Arts and Letters

Graduate School of Arts and Letters

The Graduate School of Arts and Letters is looking for students who will grow into outstanding researchers and leading specialists with high-level expertise in the
humanities and social sciences. Our alumni take a comprehensive, flexible approach to various problems faced by modern society and utilize fundamental knowledge and advanced
thinking to find optimal solutions.

We expect our students to support the development of human society as high-level specialists and advance the humanities and social sciences through cutting-edge research.
It is therefore essential for them to possess advanced specialized knowledge and skills in their fields. Furthermore, their expertise must be grounded in keen insight into the
structure and evolution of social mechanisms along with a deep understanding of human beings and humanity.

The admission process, which includes General Admission and Special Admission for Working Adults, is designed to determine whether the future researcher possesses sufficient qualifications and competence to follow the above educational ideals and goals.

MASTER’S PROGRAM

The objective of the GSAL master’s program is to nurture high-level professionals capable of fundamental contributions to the development of society and scholars ready to advance research in the humanities and social sciences. The entrance examination, which includes General Admission and Special Admission for Working Adults, determines whether an applicant for the master’s program conforms to the following criteria.

The applicant must demonstrate keen interest and a spirit of inquiry towards research areas in the relevant department: Japanese philosophy, language, literature or history (Department of Japanese Studies); basic theory of culture in general or the culture of a specific European or Asian region (Department of Global Humanities); theoretical studies and empirical research on the essence of humans and human society (Department of Integrated Human Sciences). The applicant must also excel in problem discovery and logical thinking and possess the basic knowledge and academic ability necessary to complete their education in their specialized field.

Admission is determined by the results of written and oral exams designed to test the applicant’s specialized knowledge and academic ability, as well as evaluate their foreign language proficiency, communicative skills, and motivation. The results of previous research (such as published papers or a thesis) will be used as the basis of discussion during the interview. Depending on their field of research, candidates applying for the Special Admission for Working Adults might be required to demonstrate the ability to read and understand texts in classical Japanese (kobun), as well as old historical records and other primary sources. In this case, the candidate is exempt from taking the foreign language reading proficiency test.

We also recommend that the applicant gain comprehensive knowledge of culture and arts before entering the GSAL master’s program. Likewise, we expect the applicant to have substantial experience reading about, investigating, and contemplating the subject, goal, and methodology of their proposed research project.

DOCTORAL PROGRAM

The GSAL doctoral program aims to foster high-level professionals able to facilitate and direct the development of human society and scholars who will become the vanguard of continuous innovative research in the humanities and social sciences. The entrance examination, which includes General Admission and Special Admission for Working Adults, determines whether an applicant for the doctoral program conforms to the following criteria.

The applicant must demonstrate the self-sufficiency necessary to pursue independent research in one of the areas of the relevant department: Japanese philosophy, language, literature, or history (Department of Japanese Studies); basic theory of culture in general or the culture of a specific European or Asian region (Department of Global Humanities); theoretical studies and empirical research on the essence of humans and human society (Department of Integrated Human Sciences). The applicant must also possess a broad interdisciplinary outlook and excellent communicative skills.

Admission (Special Admission for Working Adults consists of an interview only) is determined by the results of written and oral exams designed to test whether the applicant has the specialized knowledge and academic ability that are prerequisite for conducting independent and original research. The applicants are also evaluated based on their communicative skills and motivation. The results of previous research (such as published papers or a thesis) will be used as the basis of discussion during the interview.

We also recommend that the applicant gain comprehensive knowledge of culture and arts before entering the GSAL doctoral program. Furthermore, as a future independent researcher, the applicant is expected to have the ingrained habit of exploring and contemplating the subjects of their inquiry, as well as studying relevant sources with persistence and diligence.