The Three Policies of the Graduate School of Media and Governance (Master's Program)

Based on Keio University's overall diploma policy, our master's program aims to train leaders to have a creative vision for social systems and technologies, to acquire expertise and practical problem-solving skills, to respond to complex issues, and to produce new valuable ideas that integrate knowledge from diverse fields. Students who have fulfilled the prescribed curriculum requirements will be awarded a master's degree.

Objective (1): Students should be proactive in identifying issues and finding subsequent solutions

This skill will be honed by students taking initiative in all stages of their personal research projects, addressing issues as they arise, whether during early conceptualization, planning, or final implementation.

Objective (2): Students should be proficient in skills and expertise related to their area of study

The Graduate School of Media and Governance requires students to invest in core research fields, honing advanced knowledge and skills by focusing on a range of topics including "International Strategy," "Language, Culture, and Communication," "Social Innovation, Management, and Organizations," "Policy Design," "Methodologies in Policy Management Studies," "Advanced Information Systems," "Advanced Design Studies," "Systems Biology," "Environmental Design," and "Human Environment."

Objective (3): Students should be able to conduct interdisciplinary research

Students must broaden their academic horizons by incorporating cross-disciplinary and multidisciplinary perspectives while also maintaining a deeper understanding of their core research area. They will network with other scholars to accomplish this, working together to develop multifaceted approaches that envision practical research applications to solve a complex range of issues.

Objective (4): Students should be world-class innovators and communicators

This program equips students with the skills needed to make an impact on the world stage, requiring them to conceptualize, plan, and implement their personal projects while communicating their findings accurately and effectively.

Objective (5): Students should be models of jitsugaku

Jitsugaku is one of the founding principles at Keio University that emphasizes the tenets of empirical science through reason, observation, and verification. Students must embody this in their own research, discovering problems as they confront the realities around them, and committing themselves to finding solutions that they can implement in society.  

The curriculum for the Graduate School of Media and Governance (Master of Media and Governance) consists of research concept and methodology courses, program courses, project courses, special courses, master's research courses, and a master's thesis to help students demonstrate their competencies specified in the diploma policy.

Students will complete curriculum requirements through a combination of pedagogical frameworks outside of a traditional lecture format, such as applied research, fieldwork, internships, and project-based learning. Students will engage in interdisciplinary research projects in a flexible learning format combining in-person and online components.

The academic outcomes for the curriculum in our master's program are evaluated for each course using the standards stipulated by Keio University's assessment policy. Students will submit their master's thesis for review at a master's thesis defense led by multiple academic advisors,including those in areas outside of the student's specialized field, who will bring an interdisciplinary lens to the evaluation process.

Objective (1): Proactivity

Program courses teach students methodologies and approaches to identify and address major issues in different fields. Students will use these experiences to develop problem-identification and problem-solving skills.

Objective (2): Expertise

Students will cultivate proficiency in their field through coursework designed to test their knowledge and research skills, with one main component being the Master Seminar led by a student's main research advisor. Students will also hone these skills through research concept and methodology courses. Finally, special courses are offered to provide further systematic knowledge needed to comprehend the implications of different disciplines.

Objective (3): Interdisciplinary Skills

Project courses--which integrate faculty and student participants with different academic backgrounds and specialties--allow students to gain a multifaceted understanding of global and local issues, developing their interdisciplinary research and practical skills through drafting proposals, implementing policies, and gaining practice.

Objective (4): Innovation and Communication

As a capstone of the master's program, students will carve out their individual niche by formulating and finalizing their master's thesis. Throughout this process, students are given opportunities to enhance their communication skills through presentations at mid-term and final presentations. As a capstone of the master's program, students will carve out their individual niche by formulating and finalizing their master's thesis.Throughout this process, students are given opportunities to enhance their communication skills at interim presentation and master's thesis defense.

Objective (5): Jitsugaku

Project courses offer opportunities for students to learn through active involvement in real-world projects. This will foster an attitude in which students identify issues, test assumptions, and find proactive strategies to address the problems they have identified

(1) Basic academic skills in their research field and aspirations to incorporate holistic viewpoints into their research.

(2) Ambition and flexibility to face challenges from cross- and multi-disciplinary perspectives, not bound by past specializations or singular academic domains.

In order to attract a wide range of applicants described above, screenings will be conducted in the following categories: (1) applicants from within Japan, (2) applicants from abroad, and (3) applicants with working experience. Entrance examinations are held twice a year. Students can choose to enroll in either April or September. This is to enable a diverse community of students to enroll and allow build on each other's strengths.

Current Keio students can also apply through another category, (4) internal recommendation entrance examinations.

(1) Applicants from within Japan

Applicants in Japan who graduated or are expected to graduate from a four-year university are eligible to apply in this category. The first stage of the screening will be based on a student's submitted application documents. The screening committee will make their decisions by conducting a holistic review of an applicant's qualifications, academic achievements, motivation for research, and research skills. If applicants pass the document screening, the committee will then interview candidates to determine whether they will be admitted.

(2) Applicants from abroad

Applicants living abroad who graduated or are expected to graduate from a four-year university are eligible to apply in this category. They must discuss their research plan with a graduate school committee member who belongs to the applicant's desired program and receive informal consent to be their research supervisor.

Admission decisions will be made based on a holistic review of an applicant's qualifications such as their academic achievements, motivation for research, and research skills. These will be ascertained through their application materials and the record of communication between the applicant and the graduate school committee member.

(3) Applicants with working experience

Applicants must have graduated from a university at least two years prior to the time of application. The first-round of screening will be based on application documents. The screening committee will make their decisions by conducting a holistic review of an applicant's qualifications, academic achievements, motivation for research, and research skills. If applicants pass the document screening, the committee will then interview candidates to determine whether they will be admitted.

(4) Internal recommendation entrance examination

Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time degree student in the Faculty of Policy Management or the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies at the time of application. The first screening will be based on application documents, and an interview will be held for those who pass the first screening. The screening committee will make their decision by conducting a holistic review of the application and interview, taking into consideration the candidate's qualifications, academic achievements, motivation for research, and research skills.