Degree
Degrees Conferred
Master of Arts in Sociology
Master of Arts in Psychology
Master of Arts in Education
Ph.D. in Sociology
Ph.D. in Psychology
Ph.D. in Education
Degree Conferral Policy for Each Major
Master's Programs
Sociology
In order to obtain a master’s degree, 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.
Psychology
In order to obtain a master’s degree, 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.
Education
In order to obtain a master’s degree, 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.
Doctoral Programs
Sociology
In order to obtain a doctoral degree, 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, (4) Acquisition of the discernment to contribute to society and on the international stage into the future, and (5) Acquisition of the ability to identify problems, and to formulate and carry out the research plans required to conduct high-level academic research.
Psychology
In order to obtain a doctoral degree, 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, (4) Acquisition of the discernment to contribute to society and on the international stage into the future, and (5) Acquisition of the ability to identify problems, and to formulate and carry out the research plans required to conduct high-level academic research.
Education
In order to obtain a doctoral degree, 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, (4) Acquisition of the discernment to contribute to society and on the international stage into the future, and (5) Acquisition of the ability to identify problems, and to formulate and carry out the research plans required to conduct high-level academic research.
Graduation Requirements
Master’s Programs
・Acquire at least 32 class credits
・Pass defense of master’s thesis
Doctoral Programs
・Acquire at least 20 class credits
・Pass defense of doctoral dissertation
Thesis Review Criteria
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
Clarity of issues identified: How clearly does the student identify issues for research?
Suitability of chosen research topic: Is the student’s research topic suitable considering the current state of the field?
Literature review: Does the student give a suitable review of previous research and show its relevance to their chosen topic?
Validity of research methods: Are the student’s research methods valid for the chosen topic, and are analytical methods used appropriately?
Logical cohesion of the thesis: Is the thesis written in a logical and cohesive manner?
Meaningfulness of research results: Does the research provide new insights?
Possibility to develop the research further: Does the student demonstrate how the research can lead to further studies?
Appropriateness of expression, notation, and format: Are the student’s expressions, quotations, references, etc. appropriate for an academic paper?
Are research ethics taken into consideration?
Doctoral Dissertation
Clarity of issues identified: How clearly does the student identify issues for research?
Suitability of chosen research topic: Is the student’s research topic suitable considering the current state of the field?
Literature review: Does the student give a suitable review of previous research and show its relevance to their chosen topic?
Validity of research methods: Are the student’s research methods valid for the chosen topic, and are analytical methods used appropriately?
Logical cohesion of the thesis: Is the thesis structured systematically and written in a logical and cohesive manner?
Meaningfulness of research results: Does the research provide significant new insights which can advance the state of research in the field?
Possibility to develop the research further: Does the student demonstrate how the research can lead to further ground-breaking research that contributes to society?
Appropriateness of expression, notation, and format: Are the student’s expressions, quotations, references, etc. appropriate for an academic paper?
Are research ethics taken into consideration?
Sample Thesis Topics
Master’s Thesis
Major in Sociology
- An Examination of Discourses on Marital Diversity
- Motivations for Viewing Short Dramas Among Chinese Youth and Their Impact
Major in Psychology
- Psychological Research on the Influence of
Active Engagement and Subjective Viewing
Duration on Aesthetic Evaluation
- Influence of the Characteristic Odors of Infants on Mothers’ Recognition of Infant Voices and on Mother-Infant Interaction: Evidence from Brain Activity and Behavioral Indicators
Major in Education
- Teachers’ Hopes for Children
—A Review of Case Studies of the Narratives and Educational Practices of Elementary School Teachers—
- Teachers’ Experiences with Periods for Integrated Studies
—A Case Study of Environmental Education in the Mikata Five Lakes Basin, Fukui Prefecture—
Doctoral Dissertation
Major in Sociology
- A Journalism Study on the Process of Constructing Collective Memory
Using Memories of the Asia-Pacific War as a Case Study
- Boundary-Making of Mixedness in an EthnoNationalist Society Causes and Consequences of Hāfu Categorisation in Japan
Major in Psychology
- A Multifaceted Examination of Morphological and Image Features Affecting Facial Impression Formation
―Using Psychophysical and Computational Approaches―
- Factors Influencing the Variability of Spontaneous Thought and Elucidation of Brain Dynamics
Major in Education
- Merleau-Ponty’s Theory of Human Formation Through Art
- Kenji Miyazawa’s Educational Philosophy
──A Study on the History of Thought with Regard to the Relationship with Modern Buddhism, the Taisho New Education Movement, and Rural Life──
- A Historical Study of the Influence of the Yale Report on the Structure of Undergraduate Programs in Early Modern American Universities