The Graduate School of Social Sciences aims to assist students in their progress towards becoming able to contribute to the further developments in society by tackling a variety of issues in the modern world based on a high level of interdisciplinary academic expertise, mainly in economics and business administration, from a wide range of perspectives, local to global, as well as with an ethical sense.
Our curricula in the Master’s programs are designed to equip students with advanced expertise and skills and to help students develop their research abilities in their major fields of study or their competence essential in highly specialized professions.
Our curricula in the Doctoral programs are designed to equip students with advanced expertise and skills and to help students develop advanced research abilities that enable them to conduct relevant research activities independently in their major field of study or that are essential for other highly specialized work.
Our curricula in the Professional Degree programs are designed to equip students with advanced expertise and skills and help them gain expert knowledge and insights as well as the competencies that are essential for highly specialized professionals.
A Master’s degree will be granted to those who have acquired the necessary research abilities in their major field of study or the necessary competence essential for their chosen highly specialized profession.
A Doctoral degree will be granted to those who have acquired the research abilities that enable them to conduct relevant research activities independently in their major field of study or that are essential for other highly-specialized work.
A Professional degree will be granted to those who have acquired the expert knowledge, insights and competencies that are essential for highly specialized professionals.
Research guidance schedule for Master's Program (April enrollment)
| 1st year | April | Determination of main supervisor based on research proposal, preparation of the research instruction plan, and course taking guidance |
| February | First interim report on master's thesis | |
| March | Determination of co-supervisor | |
| 2nd year | April | Preparation of the research instruction plan |
| September to October | Second interim report on master’s thesis | |
| December | Submission of master's thesis | |
| January | Acceptance of master's thesis, determination of chief examiner and co-examiner | |
| February | Open screening of master’s thesis | |
| March | Granting degrees |
Research guidance schedule for Master's Program (September enrollment)
| 1st year | October | Determination of main supervisor based on research proposal, preparation of the research instruction plan, and course taking guidance |
| June | First interim report on master's thesis | |
| July | Determination of co-supervisor | |
| 2nd year | October | Preparation of the research instruction plan |
| February | Second interim report on master’s thesis | |
| June | Submission of master's thesis | |
| July to August | Open screening of master’s thesis | |
| August | Granting degrees |
Classes are conducted in Japanese in the Department of Economics and the Department of Business Administration, while all classes are conducted in English in the Department of Global Business.
Curricula of the Departments of Economics, Business Administration, and Global Business feature special courses mentioned below, in addition to typical courses in economics and business administration.
Our master’s and doctoral programs offer courses required for conducting research, such as Quantitative Research Methodology, Qualitative Research Methodology, and Fieldwork Methodology. More and more rigorous research methods are now required in the study of economics and business administration. It is very meaningful for researchers aiming to present persuasive research results to be involved in the discussion of methodology at the very first stages of their careers. Research Ethics, which every researcher should learn, is also provided as a compulsory course in the Master’s program.
Seminars are a typical learning style of university education in Japan. In our graduate school programs, research guidance is provided in “Seminar” courses. The final purpose of students participating in Seminars in the graduate school is to complete a master’s or doctoral thesis. In Seminars, students learn how to search through the literature, carry out research, and write a thesis under the guidance of a professor.
The Departments of Business Administration and Global Business provide “Consulting Project” as a compulsory course, in which students work in teams to solve various challenges facing local communities and enterprises. Through this course, supervised by professors, students come to understand the practical challenges of local communities and enterprises firsthand and to gain opportunities to serve society using their knowledge of business administration. The Departments help students develop their abilities with broad perspectives while focusing on academic research as well as engagement with local communities and enterprises.
