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• Japanese, Ph.D.

UW–Madison offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Japanese, specializing either in linguistics or in literature and culture. The program provides broad foundations and focused training in these two specialties, assuring that our graduates are amply prepared to teach and conduct research.

The linguistics specialty excels in areas such as functional linguistics, pragmatics, discourse/conversation analysis, sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and language pedagogy.

The literature and culture specialty covers the classical Heian through contemporary Reiwa periods, offering a wide range of courses on fiction, poetry, drama, popular culture, visual culture, cinema, acoustic culture, and cutting-edge cross-media and avant-garde topics, particularly manga and anime.

The Japanese Program is housed in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures (ALC), along with the Chinese Program and the Asian Languages and Cultures Program. As such, students will have opportunities to interact with all faculty, staff, and graduate students affiliated with the department to examine their area of specialty in broader regional and disciplinary contexts.

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online .

Thank you for your interest in our programs. The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures (ALC) offers a graduate program in  Asian Languages and Cultures ,  Chinese  and  Japanese .

Prior to submitting application and materials, applicants should carefully review the information regarding the program of interest and the  faculty’s expertise  to determine the fit between their interest and the program. To this extent, prospective applicants may contact a specific faculty to discuss their research interest prior to submitting applications.

Applicants should also review the  Graduate School's admission process ,  Graduate School's minimum requirements , and program requirements and information prior to submitting the online application and fee. The application fee cannot be waived or refunded.

We accept applications for the fall term only.

In order to be considered for fellowships, project assistantships, and teaching assistantships , all application materials must be in by January 10.

If you do not need any funding support, you may submit applications by April 15.

Application Process

New applicants to UW-Madison apply to programs through the Graduate School application process. Complete the  online Graduate application  and select the Asian Languages and Cultures (major code 596) or Chinese (major code 171) or Japanese (major code 583) program. 

If you are a currently enrolled UW-Madison graduate student and would like to add or change your current graduate program to Asian Languages and Cultures, Chinese, or Japanese, you do not need to fill out the online application. You will need to submit the following to the ALC Graduate Program Coordinator:

• ALC Departmental Application form
• Grad School " Add/Change Program " form (click on link and look for form in the "Academic Forms" box)
• Letters of recommendation
• CV or Resume
• Statement of purpose

The applications from current UW–Madison graduate students will be reviewed every spring, together with new applications submitted.

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid.  Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Graduate Student Costs

For tuition and living costs, please view the Cost of Attendance page .  International applicants recommended for admission to the Graduate School are required to show sufficient funds to attend the University during the course of studies (tuition, food and housing, incidentals and health insurance) to be officially accepted by the Graduate School.

Department Resources

The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures offers financial assistance in the forms of fellowships, teaching assistantships (TAships), and project assistantships (PAships). Please make note of the deadline of January 10 for financial assistance consideration . All necessary materials including test scores must be submitted by the deadline.

If you are an international applicant and receive a fellowship, PAship or TAship, please make note that you will likely be required to show additional financial documentation to meet the minimum required for your official acceptance to the Graduate School.

Other awards & Fellowships

• F o r e i g n Language & Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships: FLAS fellowships are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the UW's National Resource Centers to assist students in acquiring foreign language and either area or international studies competencies. FLAS awards are only available for specific languages and are contingent on federal funding.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Applications by students in professional fields are encouraged. Preference will be given to applicants with a high level of academic ability and with previous language training.

Academic Year and Summer FLAS awards are two separate competitions requiring two separate and complete applications.

Complete details about FLAS at UW-Madison are available on the FLAS FAQs (your first stop) and the FLAS Languages & Coordinators pages (should you have additional questions).

• Adv a n ce d Opportunity Fellowship (AOF): This fellowship is awarded to highly qualified underrepresented students. To be considered for AOF funding, prospective students must be new to the Graduate School and be admissible to a graduate program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  For further information: https://grad.wisc.edu/diversity/ .
• Project Assistantships. Availability of PAship vary from one year to another, depending on the types of projects the departmental faculty are engaged in. PAs assist faculty members’ research projects and/or respond to some programmatic needs of the department and other campus units.
• T e a c hin g Assistantships. Availability and types of TAship vary from one year to another, depending on the department’s curricular needs and the student enrollment. TAs will support a number of our language and culture courses, typically team-teaching with faculty members. If you are interested in being a teaching assistant in our language programs, you must submit the TA application and necessary materials (1-2 page written autobiography that refers to your prior teaching experience, letter of recommendation that speaks to your teaching experience, video recording of your teaching, if available) through the Graduate School application system by January 10 .
• Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) Awards Office:  IRIS manages its own funding opportunities (Scott Kloeck-Jenson Fellowships, IRIS Graduate Fieldwork Awards, Incubator Grants), coordinates the campus component of a number of external programs (Boren Fellowships, Fulbright US Student Program, Fulbright-Hays DDRA, Luce Scholars Program), assists students, faculty, and staff in exploring funding options, and much more. Visit:  https://iris.wisc.edu/funding/  for more information on awards. Contact Mark Lilleleht, Assistant Director for Awards, with questions at  [email protected]  & 608-265-6070.
• Other Forms of Financial Aid: Loans and some on-campus job openings are handled through the Office of Student Financial Aid . Please contact them to obtain more information.
• Students may also obtain information from the Grants Information Center in the Memorial Library, Room 262, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53706. Phone 608-262-3242.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Major requirements.

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.

MODE OF INSTRUCTION

Mode of instruction definitions.

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

Required courses, linguistics pathway 1.

These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

It is recommended that students take a research methods course.

Literature Pathway 1

Beyond the M.A. requirements , students must take three additional courses in Japanese literature/culture numbered 700 or higher.

Graduate School Policies

The  Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures  provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior coursework, graduate work from other institutions.

With program approval, students are allowed to count no more than 9 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework earned ten years or more prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

UW–Madison Undergraduate

With program approval, no more than 7 credits of graduate coursework (as defined above) completed while a UW–Madison undergraduate may be counted to satisfy degree requirements. Coursework earned ten years or more prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

UW–Madison University Special

With program approval, students are allowed to count no more than 9 credits of graduate coursework (as defined above) taken as a UW–Madison special student. Coursework earned ten years or more prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

A semester GPA below 3.5 will result in the student being placed on academic probation. If a semester GPA of 3.5 is not attained during the subsequent semester of full time enrollment, the student may be dismissed from the program or allowed to continue for 1 additional semester based on advisor appeal to the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee. A student on probation may not take the preliminary examination.

ADVISOR / COMMITTEE

Starting fall 2018, all students are required to be supervised by co-advisors. One of the co-advisors must be a member of the Japanese Program, but the other co-advisor can be identified from related fields outside of the Japanese Program.

At the point of beginning work on the dissertation, a single dissertation advisor (most likely one of the co-advisors) may be chosen, or the co-advising arrangement may continue for the dissertation as well.

Dissertation committees must have at least four members representing more than one graduate program, three of whom must be UW–Madison graduate faculty or former UW–Madison graduate faculty up to one year after resignation or retirement. At least one of the four members must be from outside of the student’s major program or major field (often from the minor field).

CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED

Time limits.

A candidate for a doctoral degree who fails to take the final oral examination and deposit the dissertation within five years after passing the preliminary examination may be required to take another preliminary examination and to be admitted to candidacy a second time.

Grievances and appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

• Bias or Hate Reporting  
• Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
• Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
• Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
• Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
• Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
• Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
• Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
• Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances. They may also contact the L&S Academic Divisional Associate Deans, the L&S Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning Administration, or the L&S Director of Human Resources.

Take advantage of the Graduate School's  professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

Program resources

Throughout the academic year, professional development trainings, workshops, and graduate student-organized activities take place. The Director of Graduate Studies is eager to hear from students about what interests they have for such events. 

GRADUATE SCHOOL Office of PRofessional Development

The Graduate School Office of Professional Development (OPD) coordinates, develops, and promotes learning opportunities to foster the academic, professional, and life skills of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers and scholars.

Professional development topics include  Individual Development Plans , communication, mentoring, grant writing, dissertation writing, career exploration, job search strategies, and more. OPD collaborates with the Writing Center, Libraries, DoIT Software Training for Students, Delta, career centers, and others to provide a wealth of resources and events tailored to the needs of UW–Madison graduate students.

The office developed and maintains  DiscoverPD , an innovative tool for UW–Madison graduate students to advance their academic and professional goals. DiscoverPD introduces nine areas (or "facets") of professional development, includes a self-assessment, and provides a customized report of areas of strength and weakness. The report comes with recommendations to help graduate students strengthen their ability within each area.

More information on campus resources for student professional development is available at  Graduate Student Professional Development . Students may keep up-to-date by reading  GradConnections , the weekly newsletter for graduate students, and bookmarking the  Events Calendar  to keep tabs on upcoming workshops of interest.

• Demonstrate a thorough and in-depth understanding of research problems, potentials, and limits with respect to theory, knowledge, or practice in at least one of the following areas of study: Japanese literature and culture, Japanese linguistics, and Transasian studies.
• Formulate ideas, concepts, designs, and/or techniques beyond the current boundaries of knowledge within the specialized field(s).
• Create scholarship and advance knowledge that makes a substantive contribution to the field(s).
• Articulate and communicate complex ideas in a clear and understandable manner to both specialized and general audience.
• Recognize, apply, and foster ethical and professional conduct.

Faculty & staff

Please visit the  Asian Languages & Cultures website  for a complete list of faculty, instructional, and academic staff.

• Requirements
• Professional Development
• Learning Outcomes

Contact Information

Asian Languages & Cultures, Graduate Program https://alc.wisc.edu/graduate-programs/

Tiange Wang, Graduate Program Coordinator [email protected]

Graduate School grad.wisc.edu

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Japanese Ph.D. Program

Specialization in linguistics.

[Note: Students interested in pursuing the PhD with a specialization in Japanese linguistics can apply for our  MA in Japanese linguistics (if they do not yet have a related MA degree), and, for the PhD, our PhD program in Asian Languages and Cultures , where they can specialize in Japanese linguistics.]

SPECIALIZATION IN LITERATURE AND CULTURE

I. admission.

The Department of Asian Languages and Literature does not accept students directly into the Ph.D. program. All students who wish to enter the Ph.D. program must petition to proceed to the program after being admitted. Students who already have an M.A. in Japanese literature and culture from another institution must complete at least 45 credits of course work and submit a successful petition to proceed before admission to the Ph.D. program, which will allow them to bypass other M.A. requirements. Students without an M.A. in Japanese literature and culture must enter the M.A. program and complete all requirements before submitting a petition. Please see the Japanese M.A. program page for more information.

II. Course Requirements

In addition to the minimum of 45 credits or its equivalent required for the master's program, the Ph.D. student must take at least 50 credits of course work at the graduate level, 20 of which must be at the 500 level.

The following courses and dissertation credits are required:

• Modern Japanese: JAPAN 431, 432, 433 (may be bypassed with previous training, if approved)
• Classical Japanese and kambun : JAPAN 471, 472, 505 (may be bypassed with previous training, if approved)
• 10 credits in classical Japanese literature & culture (JAPAN 571, 572, or 573)
• 10 credits in modern Japanese literature & culture (JAPAN 531, 532, or 533)
• ASIAN 800 Doctoral Dissertation (27 credits)

Additional course work may be required. Each student develops his or her individualized program of study in consultation with his or her faculty adviser.

III. Language Requirement

In addition to English and Japanese, the student must demonstrate proficiency in a third language related to his or her course of study.  Proficiency must be demonstrated in this third language to the satisfaction of the adviser before the student may proceed to the General Examination.

Students pursue advanced studies in three distinct fields, each of which is supervised by a member of the graduate faculty. At least one of those fields must be classical Japanese literature and at least one must be modern Japanese literature. Each of these fields requires a substantial research paper. The third field, which may be pursued outside the department, will be selected in consultation with the adviser and its requirements will be determined by the supervising faculty member.

V. General Examination

After the above field requirements have been fulfilled and the third language requirement has been satisfied, the student must take and pass an oral General Examination for admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree. The examination is administered by the Doctoral Supervisory Committee.

VI. Dissertation and Final Examination

After achieving Doctoral Candidate (Ph.C.) status, the student engages in research and the writing of the dissertation under the direction of his or her Doctoral Supervisory Committee. When the Doctoral Supervisory Committee deems the student ready, a final examination will be conducted in which the dissertation is evaluated. When the final examination has been passed and the result has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School, then the requirements are complete and the degree is granted.

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Apply to PhD

The Graduate School accepts about 60 full-time graduate students per year. This ensures low numbers of students for each faculty member so that we can deliver best-in-the-world teaching to our graduate students. The basic requirement for the OIST Graduate Program is completion of a Bachelors, Masters, or equivalent degree prior to the admission date. Students may submit an application at any time. Your application will be considered at the next admissions committee meeting. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the Admissions Selection , held on-campus twice a year, as part of the selection process.

OIST strives to create and maintain an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment that does not discriminate against gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, medical condition, race, ethnicity, ancestry, culture, national origin, religion, or marital status. Applications from women and other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged. For more details, please refer to the OIST Graduate School Three Policies.

Selection Schedule

*The schedule is tentative and subject to change.

Number of Accepting Students

The Graduate School accepts 60 students. To conduct education and research tailored to the wishes and aptitude of each students, we accept a small number of students.

Eligibility

Those who have graduated with a Bachelor's or Master's degree or expect to complete their degree before the date of enrollment into the PhD Program at OIST are eligible to apply.

Application Procedure

We accept application documents only online. Please prepare all necessary documents written below in English and in a PDF file and upload all necessary documents at the application website .

Note: We recommend using a computer when preparing the online application. If you prefer using a mobile device, please make sure to have the latest operating system for the application to work properly.

Required Documents

Scanned copies of your current academic transcript and any other transcript from your past degree  (BSc, MSc, etc.) in PDF format

Completed diploma (BSc, MSc, etc.) in PDF format.

• A scan of an unofficial transcript or other record of grades may be uploaded to the application website.
• English explanation is required for transcripts that are not written in English.
• If you have not graduated and do not have a diploma yet, please upload a certificate of enrolment from your institution (which preferably indicates your expected graduation date)

This should be not more than 400 words (2500 characters) and should address the following points:

• The applicant’s scientific interests and aspirations.
• What the applicant hopes to gain from undertaking graduate studies at OIST.

