Programs
International (Global 30) Program
Undergraduate Program in Social Sciences
The Program in Social Sciences is jointly offered by the School of Law and the School of Economics, in cooperation with the School of Informatics and Sciences. It includes fundamental disciplines in political science, law, economics, business administration, and information science. Students are expected to acquire analytical skills, critical thinking skills and a high ethical awareness, which are needed for the pursuit of knowledge across disciplines. Upon selection of their major, students receive specific guidance from professors in their chosen discipline and are expected to conduct research for their individual graduation thesis under the supervision of their school’s professors. The undergraduate program in the School of Economics is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the complex world of economics and business. The program prepares students to confront the problems and exploit the opportunities of an increasingly interdependent, globalizing world. We offer a wide range of courses and seminars in economics and management from the introductory to advanced level. We also provide classes in the history of social thought. Class size is typically small, which encourages discussion and shared purpose. Our aim is to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to make a significant, positive impact in their careers.
Graduate Program in Economics and Business Administration (Master)
The program aims to prepare students for a career in an international setting by enhancing the understanding of globalization in economies and management.Apart from knowledge of modern economic and business issues, the unique economic system of Japan will be one of the foci in the program used to draw insightful lessons from Japan’s experiences, both successes and failures.
Undergraduate Program
Outline
At Nagoya University students must take both general education courses that are common to students in all departments, and major courses determined by each department in the student’s major field of study. Most classes in a student’s first two years are meant to fulfill general education requirements. They include general education courses such as basic seminars, which are practical classes with small numbers of students, classes in English and other foreign languages, and classes in health and sports where students acquire actual skills. There are also basic and general courses in the humanities and sciences. Classes in a student’s major field of study are also introduced gradually starting in the first year. In the School of Economics, students start with the basic major courses of Economic Theory I, II, III, General Economics (Business Administration) History, Statistical Analysis, Business Administration, and Accounting. Next, they study further in their field of specialty, in specific major course classes established in the Department of Economics and Department of Business Administration, respectively. Classes in the Department of Economics, for example, include International Economics, Finance, and History of Economics, while in the Department of Business Administration students can study Management Organization, Production Management, Finance and Accounting, and other classes. There are also associated major classes including, for example, Development Economics and Modern Japanese Economic History. As associated major classes, students of the Department of Economics are allowed take the major classes in the Department of Business Administration, and likewise students in the Department of Business Administration can take the major classes in the Department of Economics. As seen from the above, students in the School of Economics acquire broad general knowledge through the general education classes, and then systematically learn basic to applied economics and business administration in the major classes. The major focus of study in the School of Economics, however, is the seminars that begin in the third year. In seminars, students themselves advance the class objectives through presentations and debate under the guidance of a faculty advisor. In these seminars each faculty advisor has about 10 students. Students express their desires for study and undergo faculty interviews in December of their second year, after which it is determined which professor’s seminar (i.e., which field) they will join.
Seminar and Graduation Thesis
Seminars play a major role in study in the School of Economics. Seminars consist of a professor and up to 10 students, who conduct intensive study in their respective fields of specialty. In the School of Economics, all third year students join a seminar and work toward their graduation thesis based of the results of their study in it. While there is a clear variety in the activities of each seminar, a very simple summation follows. First, when students are still in their second year, a decision is made as to which seminar each student will join. Before that, students are provided materials to help them in their decision, with each professor making a presentation on the theme of his seminar beforehand, and senior seminar students introducing the activities of the seminar. After each student makes a choice, professors hold interviews and a final decision is made as to which seminar each student will belong to. The seminars start in the third year. Normally students are first given a number of texts to read to acquire a general knowledge of the special field, and the seminars are conducted with reports and discussions of these readings. Over the summer break students prepare papers, overnight study outings are held, and students begin to narrow down the issues and areas they would like to focus on. They then read more deeply in their chosen field, and begin individual study. Students become busier with seminar activities-some may conduct corporate surveys while others may participate in “Inter-Seminars” (conferences to present research papers with students from around the nation). The main project for fourth year students is writing their graduation thesis. They first listen to the opinions of professors and others, supplement weaknesses, decide a thesis theme, and work on the framework of their thesis. Further reading of academic papers in the field will probably be necessary. All this work culminates with the submission of their graduation theses in late January of the year of their graduation. The many other activities include seminar camps, seminar trips, social events, and other events of each seminar. The years a student spends in the School of Economics will be greatly affected by the student’s involvement in seminar activities.
Graduate Program
The Graduate School is a place of learning and research for people who have received their undergraduate degree from School of Economics and want to study more deeply in their field of specialty, with the intention of becoming an educator or researcher in the future. The School of Economics Graduate School has established two major courses: Socioeconomic Systems and Industry Management Systems. In the Graduate School students acquire specialty knowledge through lectures, while also conducting research under a faculty advisor in their respective specialties, through reading in the literature, gathering and organizing data, conducting surveys, and other activities. There are many students from other countries in the Graduate School, and students can conduct their research in an international atmosphere. Currently there are 47 foreign students from countries including China, Korea, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Slovakia, Russia, and Thailand. The doctoral course is divided into a first period (2 years) and second period (3 years). In the first period students write a master’s thesis based on the results of their research, and are awarded a Master’s Degree (School of Economics) if they pass their degree examination. In the second period they continue research in their specialty. The second period covers three years, and students complete a doctoral thesis. Those who pass the degree examination are awarded a Doctorate (School of Economics). The Graduate School has awarded Master’s Degrees to 737 people and Doctorates to 237 people.