Education Policy(Master's Programs)

Diploma Policy

At this graduate school, the following abilities are stipulated as those which students should have acquired upon completion of programs, with students satisfying completion requirements in accordance with the University Regulations recognized as having acquired such abilities and awarded a Master's Degree.

1. Acquisition of expertise, interdisciplinary nature, internationalism
2. Writing of thesis
3. Contribution to society as a researcher, educator, and professional

Degree conferral policy for respective majors

• Major in Sociology
  In order to obtain a master's degree in the Sociology major, the following is required of students: (1) Acquisition of a high level of specialized knowledge, (2) Acquisition of high-level investigative and analytical skills related to quantitative and qualitative sociological research, (3) Acquisition of the ability to flexibly utilize a broad range of knowledge to allow consistent interaction of an interdisciplinary nature with related disciplines, and (4) Acquisition of the discernment to contribute to society and on the international stage into the future.
• Major in Psychology
  In order to obtain a master's degree in the Psychology major, the following is required of students: (1) Acquisition of a high level of specialized knowledge, (2) Acquisition of specialized skills required to perform experimental and practical psychological research, (3) Acquisition of the ability to flexibly utilize a broad range of knowledge to allow consistent interaction of an interdisciplinary nature with related disciplines, and (4) Acquisition of the discernment to contribute to society and on the international stage into the future.
• Major in Education
  In order to obtain a master's degree in the Education major, the following is required of students: (1) Acquisition of a high level of specialized knowledge, (2) Acquisition of the specialized skills required to perform theoretical and empirical research, (3) Acquisition of the ability to flexibly utilize a broad range of knowledge to allow consistent interaction of an interdisciplinary nature with related disciplines, and (4) Acquisition of the discernment to contribute to society and on the international stage into the future.

The below standards will apply to thesis and dissertation writing guidance and screening, in accordance with the aims of the respective majors of the graduate school.

Master's thesis

1. Clarity of issues identified
   How clearly does the student identify issues for research?
2. Suitability of chosen research topic
   Is the student's research topic suitable considering the current state of the field?
3. Literature review
   Does the student give a suitable review of previous research and show its relevance to their chosen topic?
4. Validity of research methods
   Are the student's research methods valid for the chosen topic, and are analytical methods used appropriately?
5. Logical cohesion of the thesis
   Is the thesis written in a manner which is logical and cohesive?
6. Meaningfulness of research results
   Does the research give us new insights?
7. Possibility to develop the research further
   Does the student demonstrate how the research can lead to further studies?
8. Appropriateness of expression, notation, and format
   Are the student's expressions, quotations, references, etc. of a manner which is appropriate for an academic paper?
9. Are research ethics taken into consideration?

Process For Earning Your Diploma

Curriculum Policy

Our curriculum and the skills which students will acquire are based on our diploma policy.

Curriculum organization policy common to all majors

1. The curriculum is based on small-group seminar classes and the use of diverse languages in classes
2. Guidance for master's theses will mainly be provided by an academic advisor; however, a co-advisor may also be enlisted
3. Exchange with overseas research institutes, study abroad referrals
4. Provision of opportunities for guidance from guest lecturers and guest professors from Japan and overseas
5. Taking classes at other graduate schools, credit transfer with other graduate schools
6. Provision of support courses for international students
7. Classes to support composition of papers in English
8. The master's thesis screening will involve a thesis review by one chief examiner and two or more co-examiners, as well as an oral examination and final approval at the Faculty Meeting.
9. Regular support by the Graduate School of Human Relations FD committee

Sociology

To achieve learning outcomes consistent with the above degree conferral policy, a curriculum as per the below will be established in accordance with the aims of the Sociology major at the graduate school.

Curriculum Structure

The Sociology major is made up of four fields: sociology, cultural anthropology & folklore, communication & mass-communication research, and social psychology.

Classes on the history of sociology and sociological methodology form the foundation of the curriculum. Additionally, lectures and seminars are offered on more individualized and specialized topics such as theoretical sociology, family sociology, urban sociology, sociology of local communities, sociology of culture, social stratification, international sociology, sociology of religion, medical sociology, and history of society as well as practical courses for quantitative and qualitative surveys. In addition, courses to refine basic theories and methodologies of sociology, as well as those for the study of sociology in the native tongues of international students, will be provided.

In cultural anthropology & folklore, a wide range of lecture and seminar classes are offered which cover everything from the fundamentals to applied fields. Examples include history of various schools of thought, research methods, specific research topics, and regional studies. As part of Cultural Anthropology and Folklore, you will engage in fieldwork to prioritize primary data from qualitative surveys, with studies in respective research topics to be elaborated while linking empirical data with theoretical considerations.

In the field of communication & mass-communication research, we conduct research and education regarding various communication processes and phenomena including interpersonal and mass communication. More specifically, we offer lecture and seminar classes on media use, information behavior, mass communication theory, as well as news production processes and journalism, media policy and the media industry.

The social psychology field conducts research and education regarding the various areas of social psychology. More specifically, we offer lecture and seminar classes on various issues in social, industrial and organizational psychology, including interpersonal behavior (interpersonal communication, interpersonal influence such as requests and persuasion, social support, interpersonal attraction, interpersonal conflict, etc.), gaming, group psychology, career development, and investigative methodology.

