School of Language and Culture Studies

Study in Depth a Wide Range of Languages and Cultures, Become a Bridge to the World

What is needed to become an international professional in today’s society?

Globalization is leading to uniformity, and this is symbolized by English becoming a universal language. From this perspective, the mastering of English is of critical importance. On the other hand, globalization is also leading to a greater appreciation of the language and culture of each country and region. For people to live together with a mutual understanding, acquiring a high level of communication skills and the ability to take action and convey thoughts and ideas in the multilingual, multicultural environment of a globalized world is required more than ever.

The School of Language and Culture Studies provides an education that emphasizes the learning of languages and cultures of various regions around the world. Our aim is to nurture students who will learn about people and the world through a deep understanding of language and culture, and become international professionals who are a bridge to the world.

Study Features
Features of the School of Language and Culture Studies

1. Learn in depth the languages and cultures of various regions of the world

Students acquire a high level of command of language skills in their major language and English through four years of study. A high level of language competency will be acquired by combining English with the study of a diverse range of other languages.

Introduction to Major Languages

Students will also deepen their understanding of the region of their respective major, and gain a comprehensive understanding of its culture and society from various perspectives.

Introduction to Major Areas

2. Develop humanities-based thinking centered on language and cultural research

From the third year, students enroll in one of the seminars to deepen their specialized studies through discussions with other students, intensive reading of documents, and meticulous mentoring by faculty members. Our seminars are available in two courses: Regional Studies, for a more detailed understanding of specific countries/regions, and Trans-Regional Studies, for specialized studies across regions. Students select one of the courses according to their interests and decide on a theme on which they will work to complete their graduation research.

3. Abundant study-abroad programs and career support

In order to understand languages and cultures, it is extremely important to live and study abroad. Moreover, experiences abroad will be a valuable asset for a person’s life and career. The School of Language and Culture Studies supports personal development through various study-abroad and career development programs.

Four-year Curriculum Overview

Global Liberal Arts Program

Students will acquire broad introductory knowledge in various fields, such as basic skills as university students, basic knowledge about the region of their major, and their major language as well as other languages. This program is common to all three Schools.

Core Seminar Program

Students acquire learning in the fields of their major as they progress through the three steps of Introductory Courses, Survey Courses, and Major Courses, towards completing their “graduation research,” the culmination of their studies at the university.

From the third year, students will select one of the two courses of Regional Studies or Trans-Regional Studies to carry out studies in the fields of their major. The first two years are also a preparatory period for students to select their specialized field of study and the course.

Course Guide

Seminars

Introduction to Major Languages
- Learning starts from 27 languages -

In the School of Language and Culture Studies, students will aim to gain a high level of competency in the major language that they selected at admission. Each language has its own cultural and social background, and all the schools in TUFS strive to deepen regional understanding through both the language and the region that is selected.

Course Guide

In the School of Language and Culture Studies, students select one of the two courses described below.

Regional Studies – Specialized study of the language and culture of a specific country or region
Trans-Regional Studies – Specialized study of a particular academic field while exploring various languages and cultures

Seminar Guide

Seminars in the School of Language and Culture Studies are courses in which students deepen their interests and knowledge and acquire a new perspective under their chosen academic supervisor, together with other students taking the same seminar.

A seminar does not only refer to a class conducted by the student’s academic supervisor but also to a group that includes both the supervisor and the students.

In the spring semester of the third year, students proceed to the stage of studying their specialized field in more depth. Main seminar (seminar on a specialized subject where faculty members take on the role of academic supervisors) begins in the third year and students proceed to their graduation research in the fourth year.