APU course code: 038361ZG 

Fall 2025 timetable: Monday period 4 (14:20-16:00)

Fall 2025 venue: J 305

Click here for the ST Undergraduate Seminar Booklet pages on the HC Conservation Zemi

Overview

Biodiversity is essential for the processes that support all life on Earth. However, human activities are driving global biodiversity loss at alarming rates. Effective conservation is vital to ensure the survival of threatened species and continued human flourishing. The HC Conservation Seminar focuses on experiential learning in the field of biodiversity conservation. Undergraduate students variously explore interdisciplinary concepts in conservation, contribute to conservation research and practice, and engage in environmental education activities. Learning activities revolve around the development and execution of a conservation project, and will set students on course to pursue a Graduation Project or a Capstone in their fourth year. Through their project, students will build transferrable research, critical thinking, communication and project management skills.

本科目は、生物多様性保全分野の体験学習に重点を置いている。学生は保全における学際的な概念を探求し、保全の研究と実践に貢献し、環境教育活動に従事する。

Learning objectives

The overarching objective of this course is to provide students with the foundation to engage meaningfully with conservation research and practice, setting students on course to pursue a Graduation Project or a Capstone in their fourth year.

本科目の包括的な目的は、生物多様性保全の研究と実践に有意義に関与するための基礎を学生に提供することである。

The three primary attainment targets are for students to:

1. Acquire specialized knowledge in biology, ecology, and conservation on a specific topic or context pertaining to their project;

2. Develop and apply research, critical thinking, communication and project management skills by contributing to conservation research and practice; and

3. Strengthen communication skills in English to engage effectively with different stakeholders in conservation.

Teaching approach

The HC Conservation Zemi employs a project-based learning approach that emphasizes student autonomy. Under the instructor's guidance, students will variously develop research, critical thinking, communication and project management skills through practical conservation research and practice.

HC生物多様性保全学ゼミは、学習者オートノミーを重んじる問題解決型学習アプローチを採用している。

Assessment

• 28% - Active participation in class

• 15% - Project proposal

• 15% - Progress report presentation

• 42% - Final project deliverables

Recruitment

Students interested in taking the HC Conservation Zemi are asked to contact the instructor directly to set up a preliminary meeting. In your email, please include the following:

1. Your CV (English or Japanese; PDF file);

2. Self-introduction (~150 words in English); and

3. Statement of interest in biodiversity conservation (~300 words in English).

本科目の受講を希望する学生は、講師に直接連絡を取り、事前の打ち合わせを行うこと。

Course pre-requisites

Students must be able to interact and conduct advanced discussions about environmental issues in English. All course assessments (e.g. oral presentation, written assignments) must be completed in English.

Prior to taking this course, students are strongly recommended to complete either "Biodiversity" or "Environmental Education" in English.

生物多様性保全に関心のある日本語基準学生のゼミへの参加は歓迎しますが、授業や評価はすべて英語で行われますのでご了承ください。

環境問題について英語で対話し、高度なディスカッションができなければならない。すべてのコース評価（口頭発表、筆記課題など）は英語で行わなければならない。

APU course code: 038330EA

Fall 2025 timetable: Monday period 3 (12:30-14:10)

Fall 2025 venue: J 102

Fall 2025 TA: Patrick Nathaniel Setiawan

Overview

This course introduces Environmental Education using an interdisciplinary approach, and emphasizes the development of practical communication skills with different audiences and across contexts. There are three areas of focus: i) science communication, ii) environmental education across age groups, and iii) environmental awareness and the general public. These are supported by case studies, group activities and course assessments designed to provide opportunities for students to develop practical communication skills and become effective environmental educators.

Learning objectives

The four primary attainment targets are for students to:

1. Develop a foundational knowledge of environmental education;

2. Gain an understanding of and familiarity with the various forms of media through which science communication occurs;

3. Critically examine environmental issues in local, regional and global contexts; and

4. Build and apply communication skills in English to engage effectively with different audiences in the arena of environmental education.

Outline of classes

1. Course outline; Introduction to environmental education

2. Science communication I

3. Science communication II

4. Science communication III

5. Environmental education with children

6. Environmental education with teens and young adults

7. Environmental awareness and the general public I

8. Group project workshop

9. Environmental awareness and the general public II

10. Individual short video sharing & peer-evaluation

11. Environmental awareness and the general public III

12. Group project workshop

13. Group project presentations

14. Course wrap-up

Assessment

• 14% - Active participation in class

• 40% - Individual short video

• 46% - Group project

APU course code: 038309EC

Fall 2025 timetable: Wednesday period 4 (14:20-16:00) (n.b. field visits may be alternately scheduled)

Fall 2025 venue: J 102

Fall 2025 TA: Hiroaki Mashiko

Overview

The various social and regional challenges of reality are complex. Therefore, it is necessary to acquire skills to solve specific social and regional issues by utilizing knowledge acquired in various subjects studied at universities.

In this course, students discover various social and regional issues and learn practical techniques to utilize the knowledge they have learned in the specialized courses of this college.

APU course code: 038340EC

Fall 2025 timetable: Monday period 6 (18:00-19:40)

Fall 2025 venue: F 209

Fall 2025 TA: Morgan Do

Overview

In this course, academic literature selected by teachers is used to explain not only specialized knowledge but also how to write academic papers.

This course is a second-year course of the research training which is offered systematically: "Introduction to Research Methods" in the first year, "Critical Reading I" and ""Critical Reading II" in the second year, "Major Seminar" in the third year, "Research Seminar" and "Graduation Project"/"Capstone" in the fourth year.

APU course code: TBC

Fall 2025 timetable: Tuesday period 6 (18:00-19:40)

Fall 2025 venue: FII 126

Fall 2025 TA: Morgan Do & Patrick Nathaniel Setiawan

Overview

In this course, upon detailed explanation of the method of literature search, students are instructed to write a literature review on a course of their own interest.

This course is a second-year course of the research training which is offered systematically: "Introduction to Research Methods" in the first year, "Critical Reading I" and ""Critical Reading II" in the second year, "Major Seminar" in the third year, "Research Seminar" and "Graduation Project"/"Capstone" in the fourth year.