Faculty of Education

Admission Policy

The aim of the Faculty of Education is to carry out the wish of the father of Soka Education, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, and conduct education and academic research based on humanistic principles of the founding spirit together with Department of Education and Department of Primary Education.
To reach these goals,
 
  1. The Department of Education will continue to conduct academic research in theoretical, historical, empirical, and experimental areas of education, to develop a versatile, multi-faceted educational system based on humanistic principles.
  2. The Department of Primary Education will perform research and gather the best approaches to children’s education which will become the foundation for humanistic education.

Both departments of Education and Primary Education are working together to discover the latest research in the academic field, while at the same time, providing the opportunities to experience the educational field first hand. Furthermore, these programs are fostering capable individuals that will be successful in various areas such as the private sector of educational affiliated occupations, psychology positions, and welfare related positions with the government. The Faculty of Education has also established a Graduate School of Teacher Education and a program for Clinical Psychology. It is possible for undergraduate students to complete their degree in 4 years with the addition of a 2 year masters program, resulting in a person who is specially trained for a professional occupation. As this program aims toward realizing an education based on humanistic principles, the students in this program possess a deep interest in human beings and are motivated to pursue future careers in areas such as education, psychology, social welfare, and educational administrative policy.

Curriculum Policy

In the academic discipline of education as mentioned in the students acceptance policy, the basis of theoretic, historic, demonstrative, experimental study and research of education is humanism. In the academic discipline of child education, students will study and research about infant and child education based on human education. For each academic discipline, curriculums are organized as follows.

In addition, the content of each academic disciplines, “compulsory subjects”, “elective compulsory subjects,” and “elective subjects” are sorted according to each academic subject. These subjects aim to achieve the academic discipline.

The faculty offers relatively fewer compulsory credits compared to that of other faculties, and offers more for electives subjects. This is to respond to the students’ wish for various areas of study.

Department of Education

It is necessary for students to realize the Founder’s spirit and to grow to become individuals who can contribute to the embodiment of society. In the academic discipline of Education, the following subjects and research are centered on education and psychology.
Compulsory Subjects
In their first year, students will take “Basic Practice” class to learn the basic method for study activities, learn about specialized learning areas, and to gain basic research skills.

Education research activities are broadly divided to education and psychology. To gain the basics, in the first year “Introduction to Education”, and in the second year “Psychology of Education” will be compulsory classes for all students.

In the third year, “Practice,” is a seminar class that will be conducted by each professor. This class will be a class for specialized research by study and application.
Elective Compulsory Subjects
The word “Education” is not a word used solely for “school education,” but is used throughout society in various fields. Therefore, in their first year, students are able to learn various fields of educational activities, which will be placed in “Introduction to the Profession of Teaching,” “Introduction of Life Studies,” and “Introduction to Social Education”.

“Psychology,” is a growing field of interest in society today, and in a wide variety of academic fields. Teachers are also requested to have knowledge concerning counseling. Therefore, “Psychology” and “Education counseling” is a requirement for the first and second year.

Furthermore, to gain thorough educational knowledge and literacy, “Philosophy of Education,” “Administration and Finance of Education,” and “Education Methodology” will be offered. For students who will strive for teacher-training course are arranged to experience “Student Teaching” in junior high or high school.
Elective Subjects
In order to make comprehensive educational research based on humanism, subjects such as “History of Education,” “Morality of Education,” “Comparative International Education,” “Sociology of Education,” “Educational Assessment,” and “Special Needs Education” are offered. These subjects are to broaden the interests of students' future.

In addition, for the happiness of all people with a focus on children, subjects relevant to psychology such as “Developmental Psychology,” “Clinical Psychology,” “Mental Health,” and subjects relevant to pupil guidance such as “Theory of Juvenile Delinquency,” “Theory of Child Welfare,” and “Theory of Students Career Options and Coaching” are provided.

For students who aim for teacher-training courses, students take part in a “school internship” which is arranged for them. Prior to student teaching, students will experience the profession of teaching first-hand in an actual school.

Moreover, subjects such as “Social Education Planning” are provided for students who aim for Director of Social Education programs.

