The Department of Economics Close Up

カリキュラム

Nurturing the ability to tackle the complex challenges facing the real economy

In classes that are compulsory in the first, second, and third years, students will develop presentation, communication skills, and problem-solving skills through small-group education. In addition, students will learn basic economic theory centered on elective compulsory subjects, analyze the reality of the economy of Japan and each region of the world in elective course, and studying adjacent fields such as management and tourism-related management. In doing so, they will develop their abilities to tackle the complex problems facing the real economy.

Syllabus

Syllabus of the Department of Economics

Class Introduction

There are a wide ranges of choices available when it comes to classes in the Department of Economics. Students can enter economics starting with the field they are interested in and deepen their studies in the fields they take further interest. Classes are held by a variety of professors in the department with past experience at universities, in the world of business, and in government, are in charge of the classes. Students will be provided with practical lessons which will have them contemplating economic theory and history in relation to the current times we live in.

Introduction to Japanese Economy
Against the background of informatization and globalization, the Japanese economy is changing at an unprecedented speed. Therefore, the ability to understand economic theories and analytical methods and to decipher economic and forecasting articles in newspapers and magazines, and to respond flexibly to the changing economic environment, has become an essential quality for all members of society. For example, the Japanese economy has stagnated, and concerns about the hollowing out of industries due to extreme appreciation of the yen have arisen. In response, the government has attempted to revitalize the Japanese economy through economic policies that inherit Abenomics and its basic principles, but various "side effects" have also been pointed out. In this course, we will examine the footsteps of the Japanese economy using basic macroeconomic theories and deepen our understanding of the current situation and issues of the Japanese economy, such as the "lost 20 years" problem and the outlook for revitalizing the Japanese economy. In addition, through the classes of instructors with extensive practical experience as policy makers or economists, we aim to develop practical economic analysis skills, the ability to think economically, and the ability to decipher economic trends.

Social Welfare and the Economy
Many risks that cannot be addressed by individual efforts alone, such as illnesses, injuries, disabilities, unemployment, poverty, and caregiving for oneself and one's family, are part of our lives. Social security plays a role in protecting our lives from such risks by serving as a safety net. In this course, we will learn about the mechanisms of social security systems that are closely related to our daily lives. By understanding various systems, such as what types of public medical insurance are available to receive necessary medical care when one becomes ill or injured, and how the financial resources are allocated, the structure of society can be seen by comparing them. In other words, understanding the familiar social security systems can shed light on the movements of society as a whole. Furthermore, by learning about the history of social security and social security systems abroad, we aim to develop the ability to think of solutions to the challenges faced by Japan's social security from a broader perspective.

Game Theory
Game Theory is a discipline that considers human economic and social activities as mere games and seeks to identify the rules of those games. It also involves the analyzing of corporate sales competition, salary contracts between works and management, government policies, and even dating based on the perspective that these are games of sorts. The characteristic aspect of the analysis undertaken as part of Game Theory is that it describes topics as “battles of deduction” between players. The thoughts of players are exposed and their actions are read. Game Theory is particularly useful when it comes to job hunting. If one thinks of job hunting as a game, both applicants and a company’s HR staff must deduce what the other person wants and choose actions that are advantageous to them. Studying Game Theory will no doubt be useful when it comes to deducing and detecting what cards HR staff hold.

Modern Japanese Economic History
This class deals with Japan’s post-WW2 recovery and the period of high economic growth the nation experienced thereafter. At the beginning of the class, students will first listen to a talk which serves to do away with the common conception that the Japanese economy at the time of the nation’s defeat was in ruins. After that, we will move on to talking about which problems were faced by the Japanese economy at that time, and how the nation went about solving those problems with post-war economic policy. The themes that will be discussed is why the Japanese economy, which had recovered to its pre-war levels of prosperity by the 1950s, required high levels of growth, how that high level of economic growth was achieved, and how Japanese society changed as a result. The period of Japan’s high economic growth was an era when the Japanese were shining and moving forward. Although, while remarkable economic growth was achieved on the one hand, on the other hand, it also created major contradictions in that some portions of the economy ended up left behind. Students will gain an understanding of what those contradictions were and the kind of shadow which those contradictions cast on the modern Japanese economy. The content of Modern Japanese Economic History is directly linked to the modern Japanese economy.

成績評価と単位認定

Grading Criteria

About our GPA System

The intent behind our implementation of a GPA (Grade Point Average) system is to (1) create a unified standard for the campus, (2) have it function as an impartial standard, and (3) have it function as an internationally accepted standard. Our GPA system involves the assessment learning achievements using an objective numerical value called GPA. Additionally, this system generally conforms with the grade assessment systems adopted by universities in the West, and can be used overseas as an index used to certify a student’s academic ability when studying abroad, when going on to graduate school overseas, when finding employment at a non-Japanese companies operating in Japan, and so on.

Display of Grades and Assessment Criteria

GPA Calculation Method

Credit Recognition

1. Register for classes. Use CampusSquare to register for classes online and have your classes properly confirmed. You will need to do this for both the first and second semesters.
2. Students attend classes. There are 15 class in both the first and second semesters.
   Normally, 2-credit courses consist of attendance at each class (90 minutes) and preparation and review (about 2 hours each). In order to earn the credits, students must attend all classes (from the first to the 15th) as a matter of course, and also deepen their understanding through preparation and review.
3. Depending on subjects, students are required to take exam or submit reports (accreditation methods vary from lecturers).
4. Grades of S, A, B or C mean that students have passed the course and earned the credit. Grade of D means that students has failed the course and not earned any credit. If students receive a grade of D for a compulsory subject, they require to take it again the following year or later.
   Courses which students have already earned credit cannot be retaken.
5. About Academic Grades
   • Academic grades are assessed based on final examinations at the end of the semester (written exams, oral exams, practical exams, or reports). However, depending on courses, mini tests, reports, attendance, and academic progress during class may be evaluated as regular points, or assessments may be carried out based on the regular points only.
   • Academic grades are issued on the transcript with only the evaluation. 
   • Courses which students have passed once cannot be erased or retaken.
   • Grades will be published on Campus Square every semester.
   • If you have questions about your grades, such as not receiving a grade despite taking an exam (submitting a report) after the results have been announced, please come to school at the beginning of the next semester (in principle, by the first week of classes) and ask your teacher directly. If your teacher has left the school and you are unable to make inquiries, please notify the Academic Affairs Office.

Minimum number of credits required for graduation (For students enrolled in 2022)

• *1 If the number of credits earned in the comprehensive basic courses exceeds 12, the excess credits up to 8 will be approved as a credit in common elective courses.
• *2Some credits for each course of teaching profession and curator may be included in credits of specialized education subjects or general basic subjcts.
• *3 Excessive credits for elective compulsory subjects are included in the credits for elective course.