Department of Art Studies

Cultivating a passion for art and the ability to communicate its power and beauty

In the Department of Art Studies, students delve widely and deeply into ways of communication involving art. At the same time, they study art knowledge, theory, and history, honing their insight into traditions and revolutions in art. For students with an as-yet unfocused interest in art, we take care in nurturing that interest, and for students with already conscious intentions with respect to art, we provide guidance based on a high level of specialized knowledge.

Curriculum overview

In the Department of Art Studies, students learn about art from diverse perspectives encompassing wide-ranging knowledge and history, specialized theories and practices, as well as traditions and revolutions in art.

In the first year, students take introductory classes covering aesthetics, history of Western music, history of Western art, history of Japanese and Oriental art, cinema history, media, body expression, and much else. From the second year, they begin more specialized study, choosing one of four courses: Musicology, Film Studies, History of Art, and Art Media. Working in small groups, they carefully research the relevant materials, decide on themes, and hold many lectures in a seminar format in which students make presentations. In the third year, instructors active in the forefront of the field also get involved so that students can acquire additional specialized knowledge.

In the Musicology course, students learn about a wide range of music, from classical to modern and in genres encompassing jazz, rock, ballet, opera, and more. In the Film Studies course, students pursue in-depth study ranging from photo and film image theory to relationships between images and culture/society. In the History of Art course, students learn about everything from academic art history theories to trends in contemporary art. In the Art Media course, studies are centered on media theory and body expression theory as students pursue the new artistic possibilities that exist at the intersection of media, practice, and art. In all of these courses, students can experience distinctive and original classes taught by a wide variety of instructors. Diverse symposia, lectures, and performances are also held to further expand student interest in art.