The application system requires applicants to submit a passport number and upload a scan of their passport photo page. It is essential that applicants from outside Japan have a valid passport for travel to Japan. You must supply your passport details in the application process.

If you do not have a passport at the time of application, you can upload other government-issued identification documents instead. However, if you receive an offer after the Admissions Selection, OIST will need a copy of your valid passport immediately to prepare your visa application and travel arrangement to relocate to Okinawa.

Each applicant is required to have at least two and no more than five letters of recommendation from appropriate academic referees. Two is the minimum requirement, but as a rule, it is very helpful for the admissions committee to have three or more letters. In the online application system, the applicant will enter the name and email of each recommender. The system will then contact the referee directly for their letter.

• OIST strongly recommends that applicants ask academic referees in advance for permission to list them as recommenders. Recommendation letters needs to be submitted by the deadline. Referee comments are a very important part of the selection process, and it is the applicant's responsibility to first ensure that referees are willing to submit such a letter, and then that they do submit before the deadline.
• Recommender’s letters will be treated as confidential material and will not be available to applicants or parties other than OIST faculty members assessing the application. In registering a recommender the applicant acknowledges that there is no right to read the recommender’s letter.
• You can only submit your application after at least two recommendation letters are received in the application system.

An applicant who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university for which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English is required to provide a TOEFL iBT or IELTS score obtained within the last 2 years. Please upload a digital copy of your official score report to the application website.

• There is no minimum score required but the information is necessary in determining preparatory course requirements.

Optional Documents

The following documents may be submitted optionally, and will be taken into consideration by the selection committee if available:

• Additional evidence of academic ability such as GRE general or specific test scores obtained within the last 2 years.
• Additional material such as the title and abstract of publications and oral presentations, and other evidence of achievement.

Note: The OIST Graduate School reserves the right to request an external evaluation of academic qualifications from any applicant.

Application Fee

There is no application fee to apply for the OIST Graduate Program.

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• Study in Kobe

Graduate School Admissions - Doctoral programmes

In order to enter Degree programs, students have to take and pass the entrance examinations and an interview conducted by Kobe University. Following are the general information on eligibility, selection method, and admission information for each Graduate School.

Eligibility

Applicants must be foreign nationals who do not hold Japanese nationality and have successfully completed 16 years of school education or the equivalent. Those who are expected to graduate by March 31 of the year they are entering are also eligible.

• For detailed information on each Graduate School’s eligibility requirements, please refer to each School’s website.

Selection Method

Students are selected by academic records and the result of the paper based and oral examinations conducted by each Graduate School. The types of examinations vary according to each Graduate School.

• Many international students choose to enter Kobe University as a Research Student non-degree seeking student conduct research while improving their Japanese language ability for about 1 year, and then move on to a degree-seeking program after passing the entrance examination.

How to Apply

1. find your future supervisor.

Graduate Schools either do or do not require students Graduate School, but it is always better to decide the faculty member by whom you wish to be supervised, considering your own research topic. Check the information about the faculty members at Master’s Programs and Doctoral Programs and contact the faculty member directly.

How to find the future academic supervisor?

• Make use of our Directory of Researchers in Kobe University .
• When contact information is not available on the website of Graduate School, contact the Student Affairs Section of relevant Graduate School .

2. Obtain Application Information and Application Forms

When to request.

Application information is usually available on the Graduate School website and also on the website of Japan Study Support. However in order to apply, applicants have to obtain the original application forms. Each Graduate School distributes application forms at certain period usually once a year or twice a year.

Where and How to request

Applicants can obtain application forms either by visiting the office of each Graduate School directly or requesting by post. When requesting by post, be sure to enclose a return envelop with the necessary stamp attached to the Student Affairs Section of respective Graduate School.

• The return envelop should be a size that can enclose an A4-size Legal size without folding the forms.
• Please attach the necessary amount of stamp to the return envelop.
• For detailed information, please check the website of the relevant Graduate School.

When to apply

Each Graduate School has certain application period usually once a year or twice a year.

Where and how to apply

Send the Student Affairs Section of respective Graduate School the necessary application materials by post. Must reach by the deadline, late arrival would not be considered for admission.

• Students who have different educational background than that of shown on page 59 need to be pre-assessed before application. Please inquire Student Affairs Section of respective Graduate School for detailed information.

4. Take the Examination

Each Graduate School has its own examination schedule. All examinations are conducted at Kobe University. Applicants should make arrangement to come to Kobe at this time.

5. Acceptance

How to find out the result.

In early March, applicants will receive an admission notice and other information by post if they passed the examination. Applicants who failed the examination will not receive the notice. If accepted, applicants must make the payment of admission fee by bank transfer, and submit the necessary documents.

6. Prepare for Coming to Japan

Prepare passport and visa (when applicants reside overseas).

In order to enter Japan, international students must have a passport and a “College Student Visa”. Please refer to “Procedure for Entering Japan” for details on how to apply for the visa.

Secure Accommodation

There are University housings and other accommodation that students can apply for through the university, but these rooms are limited. Please use the “Kobe University Student Apartment Search System” to look for private apartment. This system has been established with Nasic National Student Information Center for Kobe University international students. Students can also use this search system to reserve an apartment from overseas. It is available in 4 languages (Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean) and will also support students with lease agreement. For more information please refer to “Housing information”.

Students can also search apartment through Kobe University Co-op Service Center after arrival in Kobe.

Reserve an airplane ticket and purchase a traveler’s insurance. (Recommended but optional) (when applicants resides overseas)

7. after arriving in japan, come to kobe university during the designated period to complete the necessary entrance procedures., participate in new student orientation, classes begin, make payment of tuition fees, for more information.

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• PhD Program in Japanese

The PhD in Asian Languages and Civilizations at the University of Colorado offers specializations in Chinese or Japanese with concentrations in literary and/or cultural studies of either the pre-modern or modern periods. The program consists of:

• course work
• a Comprehensive Examination consisting of a written and an oral component
• a doctoral dissertation
• an oral defense of the doctoral dissertation.

The following guidelines represent the PhD procedures specific to our department; they are not intended to replace or supersede the University of Colorado at Boulder Catalog nor any other official document issued by the Graduate School. See in particular the  Graduate School Rules .

Course Work

The PhD requires a minimum of 45 credit hours in graduate courses numbered 5000 or above in Japanese and may include a focus in a related field (such as History, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Sociology, Art History, Film Studies, etc.). Students who have completed an MA degree may be able to apply up to 21 hours toward this requirement.

The required 45 credit hours of coursework must be passed with a grade of B or better. If a student receives a grade of B- (or a lesser grade), the course in question will not count toward the total number of credits required to graduate. Upon receiving more than one B- (or lesser grade), a student will normally be dropped from the graduate program.  In order to ensure that special circumstances are taken into account, the department Graduate Committee will review each such case and recommend appropriate action to the department chair.

In addition to superior language skills in English as well as in the classical/literary and modern form of the language, a reading knowledge of one additional language is required (typically one additional Asian language or one European language), to be decided in consultation with the main advisor.

This ability may be determined by completing a college level intermediate course (typically fourth semester) in the language with a grade of B or better (either at CU or prior to arrival on campus); passing with the current minimum acceptable score an appropriate foreign language test; or passing a test of reading knowledge set by appropriate faculty.

New PhD students will select the courses they take during their first year of study in consultation with the Graduate Director of the program. By the end of their second semester, students are required to choose their major advisor, with whom they will plan their program of study thereafter. Normally this faculty member becomes the Chair of the Comprehensive Examination Committee as well as of the Dissertation Committee.

Comprehensive Examination

Before admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree, students must pass a comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam will cover three fields—the chosen field of concentration and two related fields—to be decided in consultation with the student’s Comprehensive Examination Committee.  

The examination is conducted by an examining board appointed by the chair of the department and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The board shall consist of the major advisor and additional members as necessary to a minimum of five (one of whom must come from outside the department or from outside the program).

Working in consultation with the Chair (usually this will be the student’s major advisor) and other members of the Comprehensive Examination Committee, the student will formulate a dissertation topic and prepare a reading list of primary texts pertaining to that topic, and a further list of secondary materials composed of critical and theoretical texts intended to inform the student’s approach to the dissertation topic. The reading lists will be circulated to the Comprehensive Examination Committee two weeks before the written exam.

The examination itself consists of a take-home written exam in three fields (the chosen field of concentration and two related fields) followed by an oral examination lasting about 90 minutes that concentrates on the written exam, but may also address texts and topics on the reading lists that are not covered in the written exam.

For the written exam, the student will be given three groups of two or three questions in each field. Usually, the Chair of the Comprehensive Examination Committee will set questions in the student’s chosen field of concentration; the questions for the two related fields are each set by a committee member. The questions for each group will be emailed to the student by the Graduate Program Assistant or the Chair of the Comprehensive Examination Committee, usually in intervals of three weeks. Each time, the student will choose one question from the group and return the response to the committee members within two weeks. What form the response is going to take is decided by the Chair of the committee. Typically, the response will be a scholarly paper of 15 to 30 pages.

The oral examination will cover the student’s broad area of concentration. It takes place within two weeks after the third response is submitted. Students are expected to demonstrate familiarity with primary and secondary sources as well as related issues such as social and historical context, and current theoretical trends in the field. The Comprehensive Examination is only open to the members of the Examination Committee.

The student is responsible for notifying the Graduate Program Assistant of the date of the oral examination to reserve a room.  The Exam Form  should be submitted to the Graduate Program Assistant as soon as the date is confirmed.

Upon successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination, students should fill out the  Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree .

Dissertation Hours

A minimum of 30 hours of doctoral dissertation credit with no more than 10 of these hours in any one semester are required. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 dissertation hours per semester after passing the comprehensive exam and extending through the semester in which they defend their dissertation.

Dissertation Director and Committee

Students form the Dissertation Committee in consultation with the major advisor. The committee consists of the Dissertation Director (usually this will be the student’s major advisor) and four other graduate faculty members (one of whom must come from outside the department or from outside the program).

Dissertation Prospectus

The dissertation prospectus will be submitted within a month after the Comprehensive Examination, to be followed by its defense a week later.

The dissertation prospectus should provide a clear written outline of the dissertation, including: the major theme or themes of the dissertation; a clearly expressed thesis or argument about the topic itself; an overview of relevant secondary literature; a chapter-by-chapter outline; a timeline for its completion; an extensive bibliography. Students are expected to demonstrate familiarity with their field, a thorough knowledge of primary and secondary sources, current trends in scholarship, and a clearly articulated sense of their contributions to the field. The prospectus should be roughly 4,000–5,000 words long, plus bibliography, and will be circulated to the Dissertation Committee; the Dissertation Committee will decide if a prospectus is acceptable. The prospectus defense will take place with the members of the Dissertation Committee. The defense lasts approximately an hour. If the prospectus is approved, the student begins to write the dissertation.

Dissertation

The PhD dissertation must be based upon original research and demonstrate mature scholarship and critical judgment as well as familiarity with the tools and methods of research. It should be a worthwhile contribution to knowledge in the student’s special field. The dissertation is written in close consultation with the Director and Dissertation Committee.

The dissertation must meet the format requirements of the Graduate School. Students should consult the University Catalog and confer with the Graduate School for specifications and deadlines.

Dissertation Defense

The dissertation defense—an oral examination and discussion lasting about 90 minutes—should take place in the spring semester of the fifth year. The student should schedule the defense before the start of the spring semester. Copies of the dissertation should be delivered to the committee members at least one month prior to the defense date.  The Exam Form  should be submitted to the Graduate Program Assistant as soon as the date is confirmed. A satisfactory vote from at least four committee members is required to pass the defense. The Final Examination is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Typical Timeline

• Semester 1:   3 seminars
• Semester 2: 3 seminars
• Semester 3: 3 seminars
• Semester 4: 3 seminars
• Semester 5: 2 seminars; 5 hours of Dissertation Guidance; ​preparation of Comprehensive Exam
• Semester 6: 1 seminar; 5 hours of Dissertation Guidance; ​Comprehensive Exam; Submission of Dissertation Prospectus
• Semester 7: at least 5 hours of Dissertation Guidance
• Semester 8: at least 5 hours of Dissertation Guidance
• Semester 9: at least 5 hours of Dissertation Guidance
• Semester 10: at least 5 hours of Dissertation Guidance; Submission and Oral Defense of Dissertation
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Berkeley Berkeley Academic Guide: Academic Guide 2023-24

Japanese language.

About the Program

The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures offers a PhD program in Japanese Language. The department only admits students into the PhD program.

As a rule, students wishing to enter the graduate program should have completed an undergraduate program comparable to the undergraduate major in this department. Students who do not have BA or MA degrees in East Asian Languages and Cultures (or Japanese) or in similar fields can be considered for admission. If admitted, these students are often required to make up deficiencies in their course work. This can result in a lengthening of the normative time to degree (seven years).

The department only admits students into the PhD program. You must indicate that a PhD is your degree goal on the application materials. Students who have not completed an MA degree before beginning study at Berkeley will have to complete the requirements for the MA before proceeding to the PhD program. After completion of the MA requirements (coursework and thesis), students are evaluated for permission to proceed to the PhD portion of the program. Students who have completed an MA degree before beginning study at Berkeley may apply for admission directly to the PhD program. After one year in the PhD program, such students will be evaluated before being permitted to continue in the program.

UC Berkeley graduate students from other disciplines who are considering transferring into the degree program in Japanese language undergo the same faculty review as first-time applicants. However, they do not complete the Graduate Application. Students in this category should contact the department graduate assistant for instructions.

The length of time needed to complete an advanced degree in the department depends on financial considerations, the extent of the student's earlier preparation, and other factors. Under optimum conditions, the MA can be earned in two years and the PhD in an additional four to five years.

Step by Step. To learn how best to prepare for study at the graduate level in the humanities and the social sciences, current undergraduates may find useful Step by Step , a resource for UC Berkeley students to enrich their undergraduate academic experience and to prepare for graduate school.

