3 Policies of the Faculty of Letters at Tsuru University

​Admissions policy

The Faculty of Letters at Tsuru University cultivates a spirit to study people through the examination of culture and society, and seeks new students who embody the following.

• Students who have the scholastic ability required to learn at this university.
• Students who are interested in issues in modern society and who possess the understanding and flexibility to take on a broader perspective.
• Students who can communicate their own ideas using clear language.
• Students who think for themselves and are motivated to act.
• Students who possess a love of learning and look to acquire specialized knowledge.

Curriculum policy

The Faculty of Letters at Tsuru University strives to prepare and enrich the educational content for students in order to encourage a rich and varied humanity and develop their ability to be active in various areas.

• The general courses nurture an acumen with a comprehensive approach and a broad education with the goal to cultivate a rich and varied humanity. These courses include liberal arts courses, foreign language courses, physical education courses and general courses in the faculty.
• Specialized courses in the department are designed to provide advanced knowledge, techniques and skills related to the student’s major, as well as helps students acquire the skills to be active in society.
• The specialized courses in the department also include the graduation thesis. Students use the knowledge, ability to reason and research methods acquired over 4 years to complete their graduation thesis, which is a culmination of their studies.

Diploma policy

The Faculty of Letters at Tsuru University uses the features of the community to promote practical and comprehensive education and research. The goal of the faculty is to encourage students to develop skills to help them be active not just in communities that focus on the education field but in various fields that benefit the country and international society. After completing the specified credits, students are qualified to graduate.

• The general courses offer a multidisciplinary curriculum to provide a healthy mind and body, develop a rich education and form a profound and broad sense of humanity.
• Students attain knowledge and techniques that act as a foundation for specialized education.
• For the specialized courses in a given department, students complete a group of courses systematically, working toward their chosen major in their department, and then are able to use their respective specialties to understand and tackle a variety of issues in modern society.

• Department of Japanese
• Department of English
• Department of Comparative Study of Cultures
• Department of Global Education
• Department of Primary Education
• Department of Social Sciences
• General Education

Department of Japanese

＜Admissions policy＞

In the Department of Japanese, our goal is to look at the big picture from a historical, ideological and cultural perspective and study Japanese language, Japanese literature and Chinese literature. Specifically this means questioning how Japanese people look, think and express nature and humanity in order to explore the essence of Japanese culture. In today's global society, the education acquired from Japanese studies provides students with a strong spiritual base and a motivation to make their own paths and contribute to society.
To achieve the aforementioned goals, the Department of Japanese seeks students who embody the following.

1. Students who possess basic scholastic ability (particularly in Japanese and social studies) and who have skills related to logical reasoning and writing.
2. Students who have a strong interest in language, literature, history and society, and who are motivated to contribute to society by acquiring specialized knowledge in those fields of interest.

＜Curriculum policy＞

The Department of Japanese offers a curriculum that features specialized studies in Japanese language and literature, while taking on a systematic and in-depth approach that covers a broad range. Students use this path to give them direction, hone their intellectual training and also acquire a teacher's credential in Japanese. The department allows students to enhance their expertise in various fields, such as Japanese language studies, Japanese literature, Chinese literature, Japanese language educational studies, information and culture. And, the courses are arranged so that students complete a graded and systematic course of study over 4 years.

1. There are general theory courses and basic seminars available for first and second year students, who first learn basic knowledge from a broad perspective and study practical research methods in a seminar format. The reading courses for second and third year students offer in-depth reading on individual pieces and authors, methods for advancing research and research topics, providing the latest findings from investigations in various specialties. In addition, in terms of history, students cultivate a historical perspective by gaining an understanding on historical development.
2. Starting from their third year, students select a seminar offered by full-time faculty and receive instruction to hone their analytical and observation skills. In their fourth year, students begin work on their graduation thesis, which is a culmination of all that they have learned.
3. Students receive instruction in seminars to hone their presentation skills, communication skills and clerical work to help them write their graduation theses.
4. The goal of the “International communication seminar” is to help students learn how to communicate Japanese culture abroad and acquire a global perspective.
5. Students study Japanese literature by completing introductory and core courses, and also develop contacts with other genres by taking related courses, thereby giving students a chance to become familiar with fields related to literary research.
6. There are opportunities for students, such as the “Japanese cultural history seminar,” which does not just offer classroom instruction but gives students the chance to appreciate traditional performing arts outside of the school, conduct field investigations at places of literary interest, as well as to browse through classical documents at libraries and museums.

