Characteristics of the Graduate School

Introduction of the Semester System

　As a new experiment, classes have been organized based on a semester system, so that educational programs finish at the end of each semester. Through this system, the time of graduation has become more flexible and educational options have increased.

　By introducing the semester system, the acquisition of credits, completion of a program, and obtainment of leave of absence due to one's work situation have all become possible during each semester. Organizing a plan of study from matriculation through graduation has become easier. The new setup is more responsive to the era of lifelong learning and allows students to attend classes when they have the time.

Evening and Day Classes Convenient for Working People

　In respond to the educational needs of local residents engaged in lifelong learning, we are actively promoting the enrollment of residents and working people. With this in mind, class times have been set up at appropriate times during the day and in the evening.

Long-Term Course of Study

　The "long-term course system" is offered for enrolled students who also hold jobs. Students may complete their courses of study without retaking classes or taking time off from school. this flexible system allows working students to complete their course of study over longer period of time.

　This system is available to applicants who pass the Entrance Examination for Working People and who are approved forcompleting their courses of study over a period that exceeds the regular course period. This system also lightens the financial burden for students who would otherwise be unable to complete their courses of study dye to jobs, working hours, or ther factors.

Graduate School of Regional Culture(Master's Course)

Department of Ryukyuan Culture

Areas: Language, Folkways, History and Prehistory, and Sociology

Characteristics of the Program
　The master's course in Ryukyuan culture is organized into an educational program focusing on the areas of language, folkways, history and prehistory, and sociology. Graduate students systematically study Ryukyuan culture from one of these perspectives, but the program is organized so that students do not focus exclusively on one area. Taking an interdisciplinary approach is an important aspect of regional studies, so students are required to take two or more classes in an area outside their specialty.

Department of British and American Studies

Areas: British and American Studies; English Language Education

Characteristics of the Program
　The uniqueness of this program lies in its interdisciplinary approach. We still emphasize systematic study focusing on special topics within each area, and an important aspect of the program is to investigate an individual research topic in one's field. At the same time, we recognize the relevancy of each area to the other. With this in mind, the program has been organized so that there are general classes from both areas. In addition, students can take classes from the Ryukyuan culture program.

Department of Human Welfare

Areas: Social Welfare and Clinical Psychology

Characteristics of the Program
　Based on the philosophy and aims of the Department of Human Welfare, this program is comprised of the areas of social welfare and clinical psychology, and students can gain high-level specialist knowledge in either area.

　The master's course in human welfare explores the question of how best to bring about the well-being of human beings, and aims to nurture specialists who can adequately address the various social and psychological problems that modern people encounter. Accordingly, while preserving the distinctiveness of the fields of social welfare and clinical psychology, we emphasize practical training that will help students acquire a broad range of support skills.

Graduate School of Regional Business and Economics (Master's Course)

Department of Regional Business and Economics

Areas: Applied Economics, Okinawan Economics, Regional Development, Industrial Organization, Environmental Economics, Regional Social Economy System, Regional Distribution, Comparative Management, Accounting Communication, Tax Accounting

Characteristics of the Program
　The Graduate School of Regional Business and Economics aims to train graduates who can shoulder the primary responsibilities of the workplace in business and administration-in other words, talented individuals who will contribute to the promotion of local industries. For this reason, we have given much thought to what classes are offered and how the program is structured, so that in addition to deepening students' specialist knowledge, we also provide knowledge of related and peripheral fields.

　In setting up the program, 1) basic classes for building a foundation of specialist knowledge have been packaged together; 2) a group of “classes for promoting increased specialization” have been created with the aim of providing multifaceted specialist knowledge that can be readily applied to business; and finally, 3) special classes for developing a multifaceted perspective have been provided in order to avoid an overly narrow focus on Okinawa, and to make sure there are opportunities for acquiring multifaceted knowledge.

　As part of the program, students take a compulsory seminar needed for writing their master's theses, but since they can choose a major area or minor area, we can be flexible in meeting the individual needs of students while assisting them to develop multifaceted specialist knowledge that can be readily applied to business.

Graduate School of Law (Master's Course)

Department of Law

Areas: Public and Basic Law, Civil and Criminal Law

Characteristics of the Program
　In the Master's course in law, we emphasize debate and case studies in special seminars on positive law, and we use the Socratic method in lectures.

　Debate is emphasized in order to foster logical thinking and communication skills, such as the ability to support one's position through substantive arguments and logic, the ability to listen closely to an opponent's arguments, and the ability to accurately and effectively communicate one's idea. Debate requires logical thinking, strong presentation skills, attentive listening, effective argument, and good judgment. Similarly, in training for courtroom proceedings, one must learn how to convey one's position to the opposing side and to the judge-in a manner that takes account of time restraints.

　Case studies are used to train students to research cases on their own, argue a position, and persuade others through learning how to organize facts and determine their relationship to basic legal principles. Through case studies, students critically evaluate and debate actual cases in a search for solutions to legal problems.

　The Socratic method is an educational technique whereby teachers question students' understanding of the legal principles of a ruling, its relationship to the facts, and its appropriateness.

　 Such questioning is used to foster in students the necessary temperament for solving cases.