5X社区

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An adult and baby monkey in Japan.

This combined neuroscience and anthropology program will take students to Japan to explore the cultural and behavioral differences between different monkey populations in Jigokudani, Inuyama, and Kyoto.

 

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Location

Jigokudani, Inuyama, and Kyoto, Japan

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Term

Summer

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Housing

Hotel

Program Highlights

After a day in Tokyo, you will head off to observe snow monkey populations in Jigokudani, Inuyama, and Kyoto, Japan.

  • Gain first-hand experience researching snow monkey populations in Japan.

  • Hear from Japan-based researchers who study primate cognition, behavior and the neurological basis of these abilities. 

  • Explore Kyoto shrines and palace grounds.

Program Contact Information

Desiree Dube

Assistant Director, Education Abroad

Email: ddube1@kent.edu

Office Phone: 330-672-7989

Important Dates & Billing

Important Dates

Program Dates: May 15 - 28, 2027

Application Deadline: January 27, 2027

Withdrawal and Commitment Deadline: February 3, 2027

Payment Deadline: The program fee will be billed to your Kent State student account. The program fee deadline aligns with the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center's summer due dates. You should refer to the first Summer 2027 due date.

 

Application Process

You will need to complete a Kent State Education Abroad application. These quick steps will help walk you through the process.

1. Start an Education Abroad Application

When you click the "Apply Now" button (located towards the top and bottom of this page), you will be brought to the Education Abroad application system where you can view program costs and start an application. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline!

2. Guest Application (If applicable)

Are you a student at another university? To apply for a Kent State education abroad program, you will first need to apply for admission to 5X社区 as a 鈥Guest Student鈥. Please apply as either an 鈥淯ndergraduate Guest Student鈥 or as a 鈥淕raduate Guest Student鈥, depending on your course level.

Once you have applied and been accepted as a 5X社区 student, you will receive an email with your FlashLine login credentials. Activate your account and then proceed to the next step, which is to apply to the Education Abroad program of your interest. You can return to this page and follow the 鈥淎pply Now鈥 button to start that application.

You can also refer to the FAQs for Guest Students if you need further help.

3. Wait for Acceptance

Once you have submitted your study abroad program application, it will be reviewed by the faculty leader. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. You should hear back from us within one month.

4. Commit to the Program

If you are accepted, you need to log back into your application by going to and clicking LOGIN. Once you see the name of your program, you need to click on it and commit (i.e., accept your offer of admission). 

Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Must be 18 years of age or older by the start of the program abroad.
  • Minimum 2.0 GPA.
Academics

Course Information

Course Name and CRN: TBA

Number of Credit Hours: 3

KSU Sponsoring College: College of Arts and Sciences

Course Description: This is a combined Anthropology and Neuroscience course for undergraduate students from varied academic backgrounds. By exploring the cultural and behavioral between different monkey populations of monkeys and neuroscience research across Japan, students will be able to delve into and experience the richness that is embedded in Japanese monkey culture. Through a combination of fieldtrips, laboratory exercises, and lectures students while traveling to various sites throughout the southern half of Honshu island, students will learn and observe how different monkey population have adapted to their respective environments and acquired site-specific behavior. Students will also hear from Japan-based researchers who study primate cognition, behavior and the neurological basis of these abilities. 

Faculty Contact Information

Professor's Name: Dr. Rafaela Takeshita 

Email: rtakeshi@kent.edu

And

Professor's Name: Dr. Wilson Chung 

Email: wchung@kent.edu

Tentative Itinerary

Below is a tentative itinerary; however, the exact sequence, sites, and departure city are subject to changes in availability and cost.

DAY 1:

  • Depart for Tokyo, Japan

DAY 2: 

  • Arrival in Tokyo, Japan

DAY 3:

  • Travel from Tokyo to Jigokudani (snow monkey site 1)

DAY 4: 

  • Research activities and behavioral observations in small groups

DAY 5:

  • Travel to Inuyama (snow monkey site 2)

DAY 6:

  • Neuroscience lectures and tour EHUB Kyoto University

DAY 7:

  • Lecture and research activities Japan Monkey Center, behavioral observations in small groups

DAY 8:

  • Travel to Kyoto

  • Behavioral observations at Arashiyama Monkey Park (snow monkey site 3)

DAY 9: 

  • Guided walking tour of Kyoto shrines and palace grounds, Kyoto Palace Grounds

DAY 10:

  • Summary of observations and group presentations

DAY 11:

  • Travel to Tokyo and farewell dinner

DAY 12:

  • Travel to Cleveland

Location, Transportation & Housing

Transportation

Group flights and local ground transportation are included in the program fee.

Housing

Double-occupancy hotel rooms.

Financial Aid & Scholarships
Health & Safety

Pre-Departure Orientation

Prior to your study abroad experience, you will participate in a mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Office of Global Education. During this orientation, you will be provided with information including but not limited to:

  • international travel procedures;
  • in-country resources;
  • health and safety resources and information;
  • culture shock and resources to help prepare for living abroad.

All students are encouraged to register with the prior to departure.

You can also review a wide variety of resources we鈥檝e pulled together for you on our 鈥Before You Go鈥 page.

Country Profile

You can learn more about your destination(s), including travel advisories, through the .

In addition, we encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel page for for traveling to your destination(s).

If vaccinations or medications are needed according to the CDC, you should make arrangements for appointments with your healthcare provider or the DeWeese Health Center as soon as possible. Appointment openings at the DeWeese Health Center are limited and vaccines may need to be ordered, which takes time. Please note that not all immunizations are available at the DeWeese Health Center. 

Costs and Funding

cost affordability icon

Costs for the program will differ for every student. You can use our Cost Calculator to get an estimate of what you might expect for your program.鈥

We encourage you to meet with the Financial, Billing, and Enrollment Center to see how your aid may apply to an international program. We also encourage you to meet with your Academic Advisor to discuss your鈥Course Plan of Study and to evaluate if your planned coursework is eligible for federal financial aid.鈥 

 

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