Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
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  1. Chapter 10: College of Sustainability and Tourism

3. Graduation Requirements

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232023 Curriculum

  • 1.Students who enrolled as new (1st-semester) students from AY 2023 onwards.
  • 2.Students who enrolled as 2nd-year transfer students from AY 2024 onwards.
  • 3.Students who enrolled as 3rd-year transfer students from AY 2025 onwards.
2023 Curriculum
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Students to whom the 2023 Curriculum applies

  • Students who enrolled in the College of Sustainability and Tourism (ST) as new (1st-semester) students in AY 2023 or later.

Graduation Requirements

Your graduation requirements depend on your enrollment language and whether you are a domestic or international student.
In order to graduate from the College of Sustainability and Tourism, you must fulfill all of the requirements marked by 〇 in the table below. Please check the column that corresponds to your language basis and status as an international/domestic student.

No. Graduation Requirement Language Basis & Domestic/
International Student
Japanese-Basis English-Basis
Domestic Student International Student ―
1 Enroll for at least 4 years 〇 〇 〇
2 Complete at least 124 credits in total 〇 〇 〇
3 Complete all required language subjects
(or be exempted from required language subjects)		 〇 〇 〇
4 Fulfill the credit requirements for each subject field 〇 〇 〇
5 Complete at least 20 credits of subjects held in English
(Japanese-basis domestic students only)		 〇 ― ―
6 Complete 8 credits of required Common Liberal Arts Subjects 〇 〇 〇
7 Complete 6 credits of required Academic Skills Subjects 〇 〇 〇
8 Complete at least 10 credits (5 courses) of Tourism Subjects 〇 〇 〇
9 Complete at least 10 credits (5 courses) of Sustainable Society Subjects 〇 〇 〇
10 Complete at least 2 credits of Off-Campus Program Subjects 〇 〇 〇
11 Complete at least 2 credits of Final Results Subjects 〇 〇 〇

Credits Required for Graduation by Curriculum

The following tables show the credit requirements for graduation by curriculum. (How to check your curriculum)
However, each student’s starting level for required language subjects (English or Japanese) differs depending on the results of the placement test taken after enrollment. For this reason, even though students belong to the same curriculum, the number of required credits for “English Language Subjects” or “Japanese Language Subjects” may also differ between students. Please see “Graduation Requirement 3” for more information about required language subjects.
How to Check your Individual Credit Requirements

ST 23 JST: Credits Required for Graduation (2023 ST Curriculum, Japanese-basis, English Standard Track)

Subject Field Required Credits Subtotal Total
Common
Education
Subjects		 English Language Subjects 24 40 At least
124 credits
Required Common Liberal Arts Subjects 8
Common Liberal Arts Subjects 8
Language Education Subjects and/or
Common Liberal Arts Subjects		 0
ST Major
Education
Subjects		 Required Academic Skills Subjects 6 62
Tourism Subjects 10
Sustainable Society Subjects 10
Off-Campus Program Subjects 2
Final Results Subjects 2
Major Education Subjects 32
Other College Subjects 0 0
Subjects Not Counted Towards Graduation 0    

ST 23 JAT: Credits Required for Graduation (2023 ST Curriculum, Japanese-basis, English Advanced Track)

Subject Field Required Credits Subtotal Total
Common
Education
Subjects		 English Language Subjects 12 40 At least
124 credits
Required Common Liberal Arts Subjects 8
Common Liberal Arts Subjects 8
Language Education Subjects and/or
Common Liberal Arts Subjects		 12
ST Major
Education
Subjects		 Required Academic Skills Subjects 6 62
Tourism Subjects 10
Sustainable Society Subjects 10
Off-Campus Program Subjects 2
Final Results Subjects 2
Major Education Subjects 32
Other College Subjects 0 0
Subjects Not Counted Towards Graduation 0    

ST 23 E: Credits Required for Graduation (2023 ST Curriculum, English-basis)

Subject Field Required Credits Subtotal Total
Common
Education
Subjects		 Japanese Language Subjects 16 40 At least
124 credits
Required Common Liberal Arts Subjects 8
Common Liberal Arts Subjects 8
Language Education Subjects and/or
Common Liberal Arts Subjects		 8
ST Major
Education
Subjects		 Required Academic Skills Subjects 6 62
Tourism Subjects 10
Sustainable Society Subjects 10
Off-Campus Program Subjects 2
Final Results Subjects 2
Major Education Subjects 32
Other College Subjects 0 0
Subjects Not Counted Towards Graduation 0    

Explanation of Each Graduation Requirement

Graduation Requirement 1: Enroll for at least four years

Students must be enrolled at APU for at least four years.
Students enter their first semester upon enrollment and progress to the next semester level every half a year.

