Must-Read ThroughOverview of
3rd & 4th Year Seminar Courses
MS-I

MS-II

RS/

UT/

MS-I MS-II GR-I GR-II

Academic OfficeCONTENTS
AA What are Seminar Courses? ☑
A.
1) Overview of Seminar Courses ☑
2) Term and Credit ☑
3) Main Seminar and Sub Seminar ☑

B

Application/Cancellation Rules ☑
1) General Rules ☑
2) Registration Patterns ☑
①for 4th Semester Students ☑
②for 5th Semester Students ☑
3) Irregular Patterns ☑
①Going to or Returning from ☑
Exchange Programs /Taking or Returning from LOA②Changing Seminars ☑

☑
Listing of Area of Study on the
DiplomaC
C. Grading and

D Schedule for AY2024 FA ☑
D.

E.
E Application Procedure & ☑
Other Important Information
to Note1) First Choice and Second Choice ☑
2) Application Procedure for AY2024 FA ☑
3) Symbols and Categories in Syllabus ☑
4) Timetable ☑
5) Application Essay & Assignment ☑
6) Screening Procedure ☑

★ For Further Information ☑
F.

A. What Are Seminar Courses?
Back to Contents

1) Overview

MS-I

MS-II

RS/GR-I

UT/GRUT/II
GR-II

Seminar Courses are NOT Required Courses, but…
[3rd year seminars]
In 3rd year seminars, small numbers of students work closely withprofessors to increase their expertise through research, presentationand discussion on selected topics. Simultaneously, through actual
practice, students master the research methods and investigative
analysis techniques considered necessary for every area of study andwhich are the fundamental skills required for undergraduate research.

[4th year seminars]
4th year seminars are the culmination of a students’ four years ofstudy at APU. These highly specialized subjects allow students toresearch a topic of interest and write thesis or produce the research
output over a period of one year.

You can expand and enhance your learning.

2) Term and Credit(1) Seminar Courses consist of four courses.
(2) Each course lasts 1 semester for a total of 2 years’ study.
*Please note that, as a rule, the subjects for the 4th year students, Research
Seminar/Graduation Thesis I and Undergraduate Thesis/Graduation Thesis II arepackaged as a 1-year course.
(3) Students can earn a maximum of 10 credits. (14 Credits if you have taken *sub-seminars
within the same college during your 3rd year.)
Subject Name

Eligibility

Major Seminar I

Duration

PeriodGrade

Credits

Symbol

1 Semester

SpringLetter Grade(A+,A,B,C or F)

2

MS-I

1 Semester

Fall

Letter Grade(A+,A,B,C or F)

2

MS-II

P/F

2

RS

5th or 6th
semesterstudents
Major Seminar II

Research Seminar/
Graduation
Research I

Undergraduate
Thesis/Graduation
Research II

7th semester
students

8th semester
Students or
higherRequires “P”grade in RS/GR-I

GR-I
1 YearAcademic
year-----------------UT
Letter Grade(A+,A,B,C or
F)

4

GR-II

3) Main Seminar(1)3rd year students can enroll in up to two seminars; a Main seminar,
and a Sub-seminar. 4th year students, on the other hand, are limited
to taking only a main seminar.
(2) There are three types of seminars: seminars offered by the yourenrolled college, seminars offered jointly by both colleges (APS and
APM), and seminars offered by the other college. Seminars offeredjointly by both colleges are treated the same way as the seminars
offered by your enrolled college.
(3) Students can enroll in main seminars offered by your enrolledcollege or joint seminars offered by both colleges.
(4) Main seminar will be automatically registered until you reach
UT/GR-II (8th semester) . However, if you receive an "F" in RS/GR-I in
the 7th semester, you will not be automatically registered for UT/GR-II(you are not eligible to register).
*For 3rd year seminar, even if you receive grade “F”,
you will be automatically registered in the next semester.

3) Sub-Seminar (Changes from spring 22: yellow highlights)(1)Sub-seminars are available for only the 3rd year students.

