Major of Sociology

(Master's and Doctoral Program)

Guided by a faculty that covers a diversity of fields, your niggling sense of discomfort and the questions you have will connect up with fundamental issues in society

Sociology reveals how invisible social mechanisms shape individual experience, and how unconscious assumptions can stand in the way of a fair and inclusive society. Its strength lies in uncovering issues that may not yet be recognized as such. It is an academic discipline that is becoming increasingly important in contemporary society, where continual transformation is picking up speed. For example, sociology has detected issues concerning people who identify as part of a minority and find life hard. When an issue is detected, we need to investigate and explore why it is an issue, what its cause is, and how it can be solved. That requires the study of history, theories and systems, and also learning how to carry out social research, analyze data, and gain an understanding of the actual situation. It also requires the ability to put those results into words so that we can explain them to people. Students in the Graduate School of Sociology can acquire the specialized knowledge and skills required for such research activities. Our faculty members offer a wide range of methodologies and perspectives to support the process by which your niggling sense of discomfort and the questions you have connect up with fundamental issues in society. We have also established a working adult admission system so that students with diverse social experiences can be actively involved in the education and research of this major. In addition, this major participates in a credit transfer system for graduate studies in sociology, allowing students to earn credits in the major programs of other universities in the Kanto region.

TOPICS

Advanced Social Researcher Certification

The Social Researcher Certificate and Advanced Social Researcher Certificate are official certification for expert researchers with the knowledge and skills to conduct social research, and the ability to understand public opinion, market trends, and social phenomena. Students who have earned credits for courses designated as courses for the Social Researcher Certificate may apply for certification to the Japanese Association for Social Research. (A review and certification fee are required.) The two forms of certification available are the Social Researcher Certificate and Advanced Social Researcher Certificate. Students in the Major of Sociology program may apply for the Advanced Social Researcher Certificate. However, in order to receive advanced certification, it is necessary to have acquired a Social Researcher Certificate as an undergraduate student. (Graduate students who do not already have this certification may acquire it by taking the designated courses in the Faculty of Sociology & Social Work while also carrying out their graduate studies.) For further details about this certification, please see the website of the Japanese Association for Social Research http://jasr.or.jp/english/ or the Meiji Gakuin University Department of Sociology web page.

Scholarships

The Graduate School of Sociology offers scholarships to students in the Major of Sociology and Major of Social Work to support their research. Up to 10 students entering master's degree programs at the School are selected to receive Type 1 Scholarships of 250,000 yen each. Up to 15 students who are either in their second year of their master’s degree program or later or doctoral students in their first year or later are selected to receive Type 2 Scholarships of 150,000 yen each. Please contact the Graduate School Office for more information.