Using knowledge gained from various field of study,
we will train students to have an overall understanding of the different issues in today’s world.
Introduce Small Groups, Train Effective Workers
Offers seminars with small group of students (10-15 people) over the course of 4 years
The department holds seminars with a small group of students (10-15 people) over the course of 4 years. A characteristic of the International Studies Department is that the small size of the seminar groups facilitate close relationships between the teaching staff and students.
In the ‘Reading Basic Literature’ (half semester) course which is given in a seminar format during the freshman year, students can learn how exciting it is to read literature and have discussions on various themes such as ‘peace’ ‘poverty’ and ‘development’. Writing one’s dissertation involves the compilation of all the seminars from sophomore year until graduation. Each seminar has its own themes. Some examples are:
• Gill Seminar. Students examine Japanese society through the eyes of the ‘minority’(a unique viewpoint)
•Son Seminar. Students examine why humans continue to wage war by approaching the issue from different perspectives—such as international law and politics, history in Asia and so forth.
•Takahara Seminar. Students research the meaning behind issues regarding Okinawa and the nuclear bomb, using international relations in postwar Japan.
• Kumamoto Seminar. Students think about development and the environment through exploration of specific social issues such as industrial waste and garbage.
As you can see, there is a wide variety of seminars. In the seminars, students will thoroughly read the referenced literature, and hone their skills of presentation, discussion and writing reports. Because the students receive theoretical and practical training from instructors in specialized fields, they gain a stronger ability to discover and comprehend issues in today’s complex society. Students also develop intellectual knowledge to potentially solve those issues.
Train Talented People Who Can Cater to Various Needs in A Constantly Diversifying Society
The International Studies Department aims to train students who will become attractive, intelligent individuals—profound human beings with broad perspectives enhanced by specialized knowledge in politics, economics, culture and art, and at the same time who have a comprehensive understanding of the world. In modern-day society, a large amount of goods, capital, manpower and information are transferred across borders due to factors such as globalization. Although it is now easier to cross borders, warfare continues and the gap between the rich and poor remains. How can we design a better society? To dynamically and effectively analyze our multi-layered modern-day society, we will set up 3 new research courses from junior year onward:
- Intercultural Understanding and Symbiotic Research course
- Modern Day Global Society Research course
- Japan/Asia Research course
We expect students to be able to answer the question : “What did you learn after four years as a ‘International Studies’ major and after taking these courses? We have also set up 9 regional research courses that cover Asia, Africa and Europe. These lectures will deal with various issues facing today’s society, while presenting more specialized knowledge in the cultural and social sciences. We want students to take these courses in conjunction with off-campus training and writing of dissertations.
Students will go beyond studying English just as a language. They will gain intellectual ability that will be useful for understanding international relations.
It is required that students take specialized foreign language courses in English taught by native speakers licensed in ESL classes. Freshmen are required to take the course 4 hours a week; sophomores, 2 hours a week. Classes are based on abilities; each class consists of less than 25 students. Students are asked to actively participate in the class through discussions, presentations and writing reports. During the sophomore year, intensive foreign language classes such as French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Russian are given 4 times a week. Going one step further, students are given the opportunity to study specialized subjects within English courses. There are 25 courses that include subjects such as: Modern-day Japanese society and culture; economical development in Asia; Pacific Islands research; gender and society; comparative political science in Asia; and so forth (in 2004). In cooperation with the University of California, our global studies program—where instruction is given in English—is reaching its 20-year mark. It is difficult to participate in discussions and write reports under the same conditions as those experienced by exchange students. However, our goal is for students to have command of the language beyond the technical level; their ability should reflect the information given from specialized academic fields. This is the perfect practice ground for students who are considering studying abroad.
We do not confine ourselves to the campus. We provide various curriculums within the surrounding communities, both domestically and internationally.
“Off campus training,” which starts during the sophomore year in conjunction with the seminars, is a 2- to 3- week learning experience. The training takes place in Asian countries such as Okinawa, China, Korea, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines; and extends further to places such as Africa, Australia, Ecuador, the United States and Europe. Themes include pacifism, awareness of modern history, understanding foreign cultures, touring hotspots in the development and international finance scene, ecotourism and fair trade. Only the International Studies department can provide themes of this variety. In the seminars, students are given detailed instructions from preparation to writing a follow-up report. Many of our graduates have been profoundly influenced by the people they came in contact with during the off-campus training. There is a customary event where students who participated in the program share what they learned in training with each other. We also have prepared a program where students train as interns in the Tokyo metropolitan area or in international institutions/NGOs in other Asian countries. Using the volunteer center as a springboard, many students have participated in this program; they plan on volunteering in the earthquake-stricken areas in the surrounding communities. Through these extracurricular programs, students will become familiar with the various issues that modern-day society faces; they will then search for answers to solve those problems.
Learn What It Means to be International in a Flexible Learning System
We actively promote international exchanges. We send and accept students in an exchange program with 18 other schools. We have signed agreements with 12 countries throughout the world.
We have 50 students from 7 of the University of California campuses, with whom our university has worked since 1988. Their students visit our university annually. On the other hand, many students from the International Studies department are sent abroad as exchange students. Annually, over 20 students participate in the long-term 1-year study abroad program. Not only do they improve on their language skills, students also gain a deeper understanding of the different cultures in the various areas of the world. The university will acknowledge up to 60 credits from the host university where the student studies. Tuition fees will be covered, and students can stay at a dormitory. It is safe and affordable to study abroad, and there is a lot to gain from the experience.
Students can earn a master’s degree in International Studies in 5 years.
If students complete the assigned prerequisites by the end of the junior year, the university will allow early graduation. Or, students can enter the research department of the Faculty of International Studies. International institutions will require employees to at least have a master’s degree that defines them as experts in specialized knowledge. By using this system, we have shortened the time it takes to complete the master's program. We aim to train capable persons who are active in international institutions and organizations/NGOs that deal in international exchanges.
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