Available courses

Radically transformed economics education can contribute to a more just, sustainable, and democratic world in which future citizens are empowered by a new economics to understand and debate how best to address pressing societal problems. 

Our mission, to achieve the above vision, is to 

  • Global focus on the most important problems faced by our societies including climate change, injustice, innovation and the future of work,
  • put you (the student) at the center of pedagogy using learning materials and experiences attuned both to the societal problems that students care about and to how students acquire facility and confidence in using and communicating economics,
  • make knowledge freely available on a global scale by providing high-quality open access educational resources,
  • help change who studies economics to include more women and other underrepresented groups by changing content, pedagogy and access to knowledge.

This course serves as an introduction to the fundamental principles and applications of marketing within the context of the hospitality and tourism industry. Students will explore the core concepts of marketing and their specific relevance to this dynamic field, gaining insight into diverse marketing strategies. The course covers essential topics such as foundational marketing principles, the marketing system, effective market segmentation, targeting strategies, and a comprehensive understanding of the 8 Ps - the marketing mix within hospitality and tourism. Beyond theoretical knowledge, this course is designed to cultivate critical thinking abilities among students, enabling them to analyze and apply marketing theories and concepts within real-world scenarios in the hospitality and tourism sector. Emphasis is placed on leveraging these marketing strategies to attain a competitive edge in the industry, equipping students with practical skills and a strategic mindset necessary for success in this dynamic field.

Explore the definitions, organizational structures, and operational processes of tour operators and travel agencies. Learn about tour product development, itinerary planning, negotiation strategies with service providers, tour costing, and the essentials of tour planning for seamless execution.

This is a place for students to get extensive listening in the form of podcasts on topics related to class textbooks and other relevant themes.

This course is designed to introduce students to the major theories, concepts, and pieces of research in classical sociology. What is society? How did the early social scientists understand the dramatic transfor- mations provoked by capitalism? How did they conceive the organization of the increasingly complex modern societies? The course considers these questions and discusses other related topics. The course is composed of two modules. The first module presents the ‘classical’ sociological theories, notably those elaborated by the ‘founding fathers’ of sociology, (i.e., Comte, de Tocqueville, Marx, Weber, and Durk- heim). The second module focuses on several issues and controversies (i.e., social stratification, social mobility, gender and sexuality, and race) that had great salience in the works of the early sociologists and have an enduring importance for understanding contemporary societies. The course instructor explains theoretical and empirical works, reviews social research methods and, through an active learning ap- proach, stimulates students to think critically about social problems.

This website is a place for students to check various links which are necessary for the course, to upload assignments and to receive feedback. There are two websites you need to master for the course - the Q Skills Online Learning website and the AE 1-4 website on moodle. You can get the link to Q Skills online from inside the moodle website so it is easiest to start here. Please let me know if you have any questions. ehead AT miu.ac.jp

This course is a two-credit course for first year students. It is a "content and language integrated class." This means that you with use English as a tool to learn about British culture and language. The language used in the course includes some high-level language and the course will ask you to use critical thinking. But you can pass by doing the assignments even if your language level is intermediate.

his course is an introductory course for international students studying at a Japanese university. It provides the knowledge and skills necessary for four years of university study, and also provides specific instruction on MIU’s educational policies, teaching methods, and study methods. It also provides an opportunity to learn about the mindset, rules, and lifestyle habits required to live and smoothly navigate university life in Japan, a country with a different culture, history, lifestyle, and language.

Explore the intersection of tourism and sustainable development goals (SDGs) in this course. Gain insights into the fundamentals of tourism and sustainable tourism practices, alongside an in-depth examination of the background and interdependence of the 17 SDGs. Discover how tourism serves as a pivotal driver in achieving these global goals, analyzing its impact across the tourism value chain. Engage with case studies showcasing how tourism-related businesses integrate SDGs into their operations, fostering sustainability and responsible tourism practices.

This is the moodle for Academic English 2-2 with Ellen Head. Please use this site to access the reading passages and other links for the course. 

This course presents an introduction to the basic conceptual and theoretical tools for research and analysis in the field of politics. To understand the core concepts used by political scientists and political theorists, we will be addressing a broad range of issues that cover the nature of politics and the structures of authority and power within political systems. During this course, the students will also explore issues related with the rights and responsibilities in contemporary representative democracies, as well as the diversity of different contemporary political systems and ideas in a regional and global context.