Criteria to take a sub-seminar *all of the following must be met.
1) Your application has been approved by the sub-seminar instructor.
2) The timetables for main seminar and sub-seminar do not overlap.
In case of overlapping, sub-seminar course will be deleted.
(2) Sub-seminars will be automatically registered for up to 6 semester.
(3) For sub-seminar, you can apply not only from a seminar offered byyour college but also other college. If you want to take a seminar of
the other college as a sub seminar, you can take only the sub seminar.
The earnt credits will be counted in your general electives/othercollege.
(4) If you are enrolled in both main/sub seminars and cancel the main
■ When the sub-seminar is a seminar of your enrolled college⇒ That course will be changed to be taken as a main seminar.
■ When the sub-seminar is a seminar of the other college.
⇒ That course will be taken as a sub-seminar.

★Main Seminar Courses You can Apply for
Environment & Development

Hospitality & Tourism

Seminar class

APS
Culture, Society & Media International Relations & Peace Studies

×

○
APS
Students○

×○

Joint Courses

Accounting & Finance

APM
Students○

Marketing

APM
Strategic Management and Organization Innovation & Economics

★Sub-Seminar Courses You can Apply for
Environment & Development

Hospitality & Tourism

Seminar class

APS
Culture, Society & Media International Relations & Peace Studies○
APS
Students

○
○

○
APM
○ Students○

Joint Courses

Accounting & FinanceMarketing

APM
Strategic Management and Organization Innovation & Economics

★Summary of Main & Sub- Seminar Courses You can Apply for
Main Seminar

College
Student
Eligibility
APS

APM

Sub-seminar

APS

APM

Joint

APS

APM

Joint

○

×

○

○

○

○

Other
College(GeneralElective)

Major

Credit
Field

Major

－

Major

Major

Eligibility

×

○

○

○

○

○

Major

Other
College(GeneralElective)

Major

Major

Credit
Field

Major

[注意!!] (This notification is only for Japanese-basis students on the Standard Track)※日本語基準学生（英語スタンダードトラック）が、英語開講のゼミクラスを履修する場合、申請時に英語
中級A・Bの単位修得をしていることが必要。
ただし、両言語開講（E/J）の演習科目を履修をする場合は、この条件は当てはまりません。

★Registration Pattern When Taking Sub-Seminar

サブゼミ
Subseminar

セメ/ Semester

2024

2024

2025

2025

2026

SP (NOW)

FA

SP

FA

SP

4

5

6

7

8

MS-II

MS-I

UT/GR-I

Main seminar

5th & 6th

RS/GR-IIP

semesterSub-seminar
Application

MS-IIsub◆Subject

6th

MS-I

サブゼミ
Sub-seminarsemesterApplication

P

MS-Isub

Passing Grade needs to be obtained
to be registered for UT/GR-Ⅱ

UT/GR-I

RS/GR-IIP

MS-Isub◆●New Application◆Sub-seminar Application
Automatic Registration

B) Application / Cancellation Rules
1) General Rules (Changes from spring 22: yellow highlights)(1)Students are required to apply one semester before
they intend to take seminar courses.
(2)Once you have been registered, you will automatically be
registered for a seminar course each semester until you
reach Undergraduate Thesis (UT)/Graduation Research
II(GR-II). ※2 years of continuous registration is recommended.
(3) In order to cancel taking a seminar, you need to cancel
during Course Registration Period(until Correction
Period I) on Campusmate by yourself.
Note☆When your supervisor will be on their sabbatical leave, maternity leave, retiring,etc., it is requested to cancel your seminar and apply for a new one if you wish.

2) Registration Pattern ①For Currently ４th semester students*Please be aware that some of the courses/instructors require for the
students to have learnt any 3rd year seminar courses OR his or her
seminar courses before applying for the 4th year seminar courses.
Starting
PeriodSemester

5thsemester
6th
semester

2024

2025

2025

2026

SP (NOW)

FA

SP

FA

SP

4

5

6

7

8

Subject
Application
Subject

P

MS-II

MS-I
▼

semesterMS-I

Application

Application

Passing Grade needs to be obtained to beregistered for UT/GR-Ⅱ

UT/GR-I▼
UT/GR-I

P

RS/GR-II▼
UT/GR-I*

RS/GR-II▼▼

Subject

7th

P

2024

P

RS/GR-II▼●New Application▼Cancellation Request
Automatic Registration

2) Registration Pattern ②For Currently 5th semester students*Please be aware that some of the courses/instructors require for the
students to have learnt any 3rd year seminar courses OR his or her
seminar courses before applying for the 4th year seminar courses.

