Global Studies Course｜Kanazawa University, College of Human and Social Sciences, School of International Studies

Global Studies Course

Overview

The Global Studies Course provides an innovative package of modules that helps students understand major issues of globalization and international order from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. To prepare them for careers in various fields of professional work, this course equips students with a broad set of skills and extensive knowledge of international relations and socioeconomic matters.

The course is designed to:

Train students to be able to understand international society from a macroscopic viewpoint.
Provide students with a curriculum that enables them to learn about multiple disciplines from a broad angle.
Develop globally-minded individuals that are able to play an active role in various international arenas.

Philosophy and Goal of the Course

The chief goal of the Global Studies Course is to help students develop their independent thinking and confidence in communicating with others in an intercultural setting and in understanding different cultures from multiple standpoints. This course helps students prepare for careers in various fields of professional work after graduation.

Educational Goal

The goal of the Global Studies Course is to foster the development of a global skill-set (specialized knowledge, linguistic and cultural skills, academic presentation and research skills) tailored to the needs of individual students. Our talented and internationally-minded students improve their communication skills in English and other languages while learning about international politics, economics, history and cultural studies from various vantages in order to deepen their understanding of international relations and interdisciplinary approaches. Further, students are strongly encouraged to consider overseas studies to develop areas of expertise and to broaden their global view. Accordingly, each of our students graduates with confidence, possessing both a global skill-set and a developed global view, and is thus highly capable of playing an active role in various international arenas.

Curriculum

The Global Studies Course offers a wide range of modules including ‘International Relations’, ‘International History’, ‘International Trade’ and ‘International Development’. Many of the classes are offered both in English and Japanese. Students develop their analytical skills from both macro- and micro-perspectives while acquiring a sound understanding of how international relations work. Each seminar also helps students find and investigate a specific topic for their graduation thesis.

Field of Study

The Global Studies Course integrates various aspects of international studies such as politics, economics, sociology, history, which have conventionally been offered individually in different academic fields. In recent years, the need for “interdisciplinary” academic development has become increasingly evident, and the Global Studies Course is one way of responding to this growing demand. Students on the Global Studies Course can learn and enjoy the benefits of the excellent achievements made in international studies research developed at Kanazawa University by a large number of faculty staff in the College of Human and Social Science in a well-designed curriculum.

Noteworthy Fields of Study

The Global Studies Course has many faculty members in politics, history, economics and other related discplines of international relations. For more details, please refer to the individual page of professors.

Andrew BEATON, Associate Professor (International Relations, Diplomatic History)

KATO Atsuyuki, Associate Professor (International Trade, Applied Econometrics)

NAKANO Ryoko, Associate Professor (International Relations, Political Thought, East Asian Politics)

Senan FOX, Associate Professor (International Relations, Politics)

Feedback from Students

Yuuki Ooie

It is essential to fully grasp the history, law, culture and other situations of different regions of the world as well as improving language and communication skills in order to understand international society. In the Global Studies Course, it is possible to learn these things from the comprehensive curriculum. The course includes a wide range of subjects so the level to which it will be pursued depends on each student. It is also possible to study particular regions in depth by taking classes within the other areas studies courses. Students interested in the international field must be prepared to be open-minded on various matters, show a keen interest in global issues, and be willing to work hard.

Ririko Hirota

As the course named “Global Studies” implies, it deals with a wide range of fields ranging from international issues to international economics, politics and geography. To deal with such a vast range of global study, it is important for the student to ascertain their interest and what it is that they would like to study. The course allows the student to think about the world from a macroscopic viewpoint and discover an unlimited number of themes. Another attractive point of this course is that contact with local international students is considered to be highly important. Many students think about studying abroad, and it is truly an international course. But the degree to which a student pursues an “international” student life is entirely up to the student. In a general sense, everything is up to the student.

Careers after Graduation

Foreign affairs or foreign assistance organizations, national or local governments, foreign companies or Japanese companies that have overseas divisions, NGOs or international NPOs, mass media, teachers, advancement to graduate schools, international organizations or attorneys for external affairs after graduate school.

