Bunkyo University’s Faculty of Human Sciences was established in 1976 as the first of its kind at a private university in Japan. To provide opportunities for more advanced study, the Graduate School of Human Sciences (Master’s Programme) was established in 1993, followed by the launch of the Doctoral (PhD) Programme in Clinical Psychology in 2000.The Graduate School of Human Sciences at Bunkyo University aims to foster professionals and researchers who can contribute to society by promoting an interdisciplinary approach through the field of human sciences, while nurturing a rich sense of humanity based on our founding philosophy of Empathy for All (Ningen Ai), which emphasises the absolute dignity of humanity and the sanctity of life.
It is clear from recent news that the world is changing rapidly. In addressing challenges such as environmental issues and social division, it has become increasingly evident that technological solutions alone are not sufficient; a transformation in people’s awareness and behaviour is essential.To deeply understand such issues and to build a better society, we need the perspective of the human sciences more than ever. We hope your research will shed new light on the diverse challenges facing our society.
The Clinical Psychology Programme offers a curriculum that qualifies students to sit for the national examination for Certified Public Psychologists (KouninShinrishi) as well as the examination for Clinical Psychologists.The pass rate for both examinations consistently exceeds 90% each year, significantly higher than the national average.The Graduate School has the affiliated Institute of Clinical Counselling, providing clinical training opportunities to students in the Clinical Psychology Programme under an excellent supervision system.At the Human Sciences Programme, students engage in research that explores humanity from a variety of specialised fields, including psychology, sociology, education, social welfare and cultural anthropology.The programme aims to develop professionals with expertise who can excel in diverse fields such as business, government and education, through research focused on improving and promoting the mental and physical health of individuals, enhancing human life, and addressing various community issues and revitalisation.
To realise and offer such learning, we have faculty members with a strong track record in both excellent research and practical achievements across a variety of academic disciplines.Above all, the two programmes are not strictly divided in terms of learning, and the door is always open to all postgraduate students who have the desire to learn across both areas.I encourage all of you to actively engage in dialogue with faculty members and fellow students during your time here, making the most of every learning opportunity. I sincerely hope each of you will devote yourselves to achieving your individual goals, and that you will grow and flourish through your studies at the Graduate School of Human Sciences.
Clinical Psychology Program
The clinical psychology program has established a curriculum and teaching method based on the following education and research principles.
■ In the master’s program, students acquire the knowledge of general and clinical psychology. This program trains psychological clinicians who are highly specialized and have a rich sense of humanity gained through research based on clinical practices and skills learned from clinical experience.
■ In the doctoral program, independent clinical psychology researchers and highly specialized professionals who can guide psychological clinicians are trained by cultivating more advanced research, knowledge, and skills.
Cultivating clinical psychologists who have learned genuine skills
Here, at the clinical psychology program, we emphasize the following points that allow us to train clinical psychologists.
1. Cultivating the ability to think and other basic abilities of clinical psychology
2. Teaching the skills and knowledge required in various fields including medical care, education, development, welfare, and industry
Characteristics
1. Class curriculum designed by full-time teaching staff for a broad range of fields
Teaching staff with a wealth of professional field experience are balanced well by those with numerous scholarly achievements as researchers. An emphasis is also placed on fundamental psychology and research guidance so that students can become skilled clinicians.
2. Places for medical practice that fully utilize educational and legal facilities
When a student becomes an M2, they have the opportunity to practice. The graduate school at this university has established cooperative relationships with a wide variety of clinical facilities focusing on hospitals, clinics, and legal consultation facilities. This program has external training in which students continuously practice at a variety of medical institutions such as clinics, university hospitals, and private psychiatric hospitals; furthermore, the program has internal training in which students receive guidance on cases referred by the campus clinical consultation research center.
3. Utilizing supervised case conferences fully
A diverse group of individuals with a great deal of on-site knowledge have been assigned as supervisors providing guidance during practice. The students are supervised in small groups twice a week, and they have the opportunity to investigate during class conferences. In addition, the teaching staff provide individual supervision as necessary, and this graduate program has adopted a system that utilizes supervision fully.
Miyuki Kaji (Clinical Psychology / Head of Programme)
The Clinical Psychology Programme offers a comprehensive curriculum that prepares students for the qualification exams for both Certified Public Psychologist and Clinical Psychologist, covering the theory and practice of psychotherapy, along with research methods in clinical psychology.All faculty members are experts in psychology and clinical psychology. We will support your learning and continued growth through lectures, research guidance and practical training.Our alumni are thriving in various fields, including school counselling, child consultation centres, educational consultation centres, healthcare institutions and public service.
To heal the hearts of those who have been hurt, there needs to be someone strong and kind who will sincerely be there for them. Let us walk this path together to become such a person.
Human Sciences Program
Cultivating talent to facilitate the development of human society
Here in the human sciences program, we emphasize the following points that allow us to train talented people who have a firm basis in the human sciences.
1. Broadly examining the various sciences that are concerned with humanity and acquiring more highly specialized comprehensive interdisciplinary knowledge.
2. Teaching the skills and knowledge required in a variety of fields like psychology, sociology, and social welfare.
Characteristics
1． Rich interdisciplinary class curriculum designed by full-time teaching staff
There is a good balance between teaching staff with a wealth of professional experience and those with numerous scholarly achievements as researchers. The students can grow into talented individuals who can be active in a wide range of fields by learning about fundamental psychology and receiving research guidance.
2. The aim for collaborative work on the studies of humanity based on a foundation of “advanced human sciences.”
To lead a fuller and happier life, students investigate their own “mental and physical health.” They continue to learn with the aim of developing and improving human lives based on healthy living.
3. Fully utilizing research guidance in the small-group system
Based on their own research plans, the students receive abundant guidance from their advising teacher who belongs to a related field of research. This is distinctly different from a one-sided learning system, and it enables the students to learn in an extensively interdisciplinary manner that is distinctive of the human sciences program.
Teppei Aoyama (Social Education / Head of Programme)Human Sciences is not only an academic discipline in its own right, but also a guiding concept that seeks to promote a comprehensive, interdisciplinary and practical approach to the study of human beings.Such a perspective is not limited to the fields of psychology, education and welfare, but is increasingly required across all areas of contemporary society.Many of our alumni are thriving in diverse fields, applying the knowledge and experience gained in this programme. We look forward to embarking on a journey of exploring the human sciences with you.