＜Diploma policy＞

Students study based on a curriculum that features general courses and specialized courses in the department, and a bachelor degree is awarded to those students who fulfill the specified graduation requirements. Students engage in a broad range of studies that cover Japanese language, Japanese literature, Chinese literature and Japanese language educational studies. Students then conduct specialized studies in one of the fields, and acquire the following knowledge and skills by the time they graduate.

1. Students possess specialized knowledge and understanding of Japanese cultural traditions and the current status with a focus on language and literary culture.
2. Students possess skills and abilities to communicate abroad based on the aforementioned description in order to facilitate international communication. In addition, students possess practical skills and knowledge on Japanese language and Japanese language education when needed.
3. Students are able to collect information, perform investigations, and conduct analysis and reviews on a chosen or given issue. They are also able to communicate and express the results of their observations through the appropriate means.

Department of English

＜Admissions policy＞

The Department of English seeks new students who meet the following criteria:

1. Possess a basic scholastic ability equivalent to high school level.
2. Are interested in acquiring English language skills.
3. Are interested in the literature, culture and language of English speaking countries and have related experience.
4. Wish to demonstrate communicative abilities in the international community, seek a leadership role with a global perspective, and use different forms of media to try to stay abreast of current events around the world on a routine basis.

＜Curriculum policy＞

The goal of the Department of English is to foster student' ability to use English as a global language, and deepen their understanding of the literature, language and culture of English speaking countries. This promotes a more flexible mentality and stimulates intellectual curiosity, which in turn helps the student develop into more internationally-minded people that can exchange ideas with people from all over the world. In addition, the curriculum is designed so that students can acquire a teacher’s licence.

1. First and second year students complete required courses (and required elective courses) from a list of basic English courses. In addition, students complete the required units to graduate by taking either English development courses, core courses or specialized courses in a given field according to the student’s grade level, enabling the students to advance their studies.
2. Students complete a general seminar as a course requirement in the first semester of their first year. The goal of this course is to learn basic knowledge and techniques to create reports and at the same time build personal relationships of trust between new incoming students and faculty.
3. First and second year students mainly focus on taking basic English courses that strengthen English language skills and core specialized courses.
4. The seminars for third and fourth year students are divided into 2 areas: “Literature and culture seminars” and “Language and culture seminars.” Each student selects a seminar from those areas and follows a systematic course of study toward their goal, choosing from specialized courses in a variety of fields.
5. Students advance and develop their studies in seminars and consolidate what they learned and use it toward their graduation thesis.

＜Diploma policy＞

Our goal is to develop the students’ English language skills, and help them research literature and culture, or language and culture, of English speaking countries. In addition to acquiring English skills, we strive to foster students with specialized knowledge that can be applied internationally.

1. Students gain practical and specialized English language skills that can be applied in various areas.
2. Students acquire a specialty and advanced academic knowledge in literature and culture, or language and culture, of English speaking countries.

Department of Comparative Study of Cultures

＜Admissions policy＞

The Department of Comparative Study of Cultures looks at modern society which must consider how to achieve a sustainable economy and society, as well as a philosophy and method that allow for the coexistence of people from different cultures. The department’s goal is to develop leaders who have a comprehensive understanding of culture and society, who explore from various angles, and who will continue to create a new culture and society.
To achieve this, this department seeks various students who embody the following.

1. Students who possess a basic scholastic ability.
2. Students who are interested in culture in Japan and in areas around the world.
3. Students who possess a broad interest in issues and trends in the modern world and society.
4. Students who are motivated to acquire foreign languages such as English and use it as an instrument to collect information and compare cultures.
5. Students who are interested in investigating topics that interest them.
6. Students who are interested in activities geared toward various issues that face modern society.

＜Curriculum policy＞

The goal of the Department of Comparative Study of Cultures is to develop students who possess a deep understanding of how society and culture in Japan and in each area around the world are made up, and who conduct critical analysis toward the modern world while using an interdisciplinary approach to explore the relationship and comparison between various cultures and society. The curriculum is made from the following 5 perspectives.

