Educational Policy of Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course)
Fundamental Educational Goals
The Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences aims to provide education in the humanities and social sciences that fosters highly skilled researchers and well-rounded professionals. By exploring various specialized fields within these disciplines, we identify social issues and propose solutions that can be applied effectively in real-world situations.
Through dialogue and discussion among students, faculty, and the local community, we strive to support individuals in developing enriched human qualities. Our educational approach encourages each person to become well-rounded with a profound understanding of human values.
Exemplary Students
We are dedicated to fostering pioneers who can thrive on the international stage by discovering and addressing social issues through their expertise in the humanities and social sciences.
Under the fundamental objectives and the desired graduate profile set by Okayama University, our Graduate School aims to nurture professionals who, based on their specialized knowledge in the humanities and social sciences, can collaborate with experts from various fields to explore social issues and envision frameworks for their resolution.
We will foster individuals to develop the following five abilities:
○Implementation Ability to confront and take action in resolving social issues.
○Inquiry Ability to identify social issues and approach them logically from diverse perspectives.
○Communication Ability to collaborate effectively with others.
○Liberal Arts Ability to deepen one's knowledge through diverse learning experiences.
○Specialized Ability to integrate knowledge various fields within the humanities and social sciences.
Degree Policy
Under the Degree Policy of Okayama University, the graduate school expects students to acquire advanced knowledge, abilities, skills, and judgment within the fields of Literature, Law, and Economics. For those who have compiled a thesis through advanced specialized analysis that meets our standards, the following degrees are conferred:
In the Master's Course, degrees of Master in Cultural Sciences, Literature, Law, Economics, Public Policy, Business Administration, and Academics are awarded. In the Doctor's Course, degrees of Doctor in Cultural Science, Literature, Law, Economics, Business Administration, and Academics are granted.
Master's Program
In the Master's Course, a master's degree is awarded to those whose research results in the form of a master's thesis meet the standards for the awarding of degrees as stipulated by the Graduate School, and who have acquired a high level of specialized knowledge and the ability to conduct research on specific issues, as well as the ability to think and act appropriately to deal with various related issues.
Specifically, the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master’s Program) awards degrees to students who have studied for the designated period of time, acquired the following competencies and earned the credits required for graduation.
Abilities acquired: Implementation Ability, Inquiry Ability, Communication Ability, Liberal Arts Ability, Specialized Ability
【Implementation Ability】Implementation Ability to confront and solve social issues
Students can address diverse and significant social challenges, and take pioneering actions toward their resolution.
【Inquiry Ability】Inquiry Ability to discover and approach social issues logically from multiple perspectives
Students can use various specialized skills using a multidimensional approach, to understand the most important features of social issues.
【Communication Ability】Communication Ability to collaborate and cooperate with others
Through diverse encounters with fellow students, faculty, and others, students can acknowledge differences and transcend barriers, fostering mutual growth.
【Liberal Arts Ability】Liberal Arts Ability to deepen one's knowledge through diverse learning experiences
Students can broaden their knowledge through diverse learning opportunities and apply it to their personal growth.
【Specialized Ability】Expertise to integrate specialized knowledge from the humanities and social sciences
Depending on their respective degree programs, students can deeply integrate the foundational knowledge and skills in their specialized fields.
(1) 〔Master's Program in Humanities〕
“Expertise” to conduct advanced language proficiency in English, German, and French.
“Expertise” to deeply comprehend languages, literature, culture, and thought in Japan and the Asian region.
“Expertise” to address various issues effectively rooted in philosophy, aesthetics, history, archaeology, and comparative socio-cultural studies.
(2) 〔Master's Program in Psychology〕
“Expertise” to provide effective support to individuals in need of psychological assistance based on clinical psychology.
“Expertise” to create new technologies concerning internationalization, health, aging, and informatization.
(3) 〔Master's Program in Comparative Law and Politics〕
“Expertise” to compare and examine domestic and foreign laws and political systems through various methodological approaches, resolving legal and political issues in international society, national and local governments, and private enterprises.
