The four graduate schools of Meikai University were established for the advancement of academic research in this age of constant change in society,
economy, and information. They were made to fulfill Meikai University’s
mission to nurture students so that they may become active in the global
village of the future and move humankind toward universal happiness and
prosperity.
Graduate School of Applied Linguistics
The four graduate schools of Meikai University were established to further advance academic research in this age of constant change in society, economy and information. They were created to fulfill Meikai University's mission to foster graduates of talent and ability, who are well educated, creative and rational, and capable of performing on the world stage. In 1977, the Graduate School of Dentistry was established. In 1998, the Graduate School of Applied Language Studies, Economics and Real Estate Sciences were founded. In 2000, doctorate programs were established in the graduate schools of Applied Language Studies and Real Estate Sciences.
Graduate School of Applied Linguistics
Applied linguistics is a general term that covers the study of languages and related human linguistic behavior from different perspectives. In Japan such investigation has traditionally been carried out in separate fields, such as linguistics, education, and psychology. This school is the first large-scale educational institution that enables study of these fields from an interdisciplinary point of view.
The Master's Program offers three major areas, each of which is designed to prepare students for a wide range of research fields: Language Education, Language Behavior, and Language Culture. Students can select from a very large number of lecture subjects, and every effort is made to have these subjects reflect the latest research developments in the field.
The Doctoral Program, established in 2000, offers subjects primarily in the field of linguistic behavior. The aim is to stimulate truly original, creative research in a wide variety of topics, research that is not shackled by conventional, stereotyped methodology, but can give rise to truly new ways of thought. In the Graduate School of Applied Linguistics, a master's degree or a doctoral degree can be earned in either Applied Linguistics or Japanese Language Teaching.
Meikai University offers a Japanese Language Education Program, an English Language Education Program, a Translating and Interpreting Program, and a "Simul Academy Interpreter Training Program" in conjunction with the major translating and interpretation firm Simul International, Inc.
Graduate School of Economics
All the industrialized nations in today's world, including Japan, face urgent problems in their economics. At the root of the problem lies the fact that their societies underwent a huge transformation at the turn of the 20th century, and the structures underlying their economies changed greatly. The following key phrases capture the dilemmas that face society today: the aging society and lifestyles; globalization of the world economy; development and environment; and the division of roles between public and private organizations.
The Graduate School of Economics offers opportunities for research that go beyond conventional study methods based on books and reference materials, and involve practical applicability, combining construction of theoretical models with a full respect for facts as well as analysis based on processed data. The aim is to train people capable both of identifying and understanding problems and of proposing solutions. Students are also offered the chance to study various problems in the area of tax law with a theoretical approach to meet the requirements of the business world.
Graduate School of Real Estate Sciences
Real Estate Sciences are academic discipline that has as its aim the creation of a felicitous urban environment. Topics covered in the classes have relevance for every aspect of our lives and society around us. One of the objects of study of this discipline, for example, is the city, which is a collection of neighborhoods (a mass) made up of land, buildings, and greenery. Real Estate Sciences are practical discipline that trains people to study both theoretically and in actual fact how best to utilize land and buildings in the context of ordinary people's lives and economic activities. The study of Real Estate Sciences as an integrated, systematic discipline in Japan began with Meikai University's Department of Real Estate Sciences, whose distinctive feature is that it allows for research with an interdisciplinary approach. Since the establishment of the Department of Real Estate Sciences in 1992, Meikai University has been steadily firming up its interdisciplinary programs, with a Master's program in 1998 and a doctoral program in 2000.
The Graduate School of Real Estate Sciences are instituting in its Master's Program six smaller programs covering fundamentals, four areas of specialization, contemporary issues in real estate, and areas of study necessary to acquire qualifications. The Master's Program consists of five smaller specialty programs, and a licensing program targeted at students who want to acquire related qualifications.
Graduate School of Dentistry
The specialization of knowledge and technology in the field of dentistry is proceeding at a rapid pace. Consequently, dentists in the 21st century will be required not only to be specialists who can respond to patients' diverse needs but also generalists who can formulate and implement advanced comprehensive medical plans.
To respond to the requirements of the age, the Graduate School of Dentistry has established 22 research groups in 4 divisions, taking into account the balance between fundamentals and clinical studies. This curriculum enables students to both cultivate their specialties and study dentistry from a general perspective by taking a combination of these courses.
We have also endeavored to further improve research facilities and equipment and have appointed specialist and equipment operators in each field. Through a central system in which students can freely combine courses, we have created a free and flexible study environment. The adoption of this central system has given rise to numerous benefits, including the following.
1)The 22-research group, 4-division system has stimulated communication among researchers with different specialties. By sharing knowledge and learning research techniques from each other, they can adopt a multifaceted approach to research projects.
2) The costs and space for each research group have been rationalized. This has made possible priority budget allocation, facilitating the introduction of the latest equipment and large-scale equipment.
3) Through 2), research laboratories have been set up for all the research groups, resulting in significant advances in basic and applied research in each specialized area.
The Graduate School of Dentistry has set up a number of systems and seminars that support student life and research activities. There is a teaching assistant(TA) system, a research assistant (RA) system, support for participation in general seminars and international conferences, and the Miyata Scholarship.
