
Mission
To the question, Why did Waseda University establish the School of Sport Sciences in the twenty-first century? , the answer is simple. This decision was made on the basis of various social expectations of the sport sciences, for example, the increasing number of sports enthusiasts including spectators, the social need for physical improvement and health enhancement, and the increasing level of international competition. Moreover, the market expansion of sports as a business cannot be overlooked. We aspire to develop human resources with sports mentalities, supported by a wealth of scientific education, which includes bodily expression and recreation through various scientific methods. The School of Sport Sciences was established in order to develop physically and mentally strong Waseda men and women for a new age.
The various social expectations of the sport sciences can be summarized by the following three needs.
Social Needs
As the social structure changes dramatically with an aging population, a declining birthrate, etc., the need for sports continues to rise in order to ensure prosperous lives. Consequently, human resources capable of managing sports-related businesses has become crucial.
Sports Needs
Human resources that can train top-level athletes are essential when aiming for the level of international competition. Furthermore, in various situations such as competitive sports or life-long sports participation, advanced trainers are needed for advice on conditioning as well as the management of disabilities.
Personal Needs
The importance of sports and recreation to develop prosperous and fulfilling lives has been acknowledged. Understanding the value of “leisure” is essential for the qualitative improvement of human lives in a holistic way.
Enrollment Model (Department)
Compete—Instruct—Support—Watch. The cultural and social phenomenon known as sports exists because of the many people who have an interest in and are involved in sports in various ways. Consequently, education and research at the School of Sport Sciences is also focused on involvement in the different sports.
Since research and education on the theme of sports are ubiquitous in the international society of the twenty-first century, the School of Sport Sciences cultivates scientific approaches and communication skills, specialized knowledge and abilities, and human resources that can respond to a new age and be successful in this society. This philosophy underpins education at the School of Sport Sciences. Towards this end, two departments (seven courses) have been established to provide this education.
Sports Medicine and Science Department
The Sports Medicine and Science Department uses medical approaches to study “the body engaged in sports.”
Research from a natural sciences perspective is essential not only for excellent performance in competitive situations but also for the maintenance and enhancement of health through exercise. In this department, top-level staff members involved in sports and trained in natural sciences such as medicine, physiology, biochemistry, and nutritional science implement advanced education and research.
Furthermore, active education and research is focused on modern themes for which society has high expectations, such as nutritional intake to support health and improve athletic performance, technical development of athletic trainers to condition their bodies for sports, and liberation of the mind and body through sports and exercise.
In other words, the Sports Medicine and Science Department aims to meet the needs of society by implementing research and education in high-level natural science disciplines with the theme of “the body engaged in sports.” Human resources are trained using an interdisciplinary approach, combining highly sophisticated scientific approaches with a sports mentality.
Sports Medicine and Science Course
This course deepens the fundamental knowledge of Sports Medicine and Science and examines the value of physical exercise.
Through lectures and practical training in anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, etc., students understand the benefits of exercising and the anatomy of the human body, namely, the muscles, bone structure, nerves, etc., and learn measurement methods, scientific methods for the improvement of muscular strength, exercise skills, and correct use of the body. Furthermore, under sports nutritional science and sports medicine, students will learn about the nutritional balance needed for sports, on-site medical aid for injured persons, as well as methods of disease prevention and health enhancement. Graduates possess the fundamental knowledge of physical exercise needed to have a physically healthy future.
Health and Sports Course
In this course, students learn the health enhancement techniques necessary for health promotion instructors.
Students are taught how to lead active and healthy lifestyles, and are trained in scientific perspectives and instructional abilities for the promotion of prosperous and energetic lives. The aim is to cultivate healthy and fit trainers and other instructors; it is not limited to simple on-site sports instruction, but includes involvement in the businesses of various industries as well as the development of human resources that aim for a prosperous society through health enhancement.
Trainer Course
This course teaches the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for athletic trainers and strength & conditioning specialists.
The core subjects are sports anatomy and sports disability evaluation. Students learn performance improvement and injury prevention measures for athletes, as well as post-injury reconditioning for recuperation. This chain of improvement, prevention, and recuperation can, in the future, be applied to the health management of not only athletes but also people of all ages, for example, developing the elderly and children. Another characteristic of this course is that it uses practical training to cultivate the basic abilities needed by members of society, such as communication skills and cooperation.
Top Performance Course (Common Course for Both Departments)
From the three perspectives of athletes, coaches, and analysts, students are presented with a theoretical background for the improvement of sports skills. By cultivating the practical skills for the collection and analysis of necessary information, this course trains human resources to be successful in sports-related situations.
The Top Performance Course aims at training (from the three perspectives of athletes, coaches, and analysts) human resources capable of utilizing the knowledge and methods of sport sciences in the necessary situations. The “intuition” and “ingenuity” of athletes and coaches is important for the training of athletes; therefore, this course covers the methods for calculating and interpreting scientific data, and the technical, tactical, and strategic analysis methods needed to understand intuition and ingenuity. By deepening their understanding of the roles and environmental development of the side that plays sports as well as the side that supports it, it is believed that students can learn how to perceive and respond to the various phenomena and problems presented not only by sports but also by society.
Sports Culture Department
Along with the development of society, sports has become one of the important and essential social and cultural elements. In modern society, sports has deep interrelationship with political and economic activities and education.
The Sports Culture Department is unique in that it advocates scientifically researching “sports in society,” and is a pioneer in attempting the study of the ideal role of twenty-first century sports from cultural and social science perspectives.
Students deepen their understanding of sports as a cultural phenomenon while mastering a wide range of skills. The sports mentality and scientific approaches learned on campus will most likely become precious assets throughout their lives.
Furthermore, the department aims to train human resources that can succeed in various situations, such as developing the future of the sports business (a business that has seen a market size increase of 1.8 times in the past 20 years), journalists who can discuss the essence of sports and recommend an ideal future role for sports, and instructors who can support the practice of sports in regional and educational situations.
Sports Humanities Course
Culture regulates all aspects of human life. This course considers the various dynamic roles of sports and bodily expression.
Students will be trained to think freely and without restraints. They will analyze sports from the perspectives of history, sociology, anthropology, etc. Students will learn how to collect and decipher documents, the methods of data collection and analysis, and the know-how needed to prepare dissertations. The philosophy behind this course is that the strength of the liberal arts rests in adaptability; therefore this course teaches the approaches and techniques needed to continue learning throughout life. In short, the emphasis is on consideration of sports.
Sports Business Course
This course develops human resources that can succeed in the various fields of sports business, such as marketing, media, and events.
Based on the fundamental learning in the courses on economics, management, etc., this course covers the latest “sports business” fields providing products and services related to sports, such as professional sports teams, sports leagues, sporting events, sporting goods manufacturers, sports media, sports facilities, and comprehensive regional sports clubs, while teaching the conceptual, technical, and human skills necessary for not just the sports businesses but for the general management of organizations as well.
Sports Education Course
Students, including junior high and high school faculty members will gain a wide range of knowledge and instructional techniques needed to provide education and instruction in the various situations of lifelong sports.
Diverse educational values are apparent in sports. Sports is not limited to forms of exercise, but includes social development, cognitive development, and physical training. The Sports Education Course offers a wide range of knowledge and instructional techniques related to sports, so that people can appreciate such diverse values. The aim is to train human resources capable of providing appropriate education and instruction in situations in which sports are practiced. Through lectures and practical training in sports education, this course also tackles the social problems centered on health and education, and cultivates the sophistication, problem-solving abilities and communication skills useful in society.
Degree
B.A. in Sport Sciences