Ritsumeikan University Syllabus

Course Name	Year	Term	Period	Faculty / Graduate School	All Instructors	Credits
13371:[2025 Fall]IR18‐HE101 Introductory Seminar I (D)	2025	Fall	Thu4	College　Of　International　Relations	HATERUMA SHINO	2

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

KOSHINKAN　KS207

Language

英語

Course Outline and Method

【+R-Jugyo】This course will not have +R-Jugyo. The number of class hours for “+R-Jugyo” will be covered by activities related to the course.

This course aims to equip students with the basic academic skills and knowledge necessary for a successful start at the university. By working through the assigned packet of materials, students will learn the skills essential to excell in their subsequent classes. Students will learn how to take notes, use the APA referencing style, understand plagiarism and academic dishonesty, how to avoid them, and efficiently approach their reading. Additionally, students will undergo a brief individual interview with the instructor to assess their progress and discuss future plans.

Furthermore, this course will lay the foundation for students to pursue their further studies on world politics by familializing themselves with a range of major issues faced by practitioners in international affairs. These issues encompass international finance and trade, environment, and transnational security.

Student Attainment Objectives

(1) Adapting to University Life
a. Develop an understanding of the university environment in Japan
b. Understand the structure of the JD/GS Major and the history of Ritsumeikan University

(2) Understanding Major Emerging Issues in World Politics
a. Global environmental politics: climate change
b. International political economy: financial crises
c. Global trade
d. Transnational threats: counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and cybersecurity

(3) Critical Thinking Skills
a. Explore a specific topic in depth and improve your research through critical thinking
b. Increase the ability to express yourself by clarifying the difference between your opinions and those of others.

(4) Reading, Note Taking and Research Skills
a. Learn how to effectively take notes on lectures, presentations, and research materials
b. Accurately read, organize. and analyze content from course readings and materials
c. Begin to develop independent research questions

(5) Resume and Report Writing
a. Understand plagiarism and academic dishonesty and how to avoid them
b. Understand the AS/GS/JDP stylesheet
c. Produce short research reports

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors)	Theme
Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors)	Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1	Class Briefing - Class Structure, University Life in Japan
1	Self Introduction, Ritsumeikan University, Syllabus
2	Library Tour
2	Research, Library Usage
3	Database Guidance
3
4	Basic Skills 1 - APA
4	Citations, reference list building, academic honesty
5	Basic Skills 2– Research and Note Taking
5	Note taking systems, Cornell
6	Individual Interviews, Academic Advice
6	Portfolio preparation, materials collection
7	Individual Interviews, Academic Advice
7	Portfolio preparation, materials collection
8	Individual Interviews, Academic Advice
8	Portfolio preparation, materials collection
9	Individual Interviews, Academic Advice
9	Portfolio preparation, materials collection
10	An Introduction to Global IR
10	Amitav Acharya, Eurocentrism, history, and diversity
11	Major Emerging Issues in IR: Global Environmental Politics: Climate Change
11	Climate change, environmental politics
12	Major Emerging Issues in IR: International Political Economy: Financial Crises
12	Financial crises and global politics, domestic political polarisation
13	Major Emerging Issues in IR: Global Trade
13	Free trade, inequality, development
14	Major Emerging Issues in IR: Transnational Threats: Counter-Terrorism, Non-Proliferation and Cybersecurity
14	Cyberwars, terrorism, nuclear weapons

Class Format

Sessions will be delivered in a face-to-face class format.

Recommendations for Private Study

Please follow the guidelines provided during the class briefing and in each week’s session. It is your responsibility to review the assigned work for each week if you are absent.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind	Percentage	Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)	0
Report Examination (A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)	0
Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　 (Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)	100	30% Class participation and conduct 50% Submission of one short assignment (750 words excluding references) 20% Submission of ・ the career chart ・ one presentation slide file (from any class) ・ one set of in class notes (from any class)

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

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