Starting
Period6th
semesterSemester

2024

2024

2025

2026

SP(NOW)

FA

SP

FA

5

6

7

8

Subject

MS-II▼

Application

7th
semesterP

Subject
Application

Passing Grade needs to be obtained
to be registered for UT/GR-Ⅱ

RS/GR-I P UT/GR-II▼

RS/GR-I P UT/GR-II*▼●New Application▼Cancellation Request
Automatic Registration

3) Irregular Case ①
for those who plan to Go on Exchange Programs/
Take a Leave of Absence
2024

2024

2025

2025

2026

SpringFall

SpringFall

Spring4th semester

5th semester

6th semester

7th semester

8th semester

MS-II

No
SeminarClass

RS/GR-I

P UT/GR-II★
New Application
If you go on a leave of absence or study

New Application abroad, your seminars for the semester
will be automatically cancelled.
YOU ARE HERE
If you wish to take a seminar after
studying abroad or taking a leave ofabsence, you will need to apply for a
new seminar in the semester
immediately before you resume yourstudies at APU.

**For those who are going on an
exchange on their 7th semester andwish to continue the seminar course,
it is required to submit “Provision of
Remote Instruction.” before you goabroad.
For more information, please check
the Academic Office website.
http://en.apu.ac.jp/academic/page/co
ntent0059.html/?c=17

3) Irregular Case ②
for those who wish to Change Seminar Courses
2024

2024

2025

2025

2026

SpringFall

SpringFall

Spring4th semester

5th semester

6th semester

7th semester

8th semester

MS-II

MS-I

Instructor A

Instructor B

RS/GR-I
UT/GR-IIP
Instructor B
Instructor B★
New Application(Scheduled for Nov. 2024)
New Application Instructor B When you apply for a new course with a（6/5-6/19）
Instructor A
YOU ARE HERE

different instructor (B), you will beconsidered to have cancelled Instructor
A's seminar.
If you fail the seminar with Instructor B,
you will not be able to continue with
Instructor A's seminar.

C. Grading and Listing of Area of Studyon the Diploma
Grading1) 3rd Year Seminar Courses
Regular Grading (A⁺, A, B, C, or F)
2) 4th Year Seminar Courses- 7th semester seminar courses
Pass (P)/ Fail (F)- 8th semester seminar courses
Regular Grading (A⁺, A, B, C, or F)

Listing of Area of Study
To have their Area of Study listed on the diploma, students need to complete therequired number of credits (set by each college) of subjects from their selected Area of
Study. Note that credits earned from Seminar Subjects, regardless which area of study
it falls under, will be tallied in all areas of study.（※Does not apply to AY2011 APSStudents）
Maximum number of credits earned from seminar subjects which can becounted toward the required credits for listing the Area of Study on the diploma(by college and curriculum).

College

APS
APM

Curriculum

2011
2017
2011
2017

Minimum required Number ofcredits for listing credits fromthe Area of Study seminar whichon Diploma
can be counted

20～
28～
30～
12～

0（※）
All
All
4

*For AY2011 Curriculum APS students, credits earned fromseminar subjects do NOT count towards any Area of Study.

D. Schedule for AY2024 FA
For Regular Pattern & Comingback to APU from LOA or
Exchange Programs

For Students who are
Re-enrolling, Transferring to APU,
or exchange students• *This refers only to students who will bein APU from Fall 2024; students whocame to APU in 2024 SP or before will betreated as regular students.

Things to DO

Period / DateThings to DO

Period / Date

Consultation

2024/5/15~
2024/6/19

Consultation~2024/7/31

Application

2024/6/5~
2024/6/19

Application

2024/7/17~
2024/7/31

Announcementof Screening
Result2024/7/17

Announcementof Screening
ResultLate August*Cancellation can be done via Campusmate by students during theRegistration Period for Regular Courses. (Until the end of Correction Period 1)

E. Application Procedure &Other Important Information to Note1) 1st Choice and 2nd Choices for Main Seminar••

Applications can be made on RISING FDC.
Application for main seminar
You can apply to two seminars, one for your first choice and one
for your second choice.
• Application for sub-seminars (3rd year seminar only)
Only one application can be made. The application procedure andperiod are the same as for the main seminar. Application only for
sub-seminars is possible only if the sub-seminar is a seminar of theother college.
• If you pass only the sub seminar
The sub-seminar is that of your college; it will be changed to a main.
The sub-seminar is that of the other college; it will be taken as a sub.
Please note that having a consultation with your preferred instructor(s) are
required in advance of application.

