Master’s (Doctoral) Program in Psychology
Psychology is a science that seeks to improve our knowledge of human behavior and understanding and thereby contribute to the welfare of humankind. Although sharing a common foundation, psychology is divided into basic psychology, which corresponds to basic medicine in the field of psychology, and clinical psychology, which corresponds to clinical medicine and has developed its own unique subjects and methods.
The Master’s (Doctoral) Program in Psychology, where students can learn both, has been producing psychologists with research skills for society since its establishment as the predecessor Psychology Course in the Department of Education. The program will continue to integrate science and humanism to train highly skilled professionals who will contribute to the welfare of humankind.
Curriculum
The Master’s Program develops a foundation of research skills in psychology and provides practical training for future careers as psychologists. There are basic psychology courses and clinical psychology courses, and the clinical psychology course is accredited as a Type 1 Designated Graduate School by the Foundation of the Japanese Certification Board for Clinical Psychologists. The curriculum is also designed to train Certified Public Psychologists.
In the Doctoral Program, students will enhance their research skills in their area of specialization, and at the same time, receive practical training to become independent researchers or leading psychologists in the future. To apply for a doctoral dissertation review, students are required to have multiple research papers published in or accepted by academic journals and to present the concept of their doctoral dissertation at a conceptual presentation meeting.
Granted Degree
- Master’s Program: MASTER OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY
- Doctoral Program: DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PSYCHOLOGY
Available Teaching Licenses and Subjects
- High School Specialized Teacher (Civics)
*Only available in Master’s degree programs. Also, it is only available in subjects in which a Type 1 license has been obtained or the requirements for Type 1 have been fulfilled. Not all subjects are available.
Program Features
Sophia Psychology Clinic
In the clinical psychology course, graduate students are trained at the “Sophia Psychology Clinic”. This facility accepts consultations from outside the university and provides training and practice for graduate students majoring in clinical psychology.
Promoting Research in the Age of Internationalization
The Master’s (Doctoral) Program in Psychology supports graduate students’ presentations at domestic and international conferences. Faculty members specialize in the basic and clinical areas of psychology, allowing students to learn a wide range of both.
Close Interaction with Clinical and Research Settings
Many of our graduates are active as counselors, therapists, and other clinical psychologists in public institutions and medical and educational institutions. The program provides opportunities to study in a large network, including practical training in the workplaces of former graduates.
Selected Thesis Topics
Master’s Thesis
- A Study on the Generativity of Chinese Residents: A Comparison of Chinese and Japanese Residents
- Altruistic Behavior of Prosocial and Egocentric Persons under Conditions of Fatigue
- The “Suck it up” Experience and the Process of Sharing it
- The Decision-Making Process of Elderly Nursing Home Employees’ Intention to Continue Working under the COVID-19 Epidemic Situation
- The Impact of the COVID-19 on the Elderly and the Response of the Elderly
- A Study on Emotional Expression and Experience by Including Coloration Process in S-HTP Method
- Psychosocial Influences on the Mental Health of Young Workers in the Corona Disaster: Focusing on Social Capital
- An Exploratory Examination of Cognitive Characteristics in Klinefelter Syndrome and Male Sexual Minorities at Birth
- The Arousal and Maintenance Process of Anger: Focusing on Fair World Beliefs and Fairness Sensitivity.
- Influence of Childhood Cancer Experience on “Liking People”
- The stress of Leaders in University Extracurricular Activities and its Mitigating Factors
- Mourning and Dependence in Those who Lost a Parent while Adolescent
- A Longitudinal Study of the Effects of Changes in Attentional Function on Depression and Response Style – Using the Attention Training Method
- The Effects of Institutional Interpersonal Stressors and Positive Interpersonal Relationships on Stress Reactions in Nursing Home Residents.
- Risk Factors for the Development of Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease
- Secondary Injury in Trauma Support and its Relationship to Development as a Psycho-Clinician
Doctoral Dissertation
- Support for Truancy from School- From the Perspective of Analytical Psychology.
