LENGTH: 5 weeks (mid-May through June)
GOAL: Through the intensive study of the Japanese language, this program strives to increase students' Japanese ability as well as their understanding of current events in Japan. The program, which is intended for beginner level students with less than 2 years studying Japanese, includes courses on the Japanese language, Japanese traditional culture and current events.
CONTENT: In the first 3 weeks of the program, students study basic Japanese of everyday conversation. Based on previous length of study and Japanese ability, students are divided into levels (Japanese I & Japanese II). In addition, lectures in English are offered on Japanese history, business and economy, traditional and pop culture, and science. Students also visit a Zen temple and experience first hand Zen meditation, calligraphy, flower arrangement, and tea ceremony as well as visit various historical spots in and around Sendai and relax in a Japanese style hot springs, or "onsen". Following the conclusion of the lecture portion of the program, to further their understanding of Japanese culture and history, students travel for 2 weeks to various tourist locations and museums primarily in and around the Kyoto, Hiroshima and Tokyo areas.

LENGTH: 15 weeks (mid-September to mid-December)
GOAL: This program has the following 2 goals: (1) to foster the development of Japanese language for living and working in Japan; (2) to further students' understanding of Japanese culture, economy and business practices.
CONTENT: The program is aimed at students with a minimum of 1 year of previous Japanese language study and a keen interest in Japanese culture, economy and business. Japanese language courses, which are divided into two levels (Japanese I and Japanese II), provide intensive study of various aspects of the Japanese language including conversation and grammar with the goal of achieving and intermediate level of proficiency. To achieve the second of the above program goals, the following four lecture series are offered in English: (1) Japanese Economy and Import/Export practices; (2) Japanese Companies and Management Styles; (3) An Introduction to Japanese Society; (4) Topics related to Japanese Culture. In addition, students carry out a research project on a topic of their choosing under the guidance of a professor who specializes in their area of interest. Outside of classroom hours and on the weekends, students also have the opportunity to experience various aspects of Japanese culture and to stay with a Japanese family on a homestay visit.

LENGTH: 1 year (mid-September to mid-August)
GOAL: This program is intended for students with a Japanese proficiency equal to level N4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Exam and has as a main goal the raising of their ability to level N2. As such, participants in this program should know at least 300 kanji as well as have knowledge of grammar, and conversational and writing skills at or above an upper intermediate level.
CONTENT: The program consists of 9 classes per week (3 hours daily) which include the following topics: grammar, reading, writing, conversation and listening. In the first half of the program (September to March), classes focus on grammar, kanji, listening, and reading in preparation for the Japanese Proficiency Exam which students take in March. Students who successfully pass level N2 can enroll in classes offered in the regular undergraduate program starting from April. This allows them to study with Japanese students thereby further developing their Japanese language proficiency while pursuing research and study in their area of interest. Outside of classroom hours and on the weekends, students also have the opportunity to experience various aspects of Japanese culture and to stay with a Japanese family on a homestay visit.