Graduate School of Sociology & Social Work: Goal of Cultivation of Students / Goal of Education

Master’s course

The cultivation of graduates who, in addition to systematically studying sociology theoretically, methodologically, and experientially, have become familiar with concrete survey methods and techniques of analysis in specific fields, have acquired a critical insight into society and humanity with a breadth that transcends individual fields, and bring high-level specialized knowledge and skills to bear on the diverse problems that arise as contemporary society becomes ever more complex.

Doctor’s course

The cultivation of graduates who have developed and polished concrete survey methods and techniques of analysis in specific fields, who possess the ability to deploy and express a critical insight into society and humanity with a breadth that transcends individual fields, and who have the ability to function as educators and researchers within the discipline of sociology.

Master’s course

1. (Fundamentals of sociology)
   The student has acquired a broad knowledge of sociological methods, concepts and theories developed over the history of the discipline, has conducted individual research based on this foundation, and is able to make clear the originality of this research.
2. (Research / Thesis)
   The student has looked at individual research themes with an adequate basis in preceding research, has demonstrated originality and the ability to make new discoveries in their collection and analysis of data, and has engaged in theoretical considerations in order to produce a convincing thesis.
3. (Use of knowledge)
   The student is able to employ their knowledge of sociology and individual themes in professional work and research.
4. (Survey literacy)
   Students who have taken the qualification Specialized Social Researcher possess the advanced specialized knowledge and skills in relation to social surveys expected of a professional involved in research or employment using surveys in contemporary society.

Doctor’s course

1. (Fundamentals of sociology)
   The student has acquired a broad knowledge of sociological methods, concepts and theories developed over the history of the discipline, has conducted individual research based on this foundation, and is able to make clear the originality of this research.
2. (Research / Thesis)
   The student has looked at individual research themes with an adequate basis in preceding research, has demonstrated originality and the ability to make new discoveries in their collection and analysis of data, has engaged in theoretical considerations in order to produce a convincing thesis, and has presented advanced academic findings to the world.
3. (Use of knowledge)
   In addition to winning regard as an independent researcher able to employ advanced knowledge of sociology and individual themes, the student is able to play a leading role in professional and research activities.
4. (Survey literacy)
   Students who have taken the qualification Specialized Social Researcher possess the advanced specialized knowledge and skills in relation to social surveys expected of a professional involved in research or employment using surveys in contemporary society.

Master’s course

1. (Basic Exercises)
   In the first year of the Master’s course, “Basic Exercises” is offered as a mandatory subject in order to ensure that all graduate students are able to effectively study fundamental sociological concepts and theories.
2. (Specialized subjects / Interchangeable credit system)
   To respond to the various problems and research themes in which our graduate students are interested, all of our educational staff of the rank of associate professor and above (with the exception of special research fellows and professors conducting research at other institutions) offer specialized subjects in the graduate school. In addition, students who desire to study specialized subjects that are outside the frameworks of the majors offered by the full-time educational staff of this graduate school are able to make use of the interchangeable credit system and earn credits at other institutions.
3. (Thesis Guidance)
   We have established a thesis guidance schedule separately to our specialized classes, enabling students to periodically receive individual guidance from advisors towards the writing of their Master’s theses.
4. (Interim thesis presentation)
   To provide students with the opportunity to develop their skills in discussion, twice a year we organize interim thesis presentations separately to classes for which credits are offered. At these events, graduate students engaged in writing their Master’s and Ph.D. theses offer presentations regarding their theses for students of other graduate schools and educational staff from whom they normally have limited opportunity to receive guidance. In addition to offering the opportunity to discuss the students’ Master’s and Ph.D. theses, these presentations are also used to prepare for presentations at academic conferences.
5. (Subjects offering eligibility for Social Researcher qualification)
   Students are able to receive the Social Researcher and Specialist Social Researcher qualifications. Students are also able to receive the two qualifications in parallel (however, in this case it is necessary for the student to take undergraduate classes simultaneously).

Doctor’s course

1. (Thesis guidance)
   In the Doctor’s course, students are not required to earn credits. The curriculum is centered around the writing of the Ph.D. thesis based on periodic individual guidance from thesis advisors.
2. (Interim thesis presentation)
   To provide students with the opportunity to develop their skills in discussion, twice a year we organize interim thesis presentations separately to classes for which credits are offered. At these events, graduate students engaged in writing their Master’s and Ph.D. theses offer presentations regarding their theses for students of other graduate schools and educational staff from whom they normally have limited opportunity to receive guidance. In addition to offering the opportunity to discuss the students’ Master’s and Ph.D. theses, these presentations are also used to prepare for presentations at academic conferences. For Ph.D. students with limited opportunities to participate in normal classes in particular, these are precious opportunities for training.
3. (Subjects offering eligibility for Social Researcher qualification)
   Students are able to receive the Social Researcher and Specialist Social Researcher qualifications. Students are also able to receive the two qualifications in parallel (however, in this case it is necessary for the student to take undergraduate classes simultaneously).

