Master’s (Doctoral) Program in English and American Literature
The more advanced academic research becomes, the more it tends to be buried within narrowly specialized themes. The Department of English and American Literature, based on Sophia University’s basic philosophy of Christian humanism, aims to defy this nature and study English and American literature as part of the larger cultural activities of Western civilization. In other words, we are committed to understanding English and American literature with an emphasis on their contextual importance in history, religion, philosophy, and culture.
Curriculum
While aiming to train professional researchers, the Master’s Program is open to students who wish to improve their professional skills through specialized knowledge, middle and high school teachers, and other practitioners. Classes take place in a thorough, small-group exercise format. Students admitted to the program are divided into two courses: Course A, which prepares them to enter the second semester, and Course B, which is completed in the first semester. Both courses require Methods of Literary Research I (in Japanese) and Methods of Literary Research II (in English) to acquire basic knowledge of research and thesis writing. The Doctoral Program is designed to produce highly academic teachers and researchers through a program that links research guidance (research work) by academic advisors and reading courses (coursework). Students attend specialized lectures and exercises in this course, with an emphasis on writing preliminary doctoral theses, which are prerequisites for submitting doctoral theses. The Department of English and American Literature has already awarded doctoral degrees to 25 students, a number that is outstanding in the study of humanities. Graduates of the program give lectures at universities around the country and have had a considerable impact on the university education of English language and literature.
Granted Degree
- Master’s Program: MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH AND AMERICAN LITERATURE
- Doctoral Program: DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ENGLISH AND AMERICAN LITERATURE
Available Teaching Licenses and Subjects
- Junior High School Specialized Teacher (English)
- High School Specialized Teacher (English)
*Only Master’s degree programs are eligible for a teacher’s license. If you wish to obtain a teacher’s license, a Type 1 license should already have been obtained, or the requirements for obtaining a Type 1 license should have been fulfilled in advance for the subjects you wish to be licensed in. Otherwise, it is not possible.
Program Features
Developing Advanced Professional Skills
The Master’s Program is open to students and working professionals who wish to enhance their professional skills with a higher level of specialized knowledge than that obtained in undergraduate education while aspiring to become middle or high school teachers, translators, or other related professionals.
Credits can be Earned at Other Universities
Our faculty members in British Literature, American Literature, and English Studies are qualified professionals who satisfy rigorous eligibility requirements. In addition, through the commissioned student auditing system, students can earn credits at Aoyama Gakuin University, Rikkyo University, and 11 other graduate schools.
Developing Research Skills through Presentations and Lectures
Every fall, we hold the Sophia University English Literature Conference, where graduate students present their research, and researchers from Sophia and other institutions give lectures and symposiums. We also publish papers by graduate students and graduates in our journals.
Student’s Participation in Journal Publication
The Department of English and American Literature in the Graduate School of Humanities encourages students to write for the Sophia Studies in English Literature, published by the Sophia University English Literature Society.
Selected Thesis Topics
● The Critic as Reader: Coleridge on the Bible, Shakespeare, and Wordsworth
● Reconsidering Stagger Lee: A Study of a “Cultural Hero” in the Black Oral Tradition
● Narrating the Past and Establishing Her Identity in Harriet Jacobs’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
● Text and Hidden Violence in “Titus Andronicus”
● “The Chronicles of Narnia” in the Perspective of Death
● Clowns in “King Lear” and Clowns in the King’s Troupe
● Effects of Repeated Reading Instruction in Online EFL Classes for Japanese High School Students
Selected Dissertation Topics
● Writing the “Heart”: Hoccleve’s Troubled Quest of Interiority
● Revitalizing the Orthodoxy in Massachusetts: A Study of Edward Taylor’s Conversionism
Educational Policies
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Master’s Program in English and American Literature
The Master’s Program in English and American Literature sets standards for the skills and knowledge students should acquire before graduation as described below. Those who submit a thesis on research based on an Christian humanism-based understanding that English and American literature is an experiment constituting a part of a larger whole – Western civilization, and pass their thesis defense, shall be deemed to have acquired such qualities and will be awarded a diploma
1. The ability to understand English and American literature, English philology, and English language teaching, based on knowledge of liberal arts, and in the context of its broad connection with other disciplines, including history, religion, ideology and culture
2. A high level of English proficiency required to engage in research and education, and the ability to conduct research from the basics.
