To Top Page

2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses

Visionary Project 41

Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Sanae Akaba / Alvin Christopher Galang Varquez / Sasipa Boonyubol / Vinayak Gupta / Naoya Abe
Class Format
Lecture/Exercise (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses
-
Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)
5-6 Mon (Ishikawadai, Bldg. 6, 4F,404, (Creative Commons)) / 3-4 Thu (Ishikawadai, Bldg. 6, 4F,404, (Creative Commons))
Class
41
Course Code
LAH.C101
Number of credits
110
Course offered
2026
Offered quarter
1Q
Syllabus updated
Mar 18, 2026
Language
English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

Visionary Project is a course required of all students that begins soon after admission. It encourages self-discovery and aims to motivate students to set individual goals so that they can envision their path through the four years of liberal arts studies at the undergraduate level. The course alternates between lectures and group work involving approximately 30 students. It allows students to identify, scrutinize, and convey problems, enhancing the interactive set of skills needed for efficient communication and presentation. N.B. Class 41 is for GSEP students only.

Course description and aims

By the end of this course, students will:
1) be able to identify problems from a social perspective
2) have found pleasure in exchanging views and ideas with others
3) have acquired the fundamental skills needed for effective communication and presentation
4) have learned how to read books by writing a book review

Keywords

Risshi, liberal arts, group work, communication skills, presentation, book review

Competencies

  • Specialist skills
  • Intercultural skills
  • Communication skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

The course alternates between lectures and group work involving approximately 30 students. After each talk, students are required to write a reflection paper to have productive discussions in small groups. At the end of the course, each student gives a presentation based on the findings of the small group.

Course schedule/Objectives

Course schedule Objectives
Class 1

April 9
Introduction/What is Liberal Arts? (Lecturer: Sanae Akaba)
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

Learn about the course outline and understand the objectives.
For homework, prepare a reflection paper related to the lecture.

Class 2

April 13
Lecture (1) Lecture 1: Artistic Swimming (Lecturer: Misa Sugiyama)
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

Learn about the course outline and understand the objectives.

For homework, prepare a reflection paper related to the lecture.

Class 3

April 16
Exercise (1)::Group work 1 - TBD
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

The reflection paper must be completed and brought to class.

Class 4

April 20
Lecture (2) Lecture 2: TBD (Lecturer Endeavor Japan)
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

Learn about the course outline and understand the objectives.

For homework, prepare a reflection paper related to the lecture.

Class 5

April 23
Exercise (2)::Group work 2 - TBD
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

The reflection paper must be completed and brought to class.

Class 6

April 27
Lecture (3): Photography (Lecturer: Alfie Goodrich)
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

Learn about the course outline and understand the objectives.

For homework, prepare a reflection paper related to the lecture.

Prepare for the presentation of your book review.

Class 7

April 30
Exercise (3): Group work 3- Photography
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

The reflection paper must be completed and brought to class.

Prepare for the presentation of your book review.

Class 8

May 7 (**May 4 is a holiday)
Book review presentation
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

Prepare for the presentation of your book review.

Class 9

May 11
Lecture (4): Minamata (Lecturer: Hatsue Koizumi)
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

Learn about the course outline and understand the objectives.

For homework, prepare a reflection paper related to the lecture.

Class 10

May 14
Exercise (4): Group work 4- Minamata
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

Prepare a reflection paper related to the lecture.

Class 11

May 18
Final presentation planning in class
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

Prepare for your final presentation

Class 12

May 21
Lecture (5): Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Lecturer: Sanae Akaba)
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404))

The reflection paper must be completed and brought to class.

Class 13

May 25
Exercise (5): Group work 5- DEI
Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

Prepare a reflection paper related to the lecture.

Class 14

May 28
Final presentations by students


Venue :Creation and Collaboration Commons (Ishikawadai #6-404)

Final presentations

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

For AY 2022-2023, this course will be provided via Zoom for international students abroad.
Communication will be conducted through T2Schola or Slack.

Textbook(s)

Visionary Project Guidebook

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Course materials are provided during class.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Assessment is based on reflection papers, contribution to group work, presentation, and book review.

Related courses

  • LAH.C301 : Liberal Arts Final Report

Prerequisites

None required

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

Assoc. Prof. Sanae Akaba
sanae.akaba[at]ila.titech.ac.jp
Professor Naoya Abe
nabe[at]ide.titech.ac.jp

Office hours

Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.

Other

Each lecture is held on Mondays and Thursdays at the Creative Commons at I6-404 or Zoom. This class is only for the freshmen, who belong to GSEP.