Year Level 1st Year Student 2nd Year Student 3rd Year Student 4th Year Student
Semester Level 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
Enrollment Enroll Graduate ―
Graduation Requirement 2: Complete at least 124 credits in total
Students must earn a total of at least 124 credits to graduate.
However, even if a student has earned 124 credits overall, they cannot graduate if they have not fulfilled any of graduation requirements 3 to 11.
Graduation Requirement 3: Complete all required language subjects (or be exempted from required language subjects)
The number of required credits for English or Japanese Language Subjects differs between students based on the results of the placement test taken after enrollment. APU automatically registers and assigns students to these classes until they earn credits for all their required language subjects.
【English】Required Language Subjects for Japanese-Basis Students
  • Students can only proceed to the next level after earning credits for both English A and B at a given level. Students who fail either subject A or B cannot proceed to the next level. (For example, if a student passes English A but fails B, then they will only be registered for English B again in the next semester.)
  • At all levels, English A is worth 4 credits and English B is worth 2 credits.
  • Please refer to the “English Language Subjects” page for more details.
Track Starting Level No. of Credits
Required for
Graduation 		Standard Track
Registration Period for Required English Subjects 		Advanced Track
Registration Period for Required English Subjects
Elementary A Pre-
Intermediate A		 Intermediate A Upper
Intermediate A		 Advanced 1A Advanced 2A
Elementary B Pre-
Intermediate B		 Intermediate B Upper
Intermediate B		 Advanced 1B Advanced 2B
Standard
Track 		Elementary 24 1st Semester After Completing
Elementary		 After Completing
Pre-Intermediate		 After Completing
Intermediate		 (Optional) (Optional)
Pre-
Intermediate 		18 Exempt 1st Semester After Completing
Pre-Intermediate		 After Completing
Intermediate		 (Optional) (Optional)
Intermediate 12 Exempt Exempt 1st Semester After Completing
Intermediate		 (Optional) (Optional)
Upper
Intermediate		 6 Exempt Exempt Exempt 1st Semester (Optional) (Optional)
Advanced
Track 		Advanced 1 12 Cannot Register 1st Semester After Completing
Advanced 1
Advanced 2 6 Exempt 1st Semester
Exempt 0 Exempt Exempt
【Japanese】Required Language Subjects for English-Basis Students
Starting Level No. of Credits
Required for
Graduation 		Required Japanese Subjects
Foundation I
(4 Credits)		 Foundation II
(4 Credits)		 Foundation III
(4 Credits)		 Intermediate
(4 Credits)
Foundation I 16 Both registered in 1st Semester After Completing
Foundation I & II		 After Completing
Foundation I – III
Foundation II 12 Exempt 1st Semester After Completing
Foundation II		 After Completing
Foundation II & III
Foundation III 8 Exempt Exempt 1st Semester After Completing
Foundation III
Intermediate 4 Exempt Exempt Exempt 1st Semester
Higher than Intermediate 0 Exempt Exempt Exempt Exempt
Graduation Requirement 4: Fulfill the credit requirements for each subject field
  • Of the 124 credits required for graduation, students need to earn 102 credits in specific subject fields (Graduation Requirements 3 and 6-11).
  • Although students are required to complete 102 credits in the set subject fields, they can complete the remaining 22 credits (124 credits – 102 credits) in any subject field they are interested in.
  • Depending on each student’s starting level for required language subjects, the number of required credits for “English/Japanese Language Subjects” and “Language Education Subjects and/or Common Liberal Arts Subjects” will change. However, all students are still required to earn a total of 102 credits in the required subject fields.
【E.g.: English-basis Students (Starting from Foundation Japanese I)】
Subject Field Required
Credits		 Subtotal Total
Common
Education
Subjects		 Japanese Language Subjects 16 102 Credits 40 At least
124 credits
Required Common Liberal Arts Subjects 8
Common Liberal Arts Subjects 8
Language Education Subjects and/or
Common Liberal Arts Subjects		 8
ST Major
Education Subjects		 Required Academic Skills Subjects 6 62
Tourism Subjects 10
Sustainable Society Subjects 10
Off-Campus Program Subjects 2
Final Results Subjects 2
Major Education Subjects 32
Other College Subjects 0 0
Subjects Not Counted Towards Graduation 0
Graduation Requirement 5: Complete at least 20 credits of subjects held in English (Japanese-basis domestic students only)

Japanese-basis domestic students must complete at least 20 credits of Common Liberal Arts or Major Education Subjects (either from their own college or another college) held in English.
Japanese-basis students must fulfil the following requirements in order to register for subjects held in English.

