Course of Study at the Department of Law
Students acquire a broad foundation of knowledge and the fundamentals of legal studies in their first and second years, then pursue advanced study in a chosen field of law in their third and fourth years.
In the first and second years, students acquire a solid grounding in fundamental legal theories and laws, in addition to interdepartmental subjects such as foreign languages and the humanities. In the third and fourth years, they choose a field of legal specialization based on their interests and deepen their expertise through seminars. Here, we present an overview of the four-year academic journey.
Four-Year Academic Path
For a visual diagram of the course of study, please refer to the PDF.
First Year
Students acquire fundamental legal theories and laws, alongside interdepartmental subjects such as foreign languages and the humanities.
Hiyoshi Campus
The curriculum offers a rich selection of foreign language subjects designed to enhance language proficiency, cross-cultural understanding, and intercultural communication skills, as well as subjects in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences that foster foundational and interdisciplinary understanding. In addition, students may begin taking major subjects in law from their first year, with the curriculum structured to ensure a solid mastery of foundational legal theories and laws, progressing step by step from basic concepts to applied study. The Legal Track is also available, enabling first-year students who complete designated major subjects to graduate early and advance to Graduate School.
Second Year
Select from a diverse range of subject categories, including seminar classes, according to individual interests
Hiyoshi Campus
Building on the first year, the curriculum is organized to reflect students’ proficiency levels and related disciplines such as economics and information processing, allowing them to choose from diverse subject categories aligned with their interests. In addition, advanced, developmental, and advanced subjects, as well as seminar classes, are offered, enabling students to develop research and presentation skills through small-group learning. The selection process for seminars is conducted in the Fall Semester of their second year.
Third Year
Students choose a specialized field of law and pursue in-depth study through seminars
Mita Campus
From the third year onward, students enter a broader and more in-depth world of legal studies. Based on their individual interests, they select a field of law in which to specialize and join a seminar to pursue it in depth. Working in a small group of peers, students receive direct instruction from a single faculty member over a period of two years. Within these seminars, faculty members and students who share common academic aspirations engage in close-knit study, deepening their understanding through the reading of shared texts and sustained discussion.
Fourth Year
Students write a graduation thesis as the culmination of their seminar study.
Mita Campus
Students choose a theme based on issues that interest them and write a graduation thesis. Many seminars also organize retreats and alumni gatherings, fostering both peer and cross-generational networks—one of the defining hallmarks of Keio University.
Interdepartmental subjects are available throughout the four-year program.
The Faculty of Law seeks to cultivate individuals who combine advanced specialization in law and political science with the broad intellectual foundation of a generalist. To this end, interdepartmental subjects that can be taken through their fourth year are offered. In addition to foreign languages, students may study and conduct research in the humanities and natural sciences in seminar-style formats. Students who pursue an academic field outside law and political science as a second specialization over four years may also earn recognition for a sub-major.