About the Graduate School

Vision

The Graduate School offers a two-year master’s program designed to provide both education and academically grounded skills training. It is aimed at individuals who seek to explore contemporary issues at local, regional, and global levels in the context of increasing globalization.

One of our key objectives is to cultivate professionals with globally relevant expertise, specifically:

  1. The ability to understand and analyze international and regional dynamics affecting Northeast Asia, including Russia, China, the Korean Peninsula, and Mongolia.
  2. Advanced communicative competence in English.

Additionally, the Graduate School welcomes students regardless of their local or national backgrounds and is fully equipped to deliver the knowledge and skills necessary for those interested in our program.

Digital Pamphlet

Highlights of the Graduate School

1.Open the Door to a New Era in Northeast Asia

Located in Niigata, a key commercial and industrial hub, we foster specialist knowledge and skills to prepare graduates for leading roles in both local and global societies.

2.Courses Offered in English and Japanese

To develop professionals with multilingual communication skills, we offer courses in both English and Japanese. Students can also complete all credit requirements by enrolling solely in English-taught courses.

3.Information Literacy

Understanding the dynamics of politics, economy, and society requires strong information literacy, including statistical data analysis. Our graduate school provides specialized courses to equip students with these essential skills.

4.Regional Development × International Studies

As a center of academic excellence, we aim to contribute to the local community. Our first mission is to cultivate highly competent individuals with broad perspectives, strong intellectual abilities, and leadership potential in emerging economic sectors. Our second mission is to address critical local challenges, including employment creation and sustainable development.

5.Area Studies Grounded in Sound Theories

Students will explore cutting-edge theories and approaches to international and regional affairs. Through primary source research and empirical data analysis, they will examine key political, economic, and societal issues in East Asia.

6.Academic Training by Distinguished Faculty

Our faculty members are highly respected for their academic and educational achievements. To ensure high standards of teaching and research, we provide students with in-depth, personalized guidance.

7.Flexible Curricular Programs

Our graduate school welcomes students from diverse backgrounds, including professionals and international students. To accommodate various needs, we offer flexible study options, such as evening classes and extended enrollment programs.

3 policies

Diploma Policy

Graduates will possess in-depth knowledge of the international community, with a particular focus on East Asian countries. They will develop strong policy analysis skills and English communication abilities, preparing them for specialized careers or further academic research.

Curriculum Policy

The curriculum aims to help students to acquire highly specialized knowledge and skills, and to develop the abilities necessary for highly specialized careers or research activities. In addition, an enrolment extension system is made to take care of the needs of working students. In consideration of the diverse disciplinary and cultural backgrounds of our students, the curriculum consists of foundational research subjects, advanced research subjects, and academic foreign language subjects to take care of their needs at different stages of students.

The foundational research subjects are designed to provide students with a systematic understanding of theoretical and methodological knowledge related to international and regional studies, preparing them for the next stage of specialized research. Specifically, these subjects pave the foundation for students to conduct research through the introduction to international politics and international economics, practical study of research methods and the acquisition of general knowledge about the Northeast Asian region.

The advanced research subjects are consisted of the following three specialized streams.

  1. International Politics Cluster: This subject cluster equips students with the knowledge and skills to analyze international affairs through the learning and application of concepts and theories of International Politics as well as the study of policy-related issues.
  2. International Economics and International Development Cluster: This subject cluster equips students with the theories and skills to analyze international economy, economic growth and development issues facing countries and regional economies.
  3. Northeast Asian Studies Cluster: Based on a multi-disciplinary approach of economics, sociology and politics, this subject cluster equips students with the knowledge and skills to analyze policies and critical issues in the Northeast Asian region as a whole and individual countries/regions (Russia, China, the Korean Peninsula, and Mongolia).

Academic Foreign Language subjects equip students with the ability to smoothly carry out discussions and dissertation writing in English and Japanese.

Admissions Policy

The Graduate School welcomes students of diverse backgrounds. Through various types of admissions exams, we accept those who are interested in the program, regardless of place of origin and nationality. They are expected to enroll in our educational program in accordance with our Diploma Policy and Curriculum Policy and to have the following qualities and proactive attitudes.

  1. Those who have acquired specialized knowledge and skills with a specialized focus in major in the bachelor’s degree and a certain level of English proficiency.
  2. As a member of the university’s research community, those who respect and can communicate smoothly with others and contribute to research activities.
  3. Those who are ready to engage in independent thinking and to learn autonomously from a global perspective with a flexible attitude.

Triple-Layered Groups of Course

The Graduate School offers three specialized course groups focusing on international society, international relations in East Asia, and the political economy of individual countries. Addressing challenges in a globalized world requires a broad perspective, in-depth knowledge, and an understanding of both regional international relations and national political economies. Unlike traditional graduate programs, our curriculum is designed to systematically study and integrate these multilayered fields.

Academic Language Courses

The Graduate School offers academic language courses focused on oral communication and professional writing. These courses aim to equip students with strong English communication skills, enabling them to actively engage in the global community.

Degree

The Graduate School of International Studies and Regional Development confers the following degree:
Master of Arts in International Studies and Regional Development