Japan Center for Michigan Universities

Students participating in JCMU semester programs enroll in at least one elective course in addition to the intensive Japanese language course. All JCMU electives are taught in English. Course topics vary by semester.

Elective Courses by Semester

Spring 2026

Japanese Culture & Society: Samurai: The Reality & The Myth (4 credits)

Instructor(s): Dr. Elizabeth Lublin, JCMU Visiting Scholar
Schedule: TBD (Dates indicated in syllabus are tentative and provided only as reference for course pacing; Finalized dates will be provided in an updated version of the syllabus.)
Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: ISS 325

Japanese Culture & Society: Food in Modern Japanese History & Culture (4 credits)

Instructor(s): Dr. Elizabeth Lublin, JCMU Visiting Scholar
Schedule: TBD (Dates indicated in syllabus are tentative and provided only as reference for course pacing; Finalized dates will be provided in an updated version of the syllabus.)
Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: SSC 490

Business Japanese for Pre-Professionals (JPN Level 3 & 4 ONLY) (3 credits)

NOTE: Open only to students who place into JCMU JPN Level 3 (as an elective option) and Level 4 (as a required course)
Instructor(s): Dr. Masumi Hamada
Schedule: TBD
Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: JPN 491

JCMU Experience (Required - all students) (1 credit)

Instructor(s): Benjamin McCracken, Esq. and Christopher Garth, JCMU
Schedule: TBD
Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: ASN 291

*MSU course designations are provided for reference by MSU and guest (LLE) students. MSU students should make sure to avoid repeating courses that are not re-enrollable, or courses for which they have not met the prerequisites (contact the JCMU office if you have questions or concerns). Students attending another JCMU partner school should consult with their home institution's study abroad office or their academic advisors, as needed, for course equivalencies/approval.

Past Semesters

Fall 2025

Japanese Culture & Society: Contemporary Social Issues & Identities (3 credits)

Instructor: Dr. Azumi Tamura, Shiga University
Schedule: Wednesdays, 12:50 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Shiga University

Shiga University is 2.6 km (1.6 miles) from JCMU, or approximately 10-15 minutes by bike.

MSU Course Designation*: SSC 490

Japanese Culture & Society: Nature and People in Shiga and Japan (3 credits)

Instructor(s): Kiyo Sakamoto & Amanda Mashima, University of Shiga Prefecture
Schedule: Wednesdays, 1:10 PM - 4:20 PM
Location: University of Shiga Prefecture

USP campus is 6.0 km (3.7 miles) from JCMU, or approximately 25-35 minutes by bike.

MSU Course Designation*: AL 400

Japanese Culture & Society: Japanese Politics & Diplomacy (4 credits)

Instructor(s): Benjamin McCracken, Esq. and Christopher Garth, JCMU
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: ISS 225

Business Japanese for Pre-Professionals (JPN Level 3 & 4 ONLY) (3 credits)

NOTE: Open only to students who place into JCMU JPN Level 3 (as an elective option) and Level 4 (as a required course)
Instructor(s): Dr. Masumi Hamada
Schedule:

Mondays: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Fridays: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: JPN 491

JCMU Experience (Required - all students) (1 credit)

Instructor(s): Benjamin McCracken, Esq. and Christopher Garth, JCMU
Schedule: TBD
Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: ASN 291

Spring 2025

2025 Spring Semester Weekly Schedule (NOTE: May not apply to all weeks; check syllabi for course-specific schedules)

Business Japanese for Pre-Professionals (3 credits)

NOTE: Open only to students who place into JCMU JPN Level 3 (as an elective option) and Level 4 (required course)
Schedule:

Mondays 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Fridays 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Location: JCMU Campus
Instructor(s): Dr. Masumi Hamada
MSU Course Designation*: JPN 491

Japanese Culture & Society: Social Science Analyses of Regional Folklore (4 credits)

Schedule: Mondays & Wednesdays, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: JCMU Campus
Instructor: Dr. Jacqueline Jackson, JCMU Visiting Scholar
MSU Course Designation*: ISS 330B

Japanese Culture & Society: Field Study Abroad - Socio-Cultural Analyses of The Tale of Genji (4 credits)

Schedule: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: JCMU Campus
Instructor: Dr. Jacqueline Jackson, JCMU Visiting Scholar
MSU Course Designation*: SSC 496

JCMU Experience I & II (Required - all students) (1 credit)

Instructor(s): Christopher Garth, JCMU
Schedule: Fridays, 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM
Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: ASN 291

*MSU course designations are provided for reference by MSU and guest (LLE) students. Students attending another JCMU partner school should consult with their home institution's study abroad office or their academic advisors, as needed, for course equivalencies/approval.

