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 2023

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: 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

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: Benjamin McCracken, Esq., Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Schedule: Tuesdays, 11:10 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: JCMU Campus

Past Semesters

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