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featured programs

Study Abroad with CIEE in Australia Study in Australia
wollongong—arts + sciences

Study Abroad with CIEE in the Caribbean Study in Bonaire
bonaire—tropical marine ecology

Study Abroad with CIEE in China Study in China
shanghai—advanced chinese studies

Study Abroad with CIEE in China Study in China
shanghai—business, language, + culture

Study Abroad with CIEE in Germany Study in Germany
berlin—language + culture

Study Abroad with CIEE in Italy Study in Italy
naples—liberal arts

Study Abroad with CIEE in Italy Study in Italy
naples—classical studies

Study Abroad with CIEE in Peru Study in Peru
lima—business + society

Study Abroad with CIEE in Peru Study in Peru
lima—language + culture

Study Abroad with CIEE in Sweden Study in Sweden
uppsala—arts + sciences

Study Abroad with CIEE in Taiwan Study in Taiwan
taipei—chinese language + culture

Study Abroad with CIEE in Vietnam Study in Vietnam
ho chi minh—language + culture

Is this program right for you?

Are you looking for a different kind of program in Japan? A program that allows U.S. students to sit alongside Japanese students in over 150 courses taught in English in addition to attending intensive Japanese language training at a famous university in downtown Tokyo? The CIEE Study Center at Sophia University is designed to provide students with superior cross-cultural and language training by way of intensive Japanese language course work, offering a range of courses in various disciplines, a managed homestay program, and providing on-site staff to support the students.

Program Snapshot

  • Learn Japanese through language courses for all levels; choose from a wide range of courses taught in English; study with Japanese and international students
  • Live with a Japanese family or in a dorm with Japanese students, young professionals, and international students
  • Participate in a diverse cultural program with regional site visits and educational activities, including historical tours, insightful lectures, hands-on workshops, and an overnight excursion to Hiroshima; benefit from a cultural reimbursement program

Subject Areas

  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Asian Studies
  • Business
  • Economics
  • History
  • International Relations
  • Japanese Language
  • Japanese Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Religion
  • Sociology
  • Theology

About Tokyo

Contemporary Japan is a land of intrigue. This is a country that has mastered the ability to balance both ancient traditions and ultra-modern convenience. Where else is it possible to participate in a traditional tea ceremony against a backdrop of suburban sprawl, which contains some of the largest corporations in the world? Tokyo, Japan’s capital and economic hub, is a shining example of how old traditions and new high-tech culture meld to create one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

Where You'll Study

Sophia University

Sophia University, a private Jesuit institution, is one of the preeminent universities in Japan with over 10,000 students from around the world. CIEE students take courses through the Faculty of Liberal Arts. Approximately two-thirds of the students in this faculty are Japanese, and more than 40 nationalities are represented on campus. Sophia’s Yotsuya campus includes a library, computer labs, faculty and administrative offices, classrooms, and sports grounds. CIEE has an office on campus that provides support to CIEE students studying at Sophia University.

Thoughts From Abroad

Japan is a country full of amazing contrasts between old and new, and Tokyo is truly one of the world’s most energetic and fascinating cities. In addition to being the economic and political heart of Japan, Tokyo carefully balances its present-day modernity with its traditional past. This provides a landscape in which, in a single day, one can see a kimono-clad woman talking on a cell phone, an old man selling baked yams from his homemade cart, thousands of “salarymen” rushing through the crowded web of Tokyo’s train network, and a 300-year-old shrine in the middle of a shopping district.

The CIEE Study Center at Sophia University is designed to appeal to a wide variety of students who are offered a full selection of elective courses taught in English. The language program is designed to accommodate all levels of Japanese, and CIEE organizes activities that allow students to learn firsthand about Japanese education, politics, and society.

— Center Director

Staff Bios

The Center Director supervises and administers this program. The Center Director also assists students with academic, administrative, and day-to-day matters.

Shannon Quinn, Manager of Student Services, grew up in Seattle and received her B.A. in International Studies and her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration at the University of Washington. In 2005 Shannon received a Blakemore Freeman Fellowship to  study at the Stanford University-administered Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies in Yokohama. Her professional experience in international education includes teaching English in rural Shikoku through the JET Program, advising university students in the U.S. and Japan, and leading JET Program advising at Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Hiroko Watanabe, Program Coordinator, has a B.A. in International Studies with a minor in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Hiroko provides administrative support and serves as the liaison to Sophia University. As a native of Harujuku in Tokyo, Hiroko provides important support and knowledge of Tokyo which deeply benefits the student experience on the program.

Dr. David Slater, Faculty Advisor to the CIEE program, is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Sophia University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Dr. Slater’s professional interests include issues surrounding the semiotics of city space, class, and urban culture. He currently teaches the following courses at Sophia University: Anthropology of Japan, Anthropological Research 1, and Anthropology Practicum. Dr. Slater participates in the CIEE orientation and serves as a guest lecturer throughout each term on the program.

Recommended Credit

semester: 16 semester/24 quarter hours
academic year: 32 semester/48 quarter hours

Eligibility Requirements

  • Overall GPA 3.0
  • Sophomore standing and above at a four-year degree granting institution
  • 1 or 2 semesters of Japanese language strongly recommended

Program Dates

Academic Year 2009-109/15/2009 - 8/1/2010
Spring 20103/23/2010 - 8/1/2010
Calendar Year 20103/23/2010 - 2/4/2011
Fall 20109/14/2010 - 2/4/2011
Academic Year 2010-119/14/2010 - TBA

Important! Students should not purchase plane tickets based on these dates. Please check with your Enrollment Officer regarding travel plans.

