Open to Illinois Tech undergraduates in all majors, the Lewis College faculty-led summer study abroad program gives students the opportunity to have an international experience while earning credits to fulfill their degree requirements. Explore our summer 2020 study away options below, or visit the Illinois Tech Student Mobility office.
Study Pop Culture in Japan: Tokyo, Hiroshima, Osaka, and Kyoto
Program Dates: May 14–June 20, 2020
Study popular culture in Japan! This program incorporates site-specific cultural and educational experiences alongside conventional coursework focused on Asian studies while enabling students to see multiple regions of Japan. As a student in this humanities intensive program, you will explore Tokyo, Hiroshima, Osaka, and Kyoto. Classes will meet Monday through Friday in the morning with scheduled afternoon activities; Wednesday will be dedicated to independent studies. Weekends will be open for you and your peers to visit sites of your own choosing or to spend more time on your projects. Also, the 2020 Summer Olympics are taking place in Japan in July, so you will have the opportunity to observe the country's preparations for the global event.
Structured, planned cultural and historical visits will be finalized closer to the trip, but in the past have included: Studio Ghibli, the Edo Tokyo Museum, a wagashi (traditional tea ceremony sweets) making lesson, Himeji Castle, the Hiroshima Peace Museum, Nijojo, Gion Matsuri, and a Japanese play, Gears. Students have the option of adding on guided theme park visits, but these would be at an additional cost and are not required.
Additional Program Information
HUM 380: Asian Popular Culture
HUM 380: Asian Visual and Spatial Rhetoric
HUM 491: Independent Study
This program is open to all Illinois Tech students*, regardless of major. Students would be expected to enroll or at least audit all 9 hours of credit to participate in the program. Courses count for humanities credit or electives, and all students will have the opportunity to complete faculty-supervised research projects. All courses would rely on site-specific instructional experiences with visits to cultural and historical landmarks and museums; the total additional cost for these experiences is modest, at $300 per student which also includes an opening and closing meal.
Through a partnership with the Elevate program, students will pay for 6 hours of course credit while earning 9 hours of credit.
*Students on academic probation are ineligible.
Program Costs
- Summer tuition: approximately $6,500
- $3,000 (covers housing, rail, and excursions)
- Airfare
- We also recommend students budget for food, local travel (subways, etc.), and tourist activities and incidentals.
Deadlines
- Application: February 1, 2020
- First Deposit: $500: February 16, 2020
- Final Payment Due: March 17, 2020
Students using financial aid toward their program fee will need a letter from financial aid.
Space is limited, so apply early!
QUESTIONS?
Email Associate Professor Carly Kocurek (ckocurek@iit.edu) with questions regarding the trip itinerary, academics, and other trip-related inquiries.
Email Carly Goldberg (cgoldberg@iit.edu) in the Office of Financial Aid to learn more about aid you may utilize.
Osaka, Japan
Program Dates: June 7–July 3, Summer 2020
Osaka is Chicago’s sister city. Much like Chicago, Osaka is famous for its food and friendly people. You will get to know this global city through course excursions and have the opportunity to explore the wider Kansai region with day trips to Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara. Courses are scheduled three days a week to allow for easy weekend travel, and Tokyo is just three hours away by bullet train. This program involves direct cultural exchange with students and faculty at Osaka City University.
Note: Enrollment for the Osaka, Japan program from June 7-July 3, 2020 is at capacity.