WASEDA University Graduate School of Political Science

Since its establishment in 1951, the Graduate School of Political Science at Waseda University has remained responsive to the ever changing needs of the times, and as a research and education institution on par with the best in the world, it seeks to offer a fresh perspective in the 21st century, cultivating political scientists and highly-specialized professionals who will serve as international human resources to contribute to world peace and the welfare of humanity.

Political Science Course
The Political Science Course promotes a systematic and sophisticated approach to political science education within the Graduate School of Political Science and endeavors to be a beacon of international comparative research originating in Japan and firmly grounded in the latest theories and methods employed in the field of political science. Here, researchers are equipped with the most current and globally accepted political science methodologies as well as an intrinsic understanding of Japan and Asia.
At the same time, this course aims to cultivate hands-on experts who, as masters of science well-versed in the specialized knowledge of political science, are capable of demonstrating leadership in various areas to build a more just society and who can serve as the voice of Japan and Asia in promoting a well-ordered global community.

Global Political Economy Course
The Global Political Economy Course is a cutting-edge program which adopts an international perspective in analyzing and understanding the inseparable link between politics and economics while seeking to open up a new field of academic study where feasible policies are discussed and shaped from a normative perspective. This course provides opportunities for students to develop a higher level of expertise and an internationalmindedness so that they can serve in a variety of areas in society, and it cultivates practical-minded human resources with a global vision who seek to contribute to the international community. Furthermore, students rigorously study the techniques involved in political science and economics so that after the completion of the Master’s Program they can continue on to a degree-conferring program to obtain a doctorate in either political science or economics and become researchers who will contribute to the creation of a true political economic science.

Journalism Course
The Journalism Course, in keeping with the standards of the Graduate School of Journalism – one of the world’s leading-edge graduate schools of journalism – promotes an educational program that develops highly-skilled professionals grounded in the five elements required of all journalists. (1) Expertise, i.e., scientific knowledge and philosophical understanding for a broad range of specialized fields. (2) Deep insight into the role of journalism and the media. (3) The ability to think critically. (4) The ability to report professionally and articulately. (5) A hands-on approach, i.e., experience which is based in the field. At the same time, the course fosters the development of the foundations of journalism by promoting specialized research and cultivating researchers.
The Journalism Course seeks to cultivate professional journalists with a practical approach to ethics, knowledge and technology who also distinguish themselves in terms of specialized knowledge. The Journalism Course provides a true meeting point for academia and journalism, fostering those who will promote public communication and thereby create a bridge between specialized knowledge and civil society. The Master of Arts Program for Journalist Education in Science and Technology is an ongoing program within the Journalism Course which has a particular focus on cultivating exceptional journalists specialized in the areas of science and technology.