LaGuardia Community College Signs Transfer Agreement with Temple University Japan
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (May 7, 2025) — LaGuardia Community College/CUNY announces a new transfer agreement with Temple University Japan (TUJ), a branch campus of Temple University in Philadelphia. This partnership provides students enrolled in the International Studies program with a direct pathway to earn a bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies in Tokyo, Japan, upon graduation from LaGuardia with an associate degree.
“We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Temple University Japan,” said Dr. Billie Gastic Rosado, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at LaGuardia. “This agreement offers International Studies majors an exceptional opportunity to broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding of global perspectives by studying abroad in Tokyo. Students will prepare for careers in diplomacy, international business, tourism and hospitality, and other fields where expertise in Asian Studies is highly valued.”
Supported by funding from the Title VI Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language program of the U.S. Department of Education, this agreement represents a significant academic and cultural learning opportunity for students, according to LaGuardia professors Dr. Arthur Lau and Dr. Maria Savva.
“Studying abroad might seem out of reach for many college students,” said Dr. Lau, Chair of the Education and Language Acquisition Department. “This Temple University Japan agreement gives our students a clear pathway to make it possible.”
“The agreement affirms LaGuardia’s commitment to providing innovative global learning pathways for our students. The chance to study in such a vibrant city is an added bonus,” said Dr. Savva, Director of the International Studies Program.
Dr. Lau and Dr. Savva recently visited TUJ’s Tokyo campus, where they met with Matthew J. Wilson, Dean and President of Temple University Japan. They also visited TUJ’s advisement, financial aid, and international student services offices, and toured the university’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Since TUJ is a U.S. accredited institution and FAFSA-approved institution, students can apply for federal financial aid, including grants, loans, and work-study programs, to help pay for their education.
Japanese is classified as a high-need language by the U.S. State Department. TUJ offers comprehensive Japanese language courses for second language speakers, allowing students of any major to study the language while living in Japan. Students enhance their proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, as they prepare for careers with a global reach. TUJ also offers comprehensive programs taught in English, including undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Established in 1982 as a branch of Temple University in Philadelphia, TUJ educates approximately 2,575 undergraduate students from 80 countries and offers graduate degrees in education, law, and management.
The new agreement with TUJ represents a second transfer opportunity for LaGuardia International Studies majors. An existing agreement with the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at The City College of New York allows students to transfer into the Global Studies or International Relations tracks within the school’s International and Global Studies Program.
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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
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