English-based Degree Program
Aiming to produce graduates who will play leadership roles in international society, the School of Political Science and Economics launched an English-based degree program in September 2010, welcoming students from around the world.
The program offers students the opportunity to take global-standard classes of the highest quality, all conducted in English, and earn credit regardless of their level of Japanese-language proficiency
The program had been selected as part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Project for Establishing Core Universities for Internationalization (Global 30), and operates with support from the government of Japan.
- The English-based Degree Program is for September admission only. For information of the April admissions (a Japanese program), please refer to the website in Japanese.
English-based Degree Program
This program will provide a basic knowledge of Japanese politics, economics, and society, and build on this knowledge to pursue an understanding of Asian and global society, developing the ability to propose new strategies and solutions.
- A combination of two inseparable fields of study
The fields of Political Science and Economics are combined in one undergraduate school, while at the same time retaining their own distinctive features. Learning both academic fields together helps students form a solid academic foundation for advanced study and provides them with a deeper understanding of the complex phenomena that arise in international society.
- A liberally structured and progressive course system
Students have a substantial degree of freedom to choose subjects ranging from those that teach fundamental principles to those that reflect the latest advances in various fields. Thanks to the flexible course structure, students are allowed to a great extent to create their own study plan. Students are welcome to focus on a particular research field or to seek a broad range of knowledge and skills.
- Interdisciplinary fields of study
This course provides students not only with the subjects of political science and economics but also with many of those in the liberal arts, such as culture, religion, philosophy, and psychology. Such subjects are essential for all-around academic development, helping students to understand more effectively their specialized areas of study.
- Seminar-style classes
This course offers students seminar-style classes, such as the Fresh-Start Seminar and the Intermediate Workshop for first-year students, the Liberal Studies Workshop for second-year students, and the Advanced Seminar for junior and senior students. It is of great advantage for students to be able to enrich their understanding through interaction with their instructors in small-size classes. Having the opportunity to ask questions and exchange opinions during the class, they are also able to develop essential skills, such as those that empower students to discuss, debate, and make effective presentations.
English-based Degree Program
A) Japanese and Global Political Economy
This cluster of subjects not only explores the history, systems, and theories of Japanese politics and economics but also examines political and economic development from a broader Asian and global standpoint, provides students with means and methods for global political and economic analysis.
B) Political Science and Economics
In addition to supplying an academic foundation for understanding Japan in the global political economy through required first-year fundamental theory classes in various subjects, this cluster offers a wide range of applied subjects to meet the needs of students seeking more advanced study.
C) Quantitative Approaches to Political Science and Economics
These subjects include statistics, mathematical analysis, game theory, and other quantitative methods essential for the objective analysis of political and economic systems; information processing; and experimental political science and economics, which involves practical evaluations of real-world political and economic behavior.
D) Seminars
By completing required foundation seminars, applied seminars, and specialized seminars (from the third year onward) in small classes, students gain an understanding of both the Japanese university education style and the specifics of their area of academic specialization.
Study Plan
What we also offer:
- A variety of courses are available to meet your interests
Along with the seminars offered for the English-based degree program, more than 130 seminars conducted in Japanese are available. Most of these courses operate in a small class of no more than 18 students, which enable you to interact closely with your fellow students and faculty advisor. Some seminars are operated in conjunction with overseas universities.
- For academic purposes, courses are clustered into groups and fields
The clustering of courses into groups and fields allows you to pursue your own particular area of academic interest. These groups and fields are not confined just to the department you belong to, so you are allowed―even encouraged―to take courses outside your field, something that will help you to broaden your academic viewpoint.
- The systematized curriculum provides an opportunity to learn from fundamental principles
You will have the opportunity to learn the foundations of Political Science and Economics thoroughly in each department, step-by-step, from basic principles to area of specialization. We offer these courses to students from the first year to equip them with fundamental skills at an early stage in their academic career.
- Foreign language classes operate at various levels to fulfill your academic needs
Foreign language classes operate at various levels, enabling you to take whichever level of study suits you most. You may choose from English, French, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish, all of which offer a wide variety of carefully planned courses and topics that will meet your academic needs. These courses are operated by both Japanese and native-speaker professionals in small groups of students, for maximum effectiveness. A certain level of Japanese proficiency may be required for some of the courses.
- Externally provided elective subjects can be included as credits toward graduation
Elective subjects outside our faculty (offered, for example, through the Open Education Center and the Media Network Center) can be included as credits toward graduation, further broadening the base of your academic knowledge.
For further information regarding the curriculum and courses, please refer to our Course Information page.
