Academic Office

4th-Year Seminars, Fall Semester 2024
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 1-year period. The ultimate aim of
4th -year seminars is for students to complete an undergraduate thesis or the required research output.
Students take the subject 'Research Seminar' (*'Graduation Seminar I' for 2017 Curriculum APS Students) in thefirst half of their fourth year. Students who successfully pass this subject are then able to take 'Undergraduate Thesis'(*'Graduation Seminar II' for 2017 Curriculum APS Students) the following semester. Only students who complete‘Research Seminar’ (‘Graduation Research I’) are eligible to register for ‘Undergraduate Thesis’ (‘Graduation
Research II’).
6th Semester

7th Semester

Continue(automatic registration)



New Application

ResearchSeminar /Graduation
Research I

8th SemesterPass (automatic registration)

Fail (Unable to Register)Undergraduate
Thesis /Graduation
Research II

2 credits

4 credits*As shown above, students register for 4th year seminars in their 7th and 8th semesters, respectively; however, students may alsochoose to defer their seminar registration to their 8th and 9th semesters, should they decide to extend for an additional semester.

1. Schedule
In order to register for seminar subjects, students must apply one semester in advance.
Overview
Release of Seminar Information,Seminar Class List & Syllabus

Timeframe
15:00~ Wed. 15 May, 2024
*It is highly recommended, although not mandatory, to carefully learn theinformation.

Period for Consultation with Seminar

Wed. 15 May – Wed. 19 June, 2024

Instructors*Please refer to the schedule indicated by the instructors on their syllabus.

Wed. 15 May – Wed. 19 June 2024 *by 16:30:00 (JST)Application Period*Applications must be submitted via RISING FDC.
*STRICTLY NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE
DEADLINE.

Announcement of Successful Applicants

Wed. 17 July 2024

Start of Seminars

2024 Fall Semester*Under no circumstances will we accept applications submitted after the deadline.

2. Eligible Students
Only Students falling into one of the following categories are eligible to submit a new application for a 4th-year
Seminar as outlined in the above schedule:(1) Not currently taking a seminar(2) Currently taking a seminar, but wish to change to a different instructor’s seminar in the next semester→Apply for a new seminar. When you submit a new application for a different seminar, the original

seminar is considered cancelled.
(3) Currently on exchange, but will be resuming studies at APU next semester(4) Currently taking a leave of absence, but will be resuming studies at APU next semester
Japanese-basis students on the Standard Track are required to complete “Intermediate English A/B” in order to apply
for 3rd- and 4th-year seminar subjects offered in English. Students taking seminars held in both English and Japaneseand students changing to the 2011 Curriculum due to reinstatement or readmission are not subject to this requirement.

Note that there will be a separate application period (Wed, 17th July – Wed, 31th July, 2024) for students who
fall into one of the following criteria:(1) Students re-enrolling next semester(2) Students transferring to APU next semester(3) RU Students coming to APU for exchange next semester**Please note that this refers only to students who will be in APU from Fall 2024; students who cameto APU in 2024 SP or before will be treated as regular students.

3. Important Notes(1) Classes Available for Application
Students can register only for 4th-year Seminar classes offered by their own college. Note that if you apply for aseminar class offered by the other college as your main seminar, your application will be denied. Review the syllabus
information provided by online carefully before submitting your application.

(2) Grades and Credits(a) Number of Credits and Subject Fields for 3rd- and 4th-year Seminars
3rd- and 4th-year Seminar subjects are graded each semester. Completed credits for 3rd- and 4th-year seminar
subjects taken from one's own college will count towards the Major Education Subject field. Sub-seminar subjects
taken from the other college will count towards the General Elective field.
(b) Japanese-basis Domestic Student Graduation Requirements
Japanese-basis domestic students must complete at least 20 credits of subjects held in English (excludingLanguage Subjects).

Please note that seminar subjects held in both English and Japanese (E/J) will not becounted towards this total.

(c) Listing of Areas of Study on Diplomas<For AY2011 Curriculum Students>
Students in the College of International Management who have completed at least 30 credits of Course Subjects,
Core Subjects and Seminar Subjects will have their Area of Study listed on their diploma (See the Undergraduate
Academic Handbook: Page 176 for details). Credits earned for all APM 3rd and 4th year seminars will counttowards this requirement regardless of the Area of Study. Please note that for College of Asia Pacific Studies
students, credits earned from seminar subjects do not count towards any Area of Study.
<For AY2017 Curriculum Students>
To have their Area of Study listed on their diploma, students in the College of International Management mustcomplete 12 or more credits of the designated subjects for the Area of Study. Up to 4 credits earned from seminar
subjects can be included in this requirement. (See the Undergraduate Academic Handbook: Page 55 for details)Students in the College of Asia Pacific Studies must complete 2 credits from the required subjects (CommonLiberal Arts Subjects) from the Area of Study they have registered for, and 28 credits from the Major Education

Subjects for the Area of Study. Not only are these necessary for APS students to have their Area of Study listedon their diploma, these are also included in the graduation requirements. All credits earned from seminar subjects
will count toward the required 28 credits. (See the Undergraduate Academic Handbook: Page 37 for details)
Note that regardless of the Area of Study under which the seminar falls, credits earned will count toward all
Areas of Study. (Applies to both APS and APM)

