Master's program of the Graduate School of Law

Research and education in the Graduate School of Law are primarily delivered in lecture and seminar format in accordance with the given curriculum. In both settings, the number of students is small. A key feature of the curriculum is the availability, in addition to major-specific subjects, of numerous general subjects, including important subjects that form the foundation for legal and political science research in each major area. To facilitate research from a wider perspective, curricula are managed flexibly, and electives from outside the student’s major or graduate school are recognized. Students in Doctoral studies are offered opportunities to participate in a variety of projects as a contract or assistant researchers in the University’s research institutes.

In an effort to encourage broader participation by adult students, special entry exams have been offered for students in the workforce in all majors. Korakuen Campus offers classes in the evenings on weekdays and Saturday afternoons in the majors of Private Law and International Business Transaction Law for lawyers, CPAs, and in-house lawyers in government and the private sector to foster the ability of highly expert professionals to respond to society’s increasingly diverse requirements.

Chuo University was founded as the Igirisu Horitsu Gakko (English Law School) in 1885. In the 134 years since its establishment, Chuo has continued to build upon its tradition and performance and stayed true to its long-held philosophy of “Fostering the Ability to Apply Knowledge to Practice,” pursuing its mission of contributing to society and nurturing pioneering individuals who go on to work for the betterment of society. Today, Chuo stands as a comprehensive university comprising eight faculties, including two established in 2019, and seven graduate schools, as well as two professional graduate schools, four affiliated high schools, two affiliated junior high schools, and nine research institutes. Driven forward by wide-ranging academic research and learning across the university community, Chuo’s original tenet of pursuing the Practical Application of Learning has been acknowledged and embraced in our current university motto, “Knowledge into Action.”

Practical learning, a tradition we carry forward with tremendous pride, is not limited to technical education. Rather, practical learning is about broadening one’s potential by acquiring both knowledge and practical abilities that can be used for the good of society. Today we carry on this tradition based on world-class, research-driven educational activities in our faculties and graduate schools. Through a variety of distinctive educational programs, Chuo University has been accelerating its university-wide efforts to cultivate global competency and foster global professionals. Furthermore, enriched through collaboration with people, organizations, and institutions that are determined to promote diversity and achieve the UN SDGs, with innovation born of fusions among different fields, and with the increased richness of pioneering research and education, Chuo today is reaching new heights as a global university.