Undergraduate

Introduction

Social science is the field of academic scholarship which broadens students' thoughts and insights and helps them build their ability to present realistic alternatives based on comprehensive judgment, analysis and forecast. The College of Social Sciences consists of 6 departments, including Economics, Public Administration, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science and Diplomacy, and Sports and Leisure Studies. Students can pursue diverse academic interests in social sciences by attending the programs offered in a way that helps them to complete multiple yet interrelated major subjects within the College.

Goal of Education

The College of Social Sciences is striving to train talented young people who will play a leading role in diverse fields both in and out of the country in the 21st century. It provides students with intellectual education that cultivates experts who can respond creatively to social changes.

Its educational forms are essentially three-fold:

  • First, practical education that meets social demand,
  • Second, scientific education that fosters a capacity for logical analysis, and
  • Third, global education that cultivates cognitive and moral conscience to become global citizens.

Introduction to Departments

Department of Economics

The department aims to train economic experts with a creative and ethical mindset who can contribute to the construction of a welfare state based on ultramodern economic theory, and who have the ability to expertly analyze economic issues in and out of the country. Freshmen and sophomores are required to complete basic economic theories and methodologies, while junior and seniors must complete mandatory and elective subjects in the applied fields. Economic majors must acquire 18(eighteen) course credits in 6(six) subjects designated as mandatory and at least 24(twenty four) course credits in elective subjects.

Department of Public Administration

Public administration is an area of science that presents practical suggestions based on an academic understanding of social phenomena, including state affairs. A Public Administration major is supposed to have a particular interest in the causal relationships between social phenomena and their developmental process. He/she should also be ready to assume the role required by a changing society with an insight that can look at society in general.

In the 21stcentury, administrative phenomena have been rapidly changing amid the process of globalization, localization and information-based operations. A well-organized, rationalized and democratized administration has become essential. The department has continued to strive to train experts with a broad knowledge base to meet the demand of the current era, since its launch in 1985.

The department offers curricula comprised of the major subjects, cultural subjects and free elective subjects required to understand and study administrative phenomena, including content that is important to prepare for state-administered exams for high governmental positions. The department also helps students learn a wide range of analysis and appraisal techniques as future leaders either in the public or private sectors. The relevant subjects include Introduction to Public Administration, Organization Theory, Policy Theory, Social Survey Methodology, Local Administration, Urban Administration, Welfare Administration, and Industrial Policies.

Department of Psychology

Psychology is a basic academic discipline that focuses on the behavioral and mental processes of humans, scientifically and systematically. Psychology can be divided into basic psychology (e.g., perception psychology, psychology of learning, cognitive psychology, physiological psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, etc.) and applied psychology (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, personnel psychology, consumption psychology, advertising psychology, organizational psychology, engineering psychology, environmental psychology, computer psychology, educational psychology, health psychology, etc.).

One of the aims of psychological education is to help students gain a deeper and wider understanding of the behavioral and mental process of humans by studying the theories in relevant areas and applying such to everyday life.

Freshmen and sophomores study introductions to psychology and mandatory subjects with a focus on the gaining of a solid basic knowledge and the building of application abilities based on such knowledge. Juniors and seniors choose advanced courses in consideration of their individual propensities and future careers. Concerning computer classes, experiments and practicals (including behavioral research practice and psychological testing and practice), these are organized in a way that allows all students to carry out their learning gradually and consistently regardless of their year in school.

A basic academic social science discipline, psychology is closely related to business administration, cultural anthropology, the science of education, sociology, medical science and engineering. Thus, students can choose from a wide variety of career paths, depending on their interest. An increasing number of domestic businesses are recruiting talented psychology majors to work in the personnel, PR, education and marketing sectors, which demonstrates a shift in their view of the discipline compared to the past. Institutions, such as schools, hospitals and counseling agencies, also need psychology majors. A psychology major can also become a counseling teachers by completing the relevant subjects. With the implementation of the Mental Health Act, psychology majors can obtain certification as mental health clinical psychiatrists degrees 1 ,and 2 after finishing a given period of training. Psychology majors are also in an advantageous position to obtain certification as vocational counselors and survey analysts. Other careers open to psychology majors include computer psychologist, environmental psychologist, engineering psychologist, surveyor working for local administrative units or social issue research institutions, or public official.

Department of Sociology

Sociology is concerned with the process in which a macro-prudential social structure is formulated, maintained or changed, or the characteristics and problems of diverse systems, different components and groups, or different individuals when affected by social phenomena or other causes of social change.

Sociology has continued to develop theoretical frameworks for the detailed analysis of such social phenomena, and methods for the systematic and scientific collection and analysis of materials. Thus, it has contributed to social development by presenting diverse solutions and policy alternatives.

Under such a tradition, the department aims to train talented young people with the ability to collect and analyze the necessary information for correct diagnosis of social problems in a complicated and rapidly changing reality and to set up constructive alternatives from a future-oriented perspective. The department helps students become professionals specializing in assignments concerning social surveys, media and culture and comprehensive planning through the ability to critically analyze the cultural phenomena occurring in various media and cultural realms and the creation of new cultures. In addition, the collection, processing and interpretation of information required for such analysis, under any circumstances, using social survey methods and social statistics techniques, is undertaken.

Department of Political Science and Diplomacy

A core discipline of the social sciences, Political Science and Diplomacy studies political theories and methods, comparative politics/regional politics, and international politics. “Political theories and methods” focuses on modern political theories, political philosophies, and political methodologies. “Comparative politics/regional politics” analyzes and studies the diverse political systems of various countries, according to region and ideology. “International politics” covers the practices and procedures concerning the political, diplomatic, military and economic relationships between countries.

Department of Sports and Leisure Studies

Amid the reduction of working hours and the increase in leisure time, sport and leisure has emerged as an important element in modern-day society. Sports have secured their position as an important activity in the daily lives of ordinary people in combination with political, economic and social elements. Also, with the spread of the five-day work-week system, local/international tourism and event industries have grown rapidly. In this course, students develop a theoretical understanding of sport/leisure and conduct surveys and analyses related to such.