KUGF Course Guide 2018

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Module 7Fundamentals for Social Science Studies Global SociologyThe course is an introduction of sociology as an academic discipline of global relevance. This topic is an interdisciplinary social science course with a multi-perspective approach to the study of human society. This explains a global perspective on society grounded in sociological theory and research. It expounds the divisions and dynamics of the global society and its challenges for the future. Discussions will explore and focus from global to local (Japanese) perspective. Related to the global perspective, the course also strives to understand different global issues from a cross-cultural view. The aim of the course is to contribute to a critical understanding of social changes in the contemporary world. These changes are associated with concepts such as modernity, globalization, post-colonialism, cultural and gender identities.2 creditsSpring SemesterCritical Thinking for Social andGlobal Issues Critical Thinking is the foundation of all academic activity; whether researching data, analyzing the views of others or presenting your own, abiding by the rules of logic and adopting a critical perspective will help make your work more robust. More particularly, the modern world is filled with examples of illogical and uncritical thought, in all avenues of life, from universities and boardrooms, to newspapers and governments. Understanding the problems of modern society and the methods with which to address them require the refinement of an open and critical mindset. Each week's class will have two elements: the first, an analysis of an element of critical thinking, and the second a critical examination of an aspect of society to assess how it influences our objective assessment of the world.2 creditsSpring SemesterFall SemesterMethods of Comparative Analysis(ENG and JPN Communication)The use of language appears to be universal in that it makes our daily interaction with others possible. But depending on the languages we use, the ways in which we code our ideas can vary slightly or even greatly. Looking at English and Japanese in comparative terms, we are going to see how their lexical and grammatical items differ. Or putting the relevant expressions in a context, such as the relationships of the conversational participants, we may see similar ways or different ways in which the message is coded into language. The former is related to a semantic analysis of language, and the latter to a pragmatic one. Thus in this course students are expected to get accustomed to some key ideas of semantics and pragmatics while looking at examples from English and Japanese.2 creditsSpring SemesterFall SemesterResearch Methods for Social Sciences This course is designed for students who wish to gain an introductory overview of approaches to social science research and will cover broad topics: the foundations of social science, research design, data collection, and data analysis. It will equip students with an understanding of qualitative and quantitative research designs. Social research is a craft, and like any other craft, it takes practice to do it well. Therefore, our approach will be hands-on right from the start. The course will also provide instruction with an emphasis on methodology, including statistical analysis and computer applications. Examples will be presented of scientific research in the fields of sociology, political science, education, communication, and psychology.2 creditsSpring SemesterFall Semester2 creditsFall SemesterJapanese Computerization and SocietyThis course introduces students to the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Japanese society. Students will be able to research their own interests in fields utilizing ICT such as business, entertainment, or education. Topics of study include Japanese companies that utilize ICT, the latest news about technology in Japan, Japanese language computing, Internet, mobile technologies, social media, economics, immigration to Japan, tourism, Japanese culture, and modern society. We will analyze data on ICT in daily life, business and education. We will also examine Japanese attitudes toward technology and communication through various media, including distance and online education. Students will receive guidelines on academic writing for the short semester paper, and for the creation and delivery of presentations. There will be a class Facebook Group and a Website with links to readings on ICT in Japan.Course Guide 201811