1. Comparative culture perspective and method: Students use various research methods to look at culture and society in Japan and throughout the world in order to understand their mutual relationships, and study from introductory courses and core courses in Area I and from comparative culture basic seminars in Area II.
2. Students analyze the structure and the dynamics of the modern world and develop an understanding of its issues. Students look at individual cultures, how society exists and mutual relationships, and how that is related to the composition, structure, order and whereabouts in the modern world. They also look at issues that the modern world faces and the activities of the international society, the state and the citizens that grapple with those issues, by using a theoretical and interdisciplinary approach and taking courses in Area I. In addition, students use various references and materials to specifically learn from specialized readings on comparative cultures in Area II.
3. Students specifically gain an understanding on culture and society in different areas. Students look at how culture and society are formed in each area around the world as well as at the changes and issues that we face today, by specifically learning from regional research courses in Area I. In addition, students use various references and materials to specifically learn from specialized readings on comparative cultures in Area II.
4. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the mutual relationships between cultures and societies. Students in the third and fourth years select a seminar in comparative cultures in Area II and tackle more specific and specialized topics. And, students ultimately set their own research topic to complete their graduation thesis as a culmination of their studies.
5. Students acquire language and investigative skills. In the specialized readings on comparative cultures in Area II, students mainly read historical documents and acquire the language skills required for researching culture and society. In addition, the department focuses on English education by offering specialized English courses in Area III that are unique to the department. This allows students to hone their reading ability to look critically at English text while also developing practical communicative skills and forms of expression. In addition, the practical courses in Area IV allow students to acquire methods to collect materials and conduct field investigations.

＜Diploma policy＞

To be eligible to graduate, students must complete the department’s curriculum, which focuses on developing a deep understanding of culture and society in Japan and in areas around the world while crossing over disciplines in comparative cultures. Students acquire the following knowledge and skills by the time they graduate.

1. Students develop a deep understanding of conflicts, interaction and transformations between cultures and societies in Japan and around the world, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the modern world.
2. Students develop a deep understanding of language and acquire foreign language skills such as English.
3. Students are able to select various materials and information and can gather and analyze it by using specialized knowledge.
4. Students acquire the ability and skills to take the initiative to communicate how a new culture and society can exist in the world and communities.
5. Students promote the mutual understanding and interaction between cultures and societies, and are able to create a new culture and society as well as contribute to the international society.

Department of Global Education

＜Admissions policy＞

Students with an interest in International Baccalaureate Education or 21st century education and who want to be educators or practitioners in the field.

The Department of Global Education aspires to train educators who can provide education suited for the 21st century with a focus on International Baccalaureate education in elementary, junior high, and high schools both domestic and abroad, as well as cultivate those with the ability to be active in an international sense. As many of our classes are conducted in English and bilingually, we seek out students who have an interest in global issues, and who want to further their English abilities and resourcefulness.

＜Curriculum policy＞

To nurture language ability in order to be able to participate in classes in English and to learn the skills required by modern society such as critical thinking, communication, discovering challenges and problem solving through research-based liberal arts education.

Our curriculum is primarily composed of subjects which allow students to acquire educator certificates from IB (International Baccalaureate), a program with distinctive features like investigative cooperative learning, as well as global studies subjects. It also features half-year studies abroad and internships both within and outside of Japan. Classes focus on active learning and are conducted in the form of fieldwork and workshops, letting students find their own topic, investigate and analyze it, and discuss it through presentations, etc.

＜Diploma policy＞

People with global perspectives, able to learn actively and educate in an investigative manner—those able to be internationally active and contribute to the creation of community.

In the pursuit of world peace and a better society, we send out into the world life-long learners filled with the spirit of discovery who think both critically and creatively, are able to take in knowledge and apply it, have a sense of balance and consideration for others, and while cooperating with those around them, continue to challenge themselves in their assignments with a sense of conviction.

Department of Primary Education

＜Admissions policy＞

The philosophy and goal of the Department of Primary Education is to train excellent elementary school teachers. To achieve this, we seek students who embody the following.

