Technology and Culture: Communication and Games in Japan

Summer 2009 closed

May 12 - May 28, 2009

Sponsored by the College of Communication Arts and Sciences

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

Hosted in Japan, this program offers students a unique opportunity to examine the relationship between culture and technology use in the context of Japanese communication and gaming. Industry site visits will provide previews of emerging services and games and the requisite market research. Companies recruited for the site visits include mobile phone service providers, game developers, and broadcasting facilities.

Arguably, the most exciting part of the course will be an extensive series of field trips to historic Japanese sites.

Lastly, to optimize our students’ experience, informal Japanese language lessons and social events will be organized.

The four thematic areas of this course are:

What can I study?

Students will be required to enroll for five (5) credits to be announced shortly.  Course available are:

Undergraduates:

TC 490	Special Topics in Telecommunication:Technology and Culture-Communication and Games	3 cr.
TC 491	Independent Study	2 cr.*

* the option for enrolling in 3 cr may be available, but requires a longer stay in Japan by one extra week

Graduate students:

TC 890	Special Topics in Telecommunication: Technology and Culture – Communication and Games	3 cr.
TC 891	Independent Study	2 cr.*

* the option for enrolling in 3 cr may be available, but requires a longer stay in Japan by one extra week

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.00 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Courses are designed for graduate students and upper-division undergraduates with at least one course in Telecommunications, Information Studies and Media (TISM).  Lower division undergraduates from TISM and/or other departments are welcome to apply. 

Students from any college or university and those seeking continuing professional education may also apply.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Hotel accommodations will be provided in Tokyo (8 nights) and Osaka (5 nights).

Who can tell me more about this program?

Dr. Constantinos K. Coursaris
Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media
424 Communication Arts and Sciences
Phone: (517) 353-3122
Web: http://www.msu.edu./~coursari/japan.html

Constantinos K. Coursaris holds a dual appointment at Michigan State University. Dr. Coursaris is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media, as well as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Usability and Accessibility Center. His formal training consists of a B.Eng. in Aerospace, an MBA in e-Business, and a Ph.D. in Information Systems with a concentration on electronic business (e-Business) and mobile commerce (m-Commerce). His doctoral dissertation focused on “Contextual Usability: The Impact of Distraction on User Performance, Satisfaction, and Adoption of Mobile Devices for Wireless Data Services”.

During his academic career he has received many accolades in business analysis and e-Business research and development. Constantinos has been involved in the instruction of over 40 university courses over the last 7 years. He has also gained consulting experience having worked repeatedly as a contractor for McMaster University, focusing on Web content management, Website development and event organizing. Constantinos has also held management positions in retail, hospitality, and information technology (IT). His current research interests lie in the intersection of usability and mobile devices for the purpose of health and/or commercial applications. The results of his research efforts can be found in his numerous publications and conference presentations primarily targeting professionals in the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) discipline.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.   It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

The program fee is $1,999 and includes the following:

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $2,900 in 2009.  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 1st for summer programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.

Return to the Study Abroad Home Page