As mentioned above, academic discipline for education is based on education and psychology for compulsory subjects and elective compulsory subjects. After gaining the basics, students can choose various subjects in line with their wishes and are able to utilize options for their future and career. This is the organized curriculum for this academic discipline to train human resources who will have great success in the field of education. .

Department of Primary Education

This department aims to realize the founding spirit of Soka University, and nurture capable students with enriched knowledge and wisdom, and to especially train primary school and kindergarten teachers. Basic and practical classes are offered.
Compulsory Subjects
The compositions of the compulsory subjects are the same for both the disciplines of child education and education. For the first year, “Basic Practice” class will be provided to teach the basic method of studying, to learn specialized learning areas, and to gain basic skills for research. To gain the basics for psychology, “The Basis of Elementary Education” will be offered the first year, and “Psychology of Education” in the second.

In the third year, “Practice” which is a seminar class will be conducted by each professor. This class will be a class for specialized research by study and application.
Elective Compulsory Subjects
The academic discipline of child education is mainly for students who will look to become a primary school or kindergarten teacher. For school education, important subjects such as “Introduction to the Profession of Teaching,” “Morality of Education,” “Administration and Finance of Education,” “Education Methodology” are provided.

Moreover, to understand the mind of children and infants, “Psychology” and “Developmental Psychology” subjects are also provided. In addition, “School Counseling” is provided because teachers are required to have knowledge in counseling in a wide variety of academic fields.
Furthermore, “Student Teaching” is arranged for students who want to obtain credentials in primary school or kindergarten teaching.
Elective Subjects
All specialized subjects are placed in elective subjects where students can gain a wide range of skills to become a primary school and kindergarten teacher. The specialized subjects will be national language (Japanese), mathematics, science, social studies, life environment studies, home economics, music, art and sports. These subjects are placed as elective subjects because the main purpose is to train primary school and kindergarten teachers and give importance to both basics and practice.

For each of the above mentioned subjects, two types of classes are provided. One is to obtain academic knowledge of the subject and managing the subject’s content. The other is to obtain skills in teaching each subject. Furthermore, because primary schoolteachers are cultivated for the ability to lead all subjects, more credits are required to be earned than the number of credits which the teaching certificate has designated.

For example, for “Social Studies”,“Social Study”is added as a subject pedagogy. Moreover, in order to have a diverse range of Social Studies, “Overview of Geography,” “General Theory of History” and “Modern Social Theory” are offered. Additionally, for “Music,” along with the subject of “Music Education,” for various practical skills, subjects such as “Introduction to Music,” “Solfeggio,” “Piano Practice,” “Vocal Practice” are provided. 

Additionally, students who aim to become a kindergarten teacher must take subjects such as “Substance of Childcare,” “Methodology of Childcare,” “Understanding Children and Education Advisement,”. “Special Lecture: English” are placed for foreign language education.

To correspond to school education activities, “School Health,” “Theory of Student Career Option Guidance,” “Special Activities” and “Special Needs Education” are also important subjects as well.

Moreover, “school internship” is provided for students who aim to enter the teaching profession. Students can experience teaching in school fields. In their fourth year, “Practical Teaching” is a compulsory subject to qualify for the teaching certificate.

On the other hand, by taking subjects that are common to academic subjects, students can also gain knowledge and literacy of education and psychology. These are subjects such as “Sociology of Education,” “Mental Health,” “Clinical Psychology,” and “Education Assessment”.
As mentioned above, academic discipline of child education is a course organized to provide many subjects for students to develop a wide range of knowledge and practice related to school education.

Diploma Policy

The aim of the Faculty of Education is to foster individuals who can understand and embody humanistic education, and put it into practice in various fields of education. This humanistic education is based on Soka University’s founding spirit to develop “creative human beings”. To attain this educational aim, students are expected to fulfill each of the points below upon graduation.
 
  1. To study in the Soka core program, learn various academic approaches that will help think about and expand perspectives on education.
  2. To cultivate the skills to explore current issues in various fields of education , and develop creative solutions.
  3. Rather than assuming the status quo, develop the skills and attitude to constantly place educational issues under academic investigation.
  4. To be able to use one’s own words to intelligently analyze and discuss educational issues at the local, national and global levels.