Fall 2024

2024 Fall Semester Weekly Schedule (NOTE: May not apply to all weeks; check syllabi for course-specific schedules)

Human Lifespan Development Across Cultures in Japan (4 credits)

Instructor: Dr. Jacqueline Jackson, JCMU Visiting Scholar
Schedule: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM (September 10 - December 12)
Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: ISS 318

Japanese Culture & Society: Contemporary Social Issues & Identities (3 credits)

Instructor: Dr. Azumi Tamura, Shiga University
Schedule: Wednesdays, 12:50 PM - 4:00 PM (September 11 - December 11)
Location: Shiga University

Shiga University is 2.6 km (1.6 miles) from JCMU, or approximately 10-15 minutes by bike.

MSU Course Designation*: SSC 490

Japanese Culture & Society: Nature and People in Shiga and Japan (3 credits)

Instructor(s): Kiyo Sakamoto & Amanda Mashima, University of Shiga Prefecture
Schedule: Wednesdays, 1:30 PM - 4:20 PM (September 25 - December 11; NOTE: Three required field trips will be held on the following Saturdays: Oct. 12, Oct. 26, Nov. 16)
Location: University of Shiga Prefecture

USP campus is 6.0 km (3.7 miles) from JCMU, or approximately 25-35 minutes by bike.

MSU Course Designation*: AL 400

JCMU Experience (Required - all students) (1 credit)

Instructor(s): Benjamin McCracken, Esq. and Christopher Garth, JCMU
Schedule: Fridays, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: ASN 291

Spring 2024

2024 Spring Semester Weekly Schedule (NOTE: May not apply to all weeks; check syllabi for course-specific schedules)

Japanese Culture & Society: Model Japan (4 credits)

Instructor: Benjamin McCracken, Esq., Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: JCMU Campus

Teaching English in Japan (3 credits)

Instructor: Christopher Garth, Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: JCMU Campus

Japanese Culture & Society: Places and Spaces in Modern Japanese Literature and Film (3 credits)

Instructor: Dr. Mariko Takano, Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: JCMU Campus

JCMU Experience (Required - all students) (1 credit)

Instructor: Christopher Garth, Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Schedule: Fridays, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: JCMU Campus

Fall 2023

2023 Fall Semester Weekly Schedule (NOTE: May not apply to all weeks; check syllabi for course-specific schedules)

Japanese Culture & Society: Popular Music and Modern Japan (3 credits)

Instructor: Dr. Mariko Takano, Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (September 7 - December 12)
Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: AL 400

Japanese Culture & Society: Contemporary Social Issues & Identities (3 credits)

Instructor: Dr. Azumi Tamura, Shiga University
Schedule: Mondays, 12:50 PM - 4:00 PM (September 11 - December 11; NOTE: There is a holiday on 10/9, but Shiga University will still hold classes.)
Location: Shiga University

Shiga University is 2.6 km (1.6 miles) from JCMU, or approximately 10-15 minutes by bike.

MSU Course Designation*: SSC 490

Japanese Culture & Society (4 credits)

Instructor: Benjamin McCracken, Esq., Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (September 12 - December 12)
Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: IAH 211B

JCMU Experience (Required - all students) (1 credit)

Instructor: Christopher Garth, Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Schedule: Fridays, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (September 8 - December 8)
Location: JCMU Campus
MSU Course Designation*: ASN 291

Spring 2023

Japanese Culture & Society: Places and Spaces in Modern Japanese Literature and Film (3 credits)

Instructor: Dr. Mariko Takano, Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Schedule: Wednesdays & Thursdays, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: JCMU Campus

Japan & Nature: Landscape, Disaster, and Food Culture (3 credits)

Instructor: Dr. Yoshimasa Kurashige, University of Shiga Prefecture
Schedule: Tuesdays, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: JCMU Campus

Japanese Culture & Society: Model Japan (4 credits) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU Resident Director

Instructor: Benjamin McCracken, Esq., Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Schedule: Thursdays, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: JCMU Campus

JCMU Experience (Required - all students) (1 credit) - JCMU Faculty

Instructor: Mr. Christopher Garth, Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Schedule: Fridays, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: JCMU Campus

Fall 2022

Japanese Culture & Society (4 credits)

Instructor: Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU
Schedule: Tuesdays, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: JCMU Campus

Japanese Culture & Society: Contemporary Social Issues & Identities (3 credits)

Instructor: Shiga University
Schedule: Wednesdays, 12:50 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Shiga University

Shiga University is 2.6 km (1.6 miles) from JCMU, or approximately 10-15 minutes by bike.

