Overview of Interdepartmental Subjects

The foreign language curriculum at the Faculty of Law is designed to strengthen language proficiency through step-by-step and continuous study, while also promoting linguistic diversity through the study of multiple languages. In an increasingly globalized society, language skills are essential in all fields. Accordingly, the Faculty provides all students with opportunities to acquire advanced language proficiency, whether they aspire to careers in foreign-affiliated companies, international civil service, the legal profession, private enterprises, national or local government, journalism, or to pursue specialist or research paths through graduate school.

At the Faculty of Law, students may study foreign languages continuously from the first through the fourth year, with instruction tailored to individual proficiency levels, thereby strengthening their language abilities. For students who wish to pursue intensive language study, Intensive Subjects are recommended. These subjects are designed for students who seek to use foreign languages fluently for communication as global citizens. The aim is to cultivate students who, while specializing in law or political science, possess foreign language abilities comparable to those of graduates of faculties specializing in foreign languages.

At the Faculty of Law, in addition to English, which is required of all students, one language must be selected as a required foreign language from seven options: German, French, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Korean, and Arabic. Latin, Greek, and Portuguese are also offered, making it possible for students to study three or more languages from the time of enrollment.

For further details, please visit the Faculty of Law foreign language subjects website, “Learning Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Law.”

The Faculty of Law offers a wide range of subjects in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Some of these subjects are interdisciplinary in nature, transcending the traditional boundaries between these fields. By offering and encouraging the study of such diverse subjects, the Faculty aims to cultivate individuals who, in addition to specialized knowledge in law and political science, possess broad intellectual foundations and are able to understand and assess issues from multiple, well-balanced perspectives. Students may design their own individualized curriculum by selecting subjects in accordance with their interests and, where appropriate, by pursuing concentrated study in a particular field.

At the Faculty of Law, “Humanities Seminars” and “Natural Sciences Seminars” are offered in the third and fourth years, enabling students to continue and deepen their studies in the humanities and natural sciences undertaken in the first and second years. After satisfying certain academic requirements, students qualify for a sub-major and receive an official certificate from the Faculty of Law. The sub-major certification system also encourages students to explore new fields of knowledge unhindered by existing academic disciplines. Students are not limited to the model listed above. They can, for example, take two seminars—one in the humanities and one in the natural sciences—and write papers that span both of those fields.

Mathematics, statistics, and information processing subjects are designed for students who have not previously studied calculus or probability and statistics, and aim to cultivate advanced statistical and information processing abilities comparable to those of specialists in information science. In the fields of law and political science as well, mathematical literacy, skills in statistical analysis, and information processing abilities are sometimes required, and demand for such competencies is particularly high in today’s information-oriented society. These subjects may be taken at any point from the first through the fourth year.