Course of Study at the Department of Political Science
Acquire a broad foundation of knowledge and the fundamentals of political science in your first and second year. Cultivate political thinking skills in your third and fourth year.
Students learn the fundamentals of political science in their first and second years. In their third and fourth years, they study more specialized content and develop political thinking skills through literature-based research in seminars and discussions with peers and faculty members. Here, we present an overview of the four-year course of study. 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
In addition to interdepartmental subjects such as foreign languages and the humanities, students study foundational subjects in political science.
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 political science—such as foundations of political thought and international politics—from their first year.
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, seminars, exercises, and special seminars in specialized areas of political science are offered in small-group formats. Through discussion-centered instruction, students strengthen their analytical thinking and ability to articulate ideas. Selection for seminars is conducted in the fall semester of the second year.
Third Year
Develop your political thinking skills through literature research and discussions in seminars.
Mita Campus
In seminars, students work in small groups and receive direct instruction from a single faculty member over a two-year period. Faculty members and students who share academic aspirations come together to deepen political thinking skills through close reading of shared texts and sustained discussion with peers and instructors.
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.