Where to study graphic design and photography?

What Are Some Study Abroad Programs?

• I'm wanting to study Graphic Design though taking some classes for Photography would be ok. I want to study abroad in Japan, but none of the colleges I want to go to offer study abroad for what I want to take, nothing, or they don't offer it at all. I need to stay in my state and not very many colleges offer Graphic Design so finding another school is out of the question for the time being being because they don't offer it either. So what are some good study abroad programs I can put myself through? I don't really care if all of my credits don't transfer back. I don't know any Japanese, but I plan on getting one of those language learning things like Rosetta Stone and listening to the things on Youtube that deal with that so that I can know at least a little before going over there.

• Answer:

  You can apply to just about any study abroad program you want--you don't have to restrict yourself to certain ones. The only reason schools have partnerships between them are because it helps to bring attention to their school over others while also offering some "deals" to their students (like reduced costs, requiring less paperwork when deciding admissions, or a higher likelihood of being accepted compared to those who are applying independently). The more prestigious schools sometimes limit their selections only to students from partner universities, but you don't need that sort of snobbery anyway. So really when asking for programs you should be talking about what exactly you're looking for in a school in Japan. I think finding a school that offers a lot of graphic design or photography classes that also have classes for study abroad and also have classes targeted at English speakers (because your Japanese will not be competent enough to attend classes held only in Japanese) will be hard to do, but your university is also probably going to require you take certain classes as well as a number of electives as overall graduation requirements, so a school with a broad range of courses might be good for you. I know you said you don't care if your credits transfer or not, but you don't really want to waste thousands and thousands of dollars and a large period of your time to come back with nothing to show for it outside of photos and souvenirs. I think one of the most popular choices is Kansai Gaidai in Osaka http://www.kansaigaidai.ac.jp/asp/ (warning: the website is really beepy). I have a friend there currently and I could link you to a blog she keeps if you're interested in reading about her experience (it's mostly just daily life stuff, nothing too deep). The one thing I know a lot of people complain about at Kansai is that most of the time foreign students and Japanese students are segregated so that it can be hard to meet actual Japanese if you don't go out with the specific intention of doing so. But they do have a homestay program. There is also Sophia University through CIEE http://www.ciee.org/study/programOverview.aspx?pID=55#1rightForYou which is right in Tokyo. Even though it's in the middle of no where, I try to promote my university AIU (Akita International University) http://www.aiu.ac.jp/en/ . It's pretty up north though so you really have to like snow! But if you're considering photography as well it's a very picturesque place and it's also really cheap. There aren't any art-related classes there except for calligraphy and flower arranging, but there is a photography club and if you know anything about Japanese culture you know the clubs are really big things to do and generally quite active. ANYWAY, there's Ritsumeikan in Kyoto but for this you'll need to have at least 200 hours of real Japanese class. http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/eng/international_programs/skp/index.shtml Naturally there are lots more, but I think choosing a university should be based on your own research. You can do a lot more thorough searching since you know what you're ideally wanting and you'll feel better about your choice when it's been you who decided it and not you who decided it because Belie at Y!A gave you only a few options and only talked about one university at any real length.