Curriculum

Program Features

Various Courses are Offered

Take Courses Outside of Your Area of Specialization

3 courses

Selected Thesis Topics

Master’s Thesis

Doctor’s Thesis

Educational Policies

Diploma Policy

Master’s Program

With an aim to foster human resources who endeavor to achieve Sophia’s purpose of establishment and mission by exploring language, the most fundamental human ability, the Master’s Program in Linguistics sets standards for the skills and knowledge students should acquire before graduation as described below:

Those who fulfill the graduation requirements and pass their thesis defense shall be deemed to have acquired these qualities and will be awarded a diploma.

1. An understanding of the current status of linguistics studies and methodologies acquired by taking required courses in various fields from the first year to establish one’s field of expertise
2. The ability to appropriately turn unresolved issues into research questions
3. The ability to conduct the collection and analysis of data most appropriate for problem-solving and to find a meaningful solution
4. The ability to acquire the fundamental theories and methodologies of linguistics from a wide perspective, to learn how to think academically and to pursue a particular field of expertise
5. The ability to give meaning to outcomes and contribute to society by harnessing one’s expertise

Doctoral Program

With an aim to foster human resources who endeavor to achieve Sophia’s purpose of establishment and mission by deeply and broadly exploring language, the most fundamental human ability, the Doctoral Program in Linguistics sets standards for the skills and knowledge students should acquire before graduation as described below: Those who fulfill the graduation requirements and pass their dissertation defense shall be deemed to have acquired these qualities and will be awarded a diploma.

1. The ability to conduct original research and compile an academic paper based on the methodologies and knowledge of ones field of expertise acquired in the Master’s program
2. The academic ability to independently perform sophisticated research
3. The ability to complete an academic paper of a globally competitive level as an independent researcher who is well-learned in highly specialized theories and methodologies of linguistics and associated sciences

Curriculum Policy

Master’s Program

In accordance with the diploma policy, with an aim to make an in-depth academic observation of language and linguistics, the Master’s Program in Linguistics constructs its curriculum with courses aligned to the following purposes:

1. Have students acquire basic knowledge of language and linguistics regardless of their expertise. Therefore, the following courses are designated Compulsory Courses under the respective programs and should be taken during the first year: 1) Linguistics in General: Basic Phonetics and Phonology, Basic Syntactic Theory; 2) Speech-Language Pathology: Topics in Speech and Language Disorders, Research Methods for Speech and Language Disorders B (Experiment Planning Methodologies), Research Methods for Speech and Language Disorders D (Literature Reading); 3) English Teaching Methods: Introduction to TEFL in Japan Second Language Acquisition Introduction to Linguistics; 4) Japanese Education: Japanese Grammar Teaching I, Second Language Acquisition. Language/Culture/Society, Introduction to Japanese Teaching Methods.
2. Offer courses related to Phonetics, Phonology, Syntax, Semantics, Writing Styles and History of seven languages, English, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese and Japanese.
3. Have students take the abovementioned Compulsory and Elective Courses to acquire the skills required to pursue specialized themes in each division, including theoretical knowledge, the ability to apply theory, problem-solving skills, critical thinking, the ability to collect, analyze and interpret appropriate data and the ability to generalize individual data to construct theory.

Doctoral Program

In accordance with the diploma policy, with an aim to make an in-depth academic observation of language and linguistics, the Master’s Program in Linguistics constructs its curriculum with courses aligned to the following purposes:

1. Have students select a specific theme from Theoretical Linguistics, including Phonetics and Phonology, Speech and Language Disorder Studies, and Applied Linguistics and have them receive research guidance in personal meetings with a specific professor.
2. Have students engage in unique research by not only further pursuing their respective specialized research but also incorporating knowledge of associated fields, thus enhancing their expert knowledge in liberal arts and academic expertise.
3. Require students to take and pass certification exams during their second year and publish 2 academic papers in peer-reviewed academic journals.
4. Have students receive research guidance mainly from their research advisor and have them take courses offered by the Doctoral Program in Linguistics and required by the research advisor.

Admission Policy

Master’s Program

The Master’s Program in Linguistics seeks students with the following qualities:

1. Students with academic interest in one of the following fields of linguistics: Theoretical Linguistics, Individual Linguistics (English, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese), Applied Linguistics, Speech-Language-Hearing Disorders, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and Japanese education. Students who wish to enroll in the Program in Speech-Language-Hearing-Disorders can aim to acquire qualification to take the national exam for Speech-Language-Hearing Therapists
2. Students who possess the will to further develop academic and cultural knowledge of their disciplinary specialties, as well as the will to produce unique research outcomesand return findings to society
3. Students who major in Theoretical Linguistics, Individual Linguistics, Applied Linguistics and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) are required to compile their thesis in a foreign language (international students majoring in Japanese Education are required to write their thesis in Japanese, which is foreign to them); and therefore, students who possess foreign language skills that are adequate for the completion of their thesis

博士後期課程

The Doctoral Program in Linguistics seeks students with the following qualities:

1. Students with a clear vision of the research theme for their dissertation based on their research during the Master’s program
2. Students who will take their research further in their disciplinary specialties, incorporate findings in associated fields and enhance their cultural and academic knowledge to perform unique research
3. Students who will present their research at academic meetings and submit articles to academic journals, have acquired the ability to autonomously pursue their research and aim to acquire a degree while they are enrolled

Faculty Members

General Linguistics, Theoretical Linguistics

Applied Linguistics, English Teaching Methodology, Japanese Language Education

Speech and Hearing Disorders

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