2) Application Procedure
Order

What

When

Where

1

Check which seminars are available

2

Check the details of your desired
seminar(s) provided in the syllabus.

May
15

Academic Office
Website（AC-Web）

3

Consult with your desired seminar
instructor(s)*Sub-seminar applications also
require a consultation with the instructor

4

Follow the instructions
given in the syllabus(5/15~6/19)

Prepare the required ‘Application Essay’
and/or ‘Assignment(s)’~June 4

*Application requirements may vary depending
on instructors. Be sure to check the syllabus.

5

Apply via RISING FDC(survey)*Applicants are required to enter the
essay/assignment into the survey

6

Check the result(s)June 5 –June 19

RISING FDC

July 17

AC-Web3) Syllabus on our Website
It is important to understand the meaning of the symbols and eachcolor category in checking Syllabus.
SymbolDefinition○

Must meet the listed requirements in order to apply.

－

Not offered in 2024 Fall Semester●

In principle, does not accept new applicants (Only students who
have previously taken the 3rd year seminar under the same
instructor can apply)（J）

Class held in Japanese（E）

Class held in English（E/J）

Class held in both English and Japanese (Bilingual)Color
category toindicate thevacancy

Available

5-10 slots available
Less than 4 slots available

4) Timetable
Be sure to check the timetable with your supervisor before registration period
A to avoid conflict between classes. It is highly recommended you havecompleted your language courses as there is some possibility that theirtimetables should overlap. (in such cases, seminar courses cannot beregistered.)
Course nameTimetable @Campusmate

Major Seminar I/II

Research
Seminar/Graduation
Research I

Actual Timetable (Mon – Fri)
Other courses can not be registered in the slot
'Major Seminar II' is actually scheduled in

Undergraduate
Thesis/Graduation
Research II
NOTE
There have been actual cases in which students failed to check the timetable of the 4th year seminarclass before the semester begins and later discovered that the seminar class overlapped with anotherone.

5) Seminar Application Essay & Assignment•

As a standard requirement for both main seminar and sub-seminar
applications, applicants are asked to provide an essay stating the reason
why they wish to apply for the seminar and so on. You are free to write
your essay however you wish in approximately 600 words (about 1 A4 size
sheet of paper in length)•

In addition to the essay, some instructors may require a supplementary
assignment so please be sure to check the syllabus way in advance or ask
your seminar instructors directly during individual consultations.

•

There are cases in which applicants are exempted from providing an essay.
Please see the next slide for more details.

•

As you are to enter the essay and/or assignment directly into theapplication page in RISING FDC, we strongly recommend that you prepare
your essay/assignment beforehand using MS word(or any equivalent word
processing software).

•

The box provided in RISING FDC only accepts plain text. Assignments
which require the use of objects (images, tables, graphs, etc.) may be
uploaded as a separate file using the upload feature found right below the
text box for the assignment. (up to 55mb)

5) Application Essay & Assignment
Q. Does any of the following apply to you?

a

The seminar instructor specifies a separate assignment and clearly indicates thathe/she does not require applicants to write an ‘application essay’.

b

I had previously been taking the seminar and wish to return to the seminar next semester when I come backfrom an exchange program or a leave of absence.

NO

YES

Q. Did your desired seminar instructor specify on the

Application
Requirement

syllabus or during consultation that you need to submita ‘Separate Assignment’?
NO

YESEnter only the‘Application
Essay’in RISISG FDCEnter both the‘Application Essay’and the‘Assignment’ in
RISING FDC

Q. Which one applies to you?

aEnter (or upload)
only the‘Assignment’ in
RISING FDC(No need to provide the‘Application Essay’)b

No need to provide the‘Application Essay’.
*Please check the syllabus orcheck with the seminar
instructor regarding whether
you need to submit any
assignment(s) or not.

