Faculty of International Studies Department of International Communication
Students enrolled in 2025 or later
1. Diploma Policy
The Department of International Communication awards a Bachelor's Degree in International Studies to students who have acquired the required credits in accordance with the course regulations, completed the required number of years of study, and are deemed to have acquired the following abilities:
- Students have acquired advanced operational skills and the ability to analyze and communicate information through multilingual education based on the use of English, Japanese and Chinese, with a focus on social, practical and career-oriented language use (knowledge and skills).
- Acquire advanced specialized knowledge about the natural environment, society, culture, history, etc. from global and local perspectives, as well as the skills to utilize this knowledge (knowledge and skills).
- Students have acquired the ability to process and analyze information in order to respond to issues facing Hokkaido, Japan, and various parts of the world, as well as the ability to think logically and critically and make judgments (thinking, judgment, and expression).
- Students have acquired intercultural communication skills (thinking, judgment, expression) that can be applied to the issue of revitalizing various regions around the world.
- They have the motivation to continue learning independently throughout their lives, and have acquired the values to contribute to the progress and development of the world and their local community (interest, motivation, attitude).
- Possess an international outlook and flexible, positive communication skills that enable them to coexist and cooperate with people around the world in a global society. (Interest, motivation, attitude)
- They have acquired an international perspective that allows them to understand local communities and contribute to revitalizing them in order to connect with the world (interest, motivation, attitude).
2. Curriculum Policy
In order to cultivate "internationally educated individuals" who possess the qualities of both "global talent" and "glocal talent," the Department of International Communication offers a range of courses including "university-wide subjects," "faculty-wide subjects," "international communication subjects," "career development," "language training," and "graduation research."
- Education content
(knowledge/skills)
- We have established a "Language Professional Subject Group" and a "Practical Japanese Subject Group" to enable students to acquire advanced operational skills and the ability to analyze and communicate information through multilingual education based on the use of English, Japanese and Chinese, with a focus on social, practical and career-oriented language use. We foster operational English and Chinese skills with a focus on language use primarily in business and tourism situations, as well as the ability to analyze and utilize information, including in Japanese (knowledge and skills).
- The school offers an "International and Intercultural Communication" course that looks at international and local communities from global and local perspectives, as well as a "Hokkaido Studies" course that teaches about the local region and connects it to regional development, regional contribution, and career awareness.
(Thinking, Judgment, Expression)
- In order to bring out students' independent learning, we aim to enrich experiential learning activities such as Niseko International Training, short-term language training, internships (domestic and international), outdoor tourism, etc. Also, based on learning through specialized subjects in the department, we arrange "Graduation Research Project I-II" in which students decide on a discipline to specialize in, collect and analyze various information, and take action to solve problems.
- We have established a group of "International and Intercultural Communication" courses to enhance students' intercultural understanding and communication skills in order to carry out their assignments.
(Interest, enthusiasm, attitude)
- The program offers a group of "Basic Social Skills Subjects" to equip students with the values of continuing to learn independently throughout their lives, as well as related subjects to equip students with the values of contributing to the progress and development of the world and the region (the "Hokkaido Studies Subjects" group, which includes "Hokkaido and the World," "Niseko International Training," and "Regional Collaboration Project").
- The program offers a range of subjects to help students acquire internationalism and flexible, positive communication skills that will enable them to coexist and cooperate with people around the world in a global society (expression and communication-related subjects such as "English for Study Abroad," "Chinese Communication," "International Communication Exercises," "Intercultural Communication," "Intercultural Understanding," and "Japanese Expression Techniques I (Presentation)") as well as career-related subjects to help students acquire a sense of ethics and mission as members of society and professionals in general.
- Education method
- In line with our goal of developing human resources, in addition to lecture-style classes, we practice active learning methods such as small-group classes, classes based on proficiency level, interactive and student-participation classes, problem-solving and inquiry-based classes, and classes that utilize ICT in order to encourage students to learn independently.
- We will strive to bring about a qualitative change in our educational methods, such as by enhancing experiential learning activities such as training (domestic and international), study abroad, internships (domestic and international), and outdoor tourism.
- We will increase the proportion of classes taught by foreign faculty members and provide a foreign language learning environment.
- We will strive to provide more extensive learning guidance outside of class time, such as through student interviews.
- educational evaluation
- Students will be objectively evaluated based on the goals, learning content, preparatory study content and time, and grading methods and criteria for each subject as clearly stated in the syllabus.
- Credits for overseas study/training and internships will be awarded based on evaluations at the training location.
3. Student Admission Policy
Desired image of a student
The Department of International Communication seeks the following types of individuals who can solve the issues facing global society from an international perspective, which is essential in an increasingly globalized society, and who love Hokkaido and have the enthusiasm to spread their message to the world:
(knowledge/skills)
- Those who have knowledge of English equivalent to a high school graduate.
- A person who has the study habits to acquire basic and fundamental knowledge and skills.
