Educational Support System: Four majors connected from bachelor education
(1) Majors continued on from colleges
The Graduate School of Human and Socio-Environmental Studies is connected from the four school of College of Human and Social Sciences.
As a result, it has become a major that is easy for students to understand, inheriting the specialized field of the undergraduate school.
(2) Adoption of program method
The division of Humanities has introduced a program system rather than a course system.
This enables students to make choices that meet their diverse career needs and fields of specialization.
(3) Ensuring interdisciplinarity
In order to nurture highly specialized professionals with an interdisciplinary perspective, we have a flexible and interdisciplinary education system that responds to the characteristics of each major and student research themes, and allows students to actively take courses offered by other majors.
(4) Adoption of a quarter system (four semesters)
The Graduate School of Human and Socio-Environmental Studies divides the first and second semesters into two quarters each, and adopts a quarter system in which credits can be taken for each quarter.
(5) Short-term (1 year) enrollment-type system
Two divisions, the Division of Economics and Regional Development Studies, have a course system that allows students to obtain a degree in a short period of time (one year) while continuing to work.
(6) Long-term course system
There is a long-term course system that allows people who are engaged in work, housework, childcare, nursing care, etc., to obtain a degree according to their paces.
(7) Special exception for educational methods based on Article 14 of the Standards for the Establishment of Graduate Schools
We have established a system to provide classes or research guidance to working adults, etc. at night or at other specified times or terms when it is recognized that there is a special educational need.
(8) Introduction of English entrance exams and classes
In the division of Economics and International Studies, we have prepared programs that allow students, international and Japanese students, to take exams, take courses, earn credits, and complete their studies in English.
(9) Long-term problem-based internship classes
The division of Regional Development Studies offers an “assignment-based internship (long-term)” in which students stay in the region for a long period and learn how to solve regional problems.
（10）Initiatives for internationalization
As part of the university’s efforts toward internationalization, one of the requirements for completion of the program is, in principle, to obtain a score on an external English language examination that meets a certain standard.
As a result, we are working to continuously strengthen the English learning of graduate students, and we also provide support such as an examination fee subsidy system and the implementation of various tests on campus.
（11）Research support/scholarships
In order to support the research activities of graduate students, the Graduate School of Human and Socio-Environmental Studies provides a fixed amount per graduate student to cover the purchase of necessary materials and travel expenses for presentations at academic conferences.
In addition, there is also a system of competitive research expenses in which research plans for one year are reviewed and paid.