Undergraduate

Faculty of Social Coexistence

Department of Public Policy

In this Department, you will study theories and practical approach methods aimed at “realizing a society where people can live enriched and happy lives.” More specifically, you will outfit yourself with the knowledge required to resolve public challenges and issues through seminars as well as field work in greater Tokyo and in regional and countryside areas. The Department of Regional Development cultivates “regional strategy human resources” capable of facilitating cooperation with local think-tanks and playing a significant role in communities.

Department of Social Welfare

Societies facing a shrinking and graying population and a declining birthrate are being called upon to build regional inclusive societies whose individual members go about their lives with a worthwhile purpose. In this Department, local residents, public administration, faculty members and other individuals join hands to assist students with their learning so that they may outfit themselves with the ability to cooperate in teams for the sake of achieving goals, knowledge and methods of social work, and more. This Department nurtures people in specialized professions who assist people in need and tackle the resolution of social welfare issues alongside local people.

Faculty of Regional Development

Department of Regional Development

This Department cultivates knowledge and implementation ability through diverse active learning with the aim of developing leaders who will contribute to regional development. In “regional practical training,” the defining characteristic of the Department, you will study methods for continuously revitalizing regional economies and communities while eliciting cooperation from local governments, managers in local industries , people based in local shopping streets, and other individuals. You will take specialized subjects such as economics, management and sociology in accordance with your practical training in each academic year and bring them to fruition in your fourth year in the Department in the form of graduate research.

Faculty of Communication and Culture

Department of Communication and Culture

Information Culture Design Course
This course is designed to develop human resources capable of operations for conveying information to society and those capable of the creation of informative content in future network media by having students outfit themselves with the dual communication skills of writing and design.

Creative Writing Course
In this course, students will learn about creative writing techniques as a whole, including the creation of literature, essays, poetry, and ad copy. They will also delve into new possibilities of fantasy and children’s literature, animation, and “fantasy writing” that links to videogames and stories.

City and Culture Planning Course
Like complex “near-future museums,” entire cities and towns in the modern age are overflowing with creative, challenging elements. In order to become familiar with the value of such cities and towns, a perspective of analyzing the elements that comprise them through fieldwork is essential. A number of student-driven projects are also readied for them to tackle the challenge of revitalizing cities and towns jointly with local governments. Designing space and time for people to live in comfort and with a sense of curiosity and joy is the appeal of studying under this Course.

Broadcasting and Imaging Arts Course
Students in this Course will be asked to “cultivate their thinking ability through video production.” You will study the history of video presentation and how to decipher and present videos in order to deepen your understanding of the medium. Simultaneously, you will also proceed to enhance your fundamental ability to take a critical approach to things. Additionally, you will study techniques for filming, editing, sound recording and so forth under the instruction of faculty members who are active on the frontlines of broadcasting, film, the Web and other such areas, and outfit yourselves with practical skills in video production.

Arts & Entertainment Work Course
Through cross-genre, systemized learning that covers the arts, theater, film, dancing, manga, animation and more, this Course nurturers “professionals of presentation” who will prop up Japanese culture in the future. By cultivating the basic knowledge and individualistic skills that you will need as a creator or for playing an active role in domains related to the art or entertainment business, you will outfit yourself with the diverse skills required in the world of presentation.

Faculty of Psychology and Sociology

Department of Human Sciences

You will learn about human “life” (in terms of life force, lifestyle and lifetime) classified as “human development” and “lifestyles in modern society” in a multifaceted and comprehensive manner that will take you across the domains of psychology, sociology and human body sciences. You will focus on familiar events that involve the mind, body and society and elucidate the mysteries and workings behind them through experiments, quantitative research, interviews and the analysis of content. This will be fully accompanied by exercises conducted in laboratories, training rooms and computer rooms. You will be able to obtain qualifications as a social researcher or a certified psychologist.

Department of Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology as a discipline is the practical study of emotional support. Together with faculty members active on the clinical psychology frontlines, while coming to terms with various issues in modern-day society, you will develop a deeper understanding of the minds of people and explore the question of how one can provide appropriate psychological support. In active learning sessions that include experiments, exercises and off-campus practical training, you will acquire people support methods in a hands-on fashion. Additionally, a specialized curriculum that accommodates the training of certified psychologists is also available.

Faculty of Literature

Department of Japanese Literature

The appeal of this Department lies in the exploration of Japanese culture with the two fields of “literature” and “language” as the starting point. In the domain of literature, you will decipher a wide range of areas that span classical and modern literature, and will study how lifestyles, thinking, trends and so forth have shifted alongside changes in the times. In the domain of language, your studies will cover the Japanese language, from the basics to application, while tracing back the history of that language. The goal of this Department is to cultivate your ability to deeply comprehend Japanese culture from those two points of view.