Acquirable Certifications

Bachelor: International Studies

Certifications: Junior high school teaching category 1 (Japanese, Civics, English), senior high school teaching category 1 (Japanese, social studies, English), Japanese Language Education sub-major equivalent certification, interpreter-guide (after passing the appropriate national exam), interpreter (after passing the appropriate interpreter exam)

Course Credit System

In the first year, students focus on completing their compulsory classes from among the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum (共通教育科目 Kyotsu-kyoiku-kamoku) and learn about the basic disciplines within the field of international studies by attending some introductory course in the College of Human and Social Sciences (学域GS科目 Gakuiki-Global-Standard-kamoku and 学域GS言語科目 Gakuiki-Global-Standard-Language-kamoku) and in the School of International Studies (SIS) (学類共通科目 Gakurui-kyotsu-kamoku). In the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum, students first participate in the Freshman Seminar (1 credits), Introduction to University and Social Life (1 credit), Information Systems (1 credits), Introduction to Regional Study (1 credit), and A group of Global Standard Subjects (more than 15 credits). Generally, by taking English as Global Standard Language (8 credits) and a second language requirement (8 credits) (for Japanese students) together with other subjects, students are recommended to complete all of these Liberal Arts Core Course credits (38 credits) by fall semester of their second year. Additionally, they participate in the introductory courses in international studies, including Introduction to International Studies 1 and 2 (2 credits in total) and Japanese Culture 1 and 2 (2 credits in total) which are SIS courses (Gakurui-kyotsu-kamoku) and two courses (2 credits in total) from among courses in the College of Human and Social Sciences (Gakuiki-Global-Standard-kamoku) and two courses (2 credits in total) from among Gakuiki-Global-Standard-Language-kamoku).

At the beginning of the second year, after the Global Studies Course is chosen, students take Basic Specialized Courses (Compulsory, at least 20 credits) in order to deepen their understanding of the structure and dynamics of international society. As they sample classes in different areas, they will get 10 credits from International Studies (including Introduction to International Studies 1 and 2) and 10 credits from Japanese Cultural Studies (including Japanese Culture 1 and 2). Furthermore, to enhance their language and cultural skills, many students participate in short-term overseas language study programs and/or take part in longer (6 months-1 year) study abroad programs. Credits from language study abroad and/or study at our partner schools can be transferred in order to obtain credits in similar subjects within the SIS.

Mainly in the third and fourth year of the Global Studies Course, students mostly take compulsory Global Studies Core Courses (at least 24 credits), including a second language communication classes (8 credits), so as to enhance their understanding of the discipline and to cultivate an independent spirit of inquiry. Also in the third year, most students attend an undergraduate seminar (2-4 credits) in order to polish their analytical, international communication and global research skills. In the final year of the Global Studies Course, students normally continue to attend their undergraduate seminar (2-4 credits). In the third and fourth year, students need to complete at least 4 credits by taking an undergraduate seminar and to successfully complete a graduation thesis (6 credits) under the close supervision of their thesis advisor.

To graduate students need to obtain a total of 124 credits, including both Liberal Arts Core Curriculum credits (38 credits) and Specialized Courses (86 credits).

Subjects Unique to the Course

(1) International Relations studies the contemporary international political situations after the Second World War, focusing on the major countries, regions and Japan. (2) World System Theory analyzes the world from the dimensions of political, economic and cultural systems, that is, the power struggle between countries, global competition between companies, and the exchange of ideologies. (3) International Communication aims to improve computer literacy, analyzing and reexamining the world from the standpoint of international communication. (4) Comparative Politics analyzes the political systems　 and political development of five democratic countries (the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the United States and Japan) and evaluates the commonalities and differences among them. Lectures are in English.

Specialized Course Subjects

History of International Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Contemporary International Organizations, International Economics, World System Theory, International Trade, International Finance, Comparative Economic Systems, International Public Economy, International Developments,International Communication, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Multiculturalism, World Geography, Mass Media and International Communication.