Curriculum
With ICU’s service-learning curriculum, service activities are tied to learning via various reflections and sharing. There are a variety of courses available that enable students to experience active learning through service activities and earn course credits at the same time. Academic staff is advising as service-learning advisors to connect the service-experiences of students to educational programs.
Curriculum
| Courses | Term | Units |
|---|---|---|
| GE: Service-Learning（General Education） | Spring, Autumn | 3 |
| Preparation for Service-Learning Field Study | Spring | 1 |
| Community Service-Learning I, II | Autumn | 3 |
| International Service-Learning I, II | Autumn | 3 |
| Reflection on Service Experiences | Autumn | 1 |
| Special Studies in Service-Learning I, II | Winter | 2 |
Service-Learning Advisor
When taking the Practicum Course, each student is to find Service-Learning (SL) Advisor. SL Advisor will give evaluation on written reports and oral presentation, besides giving advice etc. on the activities as to link the course with academic learning at university. Students are to think about their interested field and service category, and think who would be suited, then ask for SL Advisors. Students are to keep contact with SL Advisors proactively, and seek consultation and coaching.
ICU's Service-Learning in 3 Steps
Step 1: Preparation…What is Service-Learning? Expose to the essence of SL discipline.
First students will learn various service activities in the society from lectures of instructors and guest speakers of non-profit organizations, then will experience 18-hour service activity at local communities. Learning can be made out of classroom. Students will understand the process of Service-Learning, learning through service activities and reflection.
Step 2: Field Study…Experience 30-day service activity in Japan/overseas.
Students will select their field of interest; education, welfare, environmental issues, global cooperation etc.and will serve at NPO, public institutions etc. in Japan or overseas for 30 days mostly in the summer. The participants of the program will ask academic staff to be his/her “Service-Learning Advisor,” who gives students an advice about activities and academic instructions.
Step 3: Reflection…Share your experience with others.
Students will give a presentation about what they learned from activities, then finish up a paper through sharing and reflections with each other. Even after the SL course is over, a lot of students engage in further studies. Some students continue volunteering at local communities and others decide their majors in ICU.
S2: Service-Learning (General Education Course)
Through lectures and discussions on service-learning, as well as introductions of nonprofit organizations and other community partners, students will engage in over 18 hours of actual service activities. They will also participate in reflection sessions to review and deepen their learning.
Students will learn how to keep a journal to support daily reflections and acquire effective methods for critical reflection. The course emphasizes understanding the service-learning process through both activities and reflection, encouraging students to view events from multiple perspectives and to develop a habit of tracking the evolution of their own thoughts.
Host Organizations
Note: Japanese only
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Co-listing
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Course |
Co-listed majors |
|---|---|
|
Community Service-Learning I（SLR204）3 credits |
Development Studies, Asian Studies, Environmental Studies, Peace Studies, and Education |
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International Service-Learning I（SLR205）3 credits |
Development Studies, Asian Studies, Environmental Studies, Peace Studies, Global Studies, and Education |
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Reflection on Service Experiences（SLR303）1 credit |
Development Studies, Asian Studies, Environmental Studies, Peace Studies, Global Studies, and Education |
-Respective Service-Learning Courses are co-listed with the Global Studies Major from AY2022.
-Respective Service-Learning Courses are co-listed with the Education Major from AY2024.
*SL Advisor...SL Advisors are educational staff members who provide advice and support with students during their service activities. Students need to visit professors and ask them to become SL Advisors.