7-2. Seminar Subjects
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APS offers 2nd Year Seminars, 3rd Year Seminars, and 4th Year Seminars as Major Seminar courses.
Under the 2023 Curriculum, 3rd and 4th year seminars are required, and students aim to write a graduation thesis as a culmination of their 4 years of study.
In 3rd and 4th year seminars, students study under the same faculty supervisor for 2 years from their 5th to 8th semester, based on the results of the application made in their 4th semester.
232023 Curriculum
- Students who enrolled as new (1st year) students in AY 2023 or later.
Contents
2nd Year Seminars
2nd year seminars are Introduction to Research in Asia Pacific Studies and Research Methods. An overview of each course is shown below.
| Introduction to Research in Asia Pacific Studies |
To prepare for writing a graduation thesis in their 4th year, students try carrying out the process of writing a graduation thesis in their 2nd year by writing a thesis to completion based on a specific topic.
To write a thesis, students will carry out all of the steps including (1) Learning topic discipline (theories / methodology / ethics, etc.); (2) Formulate a question; (3) Confirm the significance of the research (significance to research or social significance); (4) Create the thesis structure: (5) Analyze and consider; and (6) Reach a conclusion. |
|---|---|
| Research Methods |
This course aims to have students learn various research methods used in social science. Focusing on sociology, political science, and economics, students will comprehensively study research methods in each discipline in detail, take up specific research topics, and attempt to carry out practical analysis and consideration using various methods. |
3rd Year Seminars
In 3rd year seminars, students clarify their research topics based on their studies and interests up to their 2nd year.
The content differs based on the faculty in charge of the seminar, but the goals of the course are to: (1) deepen understanding of a specific field through case studies, reading of the literature, and discussion, and (2) acquire the specialized knowledge necessary for writing a graduation thesis.
【Grade Evaluation】
Letter Grade (A+, A, B, C, F)
APS [Major Seminar]
Major seminars are required seminar-style courses that provide guidance for writing a graduation thesis. Through small-group instruction, students deepen their specialized learning of concepts, theories, methodology, etc. for analysis and consideration related to their topics, as well as participate in discussions, give presentations, and write reports.
4th Year Seminars
This course aims to have students make the most of the knowledge and techniques they have gained up through their third year to write an graduation thesis as a culmination of their 4 years of study.
Students spend a year researching a topic they are interested in, and complete their theses in the second half of the year. In the first half of their 4th year, students take “Graduation Research I” (2 credits), and in the second half of the year they take “Graduation Research II” (2 credits) and “Graduation Thesis” (2 credits).
【Grade Evaluation】
Letter Grade (A+, A, B, C, F)
Graduation Research I
Graduation Research I is the course taken before students write their graduation thesis in Graduation Thesis II. As a culmination of their four years of study, students select their own research topic under the guidance of the course instructor and research specific matters, concepts, and theories in line with their topic to prepare for writing their graduation thesis.
Graduation Research II
In Graduation Thesis II, students summarize the research they carried out in Graduation Research I in a graduation thesis or report.
By writing a graduation thesis or report, students can gain the ability to analyze and consider research topics in greater depth, as well as learn how to express themselves more appropriately in their thesis or report. In other words, as undergraduate students, they are expected to gain and improve their ability to select an appropriate issue to research (topic, research question, etc.), collect information, analyze and consider the issue, and express their research results appropriately.
Students must earn credit for this course to graduate from the College of Asia Pacific Studies.
| 4th Semester | 5th Semester | 6th Semester | 7th Semester | 8th Semester | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Application | ▶ | Major Seminar | ▶ | Major Seminar | ▶ | Graduation Research I | ▶ | [Required]Graduation Research II (Graduation Report) |
| 2 Credits | 2 Credits | 2 Credits | 2 Credits | |||||
| Graduation Thesis | ||||||||
| 2 Credits |
- *3rd and 4th year seminars are all registered by the university.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
2027 Spring Semester Application
(3rd and 4th year Seminars)
| Overview Instruction Video | Video |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Information | Recruitment Information |
| Seminar Booklet | Seminar Booklet |
| Syllabus |
Major Seminar/Graduation ResearchⅠ/Graduation ResearchⅡ/Graduation Thesis
*The day of the week and class period shown in the Fall 2026 syllabus are not yet finalized and may be subject to change. |
| Seminar List | Seminar List |
| Application Schedule |
Application Period - All students: Thu, October 22 - Wed, Nobember 4, 2026, 16:30 (JST)
|
| Application URL | Application Form |
Screening Result for AY 2026 Fall Semester
Deliverables for Graduation Research II and Graduation Thesis
Final Deliverables
Please note that the required deliverables differ depending on whether you are enrolled in Graduation Research II only or in both Graduation Research II and Graduation Thesis.