English Track Requirements for Taking Subjects Held in English
Standard Track (JST) Complete credits for or be exempted from “Intermediate English A/B”
Advanced Track (JAT) No specific requirements. Can register for subjects held in English from their 1st semester.

(NOTE)

  • Language Education Subjects and subjects held in both English and Japanese (E/J) do not count towards this total.
  • Japanese-basis international students do not need to complete this requirement for graduation.
  • Even if your residence status (domestic/international) changes after enrollment, your curriculum and graduation requirements do not change.
  • The subject “Bridge Program” counts as a subject held in English.
Subject Outline Bridge Program is a Common Liberal Arts Subject where students study a wide variety of liberal arts topics while improving their English ability.
This subject was established to serve as the first step towards students taking regular classes held in English.
Students cannot register for this subject again if they have already earned credits for it before.
Eligibility Only Japanese-basis domestic students on the English Standard Track can register for this subject.
Registration Restrictions Available after completing “Pre-Intermediate English A & B” and before completing “Upper-Intermediate English A & B”.
The classes are separated by college, so students cannot register for the “Bridge Program” of other colleges.
Students who want to take this subject should register for it themselves during one of the course registration periods.
Graduation Requirement 6: Complete 8 credits of required Common Liberal Arts Subjects

These subjects help students acquire the knowledge and methodologies that form the basis of specialized study as well as a wide range of views and ideas needed to achieve APU’s human resource development goals.

  • ST students are required to complete 8 credits for all of the following 4 subjects to graduate.
Subject Code Subject Name Credits Semester Available From Registration Method
020039 Introduction to
Tourism and Hospitality		 2 1st Semester Registered
by the Student
028004 Introduction to Sociology 2 1st Semester Registered
by the Student
028005 Introduction to
Sustainable Development		 2 1st Semester Registered
by the Student
028012 Statistics for Social Sciences 2 1st Semester Registered
by the Student
Graduation Requirement 7: Complete 6 credits of required Academic Skills Subjects

These subjects teach students the academic skills needed for undergraduate study.

  • ST students are required to earn credits for all of the following 3 subjects to graduate.
Subject Code Subject Name Credits Semester Available From Registration Method
038307 Introduction to
Research Methods		 2 1st Semester Registered
by Student
038340 Critical Reading I 2 3rd Semester Registered
by University in 3rd semester*
038341 Critical Reading II 2 4th Semester Registered
by University in 4th semester*

*Notes about “Critical Reading I” and “Critical Reading II”

  • The university will register students for these subjects in their enrollment language.
  • In some cases, these will be a preliminary screening for some specific classes. Recruitment information will be posted to Campus Terminal
Graduation Requirement 8: Complete at least 10 credits (5 courses) of Tourism Subjects

“Tourism Subjects” are further divided into smaller “Concentrations”. Each subject is allocated to a concentration by theme to make it easier for students to define their academic goals.

  • Students must earn 10 credits from the courses on this list to graduate (5 courses).
  • Please register for these subjects by yourself.
Concentration Subject Code Subject Name Credits Semester Available From
Tourism Studies 038322 Media and Tourism 2 3rd Semester
030350 Sociology of Tourism 2 3rd Semester
038321 Culture of Tourism 2 3rd Semester
030013 Cultural Anthropology 2 3rd Semester
037139 Heritage Tourism 2 5th Semester
037116 Tourism Economics 2 5th Semester
Tourism Industry
Operations		 038324 MICE and Event Industry 2 3rd Semester
038325 Special Interest Tourism 2 3rd Semester
038323 Tourism Operations 2 3rd Semester
038326 Health and Wellness Tourism 2 3rd Semester
038351 Destination Marketing 2 5th Semester
Hospitality
Operation		 038328 Food and Beverage Operations 2 3rd Semester
038327 Hospitality Operations 2 3rd Semester
038353 Resort Marketing 2 5th Semester
038405 Revenue Management 2 5th Semester
038352 Service Experience Design 2 5th Semester
Graduation Requirement 9: Complete at least 10 credits (5 courses) of Sustainable Society Subjects

“Sustainable Society Subjects” are further divided into smaller “Concentrations”. Each subject is allocated to a concentration by theme to make it easier for students to define their academic goals.