(3) Continuing Registration, Cancelling or Changing a Seminar (Changes from spring 22: yellowhighlights)

Once students get accepted they will be automatically registered for ‘Research Seminar’ (2 credits) or ‘Graduation
Research I’ (2 credits) during the first half of their 4th year. At the end of the course, they will be graded with either
a “P” (Pass) or an “F” (Fail). Only students who pass the course will be automatically registered for ‘Undergraduate
Thesis’ (4 credits) or ‘Graduation Research II’ (4 credits). Please be informed that students cannot change seminar
instructors when advancing from ‘Research Seminar’ to ‘Undergraduate Thesis’ or ‘Graduation Research I’ to‘Graduation Research II’. ‘Research Seminar/Graduation Research I’ or ‘Undergraduate Thesis/Graduation
Research II’ can be cancelled via the course registration page on Campusmate during Course Registration
Periods A, B, or Course Registration Correction Period I. Note, however, that even after cancelling the course,‘Undergraduate Thesis’ / ‘Graduation Research II’ will be automatically be re-registered each semester the student
remains enrolled at APU.

4. Application Procedure
Students must follow the below procedure to apply for 4th-year seminar.
OrderItem
Check which seminar classes are available.

1Schedule(Information available on the Academic Office Website APS,APM)*You can apply for up to 2 main seminars (1st choice and 2nd choice)

15 May-Check the details of your desired seminars provided in the respective syllabi.
2*Be sure to check the details provided in the syllabus on individual consultations (venue, schedule, etc) as
well as the requirements for application (Application Essay, Assignment(s)).

3Consult with desired seminar instructor.
*Sub-seminar applications also require a consultation with the instructor.
Prepare your ‘Application Essay’ and/or ‘Assignment(s)’.
*Applicants will be required to enter the ‘Application Essay’ and/or ‘Assignment(s)’ in the application

4form on RISING FDC during the Seminar Application Period (5 June – 19 June). Make sure to prepare

15 May –the above requirement(s) using a word processor (MS Word, etc) or a text editor (notepad, etc.)

19 Junebeforehand.
*The same apply to students applying for a sub-seminar.
*Please refer to “Figure 1. Requirement for Seminar Application” for details on the submission of theabove requirements.
Complete the Seminar application form (survey) on RISING FDC*For details on the application procedures, check the “Undergraduate seminar (3rd/4th-year)” page on the5Academic Office Website, APS, APM

5 June -*Applicants are required to enter the ‘Application Essay’ and/or ‘Assignment(s)’ in the application form.

19 June*The same apply to students applying for a sub-seminar.

Figure 1. Requirement for Seminar Application*Students Currently Studying Abroad or on a Leave of Absence
For students currently studying abroad or on a leave of absence who wish to register for a seminar upon theirreturn to APU, please be sure to submit a new application in accordance with the schedule shown above.
However, as it may be difficult for these students to participate in a face-to-face consultation (item (3)), pleasehold a registration consultation via email or online. For more details, please check the Academic Office homepage,“Undergraduate seminar (3rd/4th-year) APS, APM” page under “Seminar Subjects” tab.
*Students who Plan to Participate in an Exchange Program
It is not possible to participate in an exchange program and a seminar at the same time. Please choose either one
or the other. Students who hope to participate in an exchange program in the following semester, but who thinkthat they would like to take a seminar if they are not accepted into the exchange program after all, should apply
for a seminar according to the schedule shown above. However, if after applying for a seminar they receive
notification they have been accepted into an exchange program, they should immediately submit a cancellation
application to the Academic Office. For more details, please check the Academic Office homepage,“Undergraduate seminar (3rd/4th-year) APS, APM” page under “Seminar Subjects” tab.
*Students who Plan on Applying to Transfer Colleges within APU
Students can apply for a seminar offered by the college to which they will belong to after the transfer. The
application schedule is the same as the one shown above. However, please be sure to consult with the AcademicOffice during the application period. Additionally, because the seminar application period occurs before theprocedures for transferring colleges, it is recommended that students also apply simultaneously to a seminaroffered by their current college in case they do not receive permission to transfer colleges. For more details, pleasecheck the Academic Office homepage, “Undergraduate seminar (3rd/4th-year) APS, APM” page under “Seminar
Subjects” tab.
*Students on the Accelerated Graduation Program
Students on the Accelerated Graduation Program must also apply for 3rd-year seminars according to the schedule
above. The students will take 3rd and 4th-year seminars at different times than regular students. Please consult withyour desired instructor and ensure you have room for these subjects in your study plan before applying. Pleaserefer to the Undergraduate Academic Handbook (Page 167; Page 179) or the Academic Office homepage fordetails on seminar enrollment application period. For more details, please check the Academic Office homepage,“Undergraduate seminar (3rd/4th-year) APS, APM” page under “Seminar Subjects” tab.
Academic Office Undergraduate Seminar Team
Email: seminar1@apu.ac.jp