Master’s Program, Doctoral Program

Last Updated: 2025年07月28日

Master’s Program – Two Learning Tracks to Suit Your Aspirations

Develops people who can work in an international society and new researchers to lead the era
– Different styles for different goals from start to finish –

Career Enhancement Track	Researcher Track
Entrance Exam (General Admission, Special Selection for Adult Applicants, and Special Selection for Foreign Students)	1. Test of basic subjects You must choose one of the following subjects: a foreign language, classical Japanese literature, computer science, or (for non- Japanese applicants only) Japanese. However, the subjects you can choose from also depend on the course to which you are applying, so make sure to check the application guidebook for further details. 2. Test of major subject 3. Oral examination
Curriculum	●くろまる Seminars to develop high-level skills in foreign language, information handling and presentation ●くろまる Students mainly take Special Lectures, which are given to a small group in an interactive manner rather than a one-way lecture. ●くろまる Students who have earned the required credits and submitted a research report can obtain master’s degree.	●くろまる Tutors provide quality individual guidance (tutorial). ●くろまる Students mainly take Advanced Expertise Seminars to build basic skills required for a researcher. ●くろまる Students may take Special Seminars in the doctoral program. ●くろまる Students shall submit a master’s thesis or master’s folio (a combination of achievements).
Future career	Students will obtain master’s degree and work in international fields as specialists.	The Researcher Track is for the students who intend to take the entrance exam to the doctoral program and proceed to the program. Students aim to become researchers or high-level specialists.

Two Educational Tracks

The program has a Career Enhancement Track and a Researcher Track. Students will have the opportunity to select one after enrollment.

Career Enhancement Track

This track caters to students who intend to enter the workforce after completing the master’s program. By acquiring broad expertise and practical applied skills, students seek to develop their career to a higher level. Students can earn the master’s degree by acquiring the requisite credits in courses centered on special lectures and by submitting a master’s research report appropriate for their career design.

Researcher Track

This track caters to students who intend to continue on to enter the doctoral program. The track offers a curriculum designed to develop researchers and high-level specialists. To complete the track, students are required to take requisite credits in courses centered on advanced expertise seminars and to submit a master’s thesis or a master’s folio.

Academic Skill Seminars

The objective of the seminars is to effectively learn methods and techniques and acquire other academic skills required for research in various fields.

・Computer Skills Development
・Academic Communication (English)
・Academic Writing (English)
・Academic Writing (Japanese)
・Social Research Methods
・Ethnographic Fieldwork
・Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences

Master’s Folio

The master’s folio is comprised of multiple research products that are loosely tied to a single theme, and which can be submitted in place of a master’s thesis. As a master’s folio does not have to be in the form of a single thesis, many diverse research products that would previously not have been accepted as a master’s thesis –compositions, research reports – are accepted as part of a folio. This makes it easier to conduct applied research that is relevant to one’s work or workplace, and because the work is divided up and presented on numerous occasions, it also allows for systematic writing and research.

Doctoral Program – Developing Independent Researchers

For deeper study in a research field
– flexible support to obtain a PhD in three years –

Coursework Program
Research theme	Theme suited for the research field of the course
Research style	Individual research
Research guidance	The entire teaching staff, especially the advisor, provides support.
Process to obtain PhD	<1st year> Present a concept in a joint seminar of the course, publish an academic article and submit a foundational thesis. <2nd year> Publish an academic article, make a presentation at a conference and submit a preparatory doctoral thesis. <3rd year> Submit part of a thesis draft to a joint seminar of the course once a month and receive guidance and support from the whole teaching staff. Submit a doctoral thesis.
Expected achievements	Achievements of academic research where free thinking and creativity are required

Career and Professional Development – Career Paths to the World

Master’s Program

Cultural Interaction Department

– As a specialist –

・Specialist at an international organization such as the United Nations or JICA
・Official of various public and private organizations that plan introductions to Japanese culture and exchanges
・Cultural planner at a museum
・Junior/senior high school teacher (English) with a high level of expertise
・Planner for the cultural exchange programs of a local government unit or company
・Person in charge of training in a foreign-affiliated company or joint venture
・Leader of a regional NPO taking the lead in cultural activities and cross-cultural understanding

– As business professional with the ability to take practical actions

・Employee at a foreign-affiliated company or joint venture
・Employee at a trading company or other type of company
・Personnel for overseas expansion of a Japanese company

Culture and Globalization Department

– As a specialist –

・Cultural policy specialist or art manager with of arts knowledge of music, fine arts and other types
・Journalist or government employee who addresses the various issues of changing modern cultures such as gender and public nature
・Junior/senior high school teacher (English) with a high level of expertise
・Employee/teacher at a language education company
・Editor of language education materials
・Researcher/specialist/advisor at a foreign student center
・Japanese language teacher Interpreter/translator
・Employee of a language/IT corporate laboratory

– As a business professional with an ability to take practical actions
・Software engineer
・System engineer

Doctoral Program

Leading researchers who promote "international cultural studies" in the world

・Researcher at an international organization/research institute
・Researcher at a national/public/corporate laboratory
・Teacher at a college/junior college/specialized vocational high school