Graduate School of the Humanities

Major in Japanese Language and Literature (Master's Program / Doctoral Program)
Major in English (Master's Program / Doctoral Program)
Major in Philosophy (Master's Program / Doctoral Program)
Major in History (Master's Program / Doctoral Program)
Major in Geography (Master's Program / Doctoral Program)
Major in Sociology (Master's Program / Doctoral Program)
Major in Psychology (Master's Program / Doctoral Program)

The student can choose one of seven areas of intensive study designed with an interdisciplinary approach in mind.

An Ideal Place to Learn

The Graduate School of the Humanities of Senshu University offers seven major areas of specialization: Japanese language and literature, English, philosophy, history, geography, sociology, and psychology. Each of these majors, which are summarized below, is full track, with a master's program and a doctoral program. (For more details, please refer to the individual sections on each major.)

In the Japanese language and literature major, you will study Japanese linguistics from both historical and contemporary perspectives, and will have the opportunity to do research on the cultures and literatures of periods ranging from classical times to the modern and contemporary eras. We also accept many students from abroad.

In the English major, you can study not only English and American literature from Shakespeare to Faulkner, but also English linguistics.

The philosophy major ranges from Greek philosophy to modern German and French philosophy, including a look at the latest experimental concepts and the philosophy of science.

The history major seeks to give students a worldwide perspective on their subject. In addition to its extensive teaching staff, it also has credit transfer arrangements with ten other graduate schools, providing students with a broad range of research opportunities.

In the geography major, students have the option to study historical and human geography, and even environmental theory, in addition to natural geography. Credit transfer arrangements have been entered with five other graduate schools.

In the sociology major, students study a broad range of fields, including sociological theory, contemporary culture, communication theory, urban sociology, area studies, labor sociology, social welfare, and the family. Opportunities for study are expanded by the existence of credit transfer arrangements with 22 other graduate schools.

The psychology major focuses on research in clinical psychology, in which area it has produced numerous experts. There is also a strong research emphasis on experimental and social psychology, consequently attracting high-caliber students from other universities.

The Graduate School of the Humanities is an ideal place for not only those aiming to become professional researchers and academics, but also those seeking to take their research skills to the next level, including overseas and mature students. Senshu University Library, with its outstanding collection of books and excellent facilities, adds to the attractive research environment.

Major in Japanese Language and Literature

The Japanese language and literature major was inaugurated in 1971, and has produced many graduates in the 36 years since then. As of 2009, lectures and seminars for this major were taught by 14 staff members.

Courses on Ancient Japanese, Medieval Japanese, Early Modern Japanese, and Modern Japanese are offered, while the courses in Japanese literature cover the Ancient, Chuko, Medieval, Early Modern, and Modern periods. Lectures in classical Chinese literature, creative writing and literary culture give students additional and unique perspectives on Japanese literature. After graduation from the School, a wide range of career options are open. Some graduates who have completed the master's program begin their careers teaching in high schools and preparatory schools, taking positions in the editorial departments of publishing houses, or working at cultural institutes, while graduates of the doctoral program go on to become university, high school or preparatory school teachers, publishing editors, writers, and so on. In recent years, an increasing number of students have received doctoral degrees (in literature) after submitting a dissertation in the doctoral program, and every year a number of new doctoral program students graduate and enter the workforce.

At present, the Japanese language and literature major has about 40 graduate students in the master's and doctoral programs, of which approximately 40 percent are from overseas. Graduate students' papers are published in two journals—Senshu Kokubun and Bunken Ronshu—and students also have extensive opportunities to appear in print in publications produced by research organs associated with the School.

The Japanese language and literature major has attracted graduates from a variety of universities throughout Japan. If you have the drive to succeed, you, too, are welcome to join this program.

Major in English

The graduate program for English is subdivided into five fields of study: British literature, American literature, British and American studies, English linguistics and applied linguistics.

British literature is divided into the genres of poetry, novels, and literary theory, while American literature covers literature from the 19th to the 21st century. The British and American studies course offers subjects in both British and American cultural studies. The range of subjects in English linguistics is broad, covering Old and Middle English, linguistic theory, and phonetics. The applied linguistics course offers the subjects of communication studies, TEFL/TESL, and teacher training.

