Faculty of Letters

Faculty introduction

Cultivating understanding of literature, arts, culture, and linguistic skills, and learning from the wisdom of humanity.

The Faculty of Letters offers students a proactive range of skills for deep understanding of culture and linguistic expression: a skillset for meaningfully investigating the nature and purpose of human life and expression. Our educational goal is to cultivate the aptitude and individuality needed competently and confidently to contribute to a rapidly evolving contemporary global society.The Department of English carries out linguistic research and examines literatures and cultures of the Anglophone world; the Department of French Literature exposes students to French literature, history, arts, and thought, while learning the language itself; and the Department of Art Studies provides comprehensive instruction and research opportunities regarding art history and criticism, fine art, art media, film, music, and theatre. All three departments prioritize creativity, active learning, and critical thinking. Continuing and extending the humanistic passion for languages and cultures, alongside the Christian spirit of our founder Dr. James Hepburn, our students also partake in Hepburn’s pioneering desire to expand humankind’s horizons still further.

Yasuyuki Shinkai, Dean, Faculty of Letters