Students at both RU and AU will form a cohort within and across academic years and take cohort-specific classes together, enable them to learn Japanese culture from global perspectives and cross-cultural communication with diversified background.
The courses will be mainly taught in English. Non-native English speakers will be given sufficient language support, such as writing tutorial. The program also offers Japanese language courses in which students will obtain at least intermediate level Japanese.
Students will be given training by both RU and AU in how to conduct research projects and will be able to pursue their own research interests in the final capstone project. While at both universities, students will receive individual tailored academic advice support to guide them through their studies.
After graduation, students will have the opportunities to pursue career opportunities in Japan, the U.S. and elsewhere, and will be given career advice at both RU and AU. RU Career Center offers a variety of career planning events and placement support services for students.
In order for students to learn specialized topics within Global IR systematically, the program will offer courses in three thematic areas: "Peace, Global Security and Conflict Resolution (PGSCR)," "Identity, Race, Gender and Culture (IRGC)," and "Global Comparative Governance (GCG)."
In order to plan for four years of study and graduation, each student is provided with an academic advisor who they meet individually. Advisors will support and advise students on everything from selecting and registering for courses, to how to improve academically (for example, on their English language skills), on health management, working towards a career, internships, tuition, and scholarships.
Advisors from both universities will work closely together and update each other on the academic situation of each student. After a student moves to the U.S. they will receive support from their advisor at AU.
Note: In addition to regular advising sessions, additional advising will take place by email and in person throughout the semester.
JDP provides a wide range of practical experiences through its internship scheme for JDP students. In Washington DC, the nation'scapital, students are offered opportunities to intern in government, international organizations, nonprofits, and international corporations. Kyoto, which was Japan’s capital city for over 1000 years, has long established business ties with the rest of the world and students can choose internships in areas such as manufacturing and hospitality. Our academic advisors and program coordinators help students find internship opportunities that best match their interests.
Welcome to the JDP ! Students will spend their first three semesters at RU to gain essential intellectual competencies to learn about Global IR from multiple perspectives.
Students will spend two years at AU's top-ranked SIS. Home to the U.S. government as well as many world-class institutions and businesses, students will have first-hand experiences which will combine knowledge and practice in Washington D.C.
After returning from AU, students will spend their final semester at RU and engage in their Senior Capstone Project. As a culmination of their four years of learning, students will design and conduct research under the guidance of faculty members from both institutions.
AP/IB Credits for JDP
In the American University - Ritsumeikan University Joint Degree Program, it is possible for students to receive credit for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations taken prior to enrollment.
1: In the JDP curriculum, it is possible to receive credit for the following three courses.
[WRT-100](WRT-IB/ WRT-AP)
[ECON-100]
[ECON-200]
2: Although these credits will not count towards the minimum number of credits which must be earned at each university, by receiving these credits, RU Home Students (students who begin their studies at Ritsumeikan University) can elect to have some of their first- and second-year introductory courses waived, allowing them to choose from a wide range of courses to take instead.
Note: Because the JDP is managed according to the regulations set by Japan and the US, it is required that of the 124 credits needed to graduate, students must earn at least half of the credits (62 or more credits) at Ritsumeikan University and more than half of the credits (63 or more credits) at American University. Therefore, the credits from IB and AP examinations earned prior to enrollment cannot be included in these credit requirements.
Please see the American University page below.
https://www.american.edu/admissions/exam-credit.cfm
By having WRT-100 College Writing (WRT-IB/ WRT-AP) articulated, you will be exempted from the requirement of taking RUIR-1101 Academic Skills I, RUIR-1102 Academic Skills II and RUIR-1103 Academic Skills III (three required courses worth a total of 12 credits) and can take other courses instead during your first year at RU.
By having both ECON-100 Macroeconomics and ECON-200 Microeconomics articulated, you will be exempted from the requirement of taking RUIR-1211 Macroeconomics, RUIR-2212 Microeconomics, and RUIR-1213 Economics for Global Studies (three required courses worth a total of 6 credits), and can take other courses instead during their first and second year at RU.
Note: Students who have only one of ECON-100 Macroeconomics and ECON-200 Microeconomic articulated will be required to take two of the three economics courses at RU (e.g. students having ECON-100 Macroeconomics articulated will be required to take RUIR-2212 Microeconomics and RUIR-1213 Economics for Global Studies.)
RU Home Students will need to be able to submit a CFIS in order to meet the visa requirements to enter the United States and enroll at AU.
As of the 2024-2025 AU academic year, the amount they must be able to certify is $78,296. This amount is subject to increase each year based on the associated costs (such as tuition, mandatory fees, cost of living, etc.).
In order to attend AU, all students need to meet a minimum score of 85 or higher for TOEFL iBT® (scores for each section of the TOEFL should be 20 or higher), Overall Band-score 6.5 or higher for IELTS (scores for each component of the IELTS should be 6.0 or higher), or 60 or higher for the Pearson Test of English, sub-score 30 or higher for SAT Reading Test, 25 or higher for ACT English Test, or 115 or higher for Duolingo English Test, or Cambridge Assessment English: Score of 176 or higher (Sub-scores for each section of the Cambridge Assessment English must be 169 or higher).
Students of the American University and Ritsumeikan University Joint Degree Program are restricted from taking some courses, such as Teacher-Training courses, foreign language courses other than Japanese language courses, or courses offered by other colleges at Ritsumeikan University because of the program curriculum and the program structure. Furthermore, students will not earn credit from any other study abroad programs. When students apply for a leave of absence, they may only apply for units of one year (two semesters), not one semester.