(4) 〔Master's Program in Legal and Political Studies for the Community〕
“Expertise” to support tax-related tasks in the local community.
“Expertise” to participate in policy formulation for local public entities.
(5) 〔Master's Program in Regional Business〕
“Expertise” to resolve various issues related to enterprise management based on business administration.
“Expertise” to conduct academic research on financial and managerial accounting with specialized knowledge in accounting.
(6) 〔Master's Program in Economics〕
“Expertise” to analyze economic and policy issues from both theoretical and empirical perspectives.
“Expertise” to address a wide range of challenges faced by Japan and the world from the standpoint of economics and statistics.
(7) 〔Master's Program in Sustainable Society〕
“Expertise” to resolve issues in related fields based on a deep understanding of the humanities and social science disciplines (literature, law, economics) concerning foreign students and others.
Curriculum Policy
To cultivate individuals who have acquired the abilities described in the Degree Policy, our educational curriculum is implemented based on the following principles and ideas of the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master’s Course).
Education Implementation Policy
Our educational approach is to nurture continuous and autonomous learning to develop a sustainable society.
Education Principles, Methods and Evaluation
From the perspective of proactive, dialogical, and deep learning, "what the students have become capable of” is emphasized rather than "what has been taught", providing the following educational content, teaching methods, and evaluation process.
【Philosophy】
Based on the Curriculum Policy of Okayama University, our curriculum focuses on fostering individuals who can contribute to the development of a sustainable society through a comprehensive, complex, and interdisciplinary education program. Through this approach, a collaborative educational system is established, where all students can think, act, create, and grow together.
With cutting-edge research in various fields of the humanities and social sciences, our education is organized to enhance the ability of students to cultivate a deep and international sense of culture, and to insightfully recognize social changes.
To improve our curriculum, discussions and reforms are being carried out through the Educational Committee of our graduate school.
【Majors of Master's Program and Types of Study】
In the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Program), to accommodate the diverse interests of those who wish to study in this field, six specializations have been established: International Society, Japanese and Asian Cultures, Human Societies and Cultures, Legal and Political Theories, Economic Theories and Policies, and Management. For each specialization, two study types have been arranged: "Professional Researcher Type" and "Advanced Career Type."
The "Professional Researcher Type" is primarily designed for educators and researchers. Students in this type will take specialized courses and exercises in each program, aiming to acquire the advanced knowledge, skills, and judgment necessary to write a Master’s thesis.
On the other hand, the "Advanced Career Type" is designed for working people who can help develop a knowledge-intensive society. Students in this type will also take specialized courses and exercises in each program.
【Degree Programs】
To acquire the comprehensive and advanced expertise required in their fields, students will first gain a foundational knowledge encompassing research ethics and other fundamental areas. Moreover, general liberal arts courses are introduced for first-year students to help them develop the ability to examine challenges from various angles and to collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds in problem-solving. This ensures that students not only deepen their own knowledge through a broad spectrum of learning but also cultivate “Liberal Arts Ability” that fosters a well-rounded humanistic perspective. To master cutting-edge expertise in various domains of the humanities and social sciences (including literature, law, and economics), students will enroll in program-specific courses (specialized education subjects) in each field. Beyond acquiring systematic knowledge and skills in their own disciplines, the curriculum is designed to also impart knowledge and skills from related fields. Each academic department has two programs, each offering several module-based learning models. Depending on the degree program, students will proactively participate in the “creation of knowledge”, while developing their “expertise”.
(1) 〔Humanities Program〕 This program offers the following courses; “International Language and Culture Studies”, “Japanese and Asian Language and Culture Studies”, “Language and Information Studies”, “Philosophy and Cultural Studies”, “Aesthetics and Art Studies”, “History and Cultural Studies”, “Field Science”, and “Psychology”. Through these courses, students will acquire high-level language proficiency in English, German, and French, or a deep understanding of the structure and historical development of languages, literature, culture, and thought in Japan and Asia. Alternatively, students can develop profound knowledge in fields such as philosophy, aesthetics, history, archaeology, and comparative social and cultural studies to challenge various issues and problems.