1st6 ) Screening ProcedureZemi

1st choicescreening

2nd choicescreening

Sub-seminar
screening

Final
ResultZemi

1st choicescreening

2nd choicescreening

Sub-seminar
screening

Final
Result

1st choice

A

〇

－

－

A

1st choice

A

×

－

－

－

2nd choice

－

－

－

－

－

2nd choice

－

－

－

－

－

Sub Seminar

－

－

－

－

－

Sub Seminar

－

－

－

－

－

・In the case you apply only for the first choice of the main seminar
If you are accepted for A seminar, you will take A seminar as your main seminar.
If you fail A seminar, you will not take any seminar in the next semester.

1st + 2ndZemi

1st choicescreening

2nd choicescreening

Sub-seminar
screening

Final
Result

1st choice

A

×

－

－

－

－

2nd choice

B

－

〇

－

Ｂ

－

Sub Seminar

－

－

－

－

－

Zemi

1st choicescreening

2nd choicescreening

Sub-seminar
screening

Final
Result

1st choice

A

〇

－

－

A

2nd choice

B

－

－

－

Sub Seminar

－

－

－

－

・In the case that you apply for the main seminar up to the second choice
If you are accepted for A seminar, you will take A seminar as your main seminar.
If you are unsuccessful in A seminar but successful in B seminar, you will take B
seminar as your main seminar. If you fail both, you will not take any seminar in thenext semester.

6 ) Screening Procedure
1st + 2nd +
Sub

Zemi

1st choicescreening

2nd choicescreening

Sub-seminar
screening

Final
Result

1st choice

A

〇

－

－

A

2nd choice

B

－

－

－

－

Sub Seminar

B

－

－

〇

Ｂ

Zemi

1st choicescreening

2nd choicescreening

Sub-seminar
screening

Final
Result

1st choice

A

〇

－

－

A

2nd choice

B

－

－

－

Sub Seminar

Ｃ

－

－

〇

If you choose seminar A as your first
choice for the main seminar, it is also
possible to apply for B seminar as yoursecond choice and sub seminar.

Zemi

1st choicescreening

2nd choicescreening

Sub-seminar
screening

Final
Result

1st choice

A

×

－

－

－

－

2nd choice

B

－

〇

－

B

Ｃ

Sub Seminar

Ｃ

－

－

〇

Ｃ

・In the case you apply for the main seminar up to the second choice and also apply for a sub seminar
If your A seminar is accepted for the main seminar, you will take the A seminar as your main seminar.
If your A seminar is not accepted in the main seminar and your B seminar is accepted, you will take B seminaras your main seminar. Also, seminar C is a sub-seminar and you pass, you will take seminar C as your subseminar.

Sub → 3rdZemi

1st choicescreening

2nd choicescreening

3rd choicescreening

1st choice

A

×

－

－

－

2nd choice

－

－

－

－

Sub Seminar

Ｃ

－

－

Zemi

1st choicescreening

2nd choicescreening

1st choice

－

－

－

－

－

2nd choice

－

－

－

－

－

Sub Seminar

Ｃ

－

－

〇

Ｃ※

Final
ResultZemi

1st choicescreening

2nd choicescreening

3rd choicescreening

1st choice

A

×

－

－

－

－

2nd choice

Ｂ

－

×

－

－

〇

Ｃ※

Sub Seminar

Ｃ

－

－

〇

Ｃ※

3rd choicescreening

Final
ResultFinal
Result・Patterns of applying for sub-seminars only
-If you have taken a main seminar in the previous
semester, you can apply only for a sub-seminar inyour own college or in the other college.
-If you have not taken the main seminar, you canapply for a new sub-seminar only if you are applying
for a sub-seminar in the other college.

・In the case you pass only the sub-seminar
If the sub-seminar is a seminar of your college, it will be taken as a main seminar.
If the sub-seminar is a seminar of the other college, it will be taken as a sub-seminar.

For More Detailed Information

Please visit our Academic Website.

→APS students→APM students

If our website does not answer yourquestion, please email us at :Academic Office
Undergraduate Seminar Teamseminar1@apu.ac.jp