At the time of admission to the Graduate School, students select a professor as an advisor to guide their studies, and pursue their own research topics, with the goal of producing a master's thesis written either in English or Japanese. Graduates who have completed the master's program may begin careers as school teachers or enter other fields, or continue their studies and research in the doctoral program.

The School also maintains arrangements for studying abroad with a number of foreign universities. By taking advantage of overseas study opportunities, students may enhance their knowledge and improve their English skills.

This program is appropriate not only for students who want to become scholars or teachers but also for current members of the teaching profession who wish to enhance their skills, and for those who want to broaden their general English ability.

Major in Philosophy

The major in philosophy comprises six subjects: ancient and medieval philosophy, modern and contemporary philosophy, philosophical methodology, practical philosophy, history of ideas in Japan, and foundations of anthropology. Both lectures and classes in practical application are offered in the subjects listed above in both master's and doctoral programs. The content of the subjects should be more or less clear from their titles. Please note that a number of courses in modern and contemporary philosophy will be taught so as to thoroughly cover British, German and French thought in this area. The course in the foundations of anthropology has been added for students who want a specialization in anthropology and the humanities, which is somewhat removed from philosophy proper, in response to the growing reach of the undergraduate course in philosophy and the humanities (currently taught in the School of Literature, Department of Philosophy).

Each of the various subjects offered obviously has a general direction in which it points. However, the specific content of classes and direction will, of course, vary depending on the professor's area of specialization and the wishes of the students. In short, the main determining factor is whatever is of most interest to the individuals concerned. The best way to discover that is to look at the course outline. A specialization in philosophy will generally involve one of two approaches: either a history of philosophy-oriented approach that seeks to investigate the thought of a specific philosopher, or an approach that is commonly known in Japan as “pure philosophy,” which consists of probing philosophical principles or independent theorizing. The approach the class adopts will be determined by the characteristics of the subject and the plan of the professor in charge.

Most investigators of philosophy tend to adopt the former approach. However, you should remember that even the most systematic philosopher's point of departure will be based on the achievements of previous scholars. The subjects in this major in Philosophy are extremely varied and can be approached from a variety of directions, depending on each professor and his subject.

Major in History

Graduate students pursuing MA or Ph.D. degrees in history will work with fourteen faculty members in the four major fields of teaching and research: (1)Asian archeology, (2)European and American histories, (3)Japanese history, and (4)other Asian histories. We also offer additional courses taught by eight adjunct professors whose special fields enrich our program. Other features of our program include following.

1) We offer courses on ancient through modern/contemporary histories in all the major fields mentioned above in order for students to develop both depth and breadth of historical knowledge in ancient through contemporary world history while concentrating on his/her own research field.

2) We offer such courses as Islamic history, gender history, and the history of the French Revolution in order for students to identify with and engage in debates of growing importance in the world.

3) We offer courses on Asian archeology in order to enhance students' understanding of Japanese and other Asian histories. In this respect, the ongoing five-year project, “Ancient East Asia and Students Abroad,” is a good example. The project, chosen as one of the Open Research Center programs, has been subsidized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology since 2007 to facilitate wide-ranging research on ancient East Asia from the multiple perspectives of archaeology, Japanese, Chinese and other Asian histories.

4) Students have access to historical sources housed in the university library: for example, the Bernstein Collection, which is the world's second largest collection relevant to the French Revolution, and other collections of the Oshima Family Papers, the Spanish Civil War, Nazism, and African American history. With the Bernstein Collection in particular, the five-year project, “The French Revolution and Modernization of Japan and Asia,” began in April 2003 as an Open Research Center program subsidized by the Ministry of Education and Science, when the project provided post-doctoral and graduate students with opportunities to work in collaboration with faculty members.

5) We promote diversity among students. We participate in a credit transfer system with nine other graduate schools in Tokyo: Aoyama Gakuin, Chuo, Sophia, Meiji, Rikkyo, Kokugakuin, Kokushikan, Komazawa, and Tokai Universities. Accordingly we encourage our students to attend classes outside our campus, and we welcome students from other universities. Our programs are also open to those who wish to continue his/her advanced studies after many years of absence as well as those from abroad. Finally and importantly, our academic association, the Senshu University Historical Society, publishes a biannual journal, Senshu Shigaku, and holds annual and special meetings to enhance not only intellectual interaction but also friendship among its members, who are faculty members, graduate and undergraduate students, and alumni.

