9 Best History Bachelor's Degree Programs in Japan for 2024

For many observers and visitors, Japan is one of the most intriguing countries on earth. For them, Japan offers a vast variety of exhilarating and sometimes puzzling experiences that often give rise to many questions. Japan Studies endeavors to answer most, if not all, of them. Japanologists understand their field as an interdisciplinary project that engages with all aspects of Japanese culture, history, and society. Many students and scholars investigate these topics in relation to historical and present-day events in East-Asia and the West. Such an approach relates their study and research not only to other disciplines but also to other nations, civilizations, and geographic areas.

International Liberal Arts is foundational at SILA and permeates every aspect of the curriculum. Liberal arts colleges, though global in scope, are small in scale. We are a learning community where classes are small and the relationship between teachers and students is close. With the exception of Japanese Expression, Career Design, and some classes in the Teacher Certificate program, all the classes are taught in English. The educational curriculum of Miyazaki International College consists of General Education Courses, Language Courses, Study Abroad Courses, Specialized Courses, Career Education Courses, Senior Thesis and Optional Courses. Courses are developed in accordance with the following principles: Classes conducted through active learning enable every student to practice and develop critical thinking skills By studying the cultures of Japan and other countries through a broad range of liberal arts courses, students will learn how to compare, analyze, and value different cultures Students practice identifying and solving problems through specialization in their chosen research areas and through the development of individual research projects Language courses (“Japanese Expression”, “Studies in Japanese Expression” and “English”) serve the purpose of developing a solid proficiency in the Japanese language and complementing and enhancing the English language proficiency that is foundational for global citizenship Courses shall offer students opportunities to acquire ICT knowledge and skills, and the ability to employ ICT in the use of the e-Portfolio system and presentations, etc.

The Department of Japanese Literature and Culture offers a curriculum with numerous elective courses that students can choose according to their interests. The courses include classical and modern literature, traditional culture, theater, movies, and animation.

Those who desire to study Japan from an international perspective so become global leaders with a deep understanding of Japan, or who seek to contribute to the advancement of multilingual and multicultural societies in Japan and elsewhere. The School of Japan Studies offers the opportunity to study and discover Japan comprehensively and from international perspectives.

The goal is for students to become familiar with and understand the cultural foundation of European-American life, culture, and history, mastering the necessary knowledge and information to be able to contribute positively to international society.

KIU offers a 2-year degree in the liberal arts department that has two distinctive. First, the program is comprised of a broad balanced study of natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Students will develop practical applied learning skills in this program. The second distinctive is the Japanese emphasis. Living in Japan, a foreigner has a great opportunity to learn the Japanese language, about the culture, history, and politics. KIU will teach students these subjects and broaden the students' horizons and international potential upon degree completion. Non-Japanese students will attain a certain level of Japanese proficiency and be able to use acquired knowledge and skills in cross-cultural settings with confidence.

In Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets, students will study images, objects, and preservation science, gaining specialized knowledge and skills. The goal is to train people who will be able to preserve objects of historical importance.

Through the three offered courses of religious culture, Buddhist culture, and Zen culture, this department aims to develop in students a broad view of religions and the ability to think deeply. The goal of our religious cultural studies is to produce graduates who are prepared to participate in a global society.

The research covers a wide range of fields and eras in Japanese, Chinese, and Western art, centered on paintings and sculpture, but also including a wide variety of designs and image media. It is of course possible to come in contact with genuine works of art and also to study composition in courses related to teaching art. Our aim is to nurture students who will become familiar with works of Eastern and Western art of all ages and with a variety of senses of value and will develop the power to express and impart knowledge of art in words.