Visit Department Website

Admission to the University

Applying for graduate admission.

Thank you for considering UC Berkeley for graduate study! UC Berkeley offers more than 120 graduate programs representing the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary scholarship. A complete list of graduate academic departments, degrees offered, and application deadlines can be found on the Graduate Division website .

Prospective students must submit an online application to be considered for admission, in addition to any supplemental materials specific to the program for which they are applying. The online application can be found on the Graduate Division website .

Admission Requirements

The minimum graduate admission requirements are:

A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;

A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and

Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.

For a list of requirements to complete your graduate application, please see the Graduate Division’s Admissions Requirements page . It is also important to check with the program or department of interest, as they may have additional requirements specific to their program of study and degree. Department contact information can be found here .

Where to apply?

Visit the Berkeley Graduate Division application page .

Admission to the Program

Applications are reviewed and ranked by the entire faculty. The faculty makes its selection on the basis of academic records and on whether or not the applicant's academic goals can be met by the department's programs. Those chosen are recommended to the Graduate Division, which sets the number of students the department can admit, makes a final review of the applications, and issues an official letter of admission to the student. The number of students the department can admit is usually very small and standards for admission are highly competitive.

The graduate application is submitted electronically; the online application becomes available in September for admission effective the following year. See the Graduate Division website for details. All applicants must use the online application.

Transcripts . Applicants will submit unofficial transcripts, GRE scores, and other admissions materials online as part of the application. Admitted students will be required to submit two copies of all official transcripts in envelopes sealed by the issuing institutions at a later date.

Letters of Recommendation . Three letters of recommendation are required. As part of the application you will have to submit the names and contact information for the letter writers. Letters in languages other than English should be translated into English, but the original letter, in the original language, must be included. The department recommends that letters of recommendation come from faculty members who can comment on the applicant's intellectual capacity, analytical skills, ability to write English, and general aptitude for scholarly work. Letters from nonacademic referees are rarely helpful. All letters must be submitted online by the recommenders no later than two weeks after the application deadline to ensure that they are included in the review process.

Academic Writing Sample . A writing sample in English must be included with the online application. The writing sample is intended to gauge an applicant's academic writing ability, and should be a paper that the student feels best represents the quality of his/her work. An ideal writing sample will be around 20 pages on a topic related to East Asian studies, but a paper on another topic or of a different length may be acceptable.

GRE Test Scores . The GRE is currently required.

Applicants from Abroad . International applicants are urged to examine closely the requirements for certification and translation of records and TOEFL requirements provided in the graduate application and the information on legal residency and fees.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Application to degree programs.

All prospective graduate students must apply for the PhD program. The department does not offer terminal MA degrees; instead, an MA degree may be earned while progressing toward the PhD.

Normative Time Requirements

Normative Time to Advancement: The total normative time to advancement is five years. Normative Time in Candidacy: The total time in candidacy is two years. Total Normative Time: The total normative time of the program is seven years.

PhD Curriculum

Language requirements.

Japanese MA

Fluency in modern and classical Japanese. The classical Japanese requirement must be satisfied by completion of a classical Japanese seminar taken for four units for a letter grade. Students entering the program without having taken an introduction to classical Japanese elsewhere are expected to take J120 as well.

Japanese PhD

Reading competence in a language other than Japanese relevant to the program, chosen in consultation with the Primary Advisor. Competence will normally be demonstrated by three years of language study at Berkeley or its equivalent. (Coursework must be taken for a letter-grade.) Native speakers of a language other than English do not automatically fulfill the language requirement; the language must be appropriate to advanced research in the program.

MA Requirements

• EA LANG 200 , "Proseminar: Approaches to East Asian Studies" is required, normally in the first year.
• A minimum of three graduate seminars (four units each) in the Japanese language field in the department will be required, for a letter grade. EA LANG 200  will not count toward the three required seminars. The department also encourages students to take a "Materials and Methods" seminar as part of the MA program.
• 8 additional units, in consultation with the primary adviser.

All courses required for the degree must be finished by the last day of the semester in which the student expects the degree to be conferred.

Students will have the option of taking additional seminars beyond the three required for the MA degree for two units, in which case no seminar paper is required. Each EALC seminar is structured with a 4 unit norm and 2 unit option.

Students who will need to acquire a second language from scratch to satisfy PhD requirements (q.v.) will be advised to begin work on that language as early as possible.

MA Thesis An MA thesis, usually based on a previous research paper and limited to 50 pages, is required. If the MA thesis involves a translation, the translation may be added as an appendix, which will not count toward the page limit.

Mechanism for Continuation or Termination at the MA Level A review of graduate students will take place in the middle and at the end of their first year and annually thereafter, and conveyed to the students in writing.

PhD Requirements

Two JAPAN graduate seminars for four units and for a letter grade in the department are required after completion of the MA, as well as at least one course outside the department in a cognate discipline, also for four units and for a letter grade.

Qualifying Examination The following will be required:

• Three written examinations on fields within the department.
• One written examination on a field outside the department.
• Oral examination.

The purpose of the qualifying examination is to ensure that the student possesses adequate breadth and depth of preparation needed to conduct dissertation research and teach. The student will normally choose reading lists in consultation with examiners and then meet regularly to discuss those readings with them. The written examinations will be based on those readings and discussions. The oral examination that follows is not meant to be a separate field of inquiry; instead, it is designed to pursue issues raised in the written segments.

The oral examination will take place one week after completion of the last written examination. It will last three hours and be attended by all four members of the qualifying examination committee. It will be devoted to further investigation of issues raised in the written examinations.

Dissertation A dissertation is required. Students should meet with their dissertation chairs to decide on appropriate timelines for research abroad and the completion of individual chapters. Students are not required to defend the dissertation once the dissertation committee has decided the dissertation is finished.

JAPAN C225 Readings in Japanese Buddhist Texts 2 or 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021 This seminar serves as an introduction to a broad range of Japanese Buddhist literature belonging to different historical periods and genres, including liturgical texts; monastic records, rules, and ritual manuals; doctrinal treatises; biographies of monks; and histories of Buddhism in Japan. Students are required to do all the readings in the original languages, which are classical Chinese (Kanbun) and classical Japanese. It will also serve as a tools and methods course, covering basic reference works and secondary scholarship in the field of Japanese Buddhism. The content of the course will be adjusted from semester to semester to accommodate the needs and interests of the students. Readings in Japanese Buddhist Texts: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: unit(s):three hours of seminar per week; 4 unit(s):three hours of seminar per week.

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Japanese/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade.

Also listed as: BUDDSTD C225

Readings in Japanese Buddhist Texts: Read Less [-]

JAPAN 230 Seminar in Classical Japanese Poetry 2 or 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2021 Topics run from Japan's earliest extant poetic anthologies in Chinese (Kaifuso) or Japanese (Man'yoshu) to medieval linked verse (renga) and Edo haikai. Seminar in Classical Japanese Poetry: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Two semesters of classical Japanese

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.

Seminar in Classical Japanese Poetry: Read Less [-]

JAPAN C231 Japanese Studies: Past, Present... and Future? 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2015, Spring 2014 Offers an overview of the history and current state of the field in Japanese studies, with faculty presentations, selected readings, and orientation sessions with East Asian Library staff to acquaint participants with relevant resources for research. Requirements will include completion of course readings and preparation of a research prospectus. Japanese Studies: Past, Present... and Future?: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of seminar per week

Additional Format: One hour of seminar per week.

Also listed as: HISTORY C231

Japanese Studies: Past, Present... and Future?: Read Less [-]

JAPAN 232 Japanese Bibliography 2 or 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2016, Spring 2010 An introduction to research tools for Japanese studies. The course gives primary consideration to literary sources but also presents an overview of basic texts and web sites dealing with bibliographical citation, lexicography, history, religion, fine arts, geography, personal names, biographies, genealogies, and calendrical calculation. Internet access is required. Japanese Bibliography: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Reading ability in modern Japanese; classical Japanese helpful but not required

Japanese Bibliography: Read Less [-]

JAPAN 234 Seminar in Classical Japanese Drama 2 or 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Spring 2013, Fall 2004 Topics may include examples from the Noh, Kyogen, Joruri, or Kabuki theaters. Seminar in Classical Japanese Drama: Read More [+]

Seminar in Classical Japanese Drama: Read Less [-]

JAPAN 240 Seminar in Classical Japanese Texts 2 or 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 Topics may include works of Heian fiction such as The Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) and memoirs such as The Pillow Book (Makura no soshi). Seminar in Classical Japanese Texts: Read More [+]

Grading: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered.

Seminar in Classical Japanese Texts: Read Less [-]

JAPAN 255 Seminar in Prewar Japanese Literature 2 or 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Reading and critical evaluation of selected texts in prewar (roughly the 1860s though the 1940s) Japanese literature and literary and cultural criticism. Texts change with each offering of the course. Seminar in Prewar Japanese Literature: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Graduate standing and consent of instructor

Seminar in Prewar Japanese Literature: Read Less [-]

JAPAN 259 Seminar in Postwar Japanese Literature 2 or 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2021, Spring 2018 Reading and critical evaluation of selected texts in postwar (roughly the 1940s through the present) Japanese literature and literary and cultural criticism. Texts change with each offering of the course. Seminar in Postwar Japanese Literature: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Graduate standing and permission of instructor

Seminar in Postwar Japanese Literature: Read Less [-]

JAPAN 298 Directed Study for Graduate Students 1 - 12 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Spring 2022 Special tutorial or seminar on selected topics not covered by available courses or seminars. Directed Study for Graduate Students: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-12 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 3 weeks - 5-60 hours of independent study per week 6 weeks - 2.5-30 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 1.5-28 hours of independent study per week 10 weeks - 1.5-20 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: One to twelve hours of independent study per week. One and one-half to twenty hours of independent study per week for 10 weeks. One and one-half to twenty eight hours of independent study per week for 8 weeks. Two and one-half to thirty hours of independent study per week for 6 weeks. Five to sixty hours of independent study per week for three weeks.

Directed Study for Graduate Students: Read Less [-]

JAPAN 299 Thesis Preparation and Related Research 1 - 12 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015 Thesis Preparation and Related Research: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Consent of thesis supervisor and graduate adviser

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-35 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 1.5-28 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: One to twelve hours of independent study per week. One and one-half to twenty eight hours of independent study per week for 8 weeks. Two and one-half to thirty five hours of independent study per week for 6 weeks.

Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.

Thesis Preparation and Related Research: Read Less [-]

JAPAN 601 Individual Study for Master's Students 1 - 8 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015 Individual study for the comprehensive or language requirements in consultation with the graduate adviser. Units may not be used to meet either unit or residence requirements for a master's degree. Individual Study for Master's Students: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Consent of graduate adviser

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-8 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-20 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 1.5-15 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: One to eight hours of independent study per week. One and one-half to fifteen hours of independent study per week for 8 weeks. Two and one-half to twenty hours of independent study per week for 6 weeks.

Subject/Course Level: Japanese/Graduate examination preparation

Individual Study for Master's Students: Read Less [-]

JAPAN 602 Individual Study for Doctoral Students 1 - 8 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015 Individual study in consultation with the major field adviser, intended to provide an opportunity for qualified students to prepare for various examinations required of candidates for the Ph.D. Individual Study for Doctoral Students: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Hours to be arranged.

Individual Study for Doctoral Students: Read Less [-]

Contact Information

Department of east asian languages and cultures.

3413 Dwinelle Hall

Phone: 510-642-3480

Fax: 510-642-6031

[email protected]

Department Chair

Robert Ashmore

3403 Dwinelle Hall

[email protected]

Director of Graduate Studies

3408 Dwinelle Hall

[email protected]

Graduate Student Affairs Officer

Grant Tompkins

3414 Dwinelle Hall

Phone: 510-642-4497

[email protected]

Student Services Advisor

[email protected]

Print Options

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Japanese Language PhD

The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures offers a PhD program in Japanese Language. The department only admits students into the PhD program.

As a rule, students wishing to enter the graduate program should have completed an undergraduate program comparable to the undergraduate major in this department. Students who do not have BA or MA degrees in East Asian Languages and Cultures (or Japanese) or in similar fields can be considered for admission. If admitted, these students are often required to make up deficiencies in their course work. This can result in a lengthening of the normative time to degree (seven years).

The department only admits students into the PhD program. You must indicate that a PhD is your degree goal on the application materials. Students who have not completed an MA degree before beginning study at Berkeley will have to complete the requirements for the MA before proceeding to the PhD program. After completion of the MA requirements (coursework and thesis), students are evaluated for permission to proceed to the PhD portion of the program. Students who have completed an MA degree before beginning study at Berkeley may apply for admission directly to the PhD program. After one year in the PhD program, such students will be evaluated before being permitted to continue in the program.

UC Berkeley graduate students from other disciplines who are considering transferring into the degree program in Japanese language undergo the same faculty review as first-time applicants. However, they do not complete the Graduate Application. Students in this category should contact the department graduate assistant for instructions.

The length of time needed to complete an advanced degree in the department depends on financial considerations, the extent of the student's earlier preparation, and other factors. Under optimum conditions, the MA can be earned in two years and the PhD in an additional four to five years.

Step by Step. To learn how best to prepare for study at the graduate level in the humanities and the social sciences, current undergraduates may find useful Step by Step , a resource for UC Berkeley students to enrich their undergraduate academic experience and to prepare for graduate school.

Contact Info

[email protected]

3413 Dwinelle Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

East Asian Language & Culture

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 4, 2023

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (Doctoral) | APU Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

• Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (Doctoral)
• Graduate Academics

DOCTORAL PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The developing world is in great need of internationally-minded individuals possessing specialized knowledge and skills. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly common for international aid organizations to enlist the professional guidance of doctoral graduates. The doctoral program aims to produce independent individuals capable of conducting high-level research. This involves gaining expertise in theoretical and empirical approaches for investigation, acquiring in-depth knowledge of the Asia Pacific region, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing practical solutions for complicated issues in a comprehensive and integrative manner. Alumni of this program become distinguished leaders and take on prominent roles in advanced institutions for research and higher education around the world.

Asia Pacific Studies

*Accelerated completion in 2 years may be possible upon further examination after enrollment. The total tuition for the program will not change even if you complete your degree before the standard period of completion

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS

*Current as of the 2022 academic year.