Major in Geography

A specialization leading to the master's program in geography was added in 1992 to the curriculum of the Graduate School of the Humanities. This step was followed in 1994 by the addition of a doctoral program in geography. At present, the teaching staff consists of 9 regular full-time members. In terms of size of teaching staff, this means the School joins the ranks of Japan's leading graduate schools that offer master's and doctoral courses in geography.

In terms of subjects taught, the master's program offers courses divided along two main fields: human geography and physical geography.

Human geography includes subjects such as theory of historical regions, social environment theory, rural geography, regional planning, and location theory of economic activities. Physical geography covers subjects such as theory of regional systems—centered on urban geography and theory of developing regions—geographical studies of natural environments and the global environment. In addition, special topics such as geography of resources and Geographic Information Systems are available as needed, as the major seeks to create a well-balanced attractive curriculum.

In the doctoral program, these subjects are taught through microstudies and also individual research supervision focusing on themes bearing directly on students' doctoral theses, and three students have so far been awarded doctorates (in geography). Graduates in this major generally do well in terms of further studies and professional work, with many taking positions at national universities, national research institutes, and junior and senior high schools. Students who meet certain conditions can also obtain the GIS Certificate for Master accredited by the Association of Japanese Geographers.

Arrangements are in place to actively encourage admission of mature students, and since 2001 this major has also had credit transfer arrangements with five graduate schools in Tokyo (Hosei, Meiji, Komazawa, Kokushikan, and Nihon) in order to promote broader exchanges with researchers and students in a range of fields.

Major in Sociology

Our sociology program is aimed at training students to gain profound sociological expertise and preparing them for careers in a variety of fields that include academic institutions as well as business and public services.

(1) The Sociology Program offers both the M.A. and the Ph.D.

(2) A wide variety of courses is offered that explores current issues. Course subjects include, but are not limited to, globalization, work and occupation, social implications of information and communication technologies, and social welfare. A full list of courses is available in Brochure[30]. 14 faculty members and guest lecturers provide comprehensive and systematic training that equips students with rigorous analytical skills.

(3) The Sociology Program puts emphasis on the pursuit of empirical knowledge based on theoretical foundations.

(4) The Sociology Program is accredited by The Japan Association of Social Research to grant a certificate of Certified Social Resercher.

(5) The Sociology Program is a member of a graduate school consortium consisting of 22 universities, which allows M.A. students to attend classes at all participating institutions and earn credit at their home institution.

(6) The Ph. D. program has awarded 6 doctorates as of 2010. Some of our doctoral students have accepted positions in national and private universities, with others finding work in business, education, and public services.

Major in Psychology

The goals of the major in Psychology, since its inception in 1992, have always been two-fold. First, in this major we strive to prepare students in the master's and doctoral programs for careers in high-level research at universities and other educational institutions. Second, the aim of the major is to ready students who have completed master's degree work and are aiming to obtain qualifications in the clinical psychology area by supplying them with a thorough understanding of the core principles and know-how necessary for a career in the field. To achieve these goals, we bring to bear all our resources yearly to insure top-flight instructors in each area of study, as well as the development of a challenging curriculum. Not stopping there, we also do our best to create an overall environment in which graduate work in the exciting field of psychology can take place.

Currently, this major is divided into four areas: experimental, social, developmental, and clinical psychology. Each of these four areas is staffed by instructors who are not only specialists in their respective fields, but have the necessary experience and skills to provide high-quality instruction suited to our students' individual interests and needs.

Since the School's establishment, students in this major have always had access to the latest technology in its laboratories across the experimental, social and developmental psychology areas. In fact, as other universities struggled to catch up with the information revolution, Senshu was already far ahead of the curve in the development of its university-wide computer network. As a result, we have made use of the Internet resources and have been introducing the newest technology of information processing into education. Also, to deepen with real-world experience the skills of our students interested in clinical psychology, since 2009 we have the new Psychological Counseling Center, which is provided with completely new facilities such as well-equipped playrooms, activity observation rooms and group interview rooms. With such a comprehensive clinical program, it is no wonder that since 1997, the School has been recognized as a Level One Designated School by Japanese Certification Board for Clinical Psychologists under the graduate school designation system.

Upon completion of the School's programs, a large portion of our graduates go on to do more specialized postgraduate research and teaching in their respective fields, and the number that have gone on to receive certification as clinical psychologists and are now in practice across the country exceeds 100.

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