GRAD DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS: RITSUMEIKAN UNIVERSITY
In March 1992, the presidents of Ritsumeikan University and American University signed an agreement to offer the first-ever dual master's degree program involving a Japanese and an American University. This program selects a limited number of students who are fluent in English and Japanese to complete their dual degree studies in international affairs within two years. Students working together as a cohort begin their studies at American University's School of International Service and complete their second year of study at the Graduate School of International Relations at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. Graduates receive simultaneously a master's degree from the School of International Service and a master's degree from Ritsumeikan University's Graduate School of International Relations.
Ritsumeikan University
Founded in 1896 by Prince Kinmochi Saionji, Ritsumeikan University is located in the northwestern corner of Kyoto near Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) and Ryoanji Rock Garden. The university offers a diverse curriculum through its faculties of law, economics, business administration, social sciences, international relations, letters, and science and engineering.
The Graduate School of International Relations (GSIR), created in 1992, offers concentrations in Global Governance;International Cooperation and Development; and Intercultural Understanding. It is the first college of international relations in Western Japan and has secured an excellent reputation in the Japanese academic world.
The Graduate School of International Relations provides students a broad array of opportunities both within the field of international relations and in conjunction with fields outside the discipline such as law, economics, business administration, and cultural science. Degree programs are designed to prepare students to be active participants in international society by providing them with advanced knowledge and training. The School was founded as an independent graduate school with a limited enrollment of 50 students per year. With a full-time faculty of 35, 19 visiting professors, and 20 adjunct lecturers, the programs cover a wide array of teaching and research areas. The faculty have close ties with government organizations and private corporations, contributing to the exchange of adjunct lecturers and internship opportunities.
Admission to the Program
Applicants must hold an accredited bachelor's degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least a B+ (3.30 or higher on a 4.00 scale) and should have at least 24 credit hours of social science course work relevant to international studies.
Since classes are taught in Japanese, admission to the Dual Masters Degree Program is contingent on proficiency in the Japanese Language.
Requirements for Study at RU
Students are required to take 4 credit hours (2 classes) from the following core courses:
- Globalization and International Law (2 credits)
- International Law of Peace (2 credits)
- International Relations I (2 credits)
- International Relations II (2 credits)
- History of Global Governance (2 credits)
- International Macro Economics (2 credits)
- Global Economy (2 credits)
- Development Economics (2 credits)
- International Sociology (2 credits)
- Special studies on Intercultural Understanding (2 credits)
Students will choose a functional concentration from these three choices:
Global Governance Program- explores ways and means to secure good governance on sometimes unstable global market and communications systems. In addition, the program deals with issues such as non-proliferation regimes of weapons of mass destruction as well as other conventional types of ammunitions.
International Cooperation & Development Program- studies strategies and theories for the development of less fortunate nations.
4 additional credits (2 classes) are taken as electives from any of the functional fields.
12 credit hour research requirement. This combines the 6 hour Japanese Studies Research Technique and the 6 hour special seminar. The research requirement can be fulfilled through one of the following options:
- Thesis- 70-150 pages in Japanese
- One 50 page SRP(substantial research paper) in Japanese and internship
- Two 50 page SRPs in Japanese
Optional Language Program for international students with basic Japanese language skills. Students are given placement tests and recommended to take appropriate courses. There are 12 courses including reading, spoken Japanese, grammar and writing.
If participant receives the Monbusho scholarship they can take these language courses during the fall semester and start their dual master's degree program in the spring. All other students (without scholarship) can take these courses in addition to the courses in their concentration, if they wish. However, these courses are not counted toward students' master's degree.
For more information, please contact Heidi Ashton at (202)885-1633 or by email: hashton@american.edu
Here is a link to give you more information about the Monbusho scholarship. Please keep in mind that you must apply for this scholarship through DMDP Program Manager, http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/toj/toj0302e.html