee (includes Tuition, Program Fee, and Health & Wellness Fee): $39,385

Tuition: $30,958

Program Fee: $8,390

Health & Wellness Fee: $37**

Included in the program fee are room/housing, board/meals, and administrative fees. Not included are airfare, passport and visa expenses, primary insurance coverage, photographs, books, immunizations, and incidentals. 

*Fees are updated every February for the following academic year.

**The Health & Wellness Fee supports the operations of Wellness Services staff in delivering pre-program orientation services, as well as in providing health-related consultation regarding participant health needs. All students in the College of Arts and Sciences pay a mandatory fee of $37 per semester.

Stipend: Students will receive a stipend to cover the cost of meals and transportation costs not covered by the program fee.

Estimated Airfare (Round Trip PDX to KIX): $800 - $2,000

Estimated Travel Document Fees: Varies

Estimated Health Insurance Fee: $1,943.50

All students participating in overseas programs are automatically enrolled in iNext, a supplemental travel insurance program. The fee for iNext is covered in the program cost. However, students are also required to have comprehensive health insurance during their time abroad. All students participating in overseas programs, both abroad and domestic, are automatically enrolled in the College’s student health insurance program. Similar to a regular semester on-campus, students participating in overseas programs may waive enrollment in the student health insurance program if they have other comprehensive health insurance (e.g., through a parent, guardian or employer) that 1) provides coverage for them in the geographic region in which they will be studying and 2) includes mental health benefits. Click here for more information regarding health insurance & overseas programs.


Program Preparation

Application Process: This program has a dual application process. Student must first submit a Lewis & Clark Application. Once admitted by Lewis & Clark, the students will receive instructions for submitting their secondary application to CET.  Please keep a digital copy of your essays and other application materials as you will need to submit these similar materials again. Please note that this secondary application process can be as late as the semester preceding your scheduled participation. For more information about the application process, click here.

Travel: Students usually fly into Kansai International Airport (KIX), where they are met by CET staff and transported to their housing.

Visa: Students will be required to apply for a visa in order to participate. Most consulates require applicants to make a personal appearance to apply for a student visa. The nearest consulate serving the Portland jurisdiction is located in Portland, Oregon. More information will be provided upon admission to the program.

Country-Specific Health Information: Click here to view specific health information for people traveling to Japan.

State Department Country Information: Click here to visit the State Department’s Japan page.


osaka, japan