Department of Humanities

Studies of Philosophy and Religion Course
Over time, philosophy and religion have had a deep relationship from the angle of approaching the roots of humans, and have mutually influenced each other. In this Department, you will come into contact with both Western and Eastern philosophies and schools of thought and dive into intellectual adventures while simultaneously confronting various problems faced by society and exploring solutions. Additionally, you will gain a wide range of knowledge that covers Buddhism, Shinto, Judaism and Islam; mythology from Scandinavia, the Orient and the rest of Asia; and even monsters.

Intercultural Relations Course
The pillars of this Course are “diversified cultural research” and “communication in English” with “modern era” as an overarching keyword. All kinds of domains, including film, music, theater, manga, advertising, food, clothing and culture, are subjects of study. You will observe cultures using various forms of academic knowledge and thoroughly pursue the individual themes involved. You will also proactively foster your ability to communicate in English while gaining specialized knowledge in that language, including the functions of words and the workings of communication.

Department of History

Japanese History Course
In this Course, you will practice learning steeped in “empirical historical studies” that attach weight to historical materials. The Course is taught in small classes by full-time faculty members who are specialized in individual periods of history—ancient times, medieval times, early-modern times and modern times—and consists of fieldwork and other elements in addition to lectures. You will outfit yourselves with empirical research methods as you experience actual places and things in history, and will cultivate your logical thinking and problem-solving capability. The goal of this Course is to form a grasp of the flow of Japanese history and culture and develop a deep understanding of society.

Asian History Course
A comprehensive study of the history of the various regions of Asia and of China in particular is the distinctive characteristic of this Course. Focus is placed on a broad study of the politics, economy, society, schools of thought and culture of China between ancient and modern times interspersed with the history of peripheral countries, and on the formation of an understanding of Asian culture. You will nurture your ability to communicate your ideas to society through a study of history, including thinking ability to question facts through historical materials, the ability to read classical and modern Chinese, and the power of expression to objectively present your ideas.

Cultural Heritage and Archaeological Studies Course
The appeal of this Course can be found in the search for clues on how we infer thinking and behavior from things that people left behind and positively apply it to the future. The pillars of learning in this Course are “cultural heritage (history of arts and crafts),” “archaeological studies,” “museum studies” and “cultural heritage preservation studies.” Focus is also placed on practical classes that emphasize making one’s way to sites to see the actual articles. Cultivating your ability to gather and analyze materials and manage data will surely benefit you in all kinds of social activities following your graduation.

Faculty of Buddhist Studies

Department of Buddhist Studies

Buddhist Studies Course
Over the 1,500 years since Buddhism was introduced into Japan, the teachings of Buddha have rooted themselves in Japanese culture along with the passage of time, and became deeply ingrained in life in the nation. In this Course, you will study that relationship between Japanese people and Buddhism. Its curriculum starts with acquiring basic knowledge on Buddhism studies and Buddhist culture to accommodate students who will be coming into contact with Buddhism for the first time. By deciphering Buddhist scriptures and deepening your understanding about paintings and statues of Buddha and other aspects of the culture, opportunities will open up for you to become an educator or curator.

Buddhist Cultural Heritage Course
In this course, a collaboration between the Departments of Buddhist Studies and History, students will research the Buddhist cultural heritage that has influenced Japanese culture and civilization over time, including the architecture, arts, entertainment, and literature that the religion brought forth, while pursuing investigative and verification fieldwork within and outside Japan.

International Liberal Studies Course
Buddhism has spread to a number of countries and regions, starting with those in Asia. Given that background, the purpose of this Course is to produce global human resources that play an active role in international society through Buddhist studies. Focus is also placed on English language education, with classes consisting of small numbers of students taught by non-Japanese instructors in cooperation with Berlitz Language School. Furthermore, you will also deepen your understanding of Japanese history and sensibilities by coming into contact with traditional culture such as the tea ceremony and flower arrangement.

Buddhist Denominational Studies Course
Throughout your four years in this Course, based on the philosophy of “the practice of wisdom and benevolence” behind Taisho University’s founding, you will study the four sects of Buddhism associated with the University’s establishment—the Tendai doctrine, the Shingon Buzan doctrine, the Shingon Chisan doctrine/Jodo doctrine and the Jishu doctrine—in classes of limited size. Programs in cooperation with the real world and a diverse curriculum covering social enlightenment and mission work have been prepared. Furthermore, this Course serves to nurture Buddhist priests and practitioners who are active in modern society through the theoretical and practical study of education, history and rites under various Buddhist sects starting with those in India and China and extending to those in Japan.