Educational/Research Objectives and Policies - Division of Law

Interdisciplinary Studies in Law and Policy Major

Educational and Research Objectives

Master's Program (same for both majors)

The Interdisciplinary Studies in Law and Policy Major aims to nurture individuals with intellectual grounding and research skills, skilled professionals capable of responding to the needs of a lawful society, and professionals who work toward the public good, who, through academic research, have acquired high-level expertise in law, political science, and policy studies as well as a grounding in legal practice and legal policy.

Doctoral Program (same for both majors)

The Interdisciplinary Studies in Law and Policy Major aims to nurture excellent researchers capable of working in Japan and overseas, skilled professionals to actively lead in a lawful society, and who work toward the public good, who have acquired high-level expertise in law, political science, and policy studies and sufficient grounding in legal practice and policy through academic research.

Policies

Diploma Policy

Master's Program (same for both majors)

The Division of Law confers a master’s degree on students who demonstrate 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 Law and Policy Major is conferred on students who have acquired comprehensive and systematic high-level expertise of law, political science, and legal policy, and academic analytical ability, and meet the following requirements: (1) ability to identify where problems exist and present persuasive arguments and (2) propose solutions from a practical perspective (general versatility skills); and (3) ability to actively address a wide range of problems in areas related to law, political science, and policy studies, with a strong public awareness (attitude and orientation).

Doctoral Program (same for both majors)

The Division of Law confers a doctoral degree on students who demonstrate excellence in all aspects of knowledge (highly advanced and systematic specialized knowledge in law, political science, and policy studies), general versatility 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 and policy)” 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 a student has advanced research skills has conducted independent and creative research on the basis of in-depth academic knowledge of their major field, detailed and exhaustive investigation of previous research, and fieldwork .

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:

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 their individual problem concerns.
In the first year, students can take “Practical Research in Legal Policy” to develop a research approach centered on “practical applicability” and “synthesis.”
In the first year, students also take multiple advanced study courses from courses offered in the three areas—public policy foundation, local public policy, and international public policy. This will help them acquire comprehensive and systematic high-level expertise in law, political science, and policy studies, ensuring “comprehensive” research results. Therefore, students are encouraged to also take advanced study courses outside their specialized field.
In the first year, students also take multiple special seminars from the three areas—public policy foundation, local public policy, and international public policy. This will help them acquire academic analytical skills, ensuring “comprehensive” research results.” Therefore, students are encouraged to also take advanced study courses outside their specialized field.
In the second year, students receive research guidance, which enables them to proceed to the preparation of their master’s thesis. Through the process 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, and the general skills needed to propose solutions from a practical perspective. Moreover, through the process of selecting and investigating the thesis topic, students develop an attitude and orientation that will enable them to actively address problems in areas related to law, political science, and policy studies with a strong public awareness.
In addition, where a student conducted research centered on fieldwork, the master’s thesis can be substituted for a “Special Research Project” on a specific topic. Even if the student carries out a “Special Research Project,” instruction is still provided aimed at obtaining the general skills and attitude and orientation outlined above.
In order to gain “practical” research results, students are encouraged to acquire a grounding in legal practice.

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. 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 knowledge of law, political science, and policy studies 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 identify and actively address problems in areas related to law, political science, and policy studies while having a strong public awareness.

2. Educational Methods
The 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. In the Frontier Project Special Seminar, students can acquire the ability to apply academic knowledge by playing a leading role in the administration of courses offered in the Master's Program or at undergraduate level.

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 doctoral dissertation is examined 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

We accept a wide range of students in accordance with the Division of Law’s objective of nurturing talented individuals. These include researchers in various fields of law, political science, and policy studies as well as professionals such as public servants in various fields and NPO staff, who work toward the public good, having acquired high-level expertise and a grounding in legal practice, and with the following qualities and aspirations:

Fundamental knowledge of law, political science, and policy studies and willingness to develop advanced academic expertise through the development of that knowledge
Willingness to apply specialized knowledge and insight by advancing in fields that serve the public good, thereby contributing 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 as well as those of 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, political science, and policy studies and aim to contribute to society through their research field.