1. Educational Philosophy & Goals of Education and Research

Nagasaki University contributes to the improvement of a well-balanced society by transmitting its inheritance of the traditional culture rooted in Nagasaki, cultivating a fertile creative sense in students, and developing innovative science for world peace. To realize this philosophy, NU fosters individuals who are strong out in the field, strong during crisis, and ready to jump into action. NU aims to drive the laying of the intellectual foundation of society in the 21st century. In this age of globalization, one of NU’s priority educational goals is to nurture talented individuals who are capable of exercising leadership in the international arena.

In the master’s program of GSGHSS(Graduate School of Global Humanities and Social Sciences), we aim to foster individuals who can discover, explain, foresee, and find solutions to global humanity and social science issues in the 21st century from an interdisciplinary and panoramic perspective. These individuals will give priority to understanding and empathizing with people of other cultures, gain insight into diverse cultures, societies, philosophies and interests, and develop not only solid expertise in their own field but also in other fields as well.

2. Policy for Completion Certification and Granting of Degree (Diploma Policy (DP))

The degree of Master of Arts will be granted to those who have been enrolled in this program for at least two years, earned the prescribed number of credits, received the required research guidance, have passed both a thesis assessment and final examination, and are recognized as having acquired the following, which are fundamental to the humanities and social sciences—

(1) Critical skills (the ability to reflect critically on the status quo)

(2) Conceptualization skills (the ability to set forth one’s own vision for seeking breakthrough in the status quo)

(3) Practical skills (the ability to execute plans after drawing a cross-disciplinary linkage between knowledge and people based on an understanding and sensitivity toward people of diverse cultural backgrounds)

—in relation to various global humanity and social science issues in the 21st century. In other words, any of the following:

3. Curriculum Organization & Implementation Policies (Curriculum Policy (CP))

Based on our educational philosophy, the goals of our education and research, and our Diploma Policy (DP), we define our Curriculum Organization Policy as follows with the aim of developing human resources who can discover, explain, foresee, and find solutions to global humanity and social science issues in the 21st century.

[Curriculum Organization Policy]

“Academic Elements” are the group of basic required courses that make up the scholastic essence of our graduate school. It consists of “Academic Elements”: Humanities & Social Sciences, which is taught in the first semester of the first year; Seminars in Global Humanities and Social Sciences I, which is taught in the second semester of the first year, and Seminars in Global Humanities and Social Sciences II, which is taught in the second semester of the second year. “Academic Practice” comprises course groups aimed at increasing the depth of research expertise. Spanning both the first and second years of the program, students can learn according to their respective specialized fields from five course groups: the Global Studies Course Group; Policy Science Course Group; Japan, Nagasaki and Asian Studies Course Group; Linguistic Diversity Course Group; and Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Course Group, as well as Interdisciplinary General Education Courses and elective courses. In Research Guidance, which takes place starting in the first year, students receive guidance on creating their research plans and writing their master’s thesis.

[Policy on Educational Content & Methods]

“Academic Elements”: Humanities & Social Sciences thoroughly explores the philosophical foundations of the disciplines of ontology, epistemology, and methodology, with no specific focus on humanities and social sciences or natural sciences. Additionally, Seminars in Global Humanities and Social Sciences I and II build on the expertise, techniques, and cross-disciplinary frameworks learned in “Academic Elements”: Humanities & Social Sciences to provide practical solutions to issues in multicultural societies through cross-disciplinary case studies, discussions, and lectures. In “Academic Practice”, students enhance their specialized knowledge and techniques pertaining to societies, cultures, policies, application, regions, languages, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and more. In either of these course groups, lectures and exercises are combined, and students engage in active learning, such as discussions about lecture content, reading literature, reading historical materials, group work, and presentations. They thus enhance the academic processes of linkage, integration, and expansion of the “Academic Elements” and “Academic Practice” (that is to say, the process of moving from theory to application, and the organic linkage of the two). In Research Guidance, academic advisors provide guidance to students in seminar format for writing their master’s thesis.

[Policy on the Method of Evaluating Academic Results]

Academic results are evaluated fairly and rigorously according to the scoring and evaluation methods indicated in each course syllabus (scheduled examinations, reports, in-class presentations, etc.). Each master’s thesis is evaluated through an assessment of the thesis and a final examination.

4. Admission Policy (AP)

(1). Desired Applicants

In keeping with our educational philosophy, goals of education and research, Diploma Policy (DP), and Curriculum Policy (CP), we seek students who possess the following qualities and characteristics, whom we can develop into individuals capable of engaging in the discovery, explanation, foreseeing, and resolution of various global issues existing in society of the 21st century.

(a) A basic knowledge related to the specialized field of the humanities and social sciences.

(b) An awareness of issues that compels them to set forth their own vision for seeking breakthrough in the status quo.

(c) The motivation to widely share the fruits of their university studies, executing plans after drawing a cross-disciplinary linkage between knowledge and people based on an understanding and sensitivity toward people of diverse cultural backgrounds.

(2). Basic Applicant Screening Policy

Two types of entrance examinations are conducted by the department: a general entrance examination and an entrance examination for international students. Please do not fail to contact your prospective academic advisor in advance before submitting your application. Consult them fully about your entrance examination, the content of your research, and the language in which guidance will be provided.

(3). Applicant Screening Method

In the general entrance examination and entrance examination for international students, we select students who possess the required basic knowledge in their specialized field for receiving a comprehensive and cross-disciplinary education in the humanities and social sciences. They must also have an awareness of issues, which compels them to set forth their own vision in relation to various global humanity and social science issues in the 21st century. The entrance examinations comprehensively assess the application documents and the scores of the written test* and oral test. When doing so, research plans, graduation thesis, and other papers as well as academic transcripts are used as basic materials for the oral test.

Appendix related to the screening method

Evaluation methodology for sought qualities and characteristics, and its relative weight
(very heavily weighted: ◎, heavily weighted: 〇)

* In light of COVID-19 pandemic circumstances, the written test (specialized subjects, language subjects) will be replaced by an oral examination (specialized subjects, language subjects) for AY2023 applicant screenings, and the necessary qualities and characteristics will be assessed accordingly.