JCMU Experience I (Required - all students) (1 credit)

Instructor: Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU Resident Director
Schedule: Thursdays, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Spring 2020

Japanese Culture & Society (4 credits) Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU
Japanese Culture & Society: Contemporary Social Issues and Identities (3 credits) Dr. Azumi Tamura, Shiga University
Japan & Nature: Landscape, Climate, and the People's Attitude (3 credits) Dr. Yoshimasa Kurashige and Dr. Kazuhisa Shimada, University of Shiga Prefecture
JCMU Experience I & II (Required - all students) (1 credit) Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU

Fall 2019

Japanese Culture & Society: Model Japan (4 credits) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU
Japanese Economy & Business (3 credits) - Dr. Koichiro Mori, Shiga University
Second Language Acquisition (1 credit) - Martin Hawkes, The University of Shiga Prefecture
JCMU Experience (Required - all students) (1 credit) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU

Spring 2019

Japanese Culture & Society (4 credits) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU Resident Director
Japanese Culture & Society: Contemporary Social Issues and Identities (3 credits) - Dr. Azumi Tamura, Shiga University
Japan & Nature: Landscape, Climate, and the People's Attitude (3 credits) - Dr. Yoshimasa Kurashige and Dr. Kazuhisa Shimada, University of Shiga Prefecture
JCMU Experience (Required - all students) (1 credit) - JCMU Faculty

Fall 2018

Japanese Culture & Society (4 credits) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU Resident Director
Teaching English in Japan (3 credits) - Christopher Garth, JCMU English Language Program Coordinator
Japanese Economy & Business (3 credits) - Dr. Koichiro Mori, Shiga University
Second Language Acquisition (1 credit) - Martin Hawkes, The University of Shiga Prefecture
JCMU Experience I (Required - AY & Fall semester students) (1 credit) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU Resident Director

Spring 2018

Japanese Culture & Society (4 credits) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU Resident Director
Japanese Culture & Society: Social and Cultural Psychology (3 credits) - Dr. Akinobu Nameda, Shiga University
Japan & Nature: Landscape, Climate, and the People's Attitude (3 credits) - Dr. Kazu Shimada, University of Shiga Prefecture
JCMU Experience (Required - all students) (1 credit) - JCMU Faculty

Fall 2017

Japanese Culture & Society: Model Japan (4 credits) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU Resident Director
Japanese Economy & Business (3 credits) - Dr. Koichiro Mori, Shiga University
Second Language Acquisition (1 credit) - Martin Hawkes, The University of Shiga Prefecture
JCMU Experience I (Required - AY & Fall semester students) (1 credit) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU Resident Director

Spring 2017

Japanese Culture & Society: Shiga (4 credits) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU Resident Director
Japanese Culture & Society: Cultural Psychology (3 credits) - Dr. Akinobu Nameda, Shiga University
Teaching English in Japan (3 credits) - Christopher Garth, JCMU English Language Program Coordinator & Instructor
JCMU Experience I (Required - Spring semester students) (1 credit) - JCMU Faculty
JCMU Experience II (Required - Academic year students) (1 credit) - JCMU Faculty

Fall 2016

Japanese Culture & Society: Model Japan (4 credits) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU Resident Director
Japanese Economy and Business (3 credits) - Dr. Koichiro Mori, Shiga University
JCMU Experience (Required Course) (1 credit) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU Resident Director

Spring 2016

Japanese Culture & Society: Law and Order (4 Credits) - Benjamin McCracken, Esq., JCMU Resident Director
Japanese Culture & Society: Social and Cultural Psychology (3 credits) - Dr. Akinobu Nameda, Shiga University
Introduction to Japanese Film (3 credits) - Dr. Carl Boland, JCMU Faculty