In each field, lectures and seminars are mainly taught by faculty of the Graduate School of Human Relations. However, we aim to provide our students with an internationally high level of specialized knowledge by annually inviting eminent professors from both inside and outside Japan to lecture on recent topics and related fields. There is a high degree of freedom as to the courses which can be taken to encourage interdisciplinary research across disciplines in the four research fields.

Psychology

To achieve learning outcomes consistent with the above degree conferral policy, a curriculum as per the below will be established in accordance with the aims of the Psychology major at the graduate school.

Curriculum Structure

As lecture classes, we offer Advanced Studies of Psychology and Advanced Study of Neuroscience. Lectures and seminars are mainly taught by faculty of the Graduate School of Human Relations. However, we aim to provide our students with an internationally high level of specialized knowledge by annually inviting eminent professors from both inside and outside Japan to lecture on recent topics and related fields.

Furthermore, we hold annual seminar in the core subjects of learning psychology, perceptional psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and physiology/neuropsychology. Students in these classes will read related specialist papers as well as acquire experimental and applicative skills. Similarly, in the Experiment: Special Study of Psychology classes, students assist professors in supervising the experiments of undergraduate students taking practical classes. This allows students the opportunity to review their own basic knowledge, as well as gain teaching experience.

Seminar in developmental science, Advanced study of applied psychology, and Advanced practice in clinical developmental psychology are all classes which aim to provide students with a wide range of knowledge which links with related fields, and to allow students to acquire a mindset of contributing to society. These classes also in part allow students to learn applicative techniques. Furthermore, due to the interdisciplinary nature of the school, students have the opportunity to take classes from other majors, which significantly contributes to their knowledge of related fields.

All Psychology major students are able to take classes from majors other than their own after consulting with their academic advisor. This gives students the opportunity to learn alongside and have discussions with students studying majors other than experimental psychology.

Education

To achieve learning outcomes consistent with the above degree conferral policy, a curriculum as per the below will be established in accordance with the aims of the Education major at the graduate school.

Curriculum Structure

The major in education comprises five fields: the philosophy of education, the history of education, educational psychology, comparative education, and school education. However, no matter which field a student pursues for their research, they all share the commonality of trying to understand individual development through the lens of education. To this end, students in the master's program are encouraged to take " Seminar: study of educational issues/problems" in order to gain an interdisciplinary perspective on challenges that educators face in our world today. This major aims to provide students from diverse research fields with opportunities to exchange ideas and gain a broader perspective on how to approach issues while also facilitating their shared interests in education and individual development.

Students studying the philosophy of education will take lectures and seminars looking at educational philosophy and the history of German educational thought. Lecture courses allow students to obtain a broader perspective and appreciate developments and trends in educational philosophy. Meanwhile, seminar courses provide expert insight into field-specific tools that can be used to analyze and interpret academic discourse, help students identify important topics in educational philosophy and thought, develop and carry out research projects, and author papers for publication.

The history of education is a field with lecture courses and seminar classes that focus on education and educational thought through the historical contexts of Japan and France. Lecture courses focus on methodologies of historical research and obtaining a broad understanding of research trends while seminar classes hone a student's ability to identify specific issues within the history and development of education, create and carry out research, and write a compelling thesis.

Educational psychology is a field with lectures and seminars that cover a wide variety of topics ranging from mental and emotional development, personality formation, and individuality in the context of education. These courses are taught jointly by several tenured faculty members, making for a substantive course in the field of educational psychology.

Comparative education offers lecture courses and seminar classes that examine issues in formal education systems as well as those involved in education more broadly, taking on a global perspective to conduct research on these topics. Students who complete the master's program should be equipped to use their research findings in order to contribute to educational efforts and social initiatives both within Japan and abroad.

The field of pedagogical practices in school systems offers a range of seminar classes and courses on research methodologies. Seminar classes will have students look at a range of issues that take place in educational settings and make them interpret and re-examine the relationship between theory and practice. Students will learn various ways of approaching pedagogical techniques, including how to solve real-world problems and how to apply solutions to historical challenges that face those in education. During research methodology courses, students will learn how to critically examine the techniques mentioned above as well as those used in other disciplines, applying what they discover to real educational scenarios and uncovering effective ways of tackling issues that they hope to solve.

Most of the lectures and seminars in each field are taught predominantly by faculty members of the Graduate School of Human Relations mainly in Japanese language. Every year, the program also invites renowned professors from Japan and abroad to teach these courses.

Admissions Policy

The master's programs aim to foster the basic research abilities required to conduct research in the fields of sociology, psychology, and pedagogy, in addition to the abilities required to engage in professions requiring high levels of specialization. For this reason, as an independent graduate school renowned for its interdisciplinary nature, unbound by faculty affiliations, we accept graduates from all faculties of Keio University, as well as those from other universities in Japan and overseas. Admission is unconstrained by student's fields of specialization during their undergraduate studies. Admission will be possible for students with a robust problem-oriented mindset and the ability to pursue their studies at graduate school, with sufficient foundational levels of academic specialization to perform research. In addition, a user-friendly system of follow-up instruction for students from overseas is in place, including meticulous support by Japanese language tutors. In the Sociology major, classes held in the native languages of faculty members from overseas, who also serve as mentors for international students, will be newly instituted, reducing the anxiety associated with university life in a foreign country. Furthermore, in the Education major, we hold special entrance exams for educators who are currently working with the aim of supporting the recurrent education of professional educators. The enrollment screening process for these entrance exams also differs from that of the general entrance examinations.