The ultimate objective of CE courses is to prepare students for upper division courses at MIC. Students must achieve minimum scores on standardized exams from outside bodies in order to proceed to their junior year. This typically requires successfully taking three CE courses. By the end of each course, students will have mastered the knowledge and skills specified in the prescribed textbook as well as any supplemental materials provided by individual professors.

Explore the diverse meanings and types of tourism, unravel the classifications of tourists, and delve into the expansive scope of the tourism industry and its products. Investigate the advantages and disadvantages of tourism, gaining a nuanced understanding of its impact on economies, social, and environments. Through engaging lectures and discussions, discover the multifaceted nature of tourism and its significance in shaping global travel experiences.

This is the moodle for LAS 105. You can find resources and upload assignments here.

This is Ellen's class for Academic English. We will use the book Q Skills for Success book 3 B. It is good for learning critical thinking! Look forward to seeing you in class.

Hello everyone! 

My name is Rebecca Schmidt and I will be your Academic English instructor.  We will work on academic vocabulary, advanced grammar, essay writing, research skills and critical thinking. 

We will use the textbook Q Skills for Success: Reading and Writing 4B

The link to online practice is here: https://q3e.oxfordonlinepractice.com/
The class code is C 285 103 0208
You must complete the online work as part of your course grade. Deadlines will be at the end of each unit. 

Please get used to using an English-English dictionary. Please avoid translators for learning new words. I recommend using Longman's Learner's Dictionary https://www.ldoceonline.com/ or Oxford Learner's Dictionary 

You may email me anytime at rschmidt@miu.ac.jp.  My office is room 1-401. My office hours are Mondays 2:00- 5:00.  If you want to meet at another time, please email me. It is very important that you read your emails!!

Although I try to answer emails as soon as I can, I cannot promise to respond immediately to emails sent after 5:15 and before 8:30 or on the weekends. You may send them, but please be patient if the reply takes time.  

I am looking forward to getting to know you even better.

Let's make learning fun!

This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of Canadian culture and language. The syllabus is divided into two main sections: 70% focused on cultural aspects and 30% on language learning. Through interactive lessons, discussions, and real-life type experiences, students will gain valuable insights into some of the societal aspects of Canada's rich heritage, traditions, and language.


The course introduces students to basic features of the English language (listening, pronunciation, spoken fluency, vocabulary, grammar, discourse competence, politeness) and evaluates how different study methods can be used to make improvements in these areas.

The course will serve as an introduction to linguistic topics such as phonology, phonetics, and speech perception and their applications to the the teaching of pronunciation.

Topics of study include:

■Classification of speech sounds
■How differences in phonology contribute to difficulties in pronunciation
■The shortcomings of English spelling
■Second language (L2) phonological theories
■English pronunciation teaching methods

Academic English (AE) is a four-skills course focussing on Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP), or academic proficiency (see references below). The courses are offered every semester at different CEFR levels.

Continues proficiency development in written and spoken English. Strengthens oral proficiency through various speaking exercises. Develops reading skills through intensive and extensive reading practice. Strengthens written proficiency through practice in organized multi-paragraph essays. Further develops structural accuracy and fluency using more complex forms.

 

The course develops fluency in basic oral expression through various active learning methods such as pair-work, brainstorming, group discussions, games and activities, role-plays, presentations and active listening. Students are expected to record conversations focusing on a main functional objective with minimal planning and notes while utilizing conversation strategies.

This second semester course continues to challenge students to develop their reading skills through the use of in-class timed readings and comprehension questions, intensive readings with comprehension and vocabulary building activities, and extensive reading conducted mostly outside of class time. Homework consists of reading for meaning, for pleasure, and for the purpose of vocabulary building. Students also engage with software to work on extensive reading, to develop critical reading skills, and to build and practice vocabulary.


The course develops fluency in basic oral expression through various active learning methods such as pair-work, brainstorming, group discussions, games and activities, role-plays, presentations and active listening. Students are expected to record conversations focusing on a main functional objective with minimal planning and notes while utilizing conversation strategies.

