Bachelor of International Liberal Arts: Japan Studies

For many observers and visitors, Japan is one of the most intriguing countries on earth. For them, Japan offers a vast variety of exhilarating and sometimes puzzling experiences that often give rise to many questions. Japan Studies endeavors to answer most, if not all, of them. Japanologists understand their field as an interdisciplinary project that engages with all aspects of Japanese culture, history, and society. Many students and scholars investigate these topics in relation to historical and present-day events in East-Asia and the West. Such an approach relates their study and research not only to other disciplines but also to other nations, civilizations, and geographic areas.

Why study Japan Studies?

The Japan Studies major at iCLA provides you with competence in the Japanese language and with a comprehensive understanding of Japan’s culture, history, politics, and economics. Guided by experts in their fields you will aim at linguistic fluency while at the same time experience an in-depth exposure to key fields in Japan studies. Furthermore, living in Japan over an extended period will offer you a unique opportunity to further familiarize yourself with a wide variety of Japanese lifestyles, customs, and arts. You will become a knowledgeable specialist on the subject of Japan who also has a comprehensive knowledge of the wider East Asian and Western context. During your study will also develop your communication skills and analytical expertise. Students graduating from the Japan Studies Program will be well prepared for a wide range of professional career opportunities both within Japan and the rest of the world.

Register for iCLA's April 6th Virtual Open Campus

Choose liberal arts. In Japan.

The International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA) is a four- year, American style liberal arts college where the primary language of instruction is English. Students can choose from a wide array of courses as part of an innovative curriculum which leads to a bachelor’s degree in International Liberal Arts. Just 90 minutes west of Tokyo, iCLA combines a multi-cultural learning environment with a beautifully traditional Japanese setting in the shadow of Mt Fuji. iCLA offers students the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the very essence of Japanese culture, whilst acquiring a contemporary and globally relevant education at our state of the art facilities. Register for iCLA's April 6th 2024 Virtual Open Campus All iCLA undergraduate students share a liberal arts college curriculum experience in studying towards our innovative Bachelor of International Liberal Arts degree. The iCLA curriculum was designed to cultivate critical, creative, independent, and global thinking. iCLA students learn how to acquire and analyze knowledge in order to create their own answers to age-old questions.

Our residential campus provides a cross-cultural living experience, ensuring that the themes of internationalization and globalization run throughout life at iCLA, not just in the classroom. Small interactive classes are at the core of our pedagogical approach. Low faculty-to-student ratios foster close connections between instructors and students and enhance communication and collaboration among students themselves.

The first-year common experience includes a focus on foundation courses and omnibus courses that is a great way for students to find what is interesting for them and make an informed decision on their major area of study.

In the second year, students take a closer look at their major while taking a variety of courses and experiential learning workshops. The traditional majors in Global Business and Economics and Political Science are enriched by integration with courses in Data Science, Psychology, and Sociology providing depth and breadth. Courses in Arts, Music, Language Arts, Performing Arts, are given a symbiotic relationship in the majors of Japan Studies and Interdisciplinary Arts. The unique nature of Humanities is brought out by “design your own major” philosophy where students can choose a wide variety of courses from different disciplines and design their own major.

In the third year, students have a good sense of their field of specialization and can pursue an in-depth study in their major area of study. Students can take study abroad experience (optional for International students) in one of over 60 partner schools spread across 30 countries.

In the final year, the senior seminar and Graduation Research Project (GRP) are the focus of study. GRP allows students to showcase their writing, critical thinking and problem-solving skills they have learned during college. Students develop independent thinking by discussing and sharing their research with the peer group and get ready to decide next steps after college.