Comparative Studies of Societies and Cultures adopts a uniform educational system throughout its master‘s and doctoral programs to develop women with the ability and motivation to explore new horizons of knowledge in the humanities and social sciences, and contribute to the resolution of global issues in the 21st century. The programs aim to foster young researchers who will assume leading roles in academic research, and fully utilize their advanced knowledge and expertise in society.
The programs also focus on overseas internships so as to cultivate in students an international perspective and the ability to communicate on a global level.

• Division Website

Language and culture

• Japanese Language and Literature
• Applied Japanese Linguistics
• English and French Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
• Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Artistic expression

• Dance
• Music

Educational Science

Students will research pedagogy through various approaches, learning about a wide range of phenomena in education from early childhood to adulthood, in Japan and abroad, both past and present.

Psychology

With guidance from faculty members specializing in cognition, development, education, society, personality, and clinical issues, students will conduct in-depth research in each field and acquire a wide range of advanced research methodologies and knowledge. Students will also study cutting-edge psychological research (neurophysiology, cross-national research, media psychology, health psychology, and developmental psychopathology).

Developmental and Clinical Psychology

Students will receive training from both clinical and research standpoints from faculty members with clinical experience in hospitals, schools, and legal and industrial institutions.

Child Studies

With guidance from faculty members who research child studies in such borderline fields as developmental psychology, sociology of education, early childhood care and education, praxeology, and clinical medicine, students will pursue researchoriented studies that emphasize thematic focus and the review process of research methodology.

Social and Family Policies

Students will analyze social issues such as low birthrates, aging populations, women and work, the diversification of family life, and other lifestyle-related issues using methodologies of the social sciences including legal studies, political sciences, sociology, and economics.

Geography and Environmental Studies

Students are expected to research various issues relating to space, local place, region and environment in a globalizing world utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods such as fieldwork, GIS or statistical analysis.

Food and Nutritional Sciences

The Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences analyzes issues related to food and health and conducts research to resolve those issues, including problems of flavor and safety, using scientific evidence. Research ranges from basic to developmental at a variety of levels molecular, genetic, cellular, animal, and human. The department aims to develop university faculty members, research and development leaders for food companies, registered dietitians, and other food and nutrition specialists.

Biological Sciences

The Department of Biological Sciences conducts research on organisms from the standpoint of both universality and diversity and offers students an understanding of the various structures and functions of organisms living in a dynamic environment. The research covers a wide range of targets including genes, genomes, biomolecules, cells and individual organisms.

Childhood Studies

With guidance from faculty members who research childhood studies in such borderline fields as developmental psychology, sociology of education, early childhood care and education, praxeology, and clinical medicine, students will pursue research-oriented studies that emphasize thematic focus and the review process of research methodology.