1. Students must not just possess basic knowledge in each subject, but hold a broad interest in cultural and social problems. They can summarize their own ideas on matters and are able to communicate them appropriately.
2. Students who use their own strengths and field of expertise to try and help in the comprehensive development (intellectual training, moral education and physical education) of children.
3. Students who possess an unrelenting ambition and inquisitive nature and can use “good learning methods” on their own to foster cooperation and interaction with their peers.

＜Curriculum policy＞

The Department of Primary Education offers a system that features 11 course programs for their major so that they can perform more in-depth studies according to their interests. Clinical pedagogy, practical studies of education, clinical psychology, Japanese language, social sciences, arithmetic and mathematics, natural environmental sciences, living environmental sciences, music, art and physical education.

1. As a general rule, students join a course program starting from their second year. After completing various courses focusing on general education courses in their first year, students then are able to select a field for their major based on their own interests, activities and motivation. This is to encourage not just “general learning,” rather we hope the students become future teachers with a field of expertise based on their in-depth research of a specified field. In their third and fourth years, students study in small group, specialized seminars, which are designed to help them ultimately complete their graduation thesis.
2. There is also a wide variety of teacher training courses available. For example, there are courses such as “Basic investigation of school education,” “Gender and education” as well as “Introduction to media education.” In addition, we also have a curriculum that helps build practical ability, such as the SAT program (student assistant teachers who work in the Tsuru municipal elementary and junior high schools) which is integrated into “School participation.”

＜Diploma policy＞

Students who learn the basic knowledge and skills required to become an elementary school teacher and who complete the specified units, are then eligible to graduate and also receive first-class teacher’s credential to teach in elementary school. In addition, it is also possible for those who are interested to receive first-class teacher’s credential to teach Japanese, English or social studies in junior high school.

1. In terms of special teacher skills and ability, students gain a good educational outlook, insight into the perspective of children and a sense of responsibility as a teacher. They also acquire a foundation of practical instructional skills based on a deep understanding of children and specialized knowledge in each subject. In addition, the students learn to value the connection with people and the community, they develop a wide range of interests in today’s issues that face society, such as environmental and human rights problems, and they are able to support child learning and give them direction.
2. Students acquire communication skills to facilitate a cooperative and collaborative work environment that is based on a relationship of trust with children, fellow teachers, guardians and community members. Given the diversity that exists among people, students in particular develop an approach for problem-solving and building consensus by listening to, discussing and thinking together over different ideas.
3. Students effectively utilize various resources to further self-learning (ability to continue learning and studying together) in order to continue building their own skills. Students specifically use seminars and their graduation thesis as an opportunity to build basic research skills to gather, analyze and present materials and data based on their own awareness of issues.

Department of Social Sciences

＜Admissions policy＞

The goal of the Department of Social Sciences is to nurture the creativity and deep interest of the students in problems that face modern society and community as well as ensure that the students understand the structure of said issues. The goal is also to ensure students contribute to society and are involved on a practical level with the community. To achieve this, we seek students who embody the following.

1. Students who are interested in learning about society and people. In particular, students who possess basic knowledge and have a strong interest in modern society and the world from high school “geography and history” and in “civics” (political economics and ethics).
2. Students who have a basic but comprehensive scholastic ability.
3. Students who can theoretically grasp the various problems in modern society and the issues confronting the environment and community planning, as well as students who are motivated to contribute to society and to be involved on a practical level with the community.
4. The Department of Social Sciences offers two majors: Modern Social Sciences and the Environmental/Community Creation. Students in the Modern Social Sciences major  must be interested in problems facing modern society and motivated to contribute to society. Students in the Environmental/Community Creation major must be interested in the problems facing communities and motivated to become involved on a practical level with the community.

＜Curriculum policy＞

The following curriculum targets students, who are interested in modern society and community problems and who are motivated to become involved in society and the community. It is designed to ensure students acquire knowledge, theory and analytical techniques to gain a structural understanding of problems that face modern society and the community, as well as provide them with the skills to come up with creative ideas.