FACULTY AND THEIR RESEARCH FIELDS

Bui thanh huong.

Human Geography, Social Psychology, Tourism Management and Development, Sustainability and Resilience

GHOTBI Nader

Public Health and Epidemiology, Health Economics, Environmental Economics, Ethics and Philosophy, Bioethics

Urban Ecology, Material Metabolism, Low-carbon City/Transport, Livable City, Circular Economy, Ecosystem Services, GIS and Remote Sensing

IGUCHI Yufu

Gender Studies, Cultural Studies, Southeast Asian Studies (Malaysian Studies), Intellectual History

JONES Thomas Edward

Environmental Policy, Nature-Based Tourism, Protected Areas, Regional Development

KASEDA Yoshinori

Politics, International Relations

KIKKAWA Takuro

Politics, Area Studies, International Relations

Theoretical Economics, Econometrics, Applied Economics, Economic Policy

KIMURA Rikio

Social Welfare and Social Work Studies, Area Studies, Sociology of Education, Education

Environmental Policy, City Planning, Regional Planning, Traffic Engineering, Social System Engineering

MANTELLO Peter A.

Artificial Intelligence, Chatbots, Human-Machine Relations, Emotional AI, Malicious AI, Surveillance Systems, Predictive Policing, Videogame Theory, Conflict Media

MEIRMANOV Serik

General Life Science, Social Psychology, Human Genetics, Human Pathology, Public Hygiene Studies/Health Science

NATSUDA Kaoru

International Development Studies, International Political Economy, Economic Policy, Industrial Development, Rural and Community Development, Automotive Industry, Apparel Industry

OTSUKA Kozo

Applied Economics

PISHVA Davar

Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs), Simulation and Modeling (SaM), Decision Science (DS)

SATO Yoichiro

Suzuki yasushi.

Doctoral supervision available only for students that have completed their master's thesis under the professor's supervision

TODOROKI Hiroshi

Geography, Area Studies, Human Geography

VAFADARI M. Kazem

Cultural Heritage Management, Ecotourism, Agriculture Heritage Tourism, Community Based Tourism and Rural Tourism

YAMAGATA Tatsufumi

Development Economics, Textile Industry, Bangladeshi Economy, Health and Development, Disability and Development

YAMASHITA Hiromi

Environmental Sociology, Environmental Communication, Public Participation in Decision Making, Coastal Wetlands Restoration Projects, Ramsar Convention and Local Implementation

YOSHIDA Kaori

Media Studies (Representation Politics: Gender, Ethnicity, Nation), Cultural Studies, Popular Culture, Comparative Culture Studies

YOSHIMATSU Hidetaka

International Relations, International Political Economy, Regional Studies (East Asia)

YOTSUMOTO Yukio

Sociology, Tourism

LE Hoang Anh Thu

Cultural Anthropology, Folklore Studies

ROTHMAN Steven B.

International Relations Theory, International Policy Making, International Environmental Policy, Subject Pedagogy

Information Network, Web Informatics, Service Informatics, Management, Commerce

Area Studies (East Asia), Area Studies (European Union), Politics, International Relations, Political Economy

YAMAURA Koichi

Food and Agricultural Economics, Environmental Economics

YOUN Seung Ho

Tourism Studies, Social Psychology

COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT

Completion of the doctoral program requires fulfillment of doctoral coursework in addition to submission and approval of a final dissertation. The dissertation should integrate the results of in-depth investigation into Asia Pacific issues and incorporate individual findings that outline strategic, policy-oriented, and practical solutions to issues arising from current developments in the region. APU provides support for doctoral students conducting field research for their dissertations. Research supervision can be provided in areas such as diversity and integration, environment and development, international political economy, and tourism development.

PH.D. CURRICULUM STRUCTURE

Dr. cindy lyn banyai (usa, graduated in 2010).

US Congressional Candidate, Founder and Principal of Banyai Evaluation & Consulting, LLC, and Adjunct Faculty, Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Florida Gulf Coast University, USA

“Getting my doctorate at APU allowed me to conduct field work both within Japan and throughout Southeast Asia. This research that culminated in my dissertation also lead to additional peer-reviewed publications and my own book. I was fortunate to also work with my supervisor on JICA international development projects, which gave me practical skills in training, evaluation, and program design needed for my career. This experience helped me learn about emergent leadership and gain the global perspective necessary to start my own evaluation and organization development consultancy and contribute to the global community as the representative to the UN for the International Association for Community Development.”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Ph.D. in Japanese Linguistics

The Ph.D. program is designed to prepare students for a doctoral degree in Japanese linguistics.

Students should consult the most up-to-date version of the degree plan on the  Stanford Bulletin  as well as the  EALC Graduate Handbook . Each student should meet with their faculty advisor at least once per quarter to discuss the degree requirements and their progress.

Admission to Candidacy

Candidacy is the most important University milestone on the way to the Ph.D. degree. Admission to candidacy rests both on the fulfillment of department requirements and on an assessment by department faculty that the student has the potential to successfully complete the Ph.D.

Following University policy ( GAP 4.6.1 ), students are expected to complete the candidacy requirements by Spring Quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Pre-Candidacy Requirements

• JAPANLNG 213  - Fourth-Year Japanese, Third Quarter (2-4 units)
• JAPAN 264  - Introduction to Premodern Japanese (3-5 units)
• JAPAN 265  - Readings in Premodern Japanese (2-5 units)
• EALC 201  - Proseminar in East Asian Humanities I: Skills and Methodologies (3 units)
• JAPAN 279  - Research in Japanese Linguistics (2-5 unit)
• Complete six advisor-approved courses numbered above 200 from among the offerings of the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. At least one of these six courses must be an advanced seminar numbered above 300. At least one of these six courses must deal with Japanese literature.

All Doctoral students must complete an MA qualifying paper. An MA thesis is accepted instead of a qualifying paper for students initially admitted as EALC MA students. Students seeking an MA en route to the PhD must secure approval from the primary advisor and submit an MA thesis.

A graded MA qualifying paper or thesis must be submitted to the DGS and SSO with an accompanying note from the student’s primary advisor by week five of spring quarter of the second year of study for the annual review and candidacy decision.

During the quarter when students complete the MA qualifying paper or thesis (25-30 pages), they must enroll in  EALC 299 .

Teaching Requirement

• DLCL 301  - The Learning and Teaching of Second Languages (3 units)

Demonstrate pedagogical proficiency by serving as a teaching assistant for at least three quarters, starting no later than autumn quarter of the third year of graduate study. The department may approve exceptions to the timing of the language teaching requirement.

Post-Candidacy Requirements

Demonstrate proficiency in at least one supporting language to be chosen in consultation with the primary advisor according to the candidate’s specific research goals. For the second language, students must be proficient at the second-year level, at the minimum; a higher level of proficiency may be required depending on the advisor’s recommendation. Reading proficiency must be certified through a written examination or an appropriate amount of coursework to be determined on a case-by-case basis. When deemed necessary by the student’s advisor(s), working knowledge of a third language may also be required.

Complete five upper-division or graduate-level courses in linguistics and other supporting fields. To be determined in consultation with the student’s primary advisor, these may include applied linguistics, Chinese linguistics, psychology, education, anthropology, or sociology.

• Complete JAPAN 279 - Research in Japanese Linguistics (2-5 units); this course should be taken in the first or second year at Stanford.
• Submit two qualifying papers (QPs) that present each student’s original research in two different subfields of linguistics discussing Japanese linguistic topics and data. The length of the paper depends on the topic but generally should be about 25-30 pages. However, the paper must be evaluated by quality, not length. It should contain a clear statement of the issue in question, the motivation for the inquiry about the existing body of work, persuasive arguments supported by compelling analyses of relevant data, and theoretical implications of the findings. The quality is expected to be equivalent to a paper accepted for presentation at a professional conference and/or publishable in conference proceedings or a journal in linguistics. A QP can be an extension of a term paper, but its topic should be discussed with the student’s advisor before writing. It is strongly recommended that the student should seek at least two faculty members to be on the QP committee who will guide research and writing in the process and who will evaluate the paper. If circumstances do not permit obtaining multiple members, consult the advisor. Students are encouraged to plan and consult advising faculty members early in the second year. The first qualifying paper (QP1) should be approved by the spring quarter of the second year. To obtain approval of QP1 in time, a draft should be provided to the committee members in the winter quarter, if not earlier. The second qualifying paper (QP2) should be approved by the beginning of the autumn quarter of the fourth year. To obtain approval of QP2 in time, a draft should be provided to the committee members in the spring quarter of the third year, if not earlier. Failure to receive approval for QPs in time may lead to dismissal from the program. Students are urged to start planning for QPs and complete their QP requirements as early as possible to maximize the time to prepare their dissertation proposal and write the dissertation.

Submit a dissertation proposal (10-15 pages) accompanied by an annotated bibliography about the dissertation topic and have it approved by the dissertation reading committee after an oral presentation/examination, which is recognized as one of the milestones. A proposal should specify the theoretical and empirical significance of the proposed topic of inquiry situated in the existing scholarship, the relevant data (or plans for data collection), the theoretical approach, methods of investigation, and hypotheses. It should present a planned timeline for completing the dissertation. The annotated bibliography is cumulative and should include, but would not be limited to, the references given in the dissertation proposal. The annotation can be a paragraph (or more, if needed) for each reference. This process should be completed by the spring quarter of the fourth year before TGR.

Pass the University Oral Examination (dissertation defense). General regulations governing the oral examination are found in Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures ( GAP 4.7.1 ). The candidate is examined on questions related to the dissertation after acceptable parts have been completed in draft form.

Following university policy ( GAP 4.8.1 ), submit a dissertation demonstrating the ability to undertake original research based on primary and secondary materials in Japanese.

Submit two qualifying papers (QPs) that present each student’s original research in two different subfields of linguistics discussing Japanese linguistic topics and data. The length of the paper depends on the topic but generally should be about 25-30 pages. It is important, however, that the paper is not evaluated by its length but by its quality. It should contain a clear statement of the issue in question, the motivation for the inquiry in relation to the existing body of work, cogent arguments supported by compelling analyses of relevant data and theoretical implications of the findings. The quality is expected to be equivalent to a paper accepted for presentation at a professional conference and/or publishable in conference proceedings or in a journal in linguistics. A QP can be an extension of a term paper, but its topic should be discussed with the student’s advisor prior to writing. It is strongly recommended that the student should seek at least two faculty members to be on the QP committee who will provide guidance for research and writing in the process, and who will evaluate the paper. If circumstances do not permit obtaining multiple members, consult the advisor. Students are encouraged to start planning and consulting advising faculty members early in the second year.

The first qualifying paper (QP1) should be approved by Spring quarter of the second year. To obtain approval of QP1 in time, a completed draft should be provided to the committee members at the beginning of Autumn quarter, if not earlier.

The second qualifying paper (QP2) should be approved by the Winter Quarter of the fourth year. To obtain approval of QP2 in time, a completed draft should be provided to the committee members at the beginning of Autumn quarter, if not earlier.

Failure to receive approval for QPs in time may lead to dismissal from the program. These relatively late dates for approval are given in case the full-year TA duties during the second year may affect students’ writing progress. Students are urged to start planning for QPs and complete their QP requirements as early as possible to maximize the time to prepare their dissertation proposals and their dissertations.

Doctoral Programs

The Doctoral Program in Global Studies at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies is one of Japan’s few educational programs for both discrete and comprehensive research on the languages, cultures and societies of the world and serves as an international center in these fields.

TUFS has more than a century of tradition in research and education in the languages, cultures and societies of countries and regions with which Japan has had close ties in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Over the years, TUFS has expanded its curriculum to become an international center for research and education on Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. At the same time, it has also become a center for research on Japan and education in the Japanese language. The TUFS Graduate School endeavors to train advanced professionals including researchers in all of these areas.

As modern society becomes increasingly globalized, there is a growing need for human resources with deep knowledge and advanced skills in specialized fields. The TUFS Graduate School welcomes those who seek to challenge themselves by acquiring the comprehensive ability, practical skills, and Japanese language ability needed to become globally active in both the world and Japan while also enhancing their research skills.

TUFS currently offers two doctoral programs, the Doctoral Program in Global Studies and the Doctoral Program in Japan Studies. In the spring of 2019, there will be an additional Joint Doctoral Program for Sustainability Research to bring the total to three doctoral programs.

(In fiscal 2018, the Language and Culture Studies and International Area Studies programs were reorganized into the Global Studies and Japan Studies programs.)

Doctoral Program in Global Studies

For an integrated and comprehensive worldview.

The Doctoral Program in Global Studies encompasses integrated and comprehensive research and education in global languages, cultures, and societies. The program is directed at training people with expert knowledge and research capability who can be both globally focused and flexible in their approach to multifaceted problems.

This program has four clearly delineated programs of study. Students undertake systematic studies in one of these programs under the oversight of their main academic supervisor. They will also be able to take classes in a broad area of related fields so as to acquire a cross-disciplinary perspective.

Language and Culture Studies Program

This program involves cross-disciplinary research on individual or comparative languages and cultures of the various regions of the world with an emphasis on fostering multi-lingual and multi-cultural perspectives. Details

International and Area Studies Program

This program involves cross-disciplinary research and analyses of the specific history, society and culture of various world regions to develop a foundation for tackling international problems. Details

Asian and African Field Science Research Program

This program uses field science research methods to foster researchers in Asian and African linguistics, anthropology and area studies. Details

Peace and Conflict Studies Program (October admissions)

This program accepts students from countries embroiled in conflicts to train international leaders in peacebuilding. Classes are conducted in English. Details

Doctoral Program in Global Studies Students in this program will acquire:

• A high level of skill in regional languages with the appropriate knowledge and expertise in the culture and society of those regions and the capability to take an integrated and comprehensive approach to solving the diverse problems of modern society.
• Expert knowledge in such research areas as linguistics, literature and culture, regional studies, international relations, and peace and conflict studies.
• The qualifications to become a highly skilled academic researcher at a university inside or outside Japan or professional in an international institute or equivalent organization.

Doctoral Program in Japan Studies

Studying japan from an international perspective.