(Thinking, Judgment, Expression)
- People who have the basic knowledge and skills to play an active role in the international and local community, as well as the basic thinking, judgment, and expression abilities to solve problems.
- People who understand the need for communication skills to carry out tasks in the international and local communities, and who have the basic abilities and aspirations to do so.
(Interest, enthusiasm, attitude)
- Someone who has a desire to continue learning throughout their life.
- People who have a strong desire to acquire language skills that will enable them to understand the world and express themselves through a foreign language.
- People who have a strong interest in Hokkaido and the world, and are motivated to tackle challenges.
- People who have the desire to live abroad or collaborate in local communities in the future.
Students enrolled before 2024
1. Diploma Policy
The Department of International Communication awards a Bachelor's Degree in International Studies to students who have acquired the required credits in accordance with the course regulations, completed the required number of years of study, and are deemed to have acquired the following abilities:
- Have acquired advanced command of English and Japanese, with a focus on academic language use. (Knowledge and Skills)
- Acquire advanced specialist knowledge of the natural environment, society, culture, history, etc. from global and local perspectives. (Knowledge and Skills)
- Students have acquired the ability to process and analyze information in order to respond to issues facing Hokkaido, Japan, and various parts of the world, as well as the ability to think logically and critically and make judgments. (Thinking, Judgment, Expression)
- Acquire intercultural communication skills (thinking, judgment, expression) that will lead to the revitalization of various regions around the world.
- They have the motivation to continue learning independently throughout their lives, and have acquired the values to contribute to the progress and development of the world and their local community (interest, motivation, attitude).
- Possess an international outlook and flexible, positive communication skills that enable them to coexist and cooperate with people around the world in a global society. (Interest, motivation, attitude)
- To understand local communities and to connect with the world, and to have an international perspective that can contribute to revitalizing those communities. (Interest, motivation, attitude)
2. Curriculum Policy
In order to cultivate "internationally educated individuals" who possess the qualities of both "global talent" and "glocal talent," the Department of International Communication offers a range of courses including "university-wide subjects," "faculty-wide subjects," "international communication subjects," "career development," "language training," and "graduation research."
- Education content
(knowledge/skills)
- We offer "professional language subjects" and "practical Japanese subjects" to help students acquire advanced proficiency in English and Japanese with a focus on academic language use, as well as "professional language subjects" to help students develop proficiency in English and Chinese with a focus on language use in business and tourism situations.
- We offer a series of Hokkaido Studies courses that allow students to learn about the local region and connect it to regional development, regional contribution, and career awareness.
(Thinking, Judgment, Expression)
- Based on learning through specialized subjects in the department, students will participate in "Graduation Research Projects I and II" by determining the discipline in which they will specialize in research.
- Two subject groups will be offered: "International and Intercultural Communication Subjects" to enhance intercultural understanding and intercultural communication skills.
(Interest, enthusiasm, attitude)
- In order to encourage students to take an active role in their learning, we aim to enhance experiential learning activities such as the Niseko International Training Program, short-term language training, internships (domestic and international), and outdoor tourism.
- The course offers "basic skills for working adults" to help students acquire the values of continuing to learn independently throughout their lives, as well as related courses to help students acquire the values of contributing to the progress and development of the world and their local community.
- Education method
- In line with our goal of developing human resources, in addition to lecture-style classes, we practice active learning methods such as small-group classes, classes based on proficiency level, interactive and student-participation classes, problem-solving and inquiry-based classes, and classes that utilize ICT in order to encourage students to learn independently.
- We will strive to bring about a qualitative change in our educational methods, such as by enhancing experiential learning activities such as training (domestic and international), study abroad, internships (domestic and international), and outdoor tourism.
- We will increase the proportion of classes taught by foreign faculty members and provide a foreign language learning environment.
- We will strive to provide more extensive learning guidance outside of class time, such as through student interviews.
- educational evaluation
- Students will be objectively evaluated based on the goals, learning content, preparatory study content and time, and grading methods and criteria for each subject as clearly stated in the syllabus.
- Credits for overseas study/training and internships will be awarded based on evaluations at the training location.
3. Student Admission Policy
Desired image of a student
The Department of International Communication seeks the following types of individuals who can solve the issues facing global society from an international perspective, which is essential in an increasingly globalized society, and who love Hokkaido and have the enthusiasm to spread their message to the world:
(knowledge/skills)
- Those who have knowledge of English equivalent to a high school graduate.
- A person who has the habit of studying in order to acquire basic knowledge and skills.
(Thinking, Judgment, Expression)
- People who have the necessary thinking, judgment, and expression skills to solve problems by utilizing the basic knowledge and skills required to be active in the international community.
(Interest, enthusiasm, attitude)
- People who have a strong desire to acquire language skills that will enable them to understand the world and express themselves through a foreign language.
- Those who have a strong interest in Hokkaido and the world, basic academic ability and logical thinking, and the desire to tackle challenges.
- People who are motivated to pursue their future by living abroad or working in the local community.