Faculty of International Studies

Faculty introduction

The Faculty of International Studies was established in 1986. In the quarter century since that time, we have experienced drastic changes both inside and outside Japan. Globalization has further strengthened mutual relations in the world community. Meanwhile, the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 and the nuclear power plant accident that accompanied it vividly revealed the fragility and faults in our society. We wonder, therefore, how the university should respond to this kind of change in the environment. This is the kind of critical awareness that the Faculty of International Studies brings to bear in responding to the demands of the times, but we are doing so while also attempting to aim education toward universal values. In the 2011 academic year, we established the new Department of Global and Transcultural Studies in addition to the Department of International Studies. We are proceeding with on-going improvement of our curriculum design, oriented to the society of the future, with small classes mostly in seminar format, a study abroad program, and other such resources.

Shigeki Takeo, Director, Faculty of International Studies

Educational Objectives and Human Resource Development Objectives

The educational objective of the Faculty of International Studies is to train talented people who understand the various aspects of today’s global society and will contribute to the peace and welfare of the world. In order to understand the various aspects of global society, we first need to fully understand the Japanese society in which we live, then to make a comprehensive examination of the various problems of global society from the fields of politics, economics, and culture. This approach to research is essential, and this comprehensive, interdisciplinary research approach is a distinctive characteristic of the Faculty of International Studies. Training talented people who will contribute to the peace and welfare of the world requires not only forming organized views of the compound problems that occur in the real world and searching for solutions, but also experience in communicating directly with people in other countries elsewhere in the world and working jointly with them. This Faculty will see to it that all our students are able to build up their international experience during their studies here.

Policy on Conferral of Degrees (Diploma Policy)

The Faculty of International Studies will approve the graduation of students who have acquired abilities of the kind described below and who have accumulated the prescribed academic credits.

1. Develop fundamental academic abilities by taking a varied mixture of Meiji Gakuin core courses and specialized department courses, and also acquire a comprehensive understanding of international politics, economies, and societies as well as of individual cultures and arts.
2. Acquire the ability to form organized views of the compound problems that occur in the real world and to explore their solutions.
3. Acquire the ability to communicate directly with people in other countries elsewhere in the world and to engage in joint work with them.

Academic Program Organization and Implementation Policy (Curriculum Policy)

In order to realize its educational principles, the Faculty of International Studies organizes its academic curriculum in accordance with the following policies.

1. Provide courses in a variety of different specialized fields and courses for regional studies.
2. Provide finely tailored instruction in small groups with a focus on seminar courses throughout the four-year period.
3. Provide courses that develop solid competence in the English language.
4. Place emphasis on learning done outside the university.

Admission Policy

The Faculty of International Studies actively accepts applicants with the following characteristics.

1. People with abundant interest and a spirit of inquiry regarding human beings and societies.
2. People who can express their own thoughts and opinions with clarity.
3. People who are motivated to make a contribution to society.
4. People who want to think of their own future in a global society.
5. People who can find pleasure in thinking and working with people from other countries.