The goal of the Major of Sociology is to cultivate researchers possessing advanced and specialized knowledge and skills, who are able to discover and pursue the hidden problems facing contemporary society. In order to realize this goal, we expect students at the starting point of the major to display the following qualities.

• Individuals displaying a keen interest in relevant problems
  Knowledge can be imparted, but how the individual makes use of that knowledge as their own is determined by whether or not they possess a clear personal interest in the problem in question. More than anything, we seek students who display a keen interest in relevant sociological problems that requires them to solve those problems for themselves.
• Individuals displaying a strong desire to conduct research
  The volume of accumulated findings across the entire discipline of sociology, and even in individual fields of the discipline, is enormous. It goes without saying that a great deal of time and effort is required in order to systematically study this accumulated knowledge. We seek students who are prepared to expend a great deal of time and effort on their own research.
• Individuals displaying the courage to express themselves
  Graduate school is not merely a forum to enable students to absorb existing knowledge. Individuals who take in the knowledge produced by their predecessors, i.e. who take in the expression of others, have the right and duty to produce their own personal expression on that basis. We seek students who are not afraid to stand at the forefront of their era and who possess the courage to express the findings of their own research.

Master’s course

We seek to cultivate graduates whose systematic study of the field of social work enables them to set research themes in order to respond to the diverse problems arising in actual society, who have acquired advanced, specialized and scientific knowledge and ways of thinking in relation to social work, and who in addition are capable of displaying a deep level of refinement and a comprehensive understanding of humanity from a social work perspective.

Doctor’s course

We seek to cultivate graduates who are able to set research themes in relation to problems in contemporary society and the international community arising from diverse and complex circumstances, and who possess independent research abilities enabling them to contribute to society by pursuing academic research in specialized fields of social work.

Master’s course

1. The Master’s degree will be conferred upon students who have been enrolled in the program for the requisite number of years, who have received research guidance, who have attended classes set in accordance with the philosophy and goals of education and research in the graduate school and earned the requisite number of credits, who have submitted a Master’s thesis (in the case of students engaged in the recurrent education program for working social workers, a report submitted upon completion of their research project may be substituted), and who have passed the prescribed tests.
2. The student has acquired advanced, specialized and scientific knowledge and ways of thinking in relation to social work.

Doctor’s course

1. The Ph.D. degree will be conferred upon students who have been enrolled in the program for the requisite number of years, who have received research guidance, who have attended classes set in accordance with the philosophy and goals of education and research in the graduate school and earned the requisite number of credits, who have submitted a Ph.D. thesis, and who have passed the prescribed tests.
2. The student possesses independent research abilities enabling them to contribute to society by pursuing academic research in specialized fields of social work.

Master’s course

1. Setting of an abundant range of classes related to social work.
2. Formulation of a curriculum giving consideration to convenience of study for working people.
3. Setting of the necessary basic subjects to enable students to cultivate advanced, specialized and scientific knowledge and ways of thinking in relation to social work.
4. Setting of the necessary practical subjects to enable students to cultivate advanced, specialized and scientific knowledge and ways of thinking in relation to social work.
5. Setting of the necessary training subjects to enable students to cultivate advanced, specialized and scientific knowledge and ways of thinking in relation to social work.
6. Setting of the necessary subjects related to specific issues to enable students to cultivate advanced, specialized and scientific knowledge and ways of thinking in relation to social work.
7. Setting of the necessary special subjects to enable students to cultivate advanced, specialized and scientific knowledge and ways of thinking in relation to social work.
8. Provision of the necessary research guidance to enable students to cultivate advanced, specialized and scientific knowledge and ways of thinking in relation to social work.
9. Setting of mandatory subjects in fundamental areas of research.

Doctor’s course

We offer research guidance in order to cultivate graduates who are able to set research themes in relation to problems in contemporary society and the international community arising from diverse and complex circumstances, and who possess independent research abilities enabling them to contribute to society by pursuing academic research in specialized fields of social work.

We seek students who share the educational goals of the major, who possess the ability to conduct academic research in specialized fields related to social work in a systematic and planned fashion, who possess a deep understanding of humanity, and who understand our goal of cultivating graduates possessing specialized practical and theoretical abilities.

In the case of social workers who enter the major via the recurrent education program, we seek students possessing the ability to pursue research under their own initiative that incorporates their practical experience.