Educational/Research Objectives and Policies - Division of Law

Law Major

Educational and Research Objectives

Master's Program (same for both majors)

The Law Major aims to nurture individuals with intellectual grounding and research skills, professionals capable of responding to the needs of a lawful society, and work toward the public good. Through academic research, these individuals would acquire advanced specialized knowledge in law, political science, and policy studies and a grounding in legal practice and legal policy.

Doctoral Program (same for both majors)

The Law Major aims to nurture excellent researchers capable of working in Japan and overseas, skilled professionals capable of taking an active lead in a legalized society, and work toward the public good, by acquiring high-level expertise in law, political science, and policy studies and a sufficient grounding in legal practice and legal policy through academic research.

Policies

Diploma Policy

Master's Program (same for both majors)

The Division of Law awards a master’s degree to students who have an excellent competence in each aspect of knowledge, general versatility skills, attitude, and orientation for both majors.

Master's Program

Based on the educational and research objectives of the Master’s Program, a “Master’s Degree (in Law)” is conferred on students who have acquired systematic advanced specialized knowledge of law and academic analytical skills, and meet the following criteria: (1) ability to identify where problems exist and present persuasive arguments (general skills); (2) ability to actively address a wide range of problems in areas related to law with a strong public awareness (attitude and orientation).

Doctoral Program (same for both majors)

The Division of Law awards a doctoral degree to students who demonstrate excellence in each aspect of knowledge (highly advanced and systematic specialized knowledge in law, political science, and policy studies), general skills (ability to conduct highly academic analyses of problems and highly persuasive discussions), and attitude and orientation (ability to actively address a wide range of problems in domains related to law, political science, and policy studies with a strong public awareness).

Doctoral Program

Based on the educational and research objectives of the Doctoral Program, a “doctoral degree (in law)” is conferred on students who have submitted a doctoral dissertation and passed an oral examination and main examination, following a preliminary examination. The doctoral dissertation must demonstrate that the student has advanced research skills and has conducted independent and creative research based on in-depth academic knowledge of the major field of study and a detailed and exhaustive investigation of previous research.

Curriculum Policy

Master's Program (same for both majors)

To achieve the goals set out in the Diploma Policy, our curriculum is designed to help students acquire high-level expertise and academic analytical skills and conduct research of an appropriate standard for a master’s degree in both majors.

Master's Program

1. Educational Content
The curriculum is structured as follows:
(1) At the beginning of the first year, students receive individual academic guidance from their research supervisor to ensure that they acquire wide-ranging knowledge and academic analytical skills that reflect various problems and topics.
(2) In the first year, students take multiple advanced study courses, which enable them to acquire high-level expertise in law. Therefore, students are encouraged to also take advanced study courses outside their specialized field of study.
(3) In the first year, students also take multiple advanced seminar courses, which enable them to acquire academic analytical skills.
(4) In the second year, students receive research guidance, which enables them to progress to the preparation of their master’s thesis. Through the task of preparing the master’s thesis, we provide instruction aimed at helping students acquire the general skills needed to identify where problems exist and present persuasive arguments. Moreover, through the process of selecting and investigating the thesis topic, students develop an attitude and orientation that will enable them to actively address a wide range of problems in areas related to law with a strong public awareness.
In addition, where a working adult student conducts research that makes use of his or her professional experience and knowledge, the master’s thesis can be substituted for a “Special Research Project” on a specific topic (or “Results of Research on a Specific Subject”). Even if the student conducts a “Special Research Project,” instruction is still provided aimed at obtaining the general skills and attitude and orientation outlined above.
(5) Students are encouraged to acquire a grounding in legal practice through opportunities such as “Internships.”

2. Educational Methods
Students acquire expertise through lecture courses, academic analytical skills through seminar courses, and the ability to combine these in a comprehensive manner through research guidance.

3. Evaluation of Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes of each course are evaluated according to the methods and standards for assessing grades stipulated in the syllabus of each course. The research guidance is evaluated on the basis of whether the master’s thesis or task-oriented research report is approved or rejected, as stipulated in the syllabus.

Doctoral Program (same for both majors)

Our curriculum is designed to help students complete their doctoral dissertation in stages.

Doctoral Program

1. Educational Content
Through the process of preparing the doctoral dissertation, we provide instruction aimed at helping students acquire highly advanced and systematic expertise of law and the ability to conduct highly academic analyses of problems and present persuasive arguments. Moreover, through the process of selecting and investigating the dissertation topic, students develop the ability to actively address a wide range of problems in areas related to law, with a strong public awareness.

2. Educational Methods
Special Research Project provides instruction in the following areas: (1) understanding of previous research and information related to the research theme; (2) persuasive analysis and synthesis of the research theme; (3) methods of expressing the analysis and synthesis of the research theme. Special Research Project provides instruction aimed at broadening students’ perspectives on research related to the doctoral dissertation from faculty members other than the research supervisor.

3. Evaluation of Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes of each course are evaluated according to the methods and standards for assessing grades stipulated in the syllabus of each course. The examination of the doctoral dissertation is conducted independently of the evaluation of learning achievements in other courses.

Admission Policy

Master's Program (same for both majors)

The Division of Law accepts students who are willing to acquire high-level expertise and a grounding in legal practice, in line with their individual aspirations, having understood the objectives of the Division of Law and both majors.

Master's Program

In accordance with the Division of Law’s objective of nurturing talented individuals, including researchers in various fields of law and professionals, such as tax accountants, patent attorneys, and judicial scriveners, capable of responding to the needs of a lawful society, having acquired high-level expertise and a grounding in legal practice, we accept a wide range of students with the following qualities and aspirations:

Basic knowledge of law and willingness to develop advanced academic expertise through the development of that knowledge
Willingness to apply specialized knowledge and insight to various professional fields, and contribute to society
Aspire to project one’s experience as a working adult in research to deepen theoretical discussion and solve problems

Doctoral Program (same for both majors)

The Division of Law accepts students who are willing to acquire high-level expertise and the ability to conduct research independently in line with their own aspirations, having understood the objectives of the Division of Law and both majors.

Doctoral Program

We accept students who are willing to acquire the ability to conduct research independently on the basis of advanced knowledge and insight in the various fields of law and aim to contribute to society through their research field.