Acquire broad knowledge and the foundations of legal studies in the first and second years, then master a specialized legal field in the third and fourth years
In the first and second years, students firmly master the theories and laws that form the foundation of legal studies, in addition to general education subjects such as foreign languages and the humanities. In the third and fourth years, students choose a specialized legal field based on their individual interests and pursue it in depth through a Kenkyukai (seminar). Here, we introduce the flow of learning over the four years.
The Four-Year Academic Progression
First Year
Acquire the theories and laws that form the foundation of legal studies, in addition to general education subjects such as foreign languages and the humanities
Hiyoshi Campus
The curriculum offers a wealth of foreign language subjects aimed at improving language proficiency, cross-cultural understanding, and cross-cultural communication skills, as well as humanities, natural science, and social science subjects to cultivate basic and interdisciplinary understanding. Furthermore, the study of specialized legal subjects begins in the first year, and the curriculum is structured so that students can firmly master the theories and laws that form the foundation of legal studies, progressing step-by-step from basics to applications. Additionally, a "Legal Profession Course" is available, which allows students to graduate early and proceed to law school by taking designated specialized subjects starting from their first year.
Second Year
Select courses from a diverse range of subjects, including seminar-style courses, according to interests and concerns
Hiyoshi Campus
Continuing from the first year, the course offerings are edited with consideration for the students' level of proficiency and adjacent disciplines such as economics and information processing, allowing each student to select courses according to their interests and concerns from a diverse range of subjects. Furthermore, "Developmental Subjects," where students can learn applied, advanced, and cutting-edge topics, and "Seminar Subjects" are also offered, enabling students to acquire research and presentation methods from an early stage through small-group learning. Additionally, selection for Kenkyukai (seminars) takes place in the fall semester of the second year.
Third Year
Choose a specialized legal field and master it through a Kenkyukai
Mita Campus
From the third year, a wider and deeper world of legal studies awaits. To choose and master a specialized legal field according to their interests, students join a Kenkyukai (seminar) and receive direct guidance from a single faculty member for two years alongside a small group of peers. In the Kenkyukai, faculty and students who share common aspirations deepen their understanding through the reading of common literature and discussion in a small-group setting.
Fourth Year
Write a graduation thesis as the culmination of the Kenkyukai
Mita Campus
Students choose a theme based on their own problems and interests and compile it into a graduation thesis. Many Kenkyukai also have active training camps and alumni associations, and the horizontal and vertical human connections that are a hallmark of Keio University are also cultivated through these Kenkyukai activities.
Departmental General Education Subjects available throughout the four years
The Faculty of Law aims to cultivate individuals who are not only "specialists" with high-level expertise in law and politics but also possess the qualities of a "generalist" as a well-educated person. To this end, Departmental General Education Subjects are established that can be taken continuously until the fourth year. In addition to foreign languages, students can also study and research subjects in the humanities and natural sciences in a seminar format. Those who master an academic field other than legal studies or political science as a second specialty throughout their four years of university life can also receive certification for a minor.