  • Students must earn 10 credits from the courses on this list to graduate (5 courses).
  • Please register for these subjects by yourself.
Concentration Subject Code Subject Name Credits Semester Available From
Environmental
Studies
038301 Biodiversity 2 1st Semester
030266 Environment and Society 2 3rd Semester
038330 Environmental Education 2 3rd Semester
030267 Environmental Economics 2 3rd Semester
038329 Environmental Policy and Governance 2 3rd Semester
038331 Climate Change 2 3rd Semester
038354 Parks and Protected Areas 2 5th Semester
Resource
Management
038302 Pollution Prevention 2 1st Semester
038401 Energy Management 2 3rd Semester
037133 Resource
Management		 2 3rd Semester
038406 Sustainable business 2 5th Semester
038355 Circular Economy 2 5th Semester
International
Development
030261 Development Sociology and Anthropology 2 3rd Semester
030182 Politics of Development 2 3rd Semester
038332 International
Development
Cooperation		 2 3rd Semester
030184 Conflict and Development 2 3rd Semester
038356 Development Policy 2 5th Semester
038357 Development and Economy 2 5th Semester
Graduation Requirement 10: Complete at least 2 credits of Off-Campus Program Subjects

ST students are required to complete at least 2 credits from one of the following 3 subjects.

Subject Code Subject Name Credits Semester Available From Registration Method
038309 Practicum 2 1st Semester Registered
by the Student *1
038310 Field Study 2 1st – 7th Semester Registered
by the University *2
038342 Specialized Internship 2 3rd – 7th Semester Registered
by the University *3

*1 “Practicum”
In some cases, “Practicum” will be registered by the university based on a preliminary screening for some specific classes.

*2 “Field Study”

  • Check the Field Study programs for ST on the Off-campus Programs website and apply.
  • After you apply, the university will register you for the subject based on the results of the preliminary screening.

*3 “Specialized Internship”

Graduation Requirement 11: Complete at least 2 credits of Final Results Subjects

Students must earn credits for one of the following subjects.

Subject Code Subject Name Credits Semester Available From Registration Method
038372 Graduation Project 4 7th Semester Registered
by the University*
038373 Capstone 2 7th Semester Registered
by the Student

* Notes about “Graduation Project”:

  • Registered by the university based on a preliminary screening.
  • Students can only register for “Graduation Project” if they have completed and earned credits for the prerequisite subject “Research Seminar”.
  • “Research Seminar” is only available to ST students from their 7th semester. For this reason, ST students can only register for “Graduation Project” during their 8th semester at the earliest. Students who want to take “Graduation Project” should plan their course registration accordingly.
“Graduation Project”
In this subject, students work on a graduation thesis or activity report based on a theme of their own choosing, utilizing the real-world experience, knowledge, skills, and awareness of issues they have accumulated throughout the course of their studies. Professors will guide students in their research and report writing.
“Capstone”
Under the guidance of faculty members, students conduct research on real-life issues provided by organizations, including companies and local governments, as well as topics the professor sets based on their own investigation of the organization. Students must propose their own solutions to these issues by utilizing the knowledge, skills, and real-world experience they have accumulated throughout the course of their studies.

Number of Credits Earned from Distance Learning Courses

Number of Credits from “Distance Learning Courses” Included in Credits Counted Toward Graduation

A maximum of 60 credits earned from Distance Learning Courses may be counted toward graduation.

Under the Standards for the Establishment of Universities and APU’s University Regulations, the maximum number of credits from Distance Learning Courses that can be counted towards graduation for undergraduate students is 60 credits. Please note that if a student earns more than 60 credits, the additional credits will not count toward the number of credits needed for graduation. In addition, please note that even if a student earns more than 60 credits for applicable courses, this will not be indicated under “Subjects Not Counted Towards Graduation” on the “Grade Report [Credit Completion]” page of Campusmate.

As such, students must check and manage the number of credits earned through Distance Learning courses themselves and make sure they do not exceed 60 credits.

Please check this page for the list of Distance Learning Courses and other information.

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