Faculty of International Studies
Department of International Studies
People all over the world are brought ever closer together as the means of transportation and communication continue to advance at an unforeseen pace. This means that developments in a remote corner of the world will have direct impact on us here in Niigata. Therefore, it is essential that we obtain deep understanding of international affairs if we were to participate meaningfully in the society of the future.
The fundamental goal of the Faculty of International Studies is to nurture people who are capable of learning about and interacting with the global community, right here on Niigata’s soil. To that end, the three pillars of the Department are: Cross-cultural understanding, mastery of a foreign language, and study abroad experience. Therefore, it provides education in a well-balanced combination of international relations and foreign language studies. As a firm foundation of these three pillars, students go through practical training in English as an International Language (EIL) as well as computers. Every student will also belong to a small-scale and interactive seminars throughout their campus life.
Special Features of the Department of International Culture
Students of the Department of International Culture are taken systematically through a well-balanced mix of politics, law, economics, etc. to understand how the current international society came to be and how it works.
English as an International Language (EIL)
Students receive a practical training in communicative skills in EIL, guided by faculty members who are themselves EIL speakers. In Communicative English Program (CEP), a compulsory subject attended five times a week during the freshman year, students practice communicating in English in small classes appropriate to their proficiency levels. English-majors continue to attend CEP throughout their sophomore and junior years.
Foreign Language Education
Upon entrance, students choose one language out of four: English, Chinese, Korean, and Russian. These correspond to the four countries where they can choose to spend a semester in. Not only will students develop their skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in the chosen language, they will also aquire deeper understanding of the societies and cultures of those countries.
Computer Practicum
Familiarity with such apps as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. is essential for successful completion of university study. It is also a minimum requirement in the job market after graduation. The department gets students ready for future employment through courses aimed at enabling them to obtain qualifications in such software.
Seminars
In the tradition of Japanese higher education, a seminar is where students participate interactively in a small group, led by a specialist professor, to deepen their understanding of a given discipline. This careful formation is at the heart of the education of the department. Each student is allowed to choose a seminar which suit his/her areas of interest. Seminars are held right from the first semester in the university, all the way until the completion of undergraduate theses in the final semester. Each student belongs to the same seminar for the latter half of their university life, where he/she will complete his/her thesis.
