curriculum

Humanistic Economics × SDGs

The Faculty of Faculty of Economics will start a new curriculum from the 2023 academic year!
The world is faced with many challenges, including intensifying global warming and continuing poverty and inequality.

The Faculty of Faculty of Economics aims to develop talented individuals who can approach the global issues mentioned above and the problems that lurk in our everyday lives with a cool head and a warm heart, and who can contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

Three courses to develop the ability to interpret an increasingly complex social structure

• Data & Finance Course
• Policy Studies Course
• Global & Development Course

Students in Faculty of Economics must choose one of the three courses listed above.

S-Cube Program: Nurturing the ability to achieve SDGs

Acquire the ability to realize the SDGs and design a new form of society

This is a program that aims to develop human resources who can create value and build a sustainable society, and its goal is to cultivate human resources who can contribute to building a new economic and social system that leaves no one behind (the ability to realize the SDGs).

With the strong support of our faculty, you will hone your problem-solving and analytical skills!
You can propose your own ideas to practitioners and receive their evaluation!

Cultivate the ability to realize the SDGs through the study of subjects

"Introduction to Behavioral Economics"

Analyze people's behavior based on psychology and emotions!

"Introduction to Behavioral Economics"

"The Economics of Cause and Effect"

Experience social issues firsthand through field work!

"The Economics of Cause and Effect"

What kind of future society do you envision?

[Energy and Food]

• Promote the spread of renewable energy!
• Solving local issues by creating a smart city!
• Proposing measures to ensure a stable supply of food within the country!

[Related subjects]
The economics of climate change
Agricultural Economics
Capital Markets and Securities Investment

[Poverty in developing countries]

• Explore the causes of poverty and propose new approaches!
• We propose an education system that will make everyone smile!
• Proposing ways to create resilient towns that can adapt to climate change!

[Related subjects]
Economics of Development and Poverty
International Development Cooperation
Global Economy

 

[Regional revitalization]

• Support small and medium-sized enterprises struggling with a lack of successors!
• Reviving a shuttered street into a lively shopping district!
• Utilize tourism resources to promote the local attractions!

[Related subjects]
Environmental Economics
Finance
Local Business Theory (Business)

Model course example

Issue: "I want to stop marine pollution caused by plastic waste"

[Based specialized subjects]
Microeconomics (first year spring semester), Macroeconomics (first year fall semester), Basic Statistics (second year spring semester)

[Course model (S-Cube related subjects)]

Philosophy and Purpose

Since its founding, the Faculty of Faculty of Economics at Soka University has aimed to foster leaders who will take on the global economic society, based on Founding Spirit of "human education," "great cultural construction," and "peace creation." In particular, the theoretical and practical research of "humanistic economics," which questions the nature of a new economy for humanity, is a unique mission of Faculty of Economics at Soka University.

Educational Objectives

The Soka University Faculty of Economics has the following three educational goals:

1. Through systematic economics education, we aim to develop talented individuals with the ability to identify and solve problems and think logically.
2. Through economics education in English, we aim to develop talented people with communication skills that will be useful in a global society.
3. Through economics education based on humanism, we aim to cultivate talented individuals who have the human qualities to contribute to world peace and the happiness of humanity.

Diploma Policy

The Faculty of Faculty of Economics seeks to acquire the following abilities and knowledge in accordance with the educational goals of the Faculty and the University as a whole, and will award a Bachelor's degree (in Economics) to students who satisfy the requirements for the degree.

1. Using economics, social phenomena can be understood and analyzed logically and statistically from multiple perspectives.
2. Students will be able to understand the diversity of the world and the multifaceted nature of economic and social issues, and be able to use relevant knowledge and language skills to engage in appropriate discussions.
3. Through the study of economics, students will be able to govern their own behavior, respect diversity, and work together with others to achieve their goals.
4. You will be able to use economics to tackle economic and social problems and propose solutions to achieve peace and happiness for people.

Curriculum Policy

The Faculty of Faculty of Economics has organized its curriculum according to the following policies to enable students to achieve their learning outcomes, based on the university-wide and faculty-wide diploma policies.

1. To be able to use economics to understand and analyze social phenomena logically and statistically from a multifaceted perspective, students first learn the basics of economic theory in the required subjects of "Microeconomics" and "Macroeconomics," and the basics of quantitative analysis in "Introduction to Economic Mathematics" and "Basic Statistics." After that, students study intermediate-level microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics-related subjects such as "Data Science," and gradually take various applied economics subjects. In this way, students learn specific methods of social analysis using economics and develop logical and statistical thinking skills with a multifaceted perspective.
2. In order to understand the diversity of the world and the multifaceted nature of economic and social issues, and to be able to use related knowledge and language skills to engage in appropriate discussions, students learn a historical approach to economics in the required subject "Economics and History," and the basics of bookkeeping in the required subject "Introduction to Bookkeeping." From the second year, students take introductory courses such as "Monetary Theory," "Public Fiscal Studies," