Educational Policies of the Faculty of Letters

Educational Policies of the Department of Philosophy

Admissions Policy

Our department is to offer admission to students who have aspirations to think deeply what human beings are and who the self is, with a wide interest in past thoughts, culture, traditional art, and history etc., and aim to put the acquired insights to practical use on the basis of the knowledge they obtain through the intensive learning of foreign languages and the avid reading of books. In other words, we hope students who are eager to acquire basic academic skills and expertise in philosophy, and to learn their applications, with a broad and robust curiosity. In addition, we seek students who diligently study on a daily basis, and strive to achieve self-restraint and self-improvement in order to become independent individuals who are able to lay the foundation for the international society in the 21st century. To sum up, we expect students who want to have a good grounding in logical thinking regarding human feelings and thought, society, culture, language, literature, art, and religion. It is desirable for candidates to cultivate the habit of thinking on their own by carefully reading educational books especially on goodness, truth, and beauty, and take notes of their ideas, opinions, and impressions.

Educational Policies of the Department of Eastern Philosophy and Culture

Admissions Policy

Inoue Enryo, the founder of Toyo University, highlighted the universal significance of Eastern philosophy and thought and strove to disseminate it far and wide across society through education. Simultaneously, he conceived of philosophy not merely as knowledge but as wisdom that could be utilized in people’s lives. The Department of Eastern Philosophy and Culture has inherited this spirit, and through the study of Eastern values and culture, it aims to nurture promising individuals who have a deep understanding of human existence, different cultures, and Eastern values and who are motivated to explore the future along with people from around the world. For this purpose, the Department of Eastern Philosophy and Culture seeks the following attributes in its students.

The Student Profile Sought by the Department of Eastern Philosophy and Culture

1．We seek students with a keen interest in Eastern philosophy and culture.

Eastern philosophy and culture are unique and nurtured by a long tradition. Interest in different cultures and an understanding of different values are absolutely essential for continued study in the Department of Eastern Philosophy and Culture.

2．We seek students motivated to learn foreign languages.

Literature written primarily in Chinese (Chinese classics) and Sanskrit, as well as various other classical and modern languages of Asia, constitutes the basic material in the study of Eastern philosophy and culture. Furthermore, in some fields of study, the ability to refer to literature in English is indispensable.

3．We seek students who have logical thinking abilities, can make judgments and assertions based on a clear rationale, and can provide logical explanations.

Logical thinking is also an important skill in Japanese society and is a skill that will become increasingly important for the understanding of people of different cultural backgrounds.

Knowledge and relevant standards required at the time of admission

1． Japanese language (modern works and Chinese classics)

Literary materials constitute the foundation of learning in the Department of Eastern Philosophy and Culture. Regardless of the language the literature is written in, it is important to have an accurate understanding of its content and the ability to summarize one’s thoughts on it and discuss it. For this, Japanese language skills are indispensable. It is recommended that aspirants regularly read works on literature, philosophy, and culture and develop skills in comprehension and logical expression, including the ability to write. Furthermore, depending on the course, the study of Chinese classics may be essential. This is because they will also provide practice in the accurate reading of literary materials, and students are advised to acquire at least a basic familiarity with these works.

2．The English language

While various foreign languages can be studied in the Department of Eastern Philosophy and Culture, English constitutes the foundation. When learning Sanskrit, for example, one cannot avoid using English dictionaries. In addition, reference works are available only in English depending on the theme of graduation theses. It is essential to have sufficient facility with English to understand English works using a dictionary. Aspirants are advised to make efforts to improve their English skills to the extent possible by the time of admission.

3．Geography and History

To better understand Eastern philosophy and culture, as a prerequisite, it is absolutely essential to have knowledge of the geographical environment and the history of the relevant countries. With respect to history in particular, there are several relevant subjects even after admission; thus, it is important to engage regularly with relevant works and to pay attention to related current events.

Educational Policies of the Department of Japanese Literature and Culture

Admissions Policy

The Department welcomes students with great interest in phenomenon found in Japanese language, and Japanese literature and culture; students with a strong awareness of characteristics of Japanese language; students with a keen interest in history, society, and literature and culture; and students who are curious about literatures and cultures of the world and comparing with those of Japan.

We hope to have a diverse range of students with outstanding academic abilities as follows:

1. The knowledge of and ability to read classical, modern, and contemporary Japanese literature, and the ability to understand and express fully in Japanese language.
2. A basic command of foreign languages (English, in particular), an essential skill for understanding Japanese literature and culture from a broad perspective.
3. An ability to inquire into the history, politics, economics, and cultures and customs of Japan and the world in order to resolve the various problems of modern society.
4. The ability to collect and analyze various forms of information and to think logically in order to write academic papers.

Educational Policies of the Department of English and American Literature

Admissions Policy

Academic study in the Department of English and American Literature is, through developing a familiarity with literary works written in English, to explore together questions like, ‘What is a human being?’, ‘What is self?’, and ‘What is language?’

