Transitional, introductory and liberal arts curricula

In Senshu University's bachelor (undergraduate) program, courses in the transitional curriculum and introductory curriculum are studied by students in their first year, after which they move on to study offerings in the liberal arts and specialized curricula. Courses in the liberal arts curriculum are organized so that students can choose which classes they wish to study based on their interests and goals. Basic humanities courses and basic social science courses are designed so that they lead to the study of specialized courses offered by the school and faculty to which each student belongs. Foreign language courses, health and physical education courses, and natural science courses can be taken during all years of study. Once they have completed the foreign language requirements of their school and faculty, students may wish to continue those studies at a higher level or participate in a study abroad program. Experiencing the pleasure of learning that is motivated by their own interests helps students form their own intentions and approach to decision-making.

The University's approach to learning

Transitional curriculum

The transitional curriculum consists of Senshu University introductory seminars , which teach students how to use the library and other facilities to search for the materials needed to pursue their studies. Using an “intellectual toolbox” created by University faculty members along with other resources, students also learn other skills they will need as university students, for example how to summarize sources and make presentations. These courses play an essential role in preparing students to enjoy a rich and rewarding experience as a university student.

Introductory curriculum

Among the courses offered as part of the University's introductory curriculum are two unique classes known as “Career Primer” and “You and the Natural Sciences.” “Career Primer” is designed to ensure that all students will be able to design an optimal career for themselves with confidence, while “You and the Natural Sciences” invites students to learn how the fields of the natural sciences are related to their own lifestyle and society.

These courses provide an excellent opportunity to cultivate knowledge that is needed in society, and that will enable students to lead successful lives as working adults.

Liberal arts curriculum

Extensive selection of foreign language offerings for students of different ability levels
Reflecting the reality of today's global society, the University offers eight foreign languages (English, German, French, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Indonesian, and Korean) at a variety of levels. Other options include Italian and Arabic, as well as lecture courses designed to foster cross-cultural understanding.

Multifaceted approach to sports
Sports-related courses include “Sports and Wellness,” which approaches sports from a scientific perspective, and “Advanced Sports,” which fosters the skills needed to incorporate sports into one's lifestyle. Other offerings such as “The Olympics and Sports” and “Humankind and Sports” let students learn about sports from a theoretical standpoint, offering an approach that differs from the conventional manner in which sports are treated.

Cultivating rich, unbiased knowledge
The basic humanities courses and basic social science courses that students study during their first and second years include a variety of offerings that take advantage of the University's broad strengths in the social sciences and humanities. Natural science courses, which cover a wide range of fields including physics, chemistry, biological science, space and earth science, scientific literature and history, and mathematical science, allow students to explore the natural sciences in a familiar and immediate way through experimentation and observation.

Free learning that stimulates students' interests

Combined discipline courses differ from the specialized courses offered by each school in that they address complex, interdisciplinary themes. While demonstrating to students how a single theme or topic can be approached from multiple angles or perspectives, these offerings make it clear that all social and natural phenomena have multiple aspects (facets) and that they are linked by complex relationships. In this way, the most important objective of these courses is to augment students' thinking skills with general analytical and decision-making ability.

Interdisciplinary courses, topical courses, and courses in new domains that cut across traditional academic disciplines

Interdisciplinary courses invite multiple faculty members and guest speakers to explore particular themes from their own perspective. One such course, “We're a Community,”※ consists of a series of lectures about community from the standpoint of disaster prevention, business, sports, and regional identity. The category includes a broad range of offerings such as “Food Safety and Risk Communication”※ and “Content Production and Industry.”※
※These courses were offered during the 2014 academic year. The names and professors responsible for interdisciplinary courses offered during the 2015 academic year are subject to change.

Going beyond individual schools with topical seminars in liberal arts

Topical seminars liberal arts explore a wide range of research topics, from the natural sciences to drama, sports, culture, politics, and city theory. Since they are offered to students in all schools, they provide an opportunity to not only gain an interdisciplinary perspective that goes beyond the specialized domain of one's own school, but also interact with students from other schools. After deeply studying and discussing their seminar's research topic, students can submit a topical seminar paper in liberal arts that summarizes the results of their exploration of that topic.