East Asia Culture
What is the essence of the problems faced today by Japan, China and Korea?
Japan and its East Asian neighbors face a litany of complex problems. In order to arrive at a solution to these perplexing issues, a synthesis of both Eastern and Western perspectives is essential. Western thought has come to dominate the world, and is ‘expanding’ and ‘developing’ in the same way that the bible traces a linear, teleological trajectory from Genesis through until to the Last Judgement. Chinese, Indian and other strands of Asian thought, however, posit a notion of history moving through a series of ‘cycles’. History repeats, and all life repeats, a process of life, death and rebirth. One could argue that the relevance and applicability of this kind of Asian thought to contemporary society, where issues of recycling and sustainability occupy our minds, is growing steadily. Students who choose this major study the cultures of Asia with a focus on the thought and philosophy of Japan, China and Korea. Students develop skills to solve problems that affect us in contemporary society through the study of the thought expressed in antiquity, and by comparing it to the thought and scholarship of the West.

Philosophy
Learn about the development of western thought and pick up thinking skills in the process
What is philosophy? In actual fact, questioning what something is is in itself philosophy. Take history for example. History is used to probe and consider historical fact. When questioning what history is, or what is considered a fact within history, you are in fact engaging in philosophy. In this sense, philosophy is a very pure academic discipline. Students who enroll in the Philosophy Major learn about Western thought and philosophy in a systematic way, helping to equip them with the thinking tools they need to philosophize. Students look at the intellectual journey of western philosophers through a diverse range of classes such as The History of Philosophy, and also through careful reading of the philosophers’ work. In this way, students develop an understanding of both the theoretical and historical sides of the western philosophic school. Class debates and the dissertation writing process help students to acquire the ability to express their own thoughts in a philosophical way through careful language crafting. By reading the classic texts, students engage in dialogue with the philosophers of the past, helping them to pursue answers to the questions that matter to them. That is what true philosophy is, and what this major is all about.

Library and Information Science
Exploring the significance and technology for application of information content in the age of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Today, we can observe a rapid shift in the book market from paper-based media to digital media. Indeed, the research subjects of the Library Information Science Major have now been expanded to encompass digital information including social media. This major teaches students about how information is circulated, organized and distributed within a library. Student can develop advanced investigative and analytical skills to explore the significance of and technology for the effective application of information content.

Media Arts
Study and experience art. Develop a critical eye. Expand your creative faculties
The Media and Arts Major places emphasis on “experience-based learning” to touch upon a wide variety of expressive media, including theater, dance and other bodily expressions, as well as the editing of images and music and spatial design. This major teaches students about the diversity of the modern art scene characterized by interdisciplinary collaboration, and the mechanisms that support it. Students also develop a critical eye in keeping with the times, and expand their creative faculties to work together with others.

Sociology
Equipping students with the knowledge and expertise for an in-depth understanding of ‘contemporary society’
Interactions in our lives take place in a variety of settings, be it within the home, school, workplace or local community. These social existences of ours are by no means universally valid; change brought about by new eras and unexpected disasters and accidents ensure that there are always new challenges and problems for us to face. In order to consider how to make changes to our daily lives, so that we can build a society that is both more human and more comfortable, it is important to be able to look at the mechanisms and norms of contemporary society from objective and critical standpoints. The Sociology Course aims to equip students with techniques to grasp the structure and the actions of society positively by learning subjects related to social research. Furthermore, this major includes subjects such as regional sociology, sociology of the family, social psychology, information sociology and welfare sociology in its curriculum in order to study various theories and perspectives for the sake of a deep analysis of social reality and to approach various problems from different angles that exist within contemporary society.

Program in Contemporary International English
Learn and analyze the world’s lingua franca‐English
Although English now occupies the position of the world’s lingua franca, it took a long time for it to get to where it is today. The Industrial Revolution in Great Britain brought new advances in technology and the diffusion of Western culture. It was from there that globalization began: businesses became internationally oriented, populations became more mobile and ICT came to dominate the world. Through this globalization process, the English language has continued to change. This course, in addition to achieving a high level of fluency in English, looks at unique permutations in the English language (such as the English spoken in India and Singapore) and the cultures and literature of English-speaking countries. By also looking at non-standard forms of English, students develop an understanding for the diversity of the language and the cultures that engendered this diversity. This course will help students acquire the skills they need to communicate with people from all over the globe and prepare them for careers in global society.

Program in German Studies
Learn about the cultures of German-speaking countries
There are approximately one hundred million native speakers of German, making it the largest spoken language in Europe. It is spoken in Germany, Austria, most of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, East Belgium and in parts of North Italy. In addition to learning German, students on this course learn Germanic culture within the context of European expansion. German literary authors such as Kafka, Hesse and Goethe are often described as being philosophic and introspective. The depth of their spirit of inquiry into the human condition has had a huge influence on Japanese literature. Students learn about the essence and cultural context of various works of German literature. They will also study in depth the various facets of Germanic cultures, including such topics as their history, environmental issues, classical music and pop culture, exploring their charm. The course also offers exchange programs in Germany with its partner institutions (the University of Bremen and the Bremen University of Applied Sciences).

Program in French-Speaking World Studies
Explore the essence and diversity of the French-speaking world
Students who choose this major study French, an official language of the United Nations, from scratch, so as to deepen their understanding of France and other Francophone literature and cultures found around the world. Making use of the exchange student program and the credit-transfer study abroad program, each year a number students study at universities located in various parts of France. Through learning how to communicate in French, students develop an understanding of what cultural differences are and how to overcome them, and learn about the cultural contexts and lifestyles in which French is used.