The Doctoral Program in Japan Studies encompasses systematic study of the Japanese language, Japanese language education, Japanese literature and culture, and Japanese history and society for comprehensive Japan research. The program is directed at developing an objective perspective of Japan within a global context. Given the urgent need for human resources capable of conveying Japan to the world, this program is focused on training Japanese and foreign students who can meet this need.

Japan Studies Program

This program fosters specialized knowledge of Japan while also training students in the skills they will need to explain Japan to the world. Details

Doctoral Program in Japan Studies Students in this program will acquire:

• Specialized knowledge in fields related to Japan and the deep comprehensive understanding of the country required to speak of Japan within a global context. Foreign students in particular will acquire a high level of Japanese language ability and understanding of Japanese society.
• A deep and specialized knowledge of the Japanese language, Japanese education, Japanese literature and culture, Japanese historical sociology, Japanese politics and economics, etc.
• The qualifications to become a highly skilled academic researcher at a university inside or outside Japan or professional teacher of Japanese language in an international institute of higher education or equivalent organization.

Joint Doctoral Program for Sustainability Research (from April 2019)

For detailed infomation here

Creating innovation

The Joint Doctoral Program for Sustainability Research is an integrated program jointly offered by the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), the University of Electro-Communications (UEC), and TUFS, and will be launched in April 2019. 　 Details

Admission Information

School of Languages and Cultures - Japanese College of Liberal Arts

We have MA and Ph.D. programs in Japanese Language Pedagogy and an MA program in Japanese Literature. Students wishing to pursue a Ph.D. with a focus on Japanese Literature may apply to the Comparative Literature program, and, if accepted, will work with literature faculty in Japanese as well as other languages. 

Financial support

Currently, all graduate students in the department majoring in Japanese are supported by departmental assistantships. The number of teaching assistantships varies from year to year. They include full tuition remission and an annual salary of approximately $22,000 (2023 figure). The standard teaching load is 3 courses a year (1 in Fall, 2 in Spring, or 2 in Fall, 1 in Spring).

Our graduates

All Ph.D. graduates that the Japanese faculty-mentored have full-time jobs so far, many of them tenured and tenure-track.

• Tatsushi Fukunaga, Associate Professor, Shizuoka University of Art and Culture
• Mayu Miyamoto, Assistant Professor, Nagoya University of Foreign Studies
• Katsuhiro Ito, Assistant Professor, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
• Yumi Takamiya, Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Shih Lieh-Ting, Associate Professor, Kainan University
• Kazuaki Nakazawa, Associate Professor, Yuan Ze University
• Kazumi Matsumoto Cantrell, Associate Professor, Ball State University
• Shogo Sakurai, Associate Professor, Nagoya University of Foreign Studies
• Maki Hirotani, Professor, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
• Kaori Schau, Assistant Professor, Calvin College
• Yasufumi Iwasaki, Associate Teaching Professor of Japanese, Carnegie-Mellon University
• Masumi Tajima, Professor, Chuo Gakuin University
• Hiromi Tsuchiya Dollase, Associate Professor, Vassar College
• Noriko Asato, Associate Professor, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Graduate Faculty

Kazumi hatasa.

Kazumi Hatasa received his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1989. He started teaching at Purdue University in 1988. He is currently a professor in the School of Languages and Cultures. He was the Director of the School of Japanese at Middlebury College from 2004 to 2018. His primary area of specialization is the computer application of technologies in Japanese language teaching. He has published articles and book chapters in this area both in English and in Japanese, and regularly makes presentations at conferences of professional organizations including AATJ, ACTFL, and CALICO. His current interests are applications of augmented reality and immersive virtual reality in language instruction. Prof. Hatasa is a co-author of “IT Literacy for Japanese Language Instructors” (2015, Kurosio Publisher, Tokyo) and a co-author of the Japanese language textbook series “Nakama 1” and “Nakama 2.” (Cengage Learning) He has also been working with professional rakugo performers to introduce students to this traditional performing art. He is authoring an advanced-level textbook in Japanese focusing on Japanese culinary culture. It is expected to be published by Kurosio Publisher (Tokyo) in 2020.

Prof. Hatasa regularly teaches JPNS 361 (Elementary Survey of Japanese Linguistics), JPNS 485 (culinary culture of Japan), and JPNS 596 (IT Applications in Japanese language instruction).

Atsushi Fukada

Atsushi Fukada received his Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1987. After teaching at Nagoya University for 7 years, he joined the Purdue faculty in 1994. He has directed the Center for Technology-Enhanced Language Learning since 1997. His research interests include Japanese linguistics, pragmatics, corpus and computational linguistics, language pedagogy, and learning systems development. An example of his corpus & computational work is Meidai Conversation Corpus and Chakoshi corpus search system ( linked here ). In the learning systems development area, he developed an online oral practice/assessment platform Speak Everywhere ( linked here ). His current major project is the development of an online textbook series titled Learn Japanese Online , of which he and Dr. Mariko Wei (see below) are Managing Authors. In the graduate program, he teaches JPNS 560 (Survey of Japanese Linguistics) regularly.

Mariko Wei received her Ph.D. in Linguistics from Georgetown University in 1998, the same year she joined the Purdue faculty. While Mariko’s research interests include second language acquisition and language pedagogy, her current research focuses on bilingualism and heritage language maintenance for children with autism spectrum disorder and the development of online Japanese textbooks.

She has previously taught at Columbia University, Georgetown University, John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and Princeton in the Ishikawa Program.  She is a faculty coordinator of the Japanese Language Program and has developed and taught a variety of courses on the Japanese language, Japanese language instruction, Japanese studies, and applied linguistics at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her passion for teaching and mentoring has previously been recognized with the Kenneth T. Kofmehl Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award in 2012, the Charles B. Murphy Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching in 2013, and the College of Liberal Arts Award of Outstanding Graduate Teacher in 2016.

Pedro Bassoe

Pedro Bassoe received his Ph.D. in Japanese from the University of California, Berkeley in 2018 and joined the faculty at Purdue University in 2019. His primary research focuses on illustration, visual culture, and the relationship between text and image in the development of the modern novel in Japan. He is currently editing a book manuscript titled Eyes of the Heart: Illustration and the Visual Imagination in Modern Japanese Literature based on his dissertation. He has also begun research projects on the literature of the fantastic in Japan and literary connections between Japan and Brazil in the work of both canonical Japanese authors and various diasporic writers. He has published one article on Natsume Sōseki, art nouveau, and book design in The Review of Japanese Culture and Society, which was recently translated into Japanese for inclusion in a volume on Sōseki. He has also had one article accepted by the Journal of Japanese Studies on Ozaki Kōyō and the photographic imagination in Japanese literature. Dr. Bassoe teaches classes on Japanese literature from the classical to contemporary eras, in both the original Japanese versions and English translations, as well as classes on Japanese film, visual culture, literary pedagogy, popular culture, and literature of the fantastic in the School of Languages and Cultures. He has recently become affiliated with the program in Comparative Literature at the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, for which he plans to offer classes in the near future.

Useful Links

School of Languages and Cultures Graduate Program Page: https://cla.purdue.edu/academic/slc/graduate/

Graduate Application Instructions: https://cla.purdue.edu/academic/slc/graduate/documents/ApplicationInstructions_UPDATED_October2018.pdf

Graduate School English Proficiency Requirements: https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/admissions/how-to-apply/apply-toefl.html

All inquiries about the Japanese graduate programs should be directed to Prof. Atsushi Fukada .

MA in Japanese Pedagogy

Students must be rated at ACTFL advanced high or higher in Japanese proficiency.

Required courses: (12 credit hours)

JPNS 521 Teaching Japanese JPNS 594 Teaching Japanese Literature JPNS 560 Japanese Linguistics JPNS 679 Second Language Acquisition

Elective courses: (15 credit hours with thesis/18 credit hours without thesis)

Japanese Literature & Culture

JPNS 543 Modern Japanese Popular Literature & Culture JPNS 596 Postwar Japanese Cinema

Research Design and Measurement

LC/ENG 618 Research Design in Language and Linguistics STAT 501 Experimental Statistics I

Second Language Acquisition

ENGL 618 Qualitative Research ENGL 629 Second Language Acquisition ENGL 630 Seminar in Second Language Writing LC/JPNS 679 Bilingualism & Lang Acquisition LC/JPNS 679 Research Design Study L2 Reading LC/JPNS 679 Vocabulary and Reading in SLA LC/JPNS 679 Classroom SLA LC/JPNS 679 Corpus Linguistics SLA LC/JPNS 679 Pragmatics

Language Testing

ENGL 674 Seminar in Language Testing

Language Curriculum

ENGL 516 Teaching ESL: Theoretical Foundations ENGL 518 Teaching ESL: Principles and Practices

Computer-Assisted Language Learning/Information Technology

LC 596 Technological Literacy for FL teachers LC 596 Introduction to Multi-Media Programming for FL Teaching

Linguistics

LC 596/LING 598 Introduction to Pragmatics LC 596 Politeness in Language LC/ENGL 565 Sociolinguistics PSYC 526 Psycholinguistics LING 511 Phonology I: Descriptive Analysis LING 521 Syntax I: Syntactic Analysis COM 612 Language & Gender COM 682 Discourse Analysis

Thesis Course (3 credit hours)

JPNS 698 Thesis in Japanese

MA in Japanese Literature

JPNS 521 Teaching Japanese JPNS 679 Second Language Acquisition JPNS 594 Teaching Japanese Literature JPNS 542 Pre-Modern and Early Modern Japanese Literature JPNS 543 Modern Japanese Popular Literature and Culture JPNS 594 Special Topics in Japanese Literature JPNS 659 Seminar in Japanese Literature CMPL 650 Ekphrasis and Visual Theory

EALL East Asian Languages & Literatures

• Undergraduate Programs
• Graduate Programs
• Chinese Masters of Arts
• Japanese Master of Arts
• Korean Master of Arts
• Linguistics and Pedagogy Masters of Arts
• Chinese PhD
• Japanese PhD
• PhD Program in East Asian Linguistics
• Program Timelines
• Graduate Employee Fellowships
• Graduate Student Professional Activities & Accomplishments
• Graduate Student Resources
• SLAT Certificate

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program: Japanese Studies

The PhD program in East Asian languages and literatures is designed to provide students with a high level of competence in their area of specialization and a familiarity with applicable methodologies and theories. The program has four components: course work, comprehensive examination, prospectus for the dissertation, and the dissertation itself.

Specific courses and projects used to fulfill requirements must be approved by the student’s adviser, who works with the other faculty members to develop the student’s program

The PhD with a specialization in Japanese Studies requires students to successfully complete nine graduate courses beyond the number required for the MA degree. These courses must be chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser. Appropriate courses in related fields (e.g., Japanese history, religion) may be substituted with the adviser’s approval.

Course Work

Students must successfully complete nine graduate courses (4-5 credits each) including:

• Three courses in Japanese literature and/or film (with at least one course in each area)
• One course in an interdisciplinary subfield
• Two courses in critical theory and/or film theory, preferably in the Japanese studies sector
• One course in Japanese linguistics or teaching methodology

Admits beginning Fall 2014 Students in the EALL PhD track must successfully complete a comprehensive examination and prospectus defense (culture students) or qualifying paper (linguistics students) in order to advance to candidacy (ABD, all but dissertation) status. By the end of their second year in the PhD program at the very latest, each student should identify a committee of three professors who will oversee their training for the comprehensive examination. Since each person’s needs and interests may be different, students are expected to work closely with their primary advisor at all stages of the process.

Comprehensive Examination The goal of the comprehensive examination is to make sure that students are broadly enough trained that they are qualified to teach beyond the narrow research focus of their dissertation. The comprehensive examination is composed of a written and an oral component.

In conjunction with their primary advisor, students will choose three fields: a major field and two minor fields, each to be advised by a professor in that area. Cultural fields may be determined by genre, time period, or methodology; Linguistic fields may be determined by theoretical orientation, language orientation, and methodology. In conjunction with their advisors, students will develop a reading list of 20-40 items for each field.For culture students these items may include both primary and secondary texts; the composition of each reading list will be tailored to the individual student’s needs. It is expected that reading lists will develop organically from graduate seminars and readings and conferences.

For each field, the student will submit a comprehensive examination paper. The papers may be developed from a term paper written for a seminar, or written for the sake of the examination, as determined by the advisor. These comprehensive examination papers should demonstrate the student’s broad knowledge of a field. Ideally, for the major field, this paper will be the basis for a dissertation chapter. In some instances, students may be asked to develop a syllabus rather than write a research paper.

Advisors have two weeks to read and approve each comprehensive examination paper. After the three comprehensive examination papers have been approved by the field examiner and the primary advisor, the student will schedule an oral examination. The oral examination, to last one to two hours, is an opportunity for the three examiners to engage the student in a broad conversation about the items on the reading lists. The goal of the oral examination is to ensure that students have enough familiarity with both the critical and primary works in the field to teach at the post-secondary level. The oral examination is not open to the public.

Both parts of the comprehensive examination should be completed by the end of the student’s third year in the PhD program. It is at the discretion of the committee to determine if students should have a second opportunity to sit for an oral examination if the first attempt is not successful. At the discretion of the committee, those students whose performance is deemed unsatisfactory may be granted a terminal MA.

Prospectus Defense (for Culture Track)

Before scheduling the prospectus defense, students need to notify the graduate secretary of the membership of their dissertation committee (three faculty from EALL and one outside member). The prospectus defense is the first meeting of the entire dissertation committee to provide feedback on the dissertation research project. The prospectus, a document of 20-30 pages, should introduce the research question, the methodology, and a basic outline of the dissertation, as well as include a bibliography. Once the advisors approve a draft of the dissertation prospectus, basically certifying that in their opinion the project is well-conceived and viable, the student will schedule a meeting of the entire committee. A defense is an opportunity for the committee to ask questions and provide advice and direction for the research project. The prospectus defense is public.

In order to leave enough time for the dissertation research and writing, the prospectus defense should take place during the third year of study and no later than the winter term of the fourth year. Students who are unable to complete a viable prospectus by spring of their fourth year in the PhD program will be granted a terminal MA.

