Department of Social Work

Department of Social Work

• Key Features of the Department of Social Work
• The 4-Year Program
• Admission Policy

Key Features of the Department of Social Work

The 4-year undergraduate course enables students to reflect on the types of social work needed within particular social systems, investigate the diversifying ways of providing support, and put what they have learned into practice.

Small classes and close interaction with faculty help students discover a path toward the future

In their 1st year, students study the basics of social work and deepen their understanding of the field through lectures by social workers and staff at NPOs and international organizations, moving toward a vision of how their interests match up with wide-ranging career options. Starting in their 2nd year, they split into 2 programs geared toward future careers.

A wealth of hands-on classes incorporating field work and training

The Department offers many opportunities for exposure to contemporary social work in Japan and abroad. Through these programs, students improve their ability to put classroom knowledge into practice.

High employment rates after graduation

Our graduates put their specialized knowledge and excellent communication skills to work in a wide range of jobs in social work, health care, business, and civil service.

The 4-Year Program

Year 1: Begin study in small classes

In the spring Academic Literacy class, students gain reading and presentation skills. In the fall Introduction to Social Services, they develop an understanding of social work by focusing on real social problems.

Year 2: Choose from 2 programs linked to future careers

Social Work Program

Field Work Introduction provides exposure to social work sites. In their 2nd year, students identify a field that matches their abilities and interests, while in the 3rd and 4th years they participate in seminars and trainings suited to their area of focus.

Welfare Development Program

2nd-year students take the Welfare Development Fieldwork class, 3 areas of study. In the Global Collaboration unit, they examine social issues in Europe and Asia, as well as efforts to resolve them. In the Community Development unit, they conduct studies in depopulated rural areas and other domestic sites. In the Social Innovation unit, they visit non-profit and non-governmental organizations to gain an understanding of how they are managed.

Years 3 and 4: Deepen specialized study through practicums

Students deepen their specialized knowledge through seminars and training in line with their interests and anticipated career path.

Social Work Program

Students participate in practicums and seminars geared to support their workplace training, presenting reports on their experiences in the field and conducting case studies. They also complete a graduation thesis.

Welfare Development Program

Students engage in specialized research and projects, learning together in-depth through seminars and completing a graduation thesis.

Where Our Graduates Are Now

Approximately one third of our graduates go on to careers in social work, including at facilities for elders, the disabled, and children, at community social welfare councils and government agencies such as welfare offices and children’s welfare centers, and at counseling centers in hospitals. An increasing number are also finding work in the private sector, including at social welfare corporations, as more and more companies in sectors such as finance and insurance expand their welfare-related divisions. In addition, some graduates work in the civil service, at NPOs, or as teachers (including at schools for special needs education), or continue on to graduate school.

Job placement rate by field, 2015–2017 (%)