- Psychological Support and Parental Support for “Mental Growth” of Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Childhood and Adolescence: Relationships Based on Holistic Understanding
Educational Policies
-
Master’s Program
With an aim to foster human resources who can, for the purpose of achieving a society that protects human dignity based on Christian humanism, crystalize the output of such academic studies in the form of research based on an understanding of knowledge pertaining to psychological studies and the acquisition and practice of research methods, and thus contribute to society as an expert or professional of psychological studies, the
Master’s Program in Psychology 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.- In both Psychological Science Course and Clinical Psychology Course, a demonstrative understanding of the role of the mind; an understanding of the universality of the mind and behavior as well as its diversity and plasticity; and an understanding of the social role of psychological studies
- As an expert, for the purpose of achieving the founding spirit of “Sophia-Bringing the World Together,” the knowledge and skills that can be used in both basic and clinical fields (medicine, education, welfare, etc.) and the ability to communicate them accurately
- Broad range of findings that will enable collaboration with various other fields and job categories
- The ability to compile a master’s thesis based on the results of deepening one’s field of expertise and making presentations at academic meetings, and to communicate to a wide audience
Doctoral Program
For the purpose of achieving a society that protects human dignity based on Christian humanism, the Doctoral Program in Psychology will nurture students who can understand knowledge pertaining to psychological studies, acquire and practice research methods, crystalize the output of such academic studies in the form of research, and explore research questions in the form of academic papers. It aims to foster human resources who can contribute to society as a researcher or educator by using their expertise and professional experience in exploring “the mind” from a comprehensive perspective, and thus contribute to society as a researcher and educator. The Doctoral Program in Psychology therefore 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
- The ability to explore findings in various fields of psychology and to become a researcher with a clinical perspective and practitioner with a researcher’s perspective
- The ability, as an expert, to help people in various situations based on a scientific perspective
- The ability to pursue one’s disciplinary specialty and to compile conclusions in a dissertation drawing on submissions to academic journals and presentations at academic meetings, as well as communication skills that can reach a wide audience
- The capacity to contribute to solving urgent issues such as medical issues that require collaboration among different sectors
-
Master’s Program
In accordance with the diploma policy, with an aim to foster people who can understand the structure and functions of the mind and behavior and contribute to wide society using psychological expertise and skills, the Master’s Program in Psychology offers two courses, the Clinical Psychology Program and Basic Psychology Program, and constructs its curriculum with courses aligned to the following purposes:
- With an aim to establish the foundations of an expert in psychology, offer courses on research methodology and courses on the various disciplines of psychology during the first and second years.
- Offer an Academic Writing Seminar where students can develop their learning into research activities during the first and second years.
- In the Clinical Psychology Program, offer compulsory courses that allow students to acquire the various knowledge and skills required of a clinical psychiatrist through learning about concrete clinical cases and building on such knowledge and techniques through practical training and practice
- Offer Practical Training Courses that allow students to deepen their learning through instructing or tutoring undergraduate students.
Doctoral Program
In accordance with the diploma policy, with an aim to let students acquire psychological research methods ranging from the basics to applied studies as well as highly advanced state-of-the-art knowledge so that they can utilize their expert knowledge and experience in pursuing “the mind” from a comprehensive perspective and make social contributions as researchers, educators, and clinical psychiatrists, the Doctoral Program in Psychology constructs its curriculum with courses aligned to the following purposes:
- Offer lecture-based courses and Academic Writing Seminars throughout the first, second and third years to allow students to acquire the state-of-the-art knowledge and specialized skills required of a researcher, educator or clinical practitioner of psychology.
- Have students write two peer-reviewed academic papers before presenting their dissertation outlines. This will require using academic meetings and other opportunities to present research at academic meetings and work with other researchers.
- Have students tutor undergraduate and Master’s students in psychologic research methods to deepen their psychological knowledge and skills as well as acquire the skills to communicate their knowledge and skills to others as researchers, educators or clinical psychologists.
- Permit students to take collaborative courses offered under the four-university partnership (Sophia University, Jikei University School of Medicine, Showa University and Hoshi University) as Cancer Care Courses
-
Master’s Program
The Master’s Program in Psychology seeks students with the following qualities:
- The Master’s Program in Psychology aims to have students acquire high expertise in psychology ranging from basic to applied fields, skills to collect and analyze demonstrative data, as well as clinical and practical knowledge and skills. Therefore the Program seeks students who are highly motivated and bear the skills to autonomously pursue research as psychological experts
- Students who respect human dignity and are capable of looking upon others warmly, and at the same time have the sense to logically and objectively analyze phenomena.
- Students who are motivated to acquire knowledge, think flexibly and cooperate with various experts to be able to engage in discussion on equal footing with experts from other fields on various practical occasions in the future
Doctoral Program
The Doctoral Program in Psychology seeks students with the following qualities:
- Students with high expertise in psychology ranging from basic to applied fields as well as skills to collect and analyze demonstrative data and clinical and practical knowledge and skills
- Students who respect human dignity and are capable of looking upon others warmly, and at the same time have the sense to logically and objectively analyze phenomena, and therefore promise to become a leading researcher, educator and practitioner in psychology
- Students who can compile their high expertise and research outcomes in psychology into an academic paper and communicate it to others
Faculty Members
Soh AGATSUMA Professor
Eiko HIROSE Professor
Satoshi YOSHIMURA Professor