Qualifying paper (Linguistics Track) As the equivalent of the prospectus defense for culture track students, linguistics students are expected to produce an original publishable paper, of substantial length and quality, in a subfield of linguistics. This qualifying paper should demonstrate the student’s ability to carry out an empirical study and to write an analytical research paper. The unmodified MA thesis cannot serve this purpose.

A committee consisting of the advisor and a second faculty member familiar with the sub-field will referee the qualifying paper. The student may be asked to revise the qualifying paper before it is accepted as satisfactory work. Upon documented completion of the paper, the student needs to identify a dissertation committee (three faculty from EALL and one outside member) and notify the graduate secretary. At this point the student will confirm the dissertation topic and present a prospectus, which for linguistics students constitutes a short abstract detailing their research topic. This should be done within one term of completing the qualifying paper. After the prospectus has been approved, the student will advance to candidacy.

The comprehensive examination is distinct from the dissertation prospectus (culture) or qualifying paper (linguistics). The comprehensive examination papers and oral examination involve general perparation and give the student an opportunity to show broad knowledge of a field. The prospectus defense for culture-track students is more narrowly focused on the dissertation project and demonstrates the student’s ability to identify and define a research project. Similarly, the qualifying paper for linguistics students is focused on the student’s main research area and demonstrates the ability to undertake a research project. The comprehensive examination and prospectus defense or qualifying paper enable students to demonstrate that they can be successful as teachers and researchers. Students will advance to ABD status after the successful completion of both comprehensive examination and prospectus defense (culture) or qualifying paper (linguistics) in addition to completion of all required coursework.

Comprehensive Examination (admits prior to Fall 2014)

Candidates for the PhD must pass a comprehensive examination, which consists of six questions covering the student’s major fields of study. A committee is chosen by the student in consultation with his or her adviser, which consists of three faculty members, at least two of whom are members of the department. With input from the student, the committee prepares questions based on an approved bibliography. Each student is given five days in which to write and submit answers to four of the six questions. If the committee finds that the student has not performed adequately on one question, the student may, at the discretion of the committee, be allowed one opportunity to retake the examination in that subfield before the end of the following term. Students who fail more than one question have their status as doctoral students terminated.

Prospectus and Dissertation

Immediately following successful completion of the comprehensive examination, a dissertation committee is formed by the student and the graduate secretary. This committee advises the student on writing the dissertation and approves the completed dissertation. The student presents to this committee, within one month, a dissertation proposal with a bibliography. After approval of this prospectus, the student becomes eligible to enroll in Dissertation (JPN 603).

Timeline for Completion of the PhD Program

• Course work: two years
• Comprehensive examination and prospectus approval: one year
• Dissertation writing and defense: two years

* The student who has taken a MA comprehensive exam in Japanese studies at the EALL department does not need to take a PhD comprehensive exam. However, the student needs to orally defend her/his dissertation prospectus within one academic term after the completion of course work. The Major purposes of the prospectus defense in a timely manner are to facilitate the student’s completion of her/his dissertation as well as to let the faculty community clearly know the progress of the student toward the completion.

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Japanese Literature and Cultural Studies

EALAC has long been known for its leadership in Japanese literature and culture, beginning with Donald Keene (university professor emeritus), Ivan Morris, and then Edward Seidensticker, who pioneered the field; today it continues to produce many leading scholars of Japanese literature and visual culture. The program is outstanding both in modern and in premodern studies, enabling the students to receive extensive training both linguistically and across different periods and disciplines. The program is well known for teaching various levels and styles, from advanced modern Japanese to classical Japanese, kanbun, and calligraphic script, all of which is supplemented by strong programs in Chinese and Korean. The program promotes critical methodologies and interdisciplinary or comparative studies, combining, for example, literature with film, visual culture, gender studies, cultural history, and religion, often working across one or more countries in Asia.

A major characteristic of the program is the interface of the studies of literature, cultural history, and media. Haruo Shirane is an expert in classical, medieval and early modern Japanese literature and cultural history, with special interest in poetry and prose fiction, intermedial relations (oral storytelling, painting/print culture, dance, and theater in relationship to literary texts), and the role of popular culture in canon formation. David Lurie, teaching both literature and history, is a leading authority in ancient Japanese history and literature, script and writing systems, linguistic thought, and Japanese myths. In premodern studies, they are aided by Wei Shang (premodern Chinese literature), Michael Como, Bernard Faure, and Max Moerman (early and medieval Japanese religion), and Matthew McKelway (medieval and Edo painting).

Paul Anderer is an authority on 20th century Japanese literature, particularly fiction, literary criticism, and film. Tomi Suzuki is an expert in 19th and 20th century fiction, literary and cultural criticism, and intellectual history. They are complemented by Carol Gluck, Greg Pflugfelder, and Paul Kreitman (19th and 20th c. Japanese history), Jonathan Reynolds (modern Japanese visual culture and architecture), and Marilyn Ivy (anthropology), not to mention those in other modern East Asian literatures and cultural studies, particularly Theodore Hughes (modern Korean literature) and Lydia Liu (modern Chinese and literature).

EALAC created almost the entire first generation of Japanese literature scholars after World War II. The Japanese literature and visual culture program at Columbia has continued its leadership role, training and placing, in just the last two decades, more than forty PhDs graduates in institutions of higher learning throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, more than any other program by far. Graduates of the program occupy positions of leadership both in the field and at many of the leading universities such as UCLA, Stanford, Columbia, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, Washington University at St. Louis, Boston University, University of British Columbia, Oxford, SOAS, and University of Hong Kong, among others.

The Japanese literature and cultural studies program also has a MA double degree program with Waseda University which allows PhD students to study and train in Japan for a year, earning a MA as they work toward a PhD at Columbia. Visiting scholars from various Japanese universities also offer workshops and courses on a regular basis.

The Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture, affiliated with the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, regularly sponsors lectures, workshops, performances, and other events that bring prominent scholars, artists, musicians, and other cultural figures to campus from elsewhere in North America, Europe, Japan, and Asia.

With the C.V. Starr East Asian Library, Columbia University has one of the strongest library collections in the world for Japanese literature and culture. It has particularly extensive holdings of books and journals in premodern and modern literature, history, and religion.  Its Makino Mamoru Collection on the History of East Asian Film is an important resource for scholarship not only on cinema and popular culture, but also on many other aspects of modern Japanese history.

Our location in New York City also creates close connections to the Japan Society, Asia Society, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and New York Public Library, as well as providing exposure to a wide variety of Japan-related film screenings, gallery shows, talks by writers, and live performances by both traditional and contemporary artists throughout the year.

EALAC Japanese Literature and Cultural Studies – List of Alumni 

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EALAC – Columbia University 407 Kent Hall 1140 Amsterdam Ave. MC 3907  New York, NY 10027 tel:212.854.5027

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Guide to Studying PhD in Japan for International Students

Want to study for a PhD in Japan but not sure where to start? This article introduces all you need to know about PhD in Japan, from what programs are like, admission requirements, and what English PhD programs in Japan there are. 

First Published: 2021-05-17 Updated: 2024-01-12

Table of Contents

Why should you study for a PhD in Japan?

• Program Types, Durations, and Admission Requirements

PhD in Japan for International Students

Phd programs in japan in english, what is the applicable visa to study in japan, what is the cost to study for a phd in japan, are there scholarships for phds in japan.

Japanese graduate schools are called 大学院 (Daigakuin) . They consists of Master’s courses, 修士 (Shuushi Katei), to obtain a Master’s Degree, “修士号 (Shuushigo)” and PhD courses, 博士課程 (Hakushi Katei) to obtain a PhD, 博士号 (Hakushigo) . 

In this article, we will focus on PhD Programs in Japan, what they are like, and what English PhD programs are there for international students. A person who has graduated from a PhD course is called 先生 (Sensei) or 博士 (Hakase) - Dr. in Japan. 

The reasons for why you should study for a PhD in Japan are pretty much the same reasons for choosing Japan to study abroad , whether it’s for undergraduate studies, Japanese language studies, or graduate school studies. The reasons include:

• World-Ranked Universities in Japan like University of Tokyo and Kyoto University and Nagoya University that rank among the Top 100 globally.
• Japanese universities excel at research and technology. Many universities are research-intensive which makes for a great study environment, especially for post-graduate education and post-doc. 
• There are Japanese graduate schools offering English PhD programs. Many universities offer Japanese classes (in many cases mandatory, but higher levels optional) to help international students integrate into life in Japan. 
• Scholarships for international students, including for PhD courses.
• Helpful if you are planning to continue working in Japan after completing your PhD. Also good for career prospects outside Japan.
• Endless opportunities to expose yourself to Japanese culture and tradition. There’s no better way to learn about Japan than being at the source. On weekends and holidays, take the chance to explore. 

Are you convinced to study for a PhD in Japan yet? From hereon, we will introduce in detail PhD programs in Japan. 

What are PhD Programs in Japan like? 

The doctoral program, better known as PhD, is the highest level of education to exist. A PhD is an advanced degree earned in various fields after successfully completing a research thesis. An individual can generally opt to study for a PhD after completion of a Master’s program. 

In Japan, PhD is called 博士号 (Hakushigo) . PhD stands for “Doctor of Philosophy”, and graduates are bestowed the title of “Doctor (Dr.)”. In Japan, Doctor (Dr.) is called 博士 (Hakase), though most people go by 先生 (Sensei) . 

Program Types, Their Durations, and Admission Requirements

The duration of a PhD program depends on your choice of subject and research thesis. Typically, a PhD program takes around 5 years to complete for those who graduated from a 4 years long undergraduate program. Specialized fields like medical, veterinary, pharmaceutical and dental have 6 years long Bachelor’s degree programs and no Master’s program, and therefore their PhD programs are 4 years long. 

In Japan, PhD programs are commonly split into 2 phases. Depending on their highest level of education (Master’s or Bachelor’s), students have an option of starting from the first phase or skipping to the second phase. 

First Phase is called First Half of a PhD Program (2 Years)

Called 博士前期課程 (Hakushi Zenki Katei) , the first phase’s curriculum includes studies to obtain a Master’s degree , which is a prerequisite requirement for most PhD programs. The first phase is a 2 Years long program.

According to JASSO , one of the following admission requirements must be satisfied to be eligible to join this program:

• Graduates from 4 Years long university program (Japanese university)
• Graduates with Bachelor’s degree from at least 3 Years long foreign university program; 5 Years for medical, dental, pharmaceutical or veterinary 
• Graduates of Bachelor’s degree from the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education
• Graduates from National Defense Academy of Japan, Japan Coast Guard Academy, Meteorological College, or any ministry or agency established academy or college
• Graduates from international schools in Japan that are officially recognised as being equivalent to an overseas university
• Those who have completed specialized coursework at designated vocational schools
• Those who have completed 16 Years of formal study in their home country; 18 Years for medical, dental, pharmaceutical or veterinary 
• Those who have completed 16 Years of formal study in Japan via online curriculum offered by an overseas institution; 18 Years for medical, dental, pharmaceutical or veterinary 
• Those who have completed studies at school under Japan’s old education system
• Those aged above 22 who are admitted based on individual admission qualification selection

Second Phase is called Second Half of a PhD Program

Master’s degree holders can skip the first phase to join the second phase. Called 博士後期課程 (Hakushi Kouki Katei) , the second phase is typically 3 Years long , but 4 Years for medical, veterinary, pharmaceutical and dental fields. 

• Graduates with a Master’s, professional degree, or equivalent foreign degree
• Graduates with a Master’s or professional degree from an overseas institution done via online curriculum while living in Japan
• Graduates with degrees equivalent to a Master’s or professional degree from international schools in Japan recognised as being equivalent to an overseas graduate school
• Graduates with Bachelor’s or equivalent degree who have completed minimum 2 Years research at university or research facility having the same academic prowess as a Master’s degree holder
• Those with a degree equivalent to a Master’s degree from United Nations University 
• Those aged 24 or above who are admitted based on individual admission qualification selection

Most graduate school programs in Japan are taught entirely in Japanese. For international students seeking to join these programs, demonstration of a high level of Japanese proficiency, at least N1, is required. This is to ensure that you are able to understand the curriculum in order to complete the course. 

Fortunately, with the increasing number of international students in Japan, many universities have started internationalizing their programs with English-taught courses , including for PhD. There are programs taught mostly in English with supplementary Japanese, as well as programs taught completely in English. 

For English-taught PhD programs, students may be asked to demonstrate their English language proficiency with English proficiency certifications like IELTS, TOEFL, or TOEIC. This requirement may be exempt for individuals whose undergraduate or Master’s degree shows high mastery in English.

Different universities offer PhD programs in different fields of study, so you will need to do a thorough search to find one that matches your interest. JASSO’s Search for Schools tool is incredibly helpful for this. You can search for educational institutions that accept international students by degree (undergraduate, Master’s, PhD), school type (public, national, private), school location, field of study, medium of instruction, etc. 

To further help you, we have curated a list of 6 PhD programs in Japan which are popular, along with the names of universities offering these programs. 

Visa, Tuition Fees and Scholarships for PhD in Japan

The applicable status of residence for international students in Japan is 留学 (Ryuugaku), aka “Study Abroad”. 

Coming from Overseas

If you are coming from overseas to study for a PhD in Japan, you will need to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) through your university in order to obtain a Visa to enter the country. Upon entering Japan, you will be bestowed a status of residence and a residence card, which acts as your identity card.

Read more about Japan Visa, Status of Residence, and Residence Card here .

Existing Resident in Japan

If you are an existing resident in Japan, you will not need a Visa or a Certificate of Eligibility, which are required for first entry into Japan. 

If you are already an international student in Japan, and planning to advance your studies to Master’s or PhD, then you may need to apply for “Extension of Period of Stay”, which can be done easily online now. Learn how to do it step by step here .

If you are a resident in Japan, but on a different type of status of residence, say the most common “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services” or some other type of work visa, then you will need to apply for a “Change of Status of Residence”. This can also be done online now with a My Number Card and IC card reader. 

In Japan, universities and graduate schools can be divided into 3 types of institutions - national, public and private. The admission and tuition fees for each type of institution is different with national schools having the lowest cost. 