This course introduces the literary genres – prose (short stories), poetry, and drama – with an emphasis on developing reading, speaking, and writing skills through the analysis, interpretation, and production of fictional texts. Our emphasis will be to experience literature using active, co-operative methods in order to learn how to respond to literature in ways that are both critically informed, expressive and creative.


This first semester course focuses on developing reading skills through the use of in-class timed readings and comprehension questions, intensive readings with comprehension and vocabulary building activities, and extensive reading conducted mostly outside of class time. Homework will consist of reading for meaning, for pleasure, and for the purpose of vocabulary building. The overall goals of the course are to increase reading fluency, to improve understanding of grammatical forms and vocabulary encountered in simplified written texts, and to gain skills and strategies necessary for further development of reading comprehension. It is hoped that students will also develop an increased interest in EFL reading.

Introduces initial basic proficiency in fluency and accuracy in spoken English. Develops fluency in basic oral expression. Develops reading skills through regular reading practice. Introduces writing skills form the paragraph level. Introduces vocabulary for academic purposes.

The course develops fluency in basic oral expression through various active learning methods such as pair-work, brainstorming, group discussions, games and activities, role-plays, presentations and active listening. Students are expected to record conversations focusing on a main functional objective with minimal planning and notes while utilizing conversation strategies.


Introduces basic theories of economics. Topics covered may include: economics as a science; production, specialization and exchange; demand and supply; elasticity; utility; output and costs; industry structure; factor markets; business cycles; national output and macro-economic policies; market failure; and international trade.

2025 SS LAI209「 Contemporary Design」 Wednesday4th (14:40-16:10) LIN chunghsien

The ultimate objective of CE courses is to prepare students for upper division courses at MIC. Students must achieve minimum scores on standardized exams from outside bodies in order to proceed to their junior year. This typically requires successfully taking three CE courses. By the end of each course, students will have mastered the knowledge and skills specified in the prescribed textbook as well as any supplemental materials provided by individual professors.

The ultimate objective of CE courses is to prepare students for upper division courses at MIC. Students must achieve minimum scores on standardized exams from outside bodies in order to proceed to their junior year. This typically requires successfully taking three CE courses. By the end of each course, students will have mastered the knowledge and skills specified in the prescribed textbook as well as any supplemental materials provided by individual professors.

Many students who take introductory economics course have difficulty seeing the relevance of the key concepts of opportunity cost, trade-off, scarcity, demand, and supply to their lives and their careers. This reduces the willingness of many students to prepare for class and activities to be engaged during the class. With this course, we show the students how to apply economic thinking through three unifying themes (optimization, equilibrium, and empiricism) creatively to improve their work, their choices and their daily lives. 



This is the moodle website for CE 3-4 advanced class in the spring of 2025. Here you can get links and downloads which you need for study and you can submit assignments. You will also need to register on the Worldlink website so as to do selected online assignments for Worldlink. Please let Ellen know if you have any questions or special requests!

In this students will learn about Japanese culture and social norms through discussions and activities. Theoretical knowledge will be increased and opportunities for practical application will be provided (see syllabus).

Students are also required to write reflections of course content and experiences (250 words per-class, 500 words per-week).

This is the moodle for the advanced speaking course with Ellen, which will cover discussion, debate and presentation skills for second year TC students.


This introductory course will introduce students to major terminologies, trends, theories, and perspectives necessary to understand approaches to second language acquisition. Based on their theory-informed understanding, students will describe and explain cognitive, individual, affective, and sociocultural factors in second language acquisition and learning and explore culturally-inclusive ways of applying their critical understanding to their prospective foreign language teaching practices and specific points of intersection

Contemporary Design

For 2nd-Year students submitting:

Area Studies - 7500 words
Independent Study - 3750 words
English - 3750 words

Upload your work here

This course examines contemporary issues in the English-speaking world. Students will learn to evaluate such issues, compare them with their own societies, assemble evidence from other sources, and express their own views in a written format. For language development, the course builds on the skills required in the academic writing course. Students learn to use sources of evidence to support their writing on common issues in the English-speaking world. They learn to use quotations and paraphrases, summarize texts and avoid plagiarism. The use of citations and references as a standard feature of academic writing is addressed. Vocabulary, grammar and written fluency are also reinforced.

This course is designed for all second year students in the fall Study Abroad on Campus program requiring a minimum TOEIC score to continue on with upper division courses at MIC.