Each student in the program will be required to take the following two courses: CS 40 (History of Games) and CS 57.12 (Applied Social Media). (Students who have already completed one or both of the courses are still eligible to enroll in the Study Abroad program. Contact Patty Warne, Study Abroad coordinator, at pwarne@santarosa.edu for more details.)

CS 40: History of Games – 3 units, CSU/UC transferable, taught by Ethan Wilde

Ethan Wilde is a veteran educator, entrepreneur, designer, and coder with over 30 years of experience teaching and working in game research, mobile application development, and interactive design. Currently an instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College, his career combines senior executive leadership in interactive technology with extensive scholarship in visual culture, play theory, and architectural history. Having traveled across more than twenty countries — including three extended visits to Japan — and mentored large cohorts of international students, he blends technical and design mastery with deep cross-cultural mentorship.

 Leading the Summer 2027 Japan Study Abroad Program: Combining decades of interactive media expertise, firsthand knowledge of Japanese culture, and a passion for experiential learning, Wilde brings immense dedication to leading the Summer 2027 Study Abroad program to Kyoto. He is thrilled to guide students through Japan’s living laboratory, serving as an enthusiastic mentor as they explore the historical lineage of games, master digital storytelling, and connect deeply with Japanese culture.

HISTORY OF GAMES (CS 40) focuses on the origins and evolution of games across cultures. Through visits to cultural sites in Kyoto, students will explore traditional Japanese games such as Hanafuda, Go, and Karuta while connecting them to broader global histories of play. In Osaka, students will examine modern gaming culture and the commercial and entertainment dimensions of gaming, gaining insight into how games are marketed and experienced in urban settings. These experiences allow students to move beyond theory and directly observe how cultural values such as aesthetics, precision, and storytelling influence game design.

•  Discover how traditional games helped shape one of the world's most influential gaming cultures. Explore Japanese games such as Hanafuda, Go, and Karuta and connect their design, aesthetics, and cultural values to the evolution of modern games.
• Experience gaming culture firsthand through arcades, entertainment districts, museums, and other locations in Kyoto and Osaka. Observe how people play, how games are marketed, and how Japanese design and technology continue to influence gaming around the world.
• Your final challenge: design, playtest, and evaluate your own original non-digital game inspired by the history, culture, and game mechanics you encounter in Japan.

CS 57.12: Applied Social Media – 3 units, CSU transferable, taught by James Gappy

 Professor James Gappy teaches Computer Science and loves combining technology, social media, travel, and hands-on learning. He has traveled to more than 17 countries and has visited Japan six times. In 2025, he led a study abroad program in Japan with 25 college students, traveling through Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Naoshima, Okayama, Hakone, and the Mt. Fuji region. His approach to study abroad is simple: get out, explore, experience the culture, and make the destination part of the classroom.

For Summer 2027, James is excited to return to Japan and introduce a new group of students to one of his favorite places in the world. He enjoys finding the experiences students will remember long after the class is over, whether that's exploring the gaming and tech culture of Akihabara, discovering incredible food, visiting historic temples, navigating Tokyo, or experiencing Japanese culture firsthand. His goal is for students to come home with new skills, new friendships, amazing memories, and plenty of stories to tell.

APPLIED SOCIAL MEDIA (CS 57.12) complements the History of Games class by giving students the tools to document, analyze, and share their experiences in real time. Using platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, students will create original content throughout their time in Kyoto and during excursions to Osaka and Nara. Kyoto provides a rich setting for visual storytelling and cultural branding, while Osaka supports trend analysis, entertainment-focused content, and audience engagement. Students will apply concepts such as audience targeting, brand identity, content strategy, video editing, and analytics while building a professional digital portfolio.

●      Shoot photos and video while exploring Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara, then turn those experiences into content for platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Learn how branding, storytelling, trends, and platform strategy shape the way content reaches an audience.

●      Create and edit Instagram Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts using hooks, music, captions, transitions, pacing, and storytelling. Then use platform analytics to see what worked, understand audience behavior, and improve your content in real time.

●      Learn how to create content responsibly while traveling, including cultural sensitivity, photography and filming etiquette, privacy considerations, and respectful representation of people and places on social media.