Literature

Program Overview

Japanese Literature

Master's program

This program focuses on the study of literature and literary texts in the fields of Joudai (Ancient) Literature, Chuko (Heian-period) Literature, Chusei (Medieval) Literature, Kinsei (Early-modern) Literature, Kindai (Modern) literature, and Japanese Linguistics. As related lectures, Chinese Literature, Chines Philosophy, Cultural History, Comparative Literature, and History of Japanese Society are offered, allowing students to develop broad knowledge, high-level thinking abilities, and abundant expressive skills while fundamentally reviewing the relationships among language, people, and world (society). We will give research guidance so that students' research projects on their respective themes can yield good results as master's theses. After completion of the master's course, career paths are open to students; opportunities to use their expertise are given such as proceeding to the doctor's program to become researchers and obtaining Senshuu-menkyo (a specialized teacher's license that requires a master's degree) to become teachers.

Doctor's program

This program further deepens and develops the research projects in the master's program. We develop researchers who can contribute to society, based on more specialized and high-level research. Specifically, we will encourage students to obtain a doctor's degree and work on creating an elaborate and innovative thesis that can be accepted also in the academic community. To date, many students in this school have been awarded a doctor's degree (Doctor's Degree with Thesis/without Thesis), and many such students are active in universities and research organizations as teaching staff and researchers. Many international students from various countries being included in the above group can be said to reflect the current global tendency in the world.

Chinese Studies

Master's program

This program was established in 1964. Ever since Daito Bunka University was founded to promote Chinese studies in 1923, the university has produced many educators and researchers, contributing to the development of this academic field. This Chinese Studies master's program inherits such a splendid tradition. Based on this tradition, this program allows students to study Chinese culture more professionally and acquire an expert knowledge of it.
Covering three academic fields, namely philosophy, literature, and history, and focusing on the time period between ancient and modern times, students study Chinese culture on an individual discipline basis or in an interdisciplinary manner. Furthermore, by completing a course in the curriculum of a different graduate school, students can also study a broader field of Chinese culture in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary manner as needed.
In addition, "In-Service Teacher One-Year Plan" was established for in-service teachers in elementary, junior high, and high schools, starting from the academic year 2008. This course allows students to complete the program in one year and earn a master's degree and Senshuu-menkyo jo (a specialized teacher's license that requires a master's degree).

Doctor's program

This program was established in 1967 as a program following the master's program. Based on the studies in the master's program, this program allows students to study Chinese culture professionally so that they can become expert professionals or researchers. Covering three academic fields, namely philosophy, literature, and history, and focusing on the time period between ancient and modern times, students conduct research one discipline at a time or in an interdisciplinary manner. By completing a course in the curriculum of a different graduate school, students can also conduct research in a broader field of Chinese culture in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary manner as needed. We welcome those with broad knowledge and strong will fit for high-level research aiming to earn a doctor's degree.

English Literature

Master's program

The English Literature program allows students to learn and study the literature and culture of the Great Britain, which has a long history and tradition, and the literature and culture of the United States, which has created a unique culture in the past two centuries. In addition, the goal of this program is to produce individuals with a rich humanity, judgment, and creativity, by encouraging students to learn not only English and American literature, but also Western literature, culture, language, and thought. To effectively respond to the current requirements such as globalization and overseas study, we are trying to train students to pursue careers in English education as well as improving their command of English. We aim to encourage the seeds of creation in linguistic culture with visual culture and audio culture added to it to sprout further.

Calligraphy

Master's program

The Calligraphy master's program was established in 2003 based on the Department of Calligraphy in the Faculty of Literature established in 2000. In 2005, following the establishment of the doctor's program, the Japanese name for the Calligraphy master's program was changed to "the first half of the Calligraphy doctor's program." The master's program, also spotlighted as the first graduate school program in Japan for "calligraphic studies," is based on the idea of "calligraphic studies"—investigating and studying in a global perspective the essence of "sho (Japanese calligraphy)," which stands on the kanji (Chinese character) culture and kana (a Japanese syllabary) culture. To meet strong demand from both inside and outside Daito Bunka University, such as development of high-level professionals, education of researchers, educators, and calligraphic artists with deep insight, and promotion of international exchange, education is conducted by teaching staff working at the forefront of calligraphy based on the complete curriculum. Supported by the tradition of Daito Bunka Shodo (calligraphy), this program is expected to develop future leaders in calligraphic studies or calligraphy in Japan.

Doctor's program

This program was established in 2005 as a program following the Calligraphy master's program. The program allows students to further develop the expert knowledge acquired in the master's program and deepen their research projects on a research field basis by selecting a field among Chinese Calligraphy Studies, Japanese Calligraphy Studies, and Calligraphy Cultural Property Studies. The program is expected to develop high-level professionals and train students to become leaders with higher insight such as researchers, calligraphy artists, and educators. The emphasis is also placed on actually investigating and studying existing calligraphy cultural properties. Without concentrating on mere desk-work, and by not ony handling documents, but also actively adopting results of research obtained through field work, in order to thoroughly study the essence of calligraphy, we aim to conduct research that is complete on an individual discipline basis or in an interdisciplinary manner.

Education Studies

Master's program

This program was established for two purposes. They are (1) to develop researchers in education studies with a deep understanding of the actual situation of education or the place where education takes place, and (2) to develop educators with high-level knowledge and high-level skills. For (2), in addition to training new university graduates to become teachers, this program also functions as a place for re-education and re-training that accepts in-service teachers and increases their level of competence in research and education. In this program, based on the curriculum forming a bridge between research and practice in various ways, we will produce excellent researchers and teachers demanded in today's educational circles in Japan.