Master’s (Doctoral) Program in Social Services
The Master’s (Doctoral) in Social Service aims to go beyond conventional social welfare in the narrow sense and to cultivate human resources who can contribute to constructing a new welfare society in a wide range of fields. To this end, we will promote advanced education and research in social welfare required in the coming age through new methods. The Master’s (Doctoral) in Social Service at Sophia University will enable a new graduate school education that integrates theory and practice by organizing a novel curriculum not seen in conventional social welfare departments in Japan.
The program will establish welfare policy and administration courses, and welfare clinical courses, and the former will design the design of welfare policies and the operation and management of welfare services in the national and local governments, as well as in the non-profit sector and the market sector, and nurture the human resources who will be responsible for these policies and services. In line with this goal, researchers, administrators, and social entrepreneurs (social entrepreneurs) who will pioneer tomorrow’s welfare society will be nurtured. In the latter course, we will reexamine the theoretical foundations of the field of social work assistive technology and pursue advanced expertise that can respond to the diversifying welfare needs of modern society.
Curriculum
The curriculum consists of four credits of basic exercises in research methods required in the fields of welfare policy and administration and welfare clinical care, and two credits each of advanced courses in research methods in the respective fields of welfare policy and administration and welfare clinical care. Thus, students will not only learn existing advanced knowledge but will also be able to learn specific research methods for creating their own knowledge.
In addition, we have established the Researcher Training Program and the Advanced Welfare Professional Training Program, aiming to become a research and education center that trains researchers and advanced professionals who will lead research and practice in social welfare, in accordance with the career paths of graduate students after completion of their studies. The Master’s Program offers a long-term enrollment system, allowing students who are working to study for a longer period of time (3 years) without increasing the burden of tuition fees.
Granted Degree
- Master’s Program: Master’s (Social Service）
- Doctoral Program: Doctor (Social Service)
Available Teaching License and Subjects
- High School Specialized Teacher (Welfare)
*Only available in Master’s degree programs. Also, it is only available in subjects in which a type 1 license is obtained or fulfilled the requirements for type 1 are fulfilled. Not all subjects are available.
Program Features
Two training programs: “Training of Researchers” and “Training of Advanced Welfare Professionals
In addition to enhancing and strengthening the “Researcher Training Program,” we have established the “Advanced Welfare Professional Training Program” backed by academic theory and methods to broaden the range of career paths available to students after graduation. The latter program is a pioneering program designed with the establishment of future professional graduate schools in mind.
Novel systematic curriculum: “two systems” and “core curriculum
The curriculum is systematic and structured, consisting of a well-balanced group of courses in welfare policy and administration and clinical welfare, and exercises in various social welfare research methods as the core curriculum.
Training for integration of theory and practice
The program aims to integrate “theory” and “practice/clinical work” by studying “scientific knowledge,” “clinical knowledge,” and “policy/administrative knowledge,” respectively, and provides training to enhance the ability to link scientific theory and methods to practice through exercises, case analysis, fieldwork, etc.
Developing Social Entrepreneurs
The program trains students to acquire the latest knowledge and skills in clinical welfare, to practice them in society as advanced professionals, to design and create a new welfare society, and to be researchers who conceive and design the design of a new welfare society.
For career advancement to Certified Social Worker
The courses offered by the Department of Social Welfare, “Basic Social Welfare Research Methods,” “Basic Welfare Policy Administration and Management Research Methods,” “Basic Welfare Clinical Research Methods,” and “Medical Social Work Research,” are certified as certified training for certified social workers. We support those who aim to advance their careers from social workers to certified social workers.
Long-term enrollment system that allows students to study while working
To enable Master’s students who are employed to balance their work and research, we offer a long-term enrollment system. This system allows employed students to enroll in the program for three years with a two-year tuition fee (tuition and educational enrichment fee).
Briefing session on entrance examinations, trial lessons, and admission counseling
Admission information sessions are held on weekends during the spring and fall semesters to explain the admissions procedures, provide a detailed explanation of the curriculum, and introduce the graduate school faculty. In conjunction with the entrance examination information sessions, we also offer trial classes to allow prospective students to experience graduate school classes firsthand.
During the summer open campus, individual admissions counseling sessions are held by faculty members in charge of the graduate school.
Admissions Procedure
Beginning with the 2019 entrance examination, we have started a written exam waiver system for working adults and for students who have studied social welfare studies, etc. at other universities.
Educational Policies
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Master’s Program
With an aim to foster human resources who respect human dignity and can contribute to the realization of a welfare society and creative progress, the Master’s Program in Social Services 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.
