Three Policies of the Field of Ethnology and Archaeology, Major in History, for the Master of Arts in History [M.A. (History)]

Based on the Graduation Certification and Degree Conferral Policy (Diploma Policy) of Keio University, our goal is to cultivate individuals who can contribute to a global society. This is achieved by enabling students to plan and conduct fieldwork, the primary methodology in the Field of Ethnology and Archaeology; acquire skills in observing and analyzing materials; and develop the ability to diachronically explore self-identified issues from a broad perspective to derive persuasive interpretations. In addition, the following competencies are established for students to acquire by the time of program completion. The degree of Master of Arts in History [M.A. (History)] is conferred upon students who fulfill the prescribed requirements of the curriculum.

Competency Goal (1): The ability to write and pass a master's thesis on research in ethnology and archaeology, or related fields, and to contribute to research in that domain.

Competency Goal (2): The ability to acquire specialized knowledge across the fields of ethnology and archaeology, to conduct specialized research including foreign language literature, and to logically present the results.

Competency Goal (3): In addition to searching for historical materials, the ability to proactively conduct ethnological and archaeological fieldwork and material research at institutions such as museums and art galleries, and to build original datasets to advance one's own research.

Competency Goal (4): Through research in ethnology and archaeology, the ability to understand the diverse characteristics of human cultures and to accurately recognize their historical changes and associated issues.

Competency Goal (5): Through research in ethnology and archaeology, the ability to contribute to society as working professionals, researchers, or practitioners equipped with critical and analytical skills.

Competency Goal (6): The ability to recognize the significance of studying the humanities in a global society and to apply the skills gained through research practice to achieve self-set goals and resolve social issues in an appropriate manner.

In order to cultivate the competencies listed in the "Graduation Certification and Degree Conferral Policy (Diploma Policy)," the Field of Ethnology and Archaeology of the Major in History, Graduate School of Letters (Master of Arts in History [M.A. (History)]) systematically organizes a curriculum. This curriculum consists of a group of lecture and seminar courses in the research areas of ethnology and archaeology, covering Japanese archaeology, West Asian archaeology, Oceanian archaeology and ethnology, zooarchaeology, and museum studies.

This curriculum is designed to cultivate the specialized knowledge, research skills, primary source analysis skills, critical thinking, and logical composition skills necessary for conducting research. Additionally, to support the writing of the master's thesis, the student's academic advisor provides individual supervision to deepen their knowledge of the research topic and develop advanced research and logical writing skills. Seminars for the entire major, centered on interim master's thesis reports, also offer opportunities to receive guidance from multiple faculty members. Furthermore, to enhance fieldwork skills for ethnological and archaeological research, students are encouraged to participate in domestic and international surveys organized by the faculty.

The assessment of learning outcomes for the competency goals to be acquired through the curriculum of the Field of Ethnology and Archaeology, Major in History, is conducted based on the university-wide assessment plan. This assessment uses direct indicators based on the grading criteria for each course, as well as quantitative and qualitative, direct and indirect indicators, including various questionnaires and surveys. Individual research presentations are evaluated based on the student's grasp of prior research, the extent of original data collection, and the validity of their analytical methods and logical structure. Specific indirect indicators include (1) student course evaluations and (2) data on leaves of absence and withdrawals. In joint seminars, active participation in discussions on other presentations and the validity of the comments are also taken into account. The completed master's thesis is scrutinized by a main examiner and two sub-examiners and is evaluated through an oral defense attended by all faculty members of the division.

Competency Goal (1): The ability to write and pass a master's thesis on research in ethnology and archaeology, or related fields, and to contribute to research in that domain.

→ Students will complete their master's thesis and cultivate the ability to contribute to research in the field by delivering a series of research presentations in joint seminars.

Competency Goal (2): The ability to acquire specialized knowledge across the fields of ethnology and archaeology, to conduct specialized research using sources including foreign language literature, and to logically present the findings.

→ Students will cultivate this ability through lecture and seminar courses by acquiring specialized knowledge, gaining the latest insights from specialized academic papers, including those in foreign languages, and learning to logically structure their own research presentations.

Competency Goal (3): The ability to build original datasets to advance one's own research by proactively conducting not only historical source research but also ethnological and archaeological fieldwork and material research at institutions such as museums and art galleries.

→ Through presentations in joint seminars and discussions with their academic advisor, students will cultivate the ability to plan fieldwork and material research and to build the foundational datasets for their research.

Competency Goal (4): The ability, through ethnological and archaeological research, to understand the diverse characteristics of human culture and to accurately recognize its historical changes and challenges.

→ Through lecture and seminar courses, joint seminars, and individual guidance from an academic advisor, students will cultivate the ability to understand the diversity of human culture diachronically.

Competency Goal (5): The ability to contribute to society as a working professional, researcher, or practitioner equipped with critical analysis skills developed through ethnological and archaeological research.

→ Through lecture and seminar courses, joint seminars, and discussions with an academic advisor, students will cultivate critical analysis skills that are useful in the real world.

(1) To have a foundational knowledge of the general fields of ethnology and archaeology, and to possess a deep understanding of one's own area of specialization gained through experiences such as writing a graduation thesis and completing specialized courses.

(2) To be able to independently formulate and logically present a research plan for graduate school, outlining what to study and by what methods.

(3) To have the fundamental ability to accurately record, analyze, and critically examine primary sources in ethnology and archaeology.

(4) To possess the fundamental reading comprehension skills to accurately and critically read literature in both Japanese and English, as well as academic writing skills.

(5) To be actively thinking about one's future career after completing the master's program, whether as a working professional, researcher, or educator.

To admit a wide range of such applicants, a selection process is conducted via a general entrance examination.

(1) General Entrance Examination

This selection process is based on written examinations in specialized subjects and a designated language (English), as well as an oral examination. It requires a high level of academic ability befitting the Graduate School of Letters and the Ethnology and Archaeology field.