Educational Policy

At the Graduate School of Human Sciences, we aim to develop an integrated science with a focus on humans to restore the human element that was once lost in the rapid progress of science and technology and, to improve the quality of life through harmony between humans and the environment, maintaining/enhancing sound health in mind and body and other such efforts.

In order to attain such a comprehensive understanding of humans, the Graduate School of Human Sciences carries out research in a diverse range of fields. They are divided into eight fields of research, for selection as Human Science majors, which are mutually interlinked. Those fields of research are: the Science of Regional and Global Environment, the Science of Human Behavior and Environment, the Science of Cultural and Social Environment, the Science of Health, Life, and Medicine, the Science of Health and Welfare, Clinical Psychology, Sensory Recognition Information Systems, and the Science of Education, Communication, and Information.

Students are not limited to guidance seminars held on their own field of research. They are encouraged to attend a diverse range of lectures and seminars related to their field of study, and to even pursue a wide range of lecture subjects from other fields of research, to get a full, comprehensive perspective of the human sciences in an interdisciplinary manner.

Aims related to the cultivation of human resources, and other aims in education and research

Each field of research and course is designed to develop researchers and practitioners with a high level of expertise, able to flourish in national and international environments. In addition, we are a graduate school in its first stages, pursuing the human sciences in an integrated fashion, with the cross penetration of humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Because of this, we strive to develop a new type of researchers and practitioners, who can flexibly respond to a diverse range of human-related issues in current times and society, utilizing their high level of expertise in a wide range of fields.

In order to foster human resources capable of making an independent contribution to their local communities, we will utilize the broad scope and unique characteristics of Waseda University to encourage exchange between diverse academic fields, cultures, languages and values, supported by systematic education courses and a university-wide teaching and student life environment. At the Graduate School of Human Sciences, we aim to develop an integrated science with a focus on humans restore the human element that was once lost in the rapid progress of science and technology, and to improve the quality of life through harmony between humans and the environment, maintaining/enhancing sound health in mind and body, and other such efforts.

In order to attain a comprehensive understanding of humans, the Graduate School of Human Sciences carries out research in a diverse range of fields. They are divided into eleven fields of research, for selection as Human Science majors, which are mutually interlinked. Those fields of research are: the Science of Biological and Environmental Sciences, the Science of Social and Economic Studies, the Science of Cultural and Historical Studies, the Science of Human　Behavior and Environment Sciences, the Science of Health and Life Sciences, the Science of Integrated Science of Medicine, Technology and Humanities, the Science of Social Welfare and Public Health Science, the Science of Clinical Psychology, the Science of Information, Sensibility and Human Factors/Ergonomics, the Science of Education and Communication Sciences, and the Science of Embodied Cognition and Learning Sciences. In addition to the Human Sciences majors is our “Education Clinic Course,” designed to develop our students into hands-on professionals, who can quickly and flexibly respond to the needs of society.

Each field of research and course is designed to develop researchers and practitioners with a high level of expertise, able to flourish on an international level. In addition, we are a graduate school in its first stages, pursuing the human sciences in an integrated fashion, with the cross penetration of humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Because of this, we strive to develop a new type of researchers and practitioners, who can flexibly respond to a diverse range of human-related issues, utilizing their high level of expertise in a wide range of fields.

To give concrete form to these objectives, we have established an overarching goal by integrating the diploma policies of the Faculty of Human Sciences and the Graduate School of Human Sciences. The core competencies we aim to achieve at a high level are outlined in six domains and seven items: “A. Literacy,” “B. Methodology and Expertise,” “C. Interdisciplinarity and Diversity,” “D. Design Skills,” “E. Collaboration,” and “F. Reflectiveness, Ethics, and Self-directed Learning”—six domains comprising seven items. Furthermore, we position the ability to read, write, listen, speak, and think at an advanced level using languages such as Japanese as the foundational competency for acquiring and demonstrating these competencies. Additionally, we have established intermediate goals (Document 1) to be achieved before reaching these overarching goals.

Tabel 1　Evaluation Criteria for Master’s Theses, Research Papers, and Graduation Projects

For the two-year Master’s Program and the one-year Master’s Program, the conditions for the conferral of a degree are the achievement of the major and intermediate objectives established for each specialized field, the completion of the required credits, and the successful completion of the thesis defense (evaluation criteria are shown in Table 1) and the final examination.
For the Doctoral Program, the conditions for the conferral of a degree are the completion of the required credits and the fulfillment of the evaluation criteria for the doctoral dissertation.
Students in the Advanced Specialized Education Program (EDICS) of the two-year Master’s Program, who receive research guidance in English, and students entering the Doctoral Program in September must write their dissertations in English. Students in other programs may write their dissertations in either Japanese or English, subject to confirmation with their research advisor.

Students in the Graduate School of Human Sciences are not limited to guidance seminars held in their own field of research. Rather, they are encouraged to attend diverse lectures and seminars related to their field of study, and to even pursue a wide range of lecture subjects from other fields of research, with the intention of achieving a full, comprehensive perspective of the human sciences in an interdisciplinary manner. Numerous seminars and lecture subjects are established and diverse directed study is conducted with the goal of enabling students to obtain their degrees within the standard term of study in each course. However, the system is also designed so that particularly outstanding students can finish before the end of the term of study.

One of the primary features of the Graduate School of Human Sciences is that it targets numerous international fields for investigation and research. External (including overseas) research, experimentation and research are promoted, and numerous subjects that include overseas lessons, investigation, practical study and other activities are configured in the eleven fields of research with the aim of developing researchers and practitioners who can succeed on the international stage. The School also actively introduces on-demand subjects online, making it easier to strike a balance between these external research and investigation activities and more traditional studies. Moreover, in the Education, Clinical Psychology Course, night classes and on-demand classes have been established, making it possible for working students to take classes, including seminars and directed study, and ultimately obtain practical master’s degrees while also holding down a job.

To ensure that the policies indicated in the diploma policy are attained, Human Sciences have been configured as a group of subjects for nurturing outstanding fundamental skills. Furthermore, project subjects have been established as a program for enhancing interest in interdisciplinary research and practical application, and literacy subjects have been established for learning common literacy in such areas as advanced English language and statistics.

As a standard, the thesis must meet the required level agreed upon by multiple faculty members, including the advisor, in light of the academic standards of the relevant field or interdisciplinary research area, for all objectives listed in Table 1. When submitting a thesis, students must confirm the specific criteria for their field or interdisciplinary research area while receiving guidance from their primary research advisor and other relevant faculty members.

For all objectives listed in Table 1, the standard is that the paper meets the required level for a research paper, as agreed upon by multiple faculty members, including the primary supervisor, in light of the academic standards of the relevant field or interdisciplinary research area. When submitting a research paper, students must confirm the specific criteria for the relevant field or interdisciplinary research area while receiving guidance from their primary supervisor and other relevant faculty members.

For each of the following points 1 through 7, a comprehensive assessment is made to determine whether the dissertation meets the academic standards of the relevant field or interdisciplinary research area. Additionally, the dissertation must satisfy the specific requirements for doctoral dissertations in each research field. Therefore, when submitting a dissertation, students must confirm the specific criteria for their relevant field or interdisciplinary research area while receiving guidance from their primary research advisor and other relevant faculty members.
1. Clarity and validity of the research objectives
2. Clarity and validity of the methodology (research plan, analytical methods, etc.)
3. Clarity and validity of the findings
4. Originality and novelty
5. Academic and social significance
6. Contribution to the human sciences
7. Appropriateness of literature citations