Be sure to submit the appropriate deliverables for your enrollment.
| Course Enrollment Pattern | Subject | Deliverables | Number of credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | Graduation Research II Only | Graduation Report | 2 |
| (2) | Graduation Research II | Graduation Thesis Abstract | 2 |
| Graduation Thesis | Graduation Thesis | 2 |
2026 Fall Semester
| Submission Schedule |
The submission period will be announced around October. |
|---|---|
| Submission Method |
All documets must be submitted through Moodle.
|
| Submission Method Manual | |
| Deliverables Format |
Graduation Theses and Graduation reports have different word/character count requirements, as indicated below.
Graduation Thesis: Japanese: 15,000 characters / English: 6,500 words or more
In some cases, instructors may permit submissions in formats other than a thesis or report (e.g., videos).
Please refer to the writing manual. |
| Evaluation Criteria for Deliverables |
172017 Curriculum
- Students who enrolled as new (1st year) students in AY 2017 or later.
- Students who enrolled as 2nd year transfer students in AY 2018 or later.
- Students who enrolled as 3rd year transfer students in AY 2019 or later.
2nd Year Seminars
APS offers "Introduction to Research Methods" and "Preliminary Seminar (Research Methods)" as 2nd year seminar subjects.
In "Introduction to Research Methods," together with studying research methods for the social sciences, students conduct basic surveys and analyses, write reports, and give presentations. "Preliminary Seminar (Research Methods)" further develops the skills students cultivated in "Introduction to Research Methods" for their particular fields of expertise and serves as the link between "Introduction to Research Methods" and the 3rd year seminars students will be taking.
This is why taking this subject during the 4th semester is preferred and why "Introduction to Research Methods" is desirable as a prerequisite. "Preliminary Seminar (Research Methods)" courses for each of the four Areas of Study have been established, with classes offered in Japanese during the Fall Semester and classes offered in English during the Spring Semester. Please check the syllabus for detailed information because the area of training emphasized differs depending on the Area of Study (e.g., focus on reading documents, focus on field work, focus on hands-on practice, etc.).
* Subject titles enclosed in parenthesis refer to subjects from the AY 2011 Curriculum.
3rd Year Seminars
Any students interested in advancing to graduate study or finding employment in Japan are strongly encouraged to register for a small-group 3rd year seminar.
Although the contents of each individual seminar vary greatly, the main aim of all 3rd year seminars is the same: deepen understanding of a specific field through case studies, journal articles and debate, and master the specialized knowledge and skills necessary for writing an undergraduate thesis.
【Grade Evaluation】
Major Seminar I/II: Regular grading (A+, A, B, C, or F)
APS "Major SeminarⅠ&Ⅱ"
The main aim of the APS Major Seminar is to deepen students’ academic understanding of specific economic social issues, including the background and the structure of those issues, affecting the Asia Pacific region through research and discussion. Students also write academic reports on a chosen topic, which is essential training for further studies. The main fields are ″Environment & Development,″ ″Hospitality & Tourism,″ ″International Relations & Peace Studies″ and ″Culture, Society & Media.″ During their studies, students will further develop the fundamental research methods they acquired during their first two years and deepen their knowledge through analyzing a range of information. Some students may also take part in surveys, interviews or fieldwork in Japan or overseas.
4th Year Seminars
4th year seminars form the culmination of students’ four years of study at APU. This highly specialized subject allows students to select a topic of interest and conduct focused research over a one-year period.
Students take Graduation Research I (2 credits) in the first half of their 4th year. Students who successfully pass this subject are then able to take Graduation Research II (4 credits) the following semester. Only students who pass Graduation Research I are able to register for Graduation Research II.
【Grade Evaluation】
Research Seminar: Pass (P) / Fail (F)
Undergraduate Thesis: Regular grading (A+, A, B, C, or F)
Seminar System and New Application =Detail=
| Recruitment information | |
|---|---|
| Seminar List |
|
| Undergraduate Seminar Booklet | |
| Application Schedule |
|
| How to Apply | |
| For Irregular Patterns etc. | |
| FAQ |
Screening Result for AY 2026 Fall Semester
Related Information
Undergraduate Thesis
2026 Spring Semester
| Undergraduate Thesis schedule |
10:00 (Japan Standard Time), Wed, 1 Jul 2026 - 16:30 (Japan Standard Time), Mon, 13 Jul 2026
|
|---|---|
| Thesis Requirements |
Thesis should be submitted online via Moodle. |
| Instruction Manualfor submitting the thesis | |
| Undergraduate Thesis Graduation Research II Final Research Output Format |
Undergraduate Thesis Graduation Research II Final Research Output Format |
