Master’s (Doctoral) Program in Journalism
The Department of Journalism established a master’s program in April 1971 and a doctoral program in April 1974.
It is one of the leading graduate schools in Japan for the academic study of journalism, media activities, social information systems, public relations, public opinion, and popular culture. Graduate students studying in the Department of Journalism are not only from Sophia University faculties, but also from other faculties and departments of other universities, as well as students from abroad, mainly from Asia, and many who were employed. This makes small but lively discussion groups with a rich international flavor.
Curriculum
In the Master’s Program, the curriculum focuses on mass communication theory, journalism theory, media analysis, and seminar classes to conduct research based on the current situation. In the second and subsequent years, students are encouraged to pursue their own research under the guidance of their academic advisors to complete their master’s thesis
The goal of the doctoral program is to foster individuals who will be active on an international level and be involved in research and education in this field in the future. In their research activities, students are encouraged to improve their academic methodology and level of expertise. At the same time, they are guided to establish their own thematic areas as researchers.
In addition, only those who have passed an examination that qualifies them to submit a thesis after one year of enrollment will be permitted to write a thesis for their degree. Because advancement to the Doctoral Program is deeply connected to the choice of a future career, the Department of Journalism believes it should not be an easy decision to make. We ask applicants to be particularly aware of this point.
Granted Degree
- Master’s Program: MASTER OF ARTS IN JOURNALISM
- Doctoral Program: DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN JOURNALISM
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
Development and Refinement of Self-issue Concerns
In the Master’s Program, students cover a wide range of fields for the study of mass communication and journalism, deepening their interest in problem areas and refining their own particular interests. In addition, the Master’s Program offers an entrance examination for working adults in order to cultivate a wide range of human resources.
Active in Fields Abroad
We accept a large number of international students, mainly from Asian countries, and many of them enter the program after gaining work experience. This means discussions, analysis, and deliberations from an international perspective happen on a daily basis in seminars and other activities. Many of our graduates are active in higher education and research institutions, international organizations, and universities in Japan and abroad.
Selected Thesis Topics
Master’s Program
- 日本の「文庫」出版 ※
- 日本におけるメディア・リテラシーの歴史的系譜と分類 ※
- 中国のテレビが構築する「庶民像」に関する研究
- 日本における脱北者報道に関する考察 ─『朝日新聞』『読売新聞』を中心に
- 本を核とした米子の地域づくり 〜アクターネットワーク理論による分析
- 沖縄・普天間飛行場移設に関するメディア・フレーム※
*Theme selected by those who have work experience
Doctoral Program
- ネット利用・利己的態度およびキャリア意識の相互作用に関する研究─ 大学生の横断調査と縦断調査に基づく検討─
- 行政広報の長期的変遷に関する研究─ 東京の広報史を中心に─
- テレビ制作者の日韓比較研究 ─ TBS『報道特集』・MBC『PD手帳』の制作者のテレビ・ジャーナリズムに対する認識と仕事の展開
- 青少年保護と表現の自由に関する研究─ 日本の青少年有害表現に関する法・自主規制の現状と特性を中心に─
- 朝日新聞にみるメディア・イベント研究─ 1965 年以降の日本社会における余暇文化イベントの考察─
- メディア従事者のアイデンティティーを形成する社会的責任論と倫理に関する研究 〜教会
- 公文書を背景にして考察するメディアの現場への「世俗の倫理」観
- マス・メディア報道の「自己規制」 — メディアが自ら検証しない負の構造 —
- 日本のスポーツジャーナリズム史に関する研究 — 17 世紀から21世紀メディア化時代まで —
Higher Education and Research Institution Enrollment by Graduates of the Program
- National
Hokkai-Gakuen University, Fukushima College Women’s Junior College , Sophia University*, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo Keizai University*, Tokyo International University, Toyo University, Toyo Eiwa University, Nihon University*, Bunkyo University, Musashi University, Meiji University, Rikkyo University, Ryukoku University, Doshisha University, Osaka Gakuin University, Nara Prefectural University, Hagoromo University of International Studies, Hiroshima Shudo University, University of Nagasaki, University of the Ryukyus
- International
State University of New York (Buffalo), Sun Moon University, Seoul National University, Sangji University, Hunan University, Kaya University, Dongseo University, Communication University of China, Central University of Finance and Economics , Chinese Culture University (Taiwan), Chiang Mai University
- National and International Research Institutes
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)*, Media Development Research Institute*, Korea Creative Content Agency*, Mediasenryaku Research Institute , Korea Communications Commission (Seoul), Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Beijing)
*Multiple people enroll
Educational Policies
-
Master’s Program
The Master’s Program in Journalism sets standards for the skills and knowledge students should acquire before graduation as described below: Those who broadly study mass communication and journalism and earn the required credits, submit their thesis and pass their thesis defense shall be deemed to have acquired these qualities and will be awarded a diploma.
