04_Registration for University-wide Open Courses, Common Courses among Different Graduate Schools, Courses Open to Graduate School Students, and Japanese Language Courses for International Students
The following is an explanation of “University-wide Open Courses” for undergraduate students, “Common Courses among Different Graduate Schools” and “Courses Open to Graduate School Students” for graduate students, and “Japanese Language Courses” for international students.
【For Undergraduate Students】Registration for “University-wide Open Courses”
●About “University-wide Open Courses”
●Categories of “University-wide Open Courses”
●How to Register for “University-wide Open Courses”
【For Graduate Students】Registration for “Common Courses among Different Graduate Schools” and “Courses Open to Graduate School Students”
●About “Common Courses among Different Graduate Schools” and “Courses Open to Graduate School Students”
●How to Register for “Common Courses among Different Graduate Schools” and “Courses Open to Graduate School Students”
【For International Students】Registration for Japanese Language Courses
●About “Japanese Language Courses”
●How to Register for “Japanese Language Courses”
【For Undergraduate Students】About “University-wide Open Courses”
Waseda University offers a large number of courses that are open to all students regardless of their major in school. Generally referred to as “University-wide Open Courses,” these are comprised of courses in various fields provided by the Global Education Center (GEC), the Center for International Education (CIE), the undergraduate schools, partner universities, and other institutions.
All students have the option of registration in University-wide Open Courses, in addition to the regular curriculums set independently by each undergraduate school. Students who do register and receive credit for these courses can apply them as credits counted toward degree required credits in accordance with the regulations established by their undergraduate school.
University-wide Open Courses present opportunities to go beyond the boundaries of one’s own undergraduate field of study by allowing students to enjoy the almost limitless array of choices that only a comprehensive university of Waseda’s size can offer, and by giving students the freedom to choose how to expand one’s possibilities while experiencing the joys of learning.
【For Undergraduate Students】Categories of “University-wide Open Courses”
There are four main categories of “University-wide Open Courses”.
(1) Courses offered by Global Education Center (GEC)
GEC offers a tremendous variety of courses, open to all students, on subjects that go beyond the boundaries of each student’s specializations and majors.
As for skills required of college students, GEC provides academic writing courses (“Academic Writing” etc.), mathematic courses (“Introduction to University Mathematics alpha (Calculating Interest)”, etc.), data science courses (“Statistics Literacy alpha”, “Introduction to Data Science alpha”etc.), information courses (“Introduction to Programming”, etc.), English courses (“Tutorial English”, “Academic Writing and Disucussion in English”etc.), all of which would make foundations of every academic field.
Moreover, GEC has had courses in rare languages that are rarely offered or not taught at other universities and a diverse number of distinctive sports training and athletics programs (“Rugby”, ”Kyudo, Japanese Archery” etc). GEC also offers Japanese applied linguistics courses (“Japanese Education (Basic)”, etc.).
In the group of courses called “Self-Competence Development courses”, many courses emphasizing on problem solving and hands-on experience are provided.
Besides offering such courses, GEC has provided opportunities to pursue a “Minor”. In addition to one’s major course of study learned in each student’s undergraduate school, students can focus on other academic fields as a “Minor” through a systematic approach, aiming to reinforce their major, add a second string to their bow, and obtain applicational areas of their major. Students who complete their Minor will receive a certificate issued by the University on their graduation.
- Reference
- Global Education Center (GEC)
(2) Courses offered by Center for International Education (CIE)
CIE offers unique courses to undergraduate students as a center of the promotion of international education programs, in addition to providing services and assistance for international students studying at Waseda and Waseda students intending to study abroad. The courses offered by CIE include those that can be taken at host universities as a part of their study abroad programs; those designed for short-term study abroad programs focusing on language learning, theme research, or cross-cultural experiences; those that can be taken with international students during the summer sessions at Waseda; and those called “International Japanese Studies” courses taught by professors invited from overseas universities.
Registration for a short-term study abroad program, so-called the “Foreign Language and Cultural Training Program”, will be conducted in both Spring and Summer Terms. With this option, students who find it hard to participate in a long-term study abroad commitment will be able to have the opportunity to experience a short-term program while also earning credits.
- Reference
- Center for International Education (CIE)
(3) Courses offered at academic partner universities
University-wide Open Courses are offered by Waseda University and participating universities based on academic agreements. A large portion of these courses highlights the unique academic offerings of each university, giving students a wide selection of choices to register. In most of the courses provided by other universities, students must be at least in their second year (some courses do allow first-year registration) as a prerequisite for registration. Credits received for these courses may be applied to credits for graduation in accordance with the rules of each student’s undergraduate school.
