Graduate School of Regional Culture
Philosophy and Aims
The Graduate School of Regional Culture aims to “cultivate internationally minded professionals by providing them with broad perspectives and in-depth knowledge, and by developing their advanced research skills and abilities in their chosen field of study,” a goal based on the university’s graduate school objective to “cultivate human resources who can contribute to local and international communities by honing their qualities as highly specialized professionals.” To realize this goal, the graduate school’s three departments pursue the underlying truths of regional and international communities and the cultures they have created. In addition, the graduate school aims to train professionals who can respond flexibly to modern society’s increasingly diverse values and possess the qualities and abilities to contribute to solving the various complex problems that modern society faces.
The Graduate School of Regional Culture aims to “cultivate internationally minded professionals by providing them with broad perspectives and in-depth knowledge, and by developing their advanced research skills and abilities in their chosen field of study,” a goal based on the university’s graduate school objective to “cultivate human resources who can contribute to local and international communities by honing their qualities as highly specialized professionals.” To realize this goal, the graduate school’s three departments pursue the underlying truths of regional and international communities and the cultures they have created. In addition, the graduate school aims to train professionals who can respond flexibly to modern society’s increasingly diverse values and possess the qualities and abilities to contribute to solving the various complex problems that modern society faces.
Department of Ryukyuan Culture
Language and Culture
In the Division of Language and Culture, students research Japan’s classical literature, modern literature, and language education, focusing primarily on the language and literature of Japan’s southern island region. Primary goals include the acquisition of advanced licenses and qualifications, such as specialized teacher’s licenses, and the further education of government and private-sector workers.
Prehistory, History, and Culture
The Division of Prehistory, History, and Culture has two pillars: (1) archeology, focused on prehistoric culture in the southern island region, with an emphasis on comparative studies with surrounding regions such as East Asia and Southeast Asia, and (2) southern island history, with an emphasis on reading early-modern manuscripts and tracing the transmission of 20th-century documents to deepen understanding of the history of the southern islands.
Folk Culture
The Division of Folk Culture also researches the southern island region but emphasizes connections with surrounding regions, such as East Asia and Southeast Asia. The curriculum and lecture content delve deeply into examining folk culture in the southern islands while expanding into an exploration of surrounding regions.
Society and Culture
The Division of Society and Culture takes a sociological approach in examining the characteristics of social relations in the southern island regions and cultural problems that are mechanisms for perpetuating social structures. The division also examines the basic structure of southern island society, human development, and ways of dealing with actual social problems.
In the Division of Language and Culture, students research Japan’s classical literature, modern literature, and language education, focusing primarily on the language and literature of Japan’s southern island region. Primary goals include the acquisition of advanced licenses and qualifications, such as specialized teacher’s licenses, and the further education of government and private-sector workers.
Prehistory, History, and Culture
The Division of Prehistory, History, and Culture has two pillars: (1) archeology, focused on prehistoric culture in the southern island region, with an emphasis on comparative studies with surrounding regions such as East Asia and Southeast Asia, and (2) southern island history, with an emphasis on reading early-modern manuscripts and tracing the transmission of 20th-century documents to deepen understanding of the history of the southern islands.
Folk Culture
The Division of Folk Culture also researches the southern island region but emphasizes connections with surrounding regions, such as East Asia and Southeast Asia. The curriculum and lecture content delve deeply into examining folk culture in the southern islands while expanding into an exploration of surrounding regions.
Society and Culture
The Division of Society and Culture takes a sociological approach in examining the characteristics of social relations in the southern island regions and cultural problems that are mechanisms for perpetuating social structures. The division also examines the basic structure of southern island society, human development, and ways of dealing with actual social problems.
Department of British and American Language and Culture
British and American Literature
In the Division of British and American Literature literature, students research the novels, poetry, and plays of the English-speaking world, with a focus on British and American literature. The division also offers subjects on British and American culture, primarily taught in English.
Language Education
The Division of Language Education researches English language education and Japanese as a second language education while exploring the connections between language, culture, education, and society. The division also considers language education from practical and diverse perspectives, including language teaching practice and multilingual education.
In the Division of British and American Literature literature, students research the novels, poetry, and plays of the English-speaking world, with a focus on British and American literature. The division also offers subjects on British and American culture, primarily taught in English.
Language Education
The Division of Language Education researches English language education and Japanese as a second language education while exploring the connections between language, culture, education, and society. The division also considers language education from practical and diverse perspectives, including language teaching practice and multilingual education.
Department of Human Welfare
Social Welfare
The Division of Social Welfare trains professionals who can use the scientific method to clarify the realities of various contemporary social problems and then devise policies for solving those problems based on the theories and values of social welfare. The curriculum allows students to thoroughly study social welfare principles and social work theories while delving more deeply into areas of expertise matching their interests. Students are not only limited to social issues in Okinawa but can also pursue research focusing on issues of global concern. Analyzing social structures in depth requires a broad range of knowledge, so some students take classes in other departments and at other universities. In this way, the division provides an environment that allows every student to broadly and deeply pursue their research goals.
Clinical Psychology
The Division of Clinical Psychology primarily aims to train specialists who can concretely and practically deal with mental health issues from a professional perspective. To achieve this goal, the division offers a curriculum that allows students to acquire specialized knowledge based on theory and practice, centering on subjects required for training public and clinical psychologists, with instruction that cultivates practical skills. The division offers a curriculum prescribed under the Certified Public Psychologist Act and has been designated a Type 1 graduate school that fulfills the eligibility requirements for taking the Clinical Psychologist Certification Exam administered by the Japanese Certification Board for Clinical Psychologists. After completing this division’s program, graduates are eligible to take the National Certified Public Psychologist Exam and the Clinical Psychologist Exam.
The Division of Social Welfare trains professionals who can use the scientific method to clarify the realities of various contemporary social problems and then devise policies for solving those problems based on the theories and values of social welfare. The curriculum allows students to thoroughly study social welfare principles and social work theories while delving more deeply into areas of expertise matching their interests. Students are not only limited to social issues in Okinawa but can also pursue research focusing on issues of global concern. Analyzing social structures in depth requires a broad range of knowledge, so some students take classes in other departments and at other universities. In this way, the division provides an environment that allows every student to broadly and deeply pursue their research goals.
Clinical Psychology
The Division of Clinical Psychology primarily aims to train specialists who can concretely and practically deal with mental health issues from a professional perspective. To achieve this goal, the division offers a curriculum that allows students to acquire specialized knowledge based on theory and practice, centering on subjects required for training public and clinical psychologists, with instruction that cultivates practical skills. The division offers a curriculum prescribed under the Certified Public Psychologist Act and has been designated a Type 1 graduate school that fulfills the eligibility requirements for taking the Clinical Psychologist Certification Exam administered by the Japanese Certification Board for Clinical Psychologists. After completing this division’s program, graduates are eligible to take the National Certified Public Psychologist Exam and the Clinical Psychologist Exam.