- Knowledge of fundamental theories of welfare and high expertise, practical ability and research abilities
- The ability to acquire broad knowledge of both fields of welfare policy operation and management and clinical welfare fields and the practical ability to establish a welfare society
- Multidimensional analytical abilities to solve the issues of modern society by integrating theory, practice and clinical practice
- Researcher Development Program: the practical ability to design and create a welfare society and ability to communicate research outcomes in academic journals and at academic meetings, as well as to compile them into academic papers
- Advanced Welfare Professional Training Program: the practical ability to acquire clinical welfare knowledge and technology and play a leadership role in policy proposal and clinical practice, as well as the ability to compile them into academic papers
Doctoral Program
With an aim to foster human resources who respect human dignity and can contribute to the realization of a welfare society and creative progress as an independent researcher, the Doctoral Program in Social Services 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 build on the fundamental theories of social welfare, sophisticated expertise and practical abilities and research abilities (acquired during the Master’s program) and generate unique findings
- Advanced analytic, demonstrative and research abilities that will be required in acquiring broader knowledge of both fields of welfare policy operation and management and clinical welfare fields to establish a welfare society
- The ability to communicate research outcomes and engage in debate through submissions to academic journals and presentations at international academic meetings, and to compile the results into a doctoral thesis
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Master’s Program
In accordance with the diploma policy, with an aim to develop human resources that will contribute to the achievement of a new welfare-oriented society surpassing social welfare in the narrow sense of the word, the Master’s Program in Social Services offers the Researcher Development Program and the High-Level Welfare Specialist Training Program and constructs its curriculum with courses aligned to the following purposes:
- Acquire the multidimensional research methods required in social welfare studies through the core curriculum, comprising Basic Social Welfare Research Methodology, Basic Welfare Policy Management Research Methodology, and Basic Clinical Welfare Research Methodology
- Gain knowledge of a wide a range of disciplines required in social welfare studies through Welfare Policy Management Courses and Clinical Welfare Subjects.
- Acquire analytical skills to analyze the current status and issues by integrating theory and practice through Social Welfare Fieldwork, Welfare Support Case Study Analysis, and Social Policy Management Case Study Analysis.
- The Researcher Development Program will have students further develop research methods through the Core Curriculum and acquire methodologies and skills to communicate their research in English through courses taught in English.
- The High-level Welfare Specialist Training Program will offer hands-on learning to have students acquire knowledge and skills in clinical welfare mainly through courses on clinical and welfare issues.
- Have students compile a thesis through the abovementioned curriculum and research guidance and prepare for the thesis defense and final exams.
Doctoral Program
In accordance with the diploma policy, with an aim to develop human resources that will internationally contribute to the achievement of a new welfare-oriented society, the Doctoral Program in Social Services constructs its curriculum with courses aligned to the following purposes:
- Under the research guidance of the research advisor, perform a literature review of domestic and international research and conduct surveys to identify research themes and methods and pursue research.
- Acquire the multidimensional perspectives and research methods required in pursuing research in social welfare studies through coursework in Welfare Policy Management and Clinical Welfare
- Acquire methods and skills to communicate research and engage in discussions in English through English-taught courses.
- Compile a dissertation through the abovementioned curriculum, research guidance and Special Lecture on Research Methods (coursework) and prepare for the dissertation defense and final exams.
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Master’s Program
The Master’s Program in Social Services seeks students with the following qualities:
- Students who have studied not only Social Services but also other fields including healthcare, economics, law, sociology and psychology
- The “High-Level Social Service Specialist Program” seeks students who will exhibit high expertise and leadership in welfare and healthcare
- Students who excelled in their studies at Sophia University’s Department of Social Services or the Sophia School of Social Welfare, and seek to take their academic pursuit of social services further and acquire research methodologies
Doctoral Program
The Doctoral Program in Social Services seeks students with the following qualities:
- Students who have a Master’s degree not only in Social Services but also other in fields, including healthcare, economics, law, sociology, and psychology
- Students who excelled in their studies in the Master’s Program in Social Services and are eager to take their research further and contribute to society
Faculty Members
[Mainly welfare policy and administration]
Akira OTSUKA Professor
Teruyuki KATORI Professor
Katsura MARUYAMA Professor
Natsuko KABURAKI Associate Professor
[Mainly welfare clinical system]
Tomofumi OKA Professor
Eriko TAKAYAMA Professor
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Chie KASAHARA Associate Professor
Kozue SHINDO Associate Professor