- Reference
- Course offered at Other Universities
(4) University-wide Open Courses offered at Undergraduate Schools
The “University-wide Open Courses offered at Undergraduate Schools” are courses that are open to students of other schools who can apply in the first registration. Course list can be checked on the Global Education Center website. Please note that “University-wide Open Courses offered at Undergraduate Schools” are different from “Courses offered at other undergraduate schools”.
- Reference
- Global Education Center (GEC)
【For Undergraduate Students】How to Register for “University-wide Open Courses”
The registration process for “University-wide Open Courses” differs depending on the category.
| Category | Registration Process |
|---|---|
| (1) Courses offered by Global Education Center (GEC) | Please register via the Web Course Registration during the First, Second, and Third Registration Periods of your School.
|
| (2) Courses offered by Center for International Education (CIE) | Please register via the Web Course Registration during the First, Second, and Third Registration Periods of your School. |
| (3) Courses offered at academic partner universities | The registration schedule and procedures differ depending on the partner university. For details, please check the Global Education Center website. |
| (4) University-wide Open Courses offered at Undergraduate Schools | You can register via the Web Course Registration during the First Registration Period of your School. |
- If you need to pay Audit/course enrollment fees, you must pay them by the deadline. For courses that require payment of Audit/course enrollment fees, “Fee” will be displayed in the remarks column of the course search screen.
Please note that in principle, if a course is registered automatically, the Audit/course enrollment fees is included in the tuition fee, so you do not need to pay it. - Some “Registered” courses are possible to cancel within a limited period of time.
For details, please refer to “TIPS2: Category Change/Course Cancellation“.
【For Graduate Students】About “Common Courses among Different Graduate Schools” and “Courses Open to Graduate School Students”
There are two categories of “University-wide Open Courses” for graduate students as follows:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Common Courses among Different Graduate School | These courses are “University-wide Open Courses” for graduate students, that is, it is open to all graduate students. |
| Courses Open to Graduate School Student | These courses are part of the university-wide open courses for undergraduate students that are also open to graduate students. |
- If you need to pay Audit/course enrollment fees, you must pay them by the deadline. For courses that require payment of Audit/course enrollment fees, “Fee” will be displayed in the remarks column of the course search screen.
Please note that in principle, if a course is registered automatically, the Audit/course enrollment fees is included in the tuition fee, so you do not need to pay it. - Some “Registered” courses are possible to cancel within a limited period of time.
For details, please refer to “TIPS2: Category Change/Course Cancellation“.
【For Graduate Students】How to Register for “Common Courses among Different Graduate Schools” and “Courses Open to Graduate School Students”
For details on courses offered and how to register, please visit the following website.
【For International Students】About “Japanese Language Courses”
The Center for Japanese Language（CJL) offers Japanese language courses for international students.
Undergraduate students (regular students)
The rules for taking Japanese language courses vary depending on the school, so please check Study Guide and Course Registration Guide of your school carefully for the number of required credits for degree completion and the number of credits allowed for registration.
Graduate students (regular students)
If you want to take a course to improve your Japanese language skills, you may take a Japanese language course. For some students, Tuition Fee for Japanese Language Courses may be required, so please check with your School/Graduate School office.
Non-degree Students（Common to both Undergraduate Schools and Graduate Schools）
In order to maintain your status of residence (VISA), you must take at least 10 hours of courses per week. (Courses are not limited to Japanese language courses.)
- The number of hours for Japanese language courses varies by School and Graduate school, so please contact your School/Graduate School office or the Center for International Education to confirm.
- Non-degree students may take Japanese language courses after applying to and being accepted by the Center for Japanese Language（CJL）.
- If you want to take Japanese language courses, you must pay the Tuition Fee for Japanese Language Courses.
【For International Students】How to Register for “Japanese Language Courses”
For information on how international students can register for Japanese language courses, please visit the website of the Center for Japanese Language（CJL）.
- Reference
- Course Registration Guide (CJL)
Notes on the course of study
- If you want to take Japanese language courses, please be sure to watch the “Academic Orientation for Japanese Language Courses” video.
- Please register for courses in your School with priority over Japanese language courses.
- The maximum number of credits that can be taken by undergraduate and graduate students is as follows.
●The maximum number of credits per semester is 8.
●The maximum number of credits a student can take while enrolled in school is 32. However, previous courses from which you were unable to earn credit(s) will not be counted.