3. Systematic and expert knowledge of English and American literature, ideologies and culture, as well as English linguistics and English education.
4. The ability to write convincing academic papers with appropriate structure, accurate analysis, clear reasoning, and rich use of language.
5.The ability to engage in education and research in higher education institutions, such as universities, as an expert researcher (Course A).
6. The capabilities of a junior high school or high school English teacher with advanced knowledge of English and American literature and English linguistics, and the ability to engage in other occupations (Course B).
Doctoral Program in English and American Literature
The Doctoral Program in English and American Literature sets standards for the skills and knowledge students should acquire before graduation as specialized researchers of English and American Literature, English Linguistics and Cultural Studies, as described below: Those who submit a dissertation and pass their dissertation defense shall be deemed to have acquired such qualities and will be awarded a diploma.
1. From the perspective that literature studies are as a part of the humanities, expert knowledge and knowledge covering a broad area.
2. The ability to receive research guidance from one’s mentor and engage in expert research on English and American literature, ideologies and culture, as well as English linguistics and English education
3. Skills to pursue unique research themes
4. English proficiency and skills to assume educational and research positions at universities and other research institutions
5. The ability to write convincing academic papers with appropriate structure, accurate analysis, clear reasoning, and rich use of language.
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Master’s Program in English and American Literature
In accordance with the diploma policy, in light of its aim to have students acquire high English proficiency and knowledge of English and American literature, thought and culture as well as English studies and English education, the Master’s Program in English and American Literature constructs its curriculum with courses aligned to the following purposes:
1. Provide guidance so that students may take a well-balanced set of Special Lectures/Seminars to acquire systematic and specialized knowledge. Students will receive guidance from their advisor during their first year and pursue their research under their research advisor (mentor) during their second year.
2. Offer Literature Research Methodology I (Japanese) and Literature Research Methodology II (English) as compulsory courses for first-year students to build academic foundations and prepare them for research, research presentations and compiling academic papers in both English and Japanese.
3. Train students to become university faculty members or secondary school teachers, or to pursue other careers that harness their knowledge and skills in English language and English and American literature.
4. Course A students (students seeking to advance to the Doctoral Program) will compile their thesis (in English) under the research guidance provided by their mentor with an aim to continue their research in the Doctoral Program and become a specialized researcher.
5. Course B students (students ending their studies with a Master’s degree) will acquire basic research skills by compiling a thesis (in English or Japanese) or research paper under the research guidance provided by their mentor during their second year.
Doctoral Program in English and American Literature
In accordance with the diploma policy, in light of its aim to have students acquire research methodologies to become specialized researchers and conduct research on specialized themes the Doctoral Program in English and American Literature constructs its curriculum with courses aligned to the following purposes:
1. Guide students in acquiring expertise and broad perspectives by having them take a reading course every year.
2. Guide students to present their research in and outside Sophia and to publish academic research papers.
3. Provide guidance in preparing a preliminary dissertation.
4. Guide students to improve their English proficiency level and study abroad on a long-term or short-term program in an English-speaking country
5. Guide students to decide on a theme for their dissertation and advance their research with a view to acquiring a doctoral degree.
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Master’s Program in English and American Literature
The Master’s Program in English and American Literature seeks students with the following qualities:
1. Students with an active interest in the research field and a sincere determination to study
2. Students with the excellent language skills and basic knowledge of the fields of English andAmerican Literature, English Studies and English Education, required to pursue research
3. Students aiming to use their expertise to engage in research and education at a university or secondary school, or in an occupation that will benefit from high-level English skills and expertise
Doctoral Program in English and American Literature
The Doctoral Program in English and American Literature seeks students with the following qualities:
1. Students with an earnest interest in the research field and a sincere determination to study
2. Students with the excellent language skills and basic knowledge of English and AmericanLiterature and the English Studies and English Education field required to pursue research
3. Students aiming to use their expertise to engage in research and education at a university
Faculty Members
Tomoyuki IINO Professor
Juro OTSUKA Professor
Tomomi NAGATOMI Professor
Hogara MATSUMOTO Professor
Kazuhiko YAMAGUCHI Professor
Akihiro MACHIMOTO Assistant Professor