1. In the Department of Social Sciences, students learn about theoretical approaches to social issues, studying “Society and mankind,” “Social sciences and modern issues” and “Humanities and modern issues” in their first year, and “Advanced social structures” in their third year. In addition, the curriculum offers basic courses to learn about basic knowledge and theory in social sciences and humanities.
2. The focus of specialized study in the Department of Social Sciences is the small group graduation thesis seminars (required) that are offered during the second, third and fourth years for each major: Modern Social Sciences and the Environmental/Community Creation. In the seminars, students study in-depth about basic knowledge, theoretical and analytical approaches in their fields of specialization. In addition, students must write a graduation thesis (required), which is the culmination of the student’s specialized studies at the university.
3. In the Modern Social Sciences major, students are able to study about society, economics, law, history, philosophy, education and local government, from a “modern” perspective.
4. In the Environmental/Community Creation major, students are able to study in field courses and workshop courses and also experience getting involved in a practical way with the community.
5. In order to develop various skills required to complete the scientific thesis and report, first year students take introductory seminars to acquire academic skills, and then in their second, third and fourth years, they also take a “Basic seminar” and “Seminar I & II” to further develop skills to collect references, analyze text, conduct social investigations, write essays, present as well as discuss their material. The culmination of these skills helps students to complete their graduation thesis. In addition, students conduct social investigations and take practical courses (general department courses).
6. Students learn “cooperative communication skills” in order to be able to build a cooperative relationship with others.

＜Diploma policy＞

1. (Modern Social Sciences major) Students are able to acquire a wide range of knowledge, theoretical and analytical techniques in order to gain a structural understanding of problems in modern society and offer theoretical explanations. Students are also able to develop a heightened awareness about modern society and become motivated to contribute to society.
2. (Environmental/Community Creation major) Students are able to acquire knowledge, and theoretical and analytical techniques as well as develop practical skills and a pragmatic approach toward communities, which help them reveal a structure with contradictions in modern society where the community problems are complex and diversified.
3. (Department of Social Sciences) Students have strong interest in issues that face modern society and communities, demonstrating imagination that enables them to try to generate creative ideas all the time on how the issues exist and the problems areas.
4. Students are able to develop various abilities and skills required to complete the scientific thesis and report, such as the ability to collect information, to investigate, to analyze information and data critically and from multiple angles and to communicate and write in a clear way.
5. Students are able to easily form new relationships with others and build cooperative relationship when necessary through discussion, etc.
6. Using the qualities above, our goal is to develop people who can work with a public perspective.

General Education

＜Admissions policy＞

1. Students who possess basic scholastic ability and are aware of issues in order to be able to complete the general education studies at university.
2. Students who possess a flexible thinking approach for effective learning and who show an aptitude for independent learning.
3. Students who are active and can confront difficulties.

＜Curriculum policy＞

1. The curriculum encourages students to learn over all 4 years and offers practical and appropriate classes in order to develop versatile abilities and skills that help living in a changing society, such as the ability to reason to apply knowledge, investigative skills for uncovering problems, information analysis skills, information literacy and communication skills.
2. The curriculum offers liberal arts courses, foreign language courses, physical education courses and information courses as part of the general courses in order to advance the students’ knowledge as a person living in modern society.
3. The curriculum offers general specialized courses that provide information, international cultural experience and social experience, so that the students can acquire knowledge and learn specialized methodologies systematically while also gaining real experience in society.
4. The curriculum does not just focus on one’s field of specialization but offers a good balance with an interdisciplinary approach covering a range of fields to give the students a broader perspective and encourage them to earn a solid education and bachelor degree.
5. The overall curriculum at the university develops rich creativity, humanity and sociability by enabling students in each department to be active in their general education focus.

＜Diploma policy＞

Students must complete a curriculum based on the university’s philosophy and educational goals and must also satisfy the academic units required to graduate. Students who are eligible to graduate are required to demonstrate the following skills and abilities through the general education courses.

1. Students who possess versatile abilities and skills to help them live in society, such as the ability to reason, to apply knowledge, investigative skills for uncovering problems, problem-solving skills, and communication skills.
2. Students who have the ability to use the knowledge and techniques they acquired in order to confront and solve many problems that confront a new society.
3. Students who acquire solid skills and abilities to keep them earnest in their endeavors, while embracing the philosophy of university “Human exploration” and not forgetting the inquisitive nature to constantly explore in society.