(2) 〔Psychology Program〕 This program offers the following courses; “Clinical Psychology” and “Modern Social Psychology”. Students will utilize advanced knowledge and techniques based on clinical psychology to provide effective support to individuals in need of psychological assistance. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to acquire the ability to address new themes and techniques in cross-cultural and health psychology, internationalization, health, aging, and information technology.
(3) 〔Comparative Law and Politics Program〕 Using diverse methodological approaches, this program offers courses in law and political science that compare and examine the legal and political systems of countries and regions. Through these courses, students will develop the ability to address legal and political issues in the international community, as well as at the national, local government, and private enterprise levels.
(4) 〔Legal and Political Studies for Community Program〕 This program offers courses in law and political science, with interdisciplinary studies in economics, to acquire the capability to support tax-related business activities as tax accountants in regional communities or to engage in policy formation for local public entities as civil servants or business professionals.
(5) 〔Regional Business Program〕 In this program, students will acquire basic and applied knowledge in the management of diverse organizations, including theoretical and analytical approaches to accounting information such as financial accounting, managerial accounting, organizational design, business strategies, and leadership. Additionally, students will acquire perspectives and methods to examine the environmental changes affecting organizations, including historical transformations at different levels such as global, East Asian, Japanese, and regional economies, by taking specialized education courses in economics and business management. In the advanced “expertise” development track, students will also be able to take courses in law to acquire a cross-disciplinary perspective.
(6) 〔Economics Program〕 This program aims to equip students with advanced specialized knowledge in specific fields of economics, enabling them to gain insights and conduct analysis on economic and policy issues from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. Alternatively, students can acquire specialized knowledge and skills in economics and statistics to address various policy challenges facing Japan and the world.
(7) 〔Sustainable Society Program〕 This program is designed for both Japanese and non-Japanese students who wish to complete their studies solely through English-language instruction. It aims to foster students’ abilities to solve a wide range of issues in the fields of humanities and social sciences (literature, law, and economics) based on in-depth knowledge in these areas. To achieve this, students can take courses in various fields of the humanities and social sciences.
【Educational Methods】
・To acquire advanced knowledge in various fields of the humanities and social sciences (literature, law, and economics), students can take the courses in both lecture and exercise formats.
・Exercise-based courses will be conducted using active learning methods, allowing students to gain experience in presenting and reporting. Through dialogue with fellow students and faculty members, this approach develops students’ "Communication Ability" to collaborate with experts from diverse fields.
・Students can take the research and exercise courses tailored for research guidance, where they can receive guidance from their academic advisors and co-advisors to work on their master's thesis or research reports. This process nurtures "Implementation Ability" in connecting with the world, recognizing different values, while developing logical and multi-perspective approaches to address social challenges.
【Evaluation Policy】
From the perspective of achieving the learning objectives stated in the syllabus, students' learning outcomes are rigorously assessed by combining regular evaluations, such as reports and discussions, with examinations and assignments. The specific evaluation methods are outlined in the syllabus and related documents.
・Students can enroll in research and seminar courses focused on research guidance, receiving mentorship from their primary and secondary advisors. Through this process, students complete a master's thesis or research report. This experience cultivates an "Implementation Ability" to connect with the global community, acknowledge diverse values, and lead towards the resolution of societal challenges, as well as an "Inquiry Ability" to approach social issues from logical and multifaceted perspectives.
Extracurricular Education Policy
Students are provided with a variety of opportunities outside of regular classes, including practical activities to solve social issues, participation in academic societies and research groups, and Teaching Assistant (TA) and Faculty Development (FD) activities, so that students can realize their own growth beyond learning in class.