The M.A. program is divided into five possible courses: English Linguistics, English Pedagogy, English Communication, Japanese Linguistics, Japanese Pedagogy. All students are required to take subjects in theoretical and/or descriptive linguistics as well as courses in their area of specialization. Requirements for the completion of the Master of Arts (a minimum of two years of study), the completion of 32 course units and the submission of an M.A. thesis. English majors are required to write the M.A. thesis in English. Master candidates are selected on the basis of B.A. grades, letters of recommendation, the entrance examination and an interview.

Moreover, since 1999, a one-year master's degree program was started. Students can get the degree as long as they use the "part- time student system" to get all the required credits.

Candidates for the Ph.D. program must complete three years of study beyond the M.A. degree, earn 12 units of course credit and pass the Ph.D. final candidancy screening. A Ph.D. dissertation and oral defense are also required. To be eligible for consideration for admission to the doctoral degree program, students must graduate from an accredited M.A. program.

Additionally, The Graduate school of Language Science, which was designated as a Center of Excellence (COE) in 1996 by Ministry of Education, has received widespread attention. The COE is a research center with excellent facilities and is highly regarded throughout the world. Our theme of research is "Researching and Verifying an Advanced Theory of Human Language". We seek to understand the principles governing human language and what they should be according to the hypothesis that humans are innately endowed with the ability to use language. Our plans to publish the results of this research and share them with the world on the Web are now well in progress.

The features of Graduate School of Language Science

Master's program

Doctoral program

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