In Japan, the first year’s cost for university and graduate schools is higher than the subsequent years. This is because applicants need to pay an admission fee in addition to the year’s tuition fee. 

The first year, aka admission year, cost for PhD that consists of that year’s tuition fee and an admission fee is:

• Approx. 820,000 Yen for National Institution
• Approx. 900,000 Yen for Public Institution
• Approx. 850,000 Yen (medical studies) or 1,100,000 Yen (non-medical studies for Private Institutions

Tuition fees will vary between universities so be sure to check the particulars when applying. 

【Helpful Reading】

• For differences between national, public and private universities in Japan.
• For the cost breakdown of studying abroad in Japan, including tuition fees and living costs.

Yes, there are scholarships for PhDs in Japan. According to JASSO , there are altogether 119 PhD program scholarships for international students for 2023 - 2024. Among the 119, 12 are available to apply before coming to Japan, and the remaining 107 can only be applied for after coming to Japan. 

Read more about Japanese scholarships and how to apply for them here . 

Education plays a crucial role in personal, social, and economic development. Achieving a PhD is sure to improve your confidence, greatly enhance your knowledge, and will make some higher level jobs available to you. After obtaining a PhD, many people choose to continue their research in universities or research centers as post-doc researchers. There are also many other consultation jobs available that requires your expertise. 

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Japanese Graduate Programs

M.a. in japanese language & linguistics.

The M.A. program in Japanese Language/Linguistics is designed to produce Japanese language specialists who are trained in all the fields of Japanese Linguistics (pedagogy, sociolinguistics, pragmatics, historical linguistics, phonology and morphology, and syntax and semantics) with one of the fields as their specialization. The program also provides practical teaching experience for future teachers of Japanese.

Ph.D in Japanese Language & Linguistics

The Ph.D. in Japanese Language and Linguistics is designed to produce scholars with high-level competence in the field of specialization within Japanese Linguistics (pedagogy, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, phonology and morphology, and syntax and semantics). The program also aims to develop well-rounded Japanese language specialists who are competent in multiple subfields of Japanese Linguistics and equipped to execute comparative research in East Asian Languages.

Japanese Linguistics Ph.D. Program Requirements (since Fall 2018)

M.A. in Japanese Literature

The M.A. degree is offered in the field of Japanese literary studies, with emphasis on poetry, prose and drama of both the premodern and modern eras. The program offers students training in the history, theory, and culture of literary genres from specific periods, providing a solid foundation for a subsequent Ph.D. course of study.   Academic training in Japanese language teaching is also available.

Ph.D. in Japanese Literature

The Ph.D. degree in East Asian Languages & Literatures aims to train future scholars for the academic profession. The Ph.D. specialization in Japanese literary studies offers students the opportunity to develop scholarly expertise in the classical, medieval, early modern, and modern periods. The program also encourages comparative and interdisciplinary studies exploring the relationships between the histories, cultures, and literatures of East Asia.

Japanese Literature Ph.D. Program Requirements (since Fall 2018)

All Japanese graduate programs are recognized WICHE regional graduate programs. Residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming with a GPA of 3.5+ are eligible, upon admission, to enroll at resident tuition rates. Instructions on how to apply can be found  here , on the Prospective Students page of the Office of Graduate Education at UH Manoa.

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Charting Your PhD Journey in Japan: Admission, Lifestyle, and Balancing Work with Study

Japan, with its unique blend of ancient culture and technological innovation, offers a compelling environment for ambitious PhD students. Whether you’re diving into cutting-edge research or exploring the bustling streets, life as a doctoral candidate here is full of potential. But to truly thrive, understanding the ins and outs of admissions, budgeting for your lifestyle, and mastering the Japanese language is key.

Advantages of Pursuing PhD in Tokyo

Application Process and Timeline for a PhD Program

Can You Apply From Overseas?

List of English PhD programs offered by Universities in Japan

Navigating financial waters: living as a phd student, working while you learn, mastering japanese: a strategic move for phd students in japan, the key to professional opportunities, advantages of pursuing a phd in tokyo.

There are many advantages to pursuing an English-speaking PhD or master’s degree in Tokyo. Here are just a few:

• High-quality education: Tokyo’s universities are renowned for their academic rigor and research excellence. Many of these universities are ranked among the top institutions in the world.
• Cultural immersion: Tokyo is a vibrant and exciting city with a rich cultural heritage. Pursuing a degree in Tokyo will give you the opportunity to experience Japanese culture firsthand.
• Networking opportunities : Tokyo is a global hub for business and innovation. You will have the opportunity to network with leading professionals worldwide.
• Career prospects: A degree from a prestigious university in Tokyo will give you a competitive edge in the job market.

Application Process and Timeline for PhD Programs

Embarking on a PhD in Japan starts with navigating the admissions process. Programs in English are widely available, particularly in science and technology, economics, business, and various interdisciplinary fields. Admission requires a relevant master’s degree, a well-defined research proposal, and often proficiency in English or Japanese. The admission process for PhD programs in Japan typically varies from university to university. However, the general steps involved in the application process are as follows:

• Meeting Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution. Check the program website for specific admissions requirements and deadlines.
• Submitting Application Documents: Required documents may include transcripts, recommendation letters, research proposals, and language proficiency test scores (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS).
• Participating in Entrance Examinations: Some universities conduct written examinations or interviews to assess candidates’ knowledge and aptitude for research.

The application deadlines for English-speaking PhD and Master’s programs in Tokyo typically range from April to June. However, it is always best to check with the individual university for the most up-to-date information.

Can You Apply from Overseas?

Applications for English-speaking PhD and Master’s programs in Tokyo can typically be submitted from overseas. The application process is usually online, and you must submit the required documents digitally. However, some universities may also require you to send a physical copy of your application materials.

Additional Considerations

• Admissions requirements: Each university will have its own admissions requirements for English-speaking PhD and Master’s programs. These requirements may vary depending on the program, but they typically include a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.
• Language proficiency: While most English-speaking Ph.D. and Master’s programs in Tokyo do not require Japanese language proficiency, having some basic Japanese language skills is always a good idea. This will help you navigate daily life in Japan and make the most of your experience.
• Funding: There are a number of funding opportunities available for international PhD students in Japan, including scholarships, fellowships, and teaching assistantships. It is important to research these opportunities carefully and apply for those you are eligible for.

Scholarships

Scholarships such as MEXT, Rotary Yoneyama Foundation Scholarships, or university-specific grants are vital in supporting your academic journey. They cover everything from tuition fees to living expenses, allowing you to immerse in your studies and the rich culture of Japan. Read what each scholarship offers below!

1. The Japanese Government ( MEXT ) Scholarship

This scholarship is offered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT). There are scholarships available for privately financed international students, as well as those under student exchange agreements. The application for the 2024 MEXT Japanese Studies Scholarship will open in January 2024 . Value of Award:

• 100% of tuition (covered by the APU Tuition Reduction Scholarship)
• 145,000 JPY per month for living expenses (amount subject to change)
• Economy class air travel between the home country and APU at the beginning and end of the program. 

2. Rotary Yoneyama Foundation Scholarships

This scholarship is provided for future students of Japanese universities and graduate schools. This program serves two different application periods. If your expected enrollment is April 2024, the deadline is March 1, 2024 . If the expected enrollment is September/October 2024, the deadline is August 1, 2024.

Value of Award:

• 100% of tuition 
• The scholarship provides a monthly stipend for the duration of time, for Doctoral students: 140,000 JPY per month for two years

3. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowship

This fellowship is awarded to postdoctoral researchers who are conducting research in Japan. The JSPS offers two different programs long-term and Short-term; the application period is from mid-April to June 7, 2023 .

• 200,000 JPY per month for living expenses
• Leave for childbirth and childcare: Fellows are allowed to suspend their research for childbirth and childcare and are offered a path back into the laboratory. They can also choose to work short hours while on such leave.

4. The Fulbright Specialist Program Japan

This is a partial funding international scholarship provided by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for international students. For those candidates that met all eligibility requirements, you may apply to join the Fulbright Specialist Roster twice every 12 months . If you were not approved with your first application, you may reapply immediately and be included in the next peer review panel cycle. 

Additionally, the Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) offers about 135 graduate scholarships annually for studies in economics, business and management, science and technology, and other development-related fields. 

As a PhD student in Japan, you’re allowed to work part-time up to 28 hours a week during term-time and full-time during vacations. This can supplement your scholarship and provide real-world experience, but it’s essential to balance this with your study commitments.

For PhD students aspiring to work in Japan, proficiency in the Japanese language is invaluable. It paves the way for greater job opportunities, deeper cultural integration, and successful networking. 

Get the Full Japanese Experience

– Cultural Integration: Understanding the language is the first step to truly immersing yourself in Japanese culture and society.

– Work Eligibility: Many employers prefer or require proficiency in Japanese to navigate the local business environment and workplace culture.

– Networking: Speaking Japanese opens up a wealth of networking opportunities that are otherwise inaccessible, helping you to build valuable connections for your career.

If you’re a PhD aspirant in Japan with an eye on the job market, gaining proficiency in Japanese is more than just an academic requirement—it’s a strategic career move. The ability to communicate effectively in Japanese can significantly broaden your professional horizons and make you a compelling candidate in the job market, both during and after your PhD studies.

Our Language Courses: Tailor-Made for Your Success

Recognizing the importance of Japanese language skills for PhD students in Japan, our part-time and online courses are designed to fit into a busy academic schedule:

– Part-Time Japanese Courses These are ideal for PhD students who want to balance their research with language study. With flexible class times, you can learn Japanese without compromising your academic commitments.

– Online Japanese Courses For maximum flexibility, coto’s online Japanese courses allow you to learn from anywhere, at any time. This means you can advance your language skills even during fieldwork or if you’re on a research trip.

As a PhD student in Japan, your success isn’t solely determined by your academic achievements; it also hinges on your ability to navigate the local language and culture. By integrating Coto Japanese language courses into your study routine, you’re not just preparing for your dissertation defense—you’re setting the stage for a flourishing career in Japan. So, take the first step towards unlocking your full potential in the Japanese job market with our dedicated language courses, crafted to help you excel in both your studies and your professional life.

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Return to research navi, 04. 博士論文を探す／find doctoral dissertations: english, description.

This page is a guide to finding doctoral dissertations in Japan including Waseda, and overseas.

What is Doctoral Dissertation?

Doctoral dissertation is an academic thesis submitted and accepted to obtain a doctorate degree.

According to a revision of the Degree Regulations by MEXT, Japanese doctoral dissertations after April 1st, 2013 are supposed to be published on the internet as a general rule (Doctoral dissertations before them are also available online, if they have permission of the authors).

In principle, doctoral dissertations are stored and made available as follows:

• Held by libraries at the university where the thesis was submitted
• Held by a national library in each country (e.g. National Diet Library in Japan)
• Available on the university's WEB site (institutional repository), where the thesis was submitted
• Available as a book which is sold generally
• Available sold by specialized vendors (mainly in North America)

Doctoral Dissertations at Waseda

Doctoral dissertations submitted to Waseda University can be searched by WINE .

［In general, all doctoral dissertations after 2013, and  those with author's permission after 2002］

PDF format are available at  Waseda University Repository .

［Doctoral dissertations which are not published on the Internet with extenuating circumstances］

Electronic files are available in the Microforms/ Photographic Services Room on the 4th Floor of Central Library.

○Book form （ Doctoral dissertations submitted before March 2013 and a part of them after 2013 ）

Doctoral dissertations in print forms must be sent to Central Library or other campus libraries to use from Honjo Deposit Library.

○A list of title/ abstract

Please consult at the office of each graduate school.

Please refer to the instruction page for the details.

• How to Find Waseda University Thesis & Dissertation

Doctoral Dissertations at Other Universities in Japan

You can search them on WINE by title of single doctoral dissertation. Please select "Articles" for the search profile, after you enter search words in the search window on WINE.

Online Search

Check whether the full text is available on institutional repositories and following databases.

• IRDB（Institutional Repositories Database） [National Institute of Informatics] (Public Web site) A service for searching academic information (journal articles, theses or dissertations, departmental bulletin papers, research reports, etc.) accumulated in Japanese institutional repositories.
• Current IRs [National Institute of Informatics] (Public Web site) List of institutional repositories in Japan and abroad that NII provides.

A database service that lets you search for information on dissertations written for doctoral degrees in Japan conferred by Japanese Universities and the National Institute for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation.

Other University Libraries

If you cannot use a full text of the doctoral dissertation on internet, check each university's collection catalogs or doctoral dissertation search system to know how to use it. You may consider visiting other university libraries or making requests for photocopies via Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Service.

• Using non-Waseda Libraries  (Library Web site) In this web site, you will get information about how to visit other libraries with a letter of introduction, and how to use libraries which has cooperative agreements with Waseda University Library.
• Interlibrary Loans  (Library Web site) In general, you cannot order actual materials of doctoral dissertations, and a request for photocopy must be less than half of the total number of pages due to Japanese Copyright Law. For requests exceeding the regulation, you need to obtain permission from the copyright holder by yourself.

National Diet Library

National Diet Library holds doctoral dissertations in Japan after September 1923.

　　 Domestic Doctoral Dissertations | Reserch Navi  [National Diet Library] (Public Web site) *In Japanese only 　　This site is a guide for using Japanese doctoral dissertations provided by National Diet Library.

Following WEB sites are searching tools for doctoral dissertations held by National Diet Library and other libraries.

• NDL SEARCH [National Diet Library] (Public Web site) NDL Search is an integrated service of catalogs and digital archives held by public libraries, archives, museums, academic institutions and National Diet Library in Japan. You can search for doctoral dissertations in both printed and electronic form from “Refiners> Doctoral Dissertations”.
• National Diet Library Digital Collections  [National Diet Library] (Public Web site) You can search for doctoral dissertations in electronic form from “Advanced Search> Doctoral Dissertations”.

You may consider visiting National Diet library or making a request of photocopy via Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Services.

• User Registration  [National Diet Library] (Public Web site) Doctoral Dissertations are mainly held in Kansai-kan (in Kyoto) of NDL. So if you need to use them in Tokyo Mail Library, it must be transferred from Kyoto to Tokyo.  It takes some days, and you will be required for User Registration.
• Interlibrary Loans  (Library Web site) In general, you cannot order actual materials of doctoral dissertations, and a request for photocopy must be less than half of the total number of pages due to Japanese Copyright Law. For the request exceeding the regulation, you need to obtain permission from the copyright holder directory by yourself.

