Graduate School

  The Graduate School of Integrated Arts e and Social Sciences at Japan Women's University was established to contribute to the scientific study of the many complex and difficult issues of human life and culture in contemporary society. A specific feature of the Graduate School is the focus on an integrated approach to the analysis of human society and social culture. Students in the Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Social Sciences train to become skilled researchers, educators, or practitioners in their special areas of study. The curriculum of each division is designed to develop students' scholarship and practice skills through a five year process of study consisting of a two year Master's program and a three year Doctoral program. The Division of Studies of Cultural Relativity offers only the Master's program. Most Divisions accept up to 10 credits from other graduate schools with which the university has a special agreement.

  Division of Social Welfare: This division Is one of the oldest graduate courses in the discipline in the country and many graduates are playing leading roles in both academic and practical fields of work throughout Japan. The research interests of staff in this division cover a wide range of issues in social policy and social work including comparative social policy, homelessness, community care, child abuse, women's studies, mental health, disabilities and medical social work. Prospective students are expected to take advantage of personalized study programs of their own choice. The doctoral course is open also to male students.

Division of Education: The curriculum of the Division of Education centers around the training of researchers through a Master's and Doctoral program. Both programs cover a number of different disciplines, such as philosophy, history, sociology, psychology, and technology, which allows for theoretical as well as experimental approaches to the educational problems to today. Lectures and seminars on various subjects are offered including: lifelong education, guidance and counseling for young people, and women's education. The Division also offers a special course in the history of women's education in Japan that draws upon the ninety-year tradition of the University. Individual guidance in preparation of the graduation thesis is also offered.

  Division of Studies on Contemporary Society: In the Division of Studies on Contemporary Society, research and teaching are undertaken in various academic fields of studies on contemporary society such as economics, politics, cultural anthropology, demography, social history and social sports science and sociology. The emphasis is not only upon the range of theoretical approaches involved but also upon the use of various research methodologies such as field surveys, and data processing and analysis.

  Division of Psychology: The Division of Psychology offers teaching in three subject areas. The first area is psychonomic studies including methodology, and experimental, perceptual, cognitive, comparative, and learning psychology. The second area is studies related to psychonomics such as developmental, social, and personality psychology. The final area is clinical psychology, including counseling psychology, family therapy and community psychology. Doctoral students in the Division of Psychology are expected to become expert researchers or practitioners in their special area, while all students in the Master's Course are required to study at least one subject from each of the three areas of psychology.

  Division of Studies of Cultural Relativity: The Division of Studies of Cultural Relativity offers classes and seminars which focus on human cultures from the point of view of synchronic and diachronic relativity between cultural areas and fields, including comparative studies, and are also designed to train specialists for work in various branches of culture. Based on these studies students are expected to build a new paradigm of cultural studies to create scientific answers to the complex nature of contemporary cultures and to form new cultural networks, seeking plural styles of coexistence with others and nature.