Accordingly, the department aims to accept students with an interest in the humanities and language. The department welcomes students who aspire to deepen their understanding of the humanities and to develop their critical faculties through the study of outstanding works in English and American literature. Furthermore, the department welcomes candidates who strive to deepen their understanding of language, the most important of human attributes, while also making efforts to develop the ability to communicate with people from diverse cultural backgrounds through the acquisition of English as a foreign language. Individuals who aspire to study in the Department of English and American Literature would benefit from a love of reading and an interest in the English language, such interests would enable them to more readily appreciate the materials they would study in the department. After admission, students are required to read many books, to think deeply about what they have read, and to accurately and effectively express their thoughts and opinions. Also, Toyo University offers many opportunities for overseas study and language training. The department seeks students willing to take on these challenges. In addition, the department supports proactive individuals who aspire to grow as individuals, ones who aim to obtain qualifications, including English teaching certification, and ones who strive to continue their education at the postgraduate level or engage in a profession in which they can utilise what they have learned at university. The department thus seeks individuals with some basic English language skills. Before admission, it is recommended that students work to enhance their skills in English as far as possible.

Educational Policies of the Department of History

Admissions Policy

Through the scientific and empirical study of history, the Department aims to nurture individuals who have the ability to understand the present on the basis of the history of the human race and who can extract wisdom for the future. By teaching about past events and social systems left behind by earlier societies, including creative activities such as philosophy, culture, and art, we aim to nurture individuals who are able to communicate with people with different perspectives and who are able to launch independent initiatives to improve the conditions of the human race. In order to conduct historical research, we require students to accurately interpret diverse historical documents and sources and cultivate logical and creative thinking on the basis of their findings. We thus seek students who have the basic skills to pursue this kind of study for four years. In particular, we seek students who have the following attributes:

1. Ability to accurately read Japanese sentences and write natural Japanese:
2. Mastery of senior-high-school-level Japanese and world history: From the second year onwards, students in the Department pursue detailed study of specialized fields of the history of Japan, Eastern history, and Western history. For this, it is essential for students to master each of these fields at a senior high school level.
3. Strong interest in languages: it is essential to have interest in various languages, including classical Japanese and English. It is thus essential for students to have learnt English, classical Japanese, and Chinese classics at senior high school.
4. Unique qualities as an individual: What we are learning is the past behavior of human beings; however, human behavior is actually diverse, and the scope of history is vast. Possessing something unique leads to a deeper understanding of other humans.

Educational Policies of the Department of Education, Human Development Course

Admissions Policy

In the Human Development Course, the following attributes are required of students to be accepted for the undergraduate program:

1. Students who take the initiative to contribute to solving problems facing contemporary society and have the willingness to learn
2. Students who have deep insights into people and society and who possess profound abilities to think and express themselves.
3. Students who have profound interest in human growth and development and who have the motivation to contribute to society through practices in education-related fields in the future.

In addition, candidates aspiring to become teachers should meet the following criteria:

1. Because teachers are expected to have extensive knowledge and culture, and rich human qualities, they must not only study the relevant subjects but also be actively engaged in social activities as well as cultural and artistic activities.
2. It is important for them to adequately understand logical text in argumentative writing in Japanese, particularly modern Japanese, and have the ability to express their ideas logically.
3. It is important for them to have interest in and basic knowledge about contemporary social phenomena such as politics and economy on a global scale, incorporating historical perspectives.

Educational Policies of the Department of Education, Primary Education Course

Admissions Policy

In the Primary Education Course, the following attributes are required of students to be accepted for the undergraduate program:

1. Students who take the initiative to contribute to solving problems facing contemporary society and who have the willingness to learn.

2. Students who have deep insights into people and society and who possess profound abilities to think and express themselves.

3. Students with profound interest in human growth and development and who have the motivation to contribute to society through practices in education-related fields in the future.

For students aspiring to become elementary school teachers, it is important to note the following points and learn daily:

1. On the premise of serving as elementary school teachers, it is important for them to acquire sufficient basic knowledge of all subjects.
2. Because all elementary school teachers are also expected to have an area of expertise, it is important for them to strive to reinforce their strong subjects.
3. Because teachers are expected to have extensive knowledge and culture, and rich human qualities, they must not only study the relevant subjects but also be actively engaged in social activities as well as cultural and artistic activities.
4. It is important for them to sufficiently understand logical text in argumentative writing in Japanese, particularly modern Japanese, and to have the ability to express their ideas logically.
5. It is important for them to have interest in and basic knowledge about contemporary social phenomena such as politics and economy on a global scale, incorporating historical perspectives.
6. It is important for them to have interest in English and proactively acquire English communication skills in view of their roles as instructors of foreign language activities.

Educational Policies of the Department of International Culture and Communication Studies

Admission Policy

The Department selects students based on the following:

1. Students who have high English-language proficiency and strong motivation to improve further.
2. Students who have the ability and willingness to communicate with people from different cultures around the world.
3. Students who have the ability and desire to deeply understand various cultures from around the world, such as those from Japan, Europe, and the United States and who have the willingness and ability to contribute to interchange between different cultures.
4. Students who have an overall academic competence and the willingness to solve problems across diverse disciplines.
5. Students who can independently identify and solve problems, have inquisitive minds, are creative, have the ability to cooperate with others, and have leadership qualities.
6. Students who possess diverse cultural backgrounds and have overseas experiences that can bring diversity to the Department.