Doctoral Dissertations Overseas

When searching for overseas doctoral dissertations, it is important to check web based theses and holding institutions as well as for domestic. In addition to that it might be effective measures to purchase by databases or vendors. The following information are also useful for searching.

　　 Overseas Doctoral Dissertations (General Information) | Reserch Navi [National Diet Library] (Public Web site) *in Japanese only 　　The characteristic of this site is substantial links to regional guides around the world.

• NDL SEARCH [National Diet Library] (Public Web site) National Diet Library also collects overseas doctoral dissertations from the late 1950's. Kansai-kan (in Kyoto) holds European and North American doctoral dissertations mainly in the field of science and technology. On the other hand, Tokyo Main Library hold some of humanities and social sciences related to Japan.

Check whether the full text is available on internet. The following information are also useful for searching.

　　 Overseas Doctoral Dissertations (Internet Resources) | Reserch Navi [National Diet Library] (Public Web site) *in Japanese only

• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global (PQDT Global)  [ProQuest] (Library subscription database) The database of record for graduate research both at the PhD and MA level.
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations（NDLTD）  [NDLTD] (Public Web site) Search and browse electronic theses and dissertstions from over 70 institutions - mostly US, but some other countries.
• WorldCat.org   [OCLC] (Public Web site)]  WorldCat.org lets you search the collections of libraries in your community and thousands more around the world..

If the full-text of overseas doctoral dissertations you need is not available on internet, it might be effective measures to purchase by databases or vendors. You may use the thesis much faster and with low costs than ILL or visiting the holding library.

• Dissertation Express   [Proquest,via Sunmedia Co.,Ltd] (Public Web site) *in Japanese only A dissertation search and sales service provided by Proquest.You can use this service from the website of Sunmedia, an authorized distributor, and you can also request Sunmedia to obtain your thesis by e-mail or fax after searching (application by individuals).
• 丸善雄松堂　米国学位論文  ／ MARUZEN-YUSHODO Dissertation Service Center [MARUZEN-YUSHODO Co.,Ltd.] (Public Web site) *in Japanese only This site allows you to search and purchase mainly US dissertations.

Holding Libraries

If the overseas doctoral dissertation is not available neither to use on internet nor to purchase through databases/ vendor, the next step is to search the actual holding library such as an university library or a national library of the country. But please consider the time and costs for making a request via ILL service, and visiting the institution.

• Interlibrary Loans  (Library Web site) In addition to photocopy, sometimes the actual material (books form, microfilms, etc.) is available for overseas ILL.  But please be noted the shipping cost depends on the weight, the parcel,  and the delivery fee on one way/ both ways .
• Using non-Waseda Libraries  (Library Web site) Depending on the circumstances, a letter of introduction is required to use the library you are planning to visit. So please check the WEB site of the institution in advance.
• << Previous: 日本語
• Last Updated: Jan 31, 2024 3:23 PM
• URL: https://waseda-jp.libguides.com/research-navi/find_theses

Lafayette Jeff graduate Brian Jenkins gets NFL opportunity with Seattle Seahawks

LAFAYETTE — Brian Jenkins once thought his football future was as a quarterback.

Instead, Jenkins transitioned into a receiver .

Now the 2019 Lafayette Jeff graduate is getting his shot in the NFL.

After a record-breaking career at Olivet Nazarene University, Jenkins received a call from the Seattle Seahawks after going undrafted and will be invited to their rookie minicamp May 2-5.

"I just want to go out there and be me. That's all I can do," Jenkins said. "This whole process has been about going out there and being me, doing what I've been doing throughout the years of putting in the extra work."

More: Giants pick RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. in Round 5 of 2024 NFL Draft. Everything you need to know

More: Ravens pick S Sanoussi Kane in Round 7 of 2024 NFL Draft. Everything you need to know

As a sophomore, Jenkins quarterbacked Lafayette Jeff's junior varsity to an undefeated season.

He played his final two seasons as a varsity receiver, totaling 96 catches for 1,660 yards and 26 touchdowns, including 68 receptions for 1,157 yards and 20 TDs as a senior that earned him first-team all-state and Indiana North-South All-Star accolades. Jenkins' 20 receptions are second most in a single season at Lafayette Jeff, one shy of former NFL first-round pick Dustin Keller.

That carried over to Olivet, an NAIA program in Bourbonnais, Ill.

Jenkins finished his career with the Tigers with ONU records of 164 receptions for 3,019 yards and 41 touchdowns. The three-time first-team All Mid-States Football Association selection also owns Olivet records of four touchdown receptions in a single game and longest reception on a 97-yard.

Jenkins elected not to enter the transfer portal prior to the 2023 season despite Division I interest, calling what he'd developed with coaches and players at Olivet a "brotherhood." Jenkins then went out and racked up a third-straight all-conference honor.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Jenkins then impressed at a pro day on Northwestern's campus in front of NFL scouts.

"Throughout this whole process, coming from a very small school in NAIA, not a lot of us guys get that opportunity," Jenkins said. "This opportunity has been a blessing."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

Updated response to Graduate Life Center protest

Mark Owczarski

29 Apr 2024

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Editor's note: The number of individuals arrested Sunday has been updated.

Process for claiming abandoned and lost items collected from the Graduate Life Center lawn.

A message from President Tim Sands to the Virginia Tech community .

Virginia Tech Police can confirm that 82 individuals, 53 of whom are current Virginia Tech students, were arrested and all were charged with trespassing.

The Graduate Life Center is open and all activities that were scheduled are taking place.

Incident at Graduate Life Center has stabilized. Police presence remains. Urgent, avoid area. No further updates unless situation changes.

April 28, 10:50 p.m.

On Friday morning, protestors began to occupy the lawn of the Graduate Life Center. Virginia Tech officials informed the protestors that the gathering was in violation of University Policy 5000 (University Facilities Usage and Events). Virginia Tech values free speech and the protestors’ right to be heard, but only if the rights of others and public safety can be assured.

Through constant dialogue between university officials, the Virginia Tech Police Department, and protest organizers, we were able to maintain a safe and peaceful environment through much of the weekend.

As Sunday progressed, protestors continued to refuse to comply with policy and took further steps to occupy the lawn of the Graduate Life Center and outdoor spaces next to Squires Student Center. Given these actions by protesters, the university recognized that the situation had the increasing potential to become unsafe.

Those who gathered were advised by university officials to remove their possessions and to disperse voluntarily; those who failed to comply were then approached by Virginia Tech Police and were again asked to leave and advised that anyone who failed to comply would be charged with trespassing, in accordance with Virginia law.

At approximately 10:15 p.m., police approached protesters to ask them to disperse within five minutes. Those who remained were subject to arrest.

In the interest of public safety, the university issued a VT Alerts at approximately 10:15 p.m. asking members of the community to avoid the area.

For the safety and welfare of all students, faculty and staff, Virginia Tech requires that all members of its community comply with all university policies and the Code of Virginia.

Original post, April 26

Earlier today, a small gathering of members of the university community and others not affiliated with Virginia Tech convened at the Graduate Life Center and placed tents on the lawn. This gathering was not a registered event consistent with university policy. University officials and Virginia Tech Police responded on site to explain the university’s facility use and event policy ( University Policy 5000 ) and related public safety policies. The university will continue to act in accordance with its policies.

The university has communicated to the participants:

• The current event is not compliant with University Policy 5000 , and members of the community are expected to follow that policy.
• All organized events must be compliant with University Policy 5000.
• Event participants cannot erect temporary structures without prior approval as a matter of public safety.

The safety and welfare of all members of the Virginia Tech community is the university’s primary responsibility while we remain unequivocally committed to upholding freedom of speech and academic freedom . This is expressed and upheld through our Principles of Community .

Virginia Tech Police would like to remind all community members of the following:

• Call Virginia Tech Police at 540-382-4343, or 911 if an emergency, to report all suspicious people and circumstances.
• For additional safety and security resources, visit emergency.vt.edu for a wide range of resources.

Members of the university community who seek support or assistance are encouraged to contact these resources:

• Cook Counseling Center  at 540-231-6557
• Dean of Students Office  at 540-231-3787. Referral to a campus cleric may be made through this office.
• Anthem at 855-223-9277
• Aetna at 888-238-6232
• Kaiser Permanente at 866-517-7042
• Optima Health Vantage HMO at 866-846-2682
• Hokie Wellness  at 540-231-2233 (students) or 540-231-8878 (employees)
• Housing Services at 540-231-6205
• Residential Well-being at 540-231-1139
• Equity and Accessibility  at  540-231-2010
• Women's Center at Virginia Tech at 540-231-7806
• University Ombuds Office  at 540-231-3125
• Graduate Office of the Ombudsperson  at 540-231-9573

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• Public Safety
• Virginia Tech Police

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The best games like Shōgun to keep the historical Japan vibes going

Now you can reenact your own version of ‘Crimson Sky’

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Share All sharing options for: The best games like Shōgun to keep the historical Japan vibes going

Shōgun , the limited TV series based on the historical-fiction novel by James Clavell, quickly asserted itself as one of this year’s best new series, thanks to a captivating cast of characters and a stirring performance by lead Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Toranaga.

If you’re still devastated by this week’s series finale and are looking for a game to sate your desire for more great storytelling set in historical Japan, we’ve got you covered. We’ve hand-selected some of our favorite games to help ease the transition into a post- Shōgun world. Let’s dive in!

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun

Where to play: PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One

Sometimes, a veiled knife in the dark is worth more than a hundred swords on the battlefield. Case in point: The end of Shōgun ’s second episode, when a shinobi disguised as a longtime house servant tears through guards and bystanders alike, leaving blood in his wake, before being cut down by Lord Toranaga. So, if you’re looking for a stealthy action game where strategy and patience are king, Mimimi Productions’ 2016 real-time tactics game is a must-play.

Set in feudal Japan shortly after the reigning shogun has unified the country, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun follows a group of unlikely allies who band together in their common quest to take down a mysterious warlord that threatens the shogunate. It’s an excellent and thoroughly underrated stealth game that puts emphasis on making the most of each skill your party of playable characters brings to every challenge. —Toussaint Egan

Total War: Shogun 2

Where to play: Windows PC

Shōgun takes place during the end of the Sengoku period, a time in which incessant civil warfare has divided the country into countless domains overseen by warlords looking to expand their territories. The series’ finale ends on the cusp of war , with Toranaga reflecting on what will be known as the Battle of Sekigahara. If you were disappointed by the lack of a huge battle at the end of Shōgun , this classic RTS is the perfect way to experience that.

Creative Assembly’s path to strategy-gaming dominance began in 2000 with the original Shogun: Total War . After a decade-long romp through ancient Rome and Europe, the developer returned to Japan in 2011 for Total War: Shogun 2 . The result was a BAFTA award for best strategy game, and the crystallization of a high-concept multimodal format that would go on to become the beloved trilogy Total War: Warhammer .

In Total War: Shogun 2, you will send thousands of soldiers, archers, and cavalry into pitched real-time tactical battles. From your bird’s-eye view over the battlefield, you can order them to flank, fire at, and charge the enemy. Then, in the turn-based overworld map, you will maneuver your forces to take advantage of the terrain, using it to unseat your AI-controlled opponents to dominate all of Japan. The timeline is a perfect match for the TV show, with units pulled from historical accounts of the 16th century.

To get the most bang for your buck, pick up the Total War: Shogun 2 c ollection on Steam, which includes the base game and its most essential expansions. —Charlie Hall

Rise of the Ronin

Where to play: PlayStation 5

If you’re looking for a game where you can explore the beautiful plains and rolling hills of 19th-century Japan that Shogun only briefly teased throughout the series, Team Ninja’s first open-world action adventure is just the game to satiate your wanderlust. As a former anti-shogunate assassin turned ronin, players must traverse the countryside of 19th-century Japan after their village is destroyed and their lifelong partner goes missing. You’ll battle against ruthless bandits, surly American soldiers, and even ravenous dogs as you attempt to carve out a new life for yourself. Not only that, but players are given the choice to forge bonds with important characters and ally with clashing factions to decide the fate of Japan. If that doesn’t resonate with the themes of Shōgun , I don’t know what does. —TE

Where to play: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC

While loosely based on true events, Shōgun is technically a work of historical fiction, with John Blackthorne and Lord Yoshii Toranaga as fictional analogs for the real-life English sailor turned samurai William Adams and daimyo turned shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. If you’re looking for another, albeit more violently exaggerated, take on the events covered in the show, you should definitely give Team Ninja’s 2017 Soulslike Nioh a shot.

Set in a dark fantasy version of 1600s Japan, players assume the role of an Irish sailor named William who arrives in Japan on a quest of vengeance against Edward Kelley, an occult alchemist who seeks to perpetuate conflict using an army of oni. William quickly allies himself with Ieyasu and his ninja servant Hanzo Hattori, who agree to aid him in his mission to take down Kelley in their own quest to bring peace to Japan. It’s a wild and ridiculous action RPG filled with intense swordplay and frightening bosses. It’s not exactly the equivalent of a slow-paced, emotionally rich prestige TV series, but it is a blast to play. —TE

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Where to play: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

The Like a Dragon (formerly known as Yakuza) series has always had a reputation for outlandish scenarios involving gold-hearted gangsters and over-the-top minigames. In 2014, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio took one of the most radical steps in the franchise to date, recasting the series’ mechanics and ideas for an action-adventure spinoff set in 19th-century Japan. Like a Dragon: Ishin! puts players in the role of the legendary samurai Sakamoto Ryōma (modeled after regular series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu) as he fights to clear his name after his adoptive father is murdered by an assassin.

If you were captivated by Shōgun ’s meticulous rendition of Osaka Castle, you’ll love exploring the game’s vast and beautiful version of the castle town of Tosa and Kyo, Japan’s capital city during the Bakumatsu era. It’s a fantastic game with compelling characters and great combat, and with the recent remake that allows players to get it on PC and current-gen consoles, there’s never been a better time to try it out. —TE

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