- The ability to acquire the basic knowledge of the three areas set out in the Curriculum Policy and the ability to use it in solving the immediate issues associated with media and journalism
- Interest in a wide range of subjects and the ability to pay attention to issues successively occurring in the information society and to address them with a unique and sophisticated acknowledgement of the issues
- The ability to complete a thesis with an inquisitive mind and proper methodology, and receive grades exceeding a certain level
- The ability to be alert to information from outside the university, collect information and make individual efforts to acquire information that would benefit one’s own research
- The ability to communicate one’s research outcomes and thoughts in reports or oral presentations with a given format
Doctoral Program
The Doctoral Program in Journalism sets standards for the skills and knowledge students should acquire before graduation as described below: Those who earn the required credits, submit their dissertation and pass their dissertation defense shall be deemed to have acquired these qualities and will be awarded a diploma.
- Knowledge of academic methodologies and high expertise of one’s research discipline and the ability to establish one’s own research theme based on journalism studies, media studies and information society studies
- The ability to communicate the summary of past studies associated with one’s research theme, as required, based on a wide review of the literature
- The ability to engage in discussion or analysis from an international perspective and present cutting-edge research outcomes at academic meetings in Japan and overseas
- The ability to embrace an individual research theme and to establish a plan to pursue one’s research individually as a researcher
- The ability to contribute to international society through the sophisticates expertise and ethical values nurtured in the pursuit of one’s research theme
-
Master’s Program
In light of its aim to have students achieve the goals indicated in the Diploma Policy, the Master’s Program in Journalism constructs its curriculum with courses aligned to the following purposes:
- Develop a curriculum centered on the three fields of Mass Communication Studies, Journalism Studies and Media Analysis, and offer Seminars to enable students to proactively engage in academic studies.
- Offer courses that cover contemporary media and journalism-related issues as they evolve, and thus enable graduate students to flexibly pursue research in line with their interests and trends.
- Enable students to promote their individual research under the guidance of their research advisor toward completing their thesis. By holding an interim thesis presentation, all faculty members can be aware of the progress made by each student
- Allow students to take courses offered at Graduate Schools at other universities under the interchangeable credit system with other graduate school sociology courses.
Doctoral Program
In accordance with the diploma policy, in light of its aim to have students establish their own themes as researchers, the Doctoral Program in Journalism constructs its curriculum with courses aligned to the following purposes:
- Have students acquire 12 credits in Seminar courses and research guidance within three years of enrollment, so that they can aim to complete their dissertation while they are enrolled
- Provide students who, after one year of enrollment have passed the examination qualifying them to submit a dissertation, approval to write their dissertation.
- Encourage students to actively present their research themes at the Japan Society for Studies in Journalism and Mass Communication and other domestic and international academic society meetings.
- Establish a system that enables students to ask their mentors and other faculty members specializing in the research theme for advice and evaluation as needed in the course of writing their dissertation.
- Dissertations shall be evaluated by a Dissertation Committee including Second Examiners from outside Sophia University. A diploma shall be conferred when the student receives a passing grade from the Dissertation Committee after the dissertation defense.
-
Master’s Program
The Master’s Program in Journalism seeks students with the following qualities:
- Basically, students who have received a specialized education in media and journalism as an undergraduate, as it is essential for students to have the basic knowledge of the three areas identified in the Curriculum Policy in order to keep up with classes offered in the Master’s program
- Given the frequency of reading foreign literature, students will need language skills centered on English. Foreign students are required to have passed the N1 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test or the equivalent, or to prove Japanese language skills exceeding such levels
- We have opened our doors to adults as a place where students with practical experience in media or journalism can conduct research based on experience-based problem recognition
Doctoral Program
The Doctoral Program in Journalism seeks students with the following qualities:
- Students who are motivated to pursue a certain individual theme in the fields of mass
communication, journalism or media, and aspire to engage in cutting-edge research in each field - Students with the ability to approach their research theme using different methodologies based on their rich expertise
- Students who constantly aim to expand their research fields and serve the better understanding of international society from new perspectives
Faculty Members
Ruri ABE Professor
Naoharu TAKAHASHI Associate Professor
Arun Prakash D SOUZA Assistant Professor
| Research Areas | Secular Ethics，Religious Media，Journalistic Responsibilities |
|---|