Fostering educated citizens with comprehensive decision making ability,
who help build better society
Interest in others is a necessary characteristic for those who study political science.
One political scientist in France describes the initial condition of human activities called politics, as “Ego in Otherdom (Ego in the world surrounded by other people).” We constantly live in the world surrounded by other people. Within this world, inevitably conflicts of egos arise while individuals seek their own interest and make real what they believe. Politics, in a basic sense, is the method to arbitrate and to resolve the variety of conflicts. In that respect, political science, the study of politics, has very human aspect to it. Required characteristics among those who study politics include not only intellectual curiosity, but also curiosity in human dynamics and interests in the world surrounded by others.
Students identify many social problems, envision better society,
and develop practical skills to make it happen.
People gather to form a society. Many different countries join together to form an international society. Various problems arise in society. Political process is that members of the society make mutual decisions, and implement them according to the outcome in order to solve problems. Global peace and security, environmental problems; national policy, political election, waste disposal, public welfare of the residents - these are all political problems.
Regardless the magnitude, these political problems entails convoluted entanglement of raw desires and noble philosophies. Therefore scientific approach is necessary to find facts and to determine exactly what the phenomenon is. Also understanding historical origin and background of the phenomenon is important as well. In addition, ability to conceive philosophy and ideology with regard to the desirable and ideal society to resolve particular problem is essential. Political science itself is comprehensive discipline.
Political issues are complex phenomena. In political science department, students learn scientific and historical approaches as well as philosophical and ideological approaches from multi-dimensional perspectives in order to understand the complexity of these phenomena. This way, we expect the students to deepen their thoughts about the ideal state of politics and society, and to acquire practical skills for planning variety of methods to achieve preferable goals.
Political science department is open, and aims to develop educated and politically minded citizens who have comprehensive decision making ability and critical thinking.
Knowledge and techniques you acquire in the political science department are the skills widely sought after in various fields in the modern world. Therefore, political science department is open to and suited not only for people who aspire to becoming politicians, diplomats, public officials, and journalists, but also for those who wants to be involved in making and implementing policies for public institutions or working internationally for varieties of non profit organizations (NGO). NGOs are expected to play greater role in society in the future. Political science department is also for those who wish to play major role in business world. In that respect, we help students to obtain sophisticated expertise and competence. At the same time, we aim to develop human resources who are capable of applying expertise in practical situation while maintaining wide perspectives. In other words, our goal is to develop business people with comprehensive decision-making ability.
Until now prerequisite for intellectual elite is to study PPH (philosophy, political science and history) or PPE (philosophy, political science and economics) at universities in Great Britain. This perception is a proof that comprehensive discipline called political science offers not only perspectives regarding civilization and capabilities for logical inference and abstract model development, but also provides essential tools for appropriate decision-making.
However, education in political science department is not limited to the development of highly sophisticated business people. It is supported by the following vision, which encompasses wide areas. Nowadays, concepts and plans to establish graduate schools for varieties of professionals, such as law schools have been discussed in Japan. Some of the schools have already been established as a result of this discussion. This is part of the national strategy, which is essential to maintain competitive edge internationally in the intellectual domain. However, we must succeed in establishing mature civil society comprised of common citizens who have comprehensive decision-making ability and critical thinking before making dignified professional society happen. In political science department, our foremost educational philosophy is to develop educated and politically minded citizens who become part of such civil society. The word "educated and politically minded citizens" sounds grand, but in simpler terms, these citizens are the people who can speak out their mind when needed. Also, they have empathy to other people's circumstances and courage to speak out on behalf of those who do not have voice because of their social status.
A Unique Curriculum Formed Around the Principles of "Limited Class Size," "Diversity" and "Flexibility"
To achieve the academic ideals set forth in preceding sections, we have prepared an innovative, highly challenging curriculum characterized by principles of "limited class size," "diversity" and "flexibility."
"Limited class size" is achieved through in "Practice of Political Science Foundations," required first year coursework, followed by "Practice and Graduate Thesis" in the third year and fourth year. The former divides students into groups of 13~14 per full-time instructor, and through investigation and training, reading of materials, and discussion among students, the intent is to introduce various methods (academic, historic, and theoretical approaches) for development and deepening of stimulating issues. The latter has students evaluate themes proposed by the faculty member at the time of seminar recruitment and make selections based on interests, so the groups of 10~20 members meet over 2 years to complete graduate theses on individual themes through activities such as lectures, training, and campus residency.
"Diversity" without a focal point is not more than shared existence. With this in mind, the curriculum has established "Political Science Principles" as required coursework, starting in 2004. In conjunction with progression of the school year, "foundational subjects," "developmental subjects," and "elective subjects" are prepared, and from among these coursework models are presented to enable developmental and systematic study in three fields (governance, international politics, and media politics) according to the interests of the individuals. In addition, "law" is a political science, so much coursework on legal subjects is made available, covering the foundational legal curriculum needed in scholastic preparation for law school. Moreover, second year "World Work" (research outside the school) enables scholastic experience on site in political or administrative locations, and "general lectures" following a relay format are given by legal professionals from outside the school, providing a window into actual situations in society. From these diverse experiences, students are able to consider employment options matching their own fields of specialty and actual needs in society.
Curriculum "Flexibility" is the facet by which students gain rich experience through subjective participation. Through "lecture evaluation," the student plans, executes, forms reports, and makes presentations, by which various scholastic abilities are rapidly developed and communications between faculty and student is supported. Beginning with development sessions arranged each May for entering students, debate sessions with opposing classes are held, and similar political debates are conducted again in December, becoming "traditional" political science events. In both debates, upper-class second year students lead first year students in the discussions, providing "continuity" for the tradition. Furthermore, the tradition of personal student involvement in planning and administration is maintained during the offered during new student development lectures as well as with the political lectures offered during the Shiragana Campus Festival in November. The execution of a political curriculum educating "informed political citizens" is a result of flexible program management.
Looking Toward the "World"
From about 1990 the term "globalization" has been widespread, not only in fields of the social sciences but also in journalism. That word word has now become extremely commonplace. However, the meaning of the word can differ according to the person using it. In the general lecture series "The Paradigm Shift of Globalization and Political Science" of 2004, all related full-time instructors explored concepts of "globalization" in a variety of fields and presented lectures in an omnibus format that questioned what impacts those concepts would have on each field of specialization. Meiji Gakuin will continue active engagement in this type of innovative academic activity.
These principles and practices should accentuate the "global" for students who participate. As a link in support of "globalization" in education, this course of study collaborates with the Institute d'Etudes Politiques in France for enabling one year student exchanges. This academic institution provides opportunities to study social and cultural subjects centered on politics and economics at Grande Ecoles (university and university affiliated educational institutions) located in the French university town of Aix-en-Provence. The student exchange period starts in September and extends for one year, with Institute d'Etudes Politiques tuition exempt during the exchange.
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