Application Deadlines

Academic Year 2009-103/15/2009
Spring 201010/1/2009
Calendar Year 201010/1/2009
Fall 20103/15/2010
Academic Year 2010-113/15/2010

Click here to check for deadline extensions.

Duration

Academic Year 2009-1042 weeks
mid-September - late July
Spring 201021 weeks
mid-March - early August
Calendar Year 201042 weeks weeks
mid-March - early February
Fall 201021 weeks
mid-September - early February
Academic Year 2010-1142 weeks
mid-September - late July

CIEE Costs

CIEE program fees, inclusions, and estimated additional costs, are outlined below. Please note that CIEE reserves the right to adjust its fees in the event of significant change in exchange rates or other factors beyond its control. The actual cost of the programs may vary slightly for students from different institutions.

For comprehensive fee breakdowns and estimated additional costs, click the costs below:

  • Academic Year 2009-10 $33,300
    The CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing (including local commuter pass), most meals, orientation, Hiroshima excursion, required site visits and cultural activities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits. *Housing for academic year students does not include housing or housing support for the interim break (approx. February through late March). Students are expected to travel in Japan, return home to the U.S. or locate alternative housing during this period.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $1,700 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$25,226
    Housing and Most Meals*$8,000
    Medical Insurance$74
    Total$33,300

    The CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing (including local commuter pass), most meals, orientation, Hiroshima excursion, required site visits and cultural activities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits. *Housing for academic year students does not include housing or housing support for the interim break (approx. February through late March). Students are expected to travel in Japan, return home to the U.S. or locate alternative housing during this period.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Additional Meals$1,300
    Personal Expenses**$8,500
    Books and Supplies$600
    Local Transportation$600
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. West Coast departure)$1,550
    Total$12,550

    **This includes an estimated additional $1500 for expenses related to the interim break for housing, meals, and personal expenses.


  • Spring 2010 $18,800
    The CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing (including local commuter pass to get to/from classes), most meals, orientation, Hiroshima excursion, required site visits and cultural activities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $1700 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$14,726
    Housing and Most Meals$4,000
    Medical Insurance$74
    Total$18,800

    The CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing (including local commuter pass to get to/from classes), most meals, orientation, Hiroshima excursion, required site visits and cultural activities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. West Coast departure)$1,550
    Personal Expenses$3,500
    Books and Supplies$300
    Local Transportation$300
    Additional Meals$650
    Total$6,300


  • Calendar Year 2010 $35,800
    The CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing (including local commuter pass to get to/from classes), most meals, orientation, Hiroshima excursion, required site visits and cultural activities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $1700 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$27,726
    Housing and Most Meals$8,000
    Medical Insurance$74
    Total$35,800

    The CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing (including local commuter pass to get to/from classes), most meals, orientation, Hiroshima excursion, required site visits and cultural activities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Personal Expenses$7,000
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. West Coast departure)$1,550
    Local Transportation$600
    Books and Supplies$600
    Additional Meals$1,300
    Total$11,050


  • Fall 2010 $18,800
    The CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing (including local commuter pass to get to/from classes), breakfast and dinner included in the homestay option, orientation, Hiroshima excursion, required site visits and cultural activities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits. *No meals are included in the dormitory option.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Medical Insurance$74
    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $1,700 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$14,626
    Housing and most Meals (homestay option)*$4,100
    Total$18,800

    The CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing (including local commuter pass to get to/from classes), breakfast and dinner included in the homestay option, orientation, Hiroshima excursion, required site visits and cultural activities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits. *No meals are included in the dormitory option.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Meals (dormitory option)**$2,400
    Local Transportation$300
    Books and Supplies$300
    Personal Expenses$3,500
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. West Coast departure)$1,550
    Total$8,050

    ** Students staying in homestays need to budget $1,000 per semester for lunches.


  • Academic Year 2010-11 $35,800
    The CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing (including local commuter pass), breakfast and dinner included in the homestay option, orientation, Hiroshima excursion, required site visits and cultural activities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits. *No meals are included in the dormitory option. **Housing for academic year students does not include housing or housing support for the interim break (approx. February through late March). Students are expected to travel in Japan, return home to the U.S. or locate alternative housing during this period.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $1,700 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$27,526
    Housing and Most Meals (homestay option)* **$8,200
    Medical Insurance$74
    Total$35,800

    The CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing (including local commuter pass), breakfast and dinner included in the homestay option, orientation, Hiroshima excursion, required site visits and cultural activities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits. *No meals are included in the dormitory option. **Housing for academic year students does not include housing or housing support for the interim break (approx. February through late March). Students are expected to travel in Japan, return home to the U.S. or locate alternative housing during this period.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Meals (dormitory option)****$4,800
    Personal Expenses***$8,500
    Books and Supplies$600
    Local Transportation$600
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. West Coast departure)$1,550
    Total$16,050

    ***This includes an estimated additional $1500 for expenses related to the interim break for housing, meals, and personal expenses.

    ****Students staying in homestays need to budget $1,000 per semester for lunches.


Scholarship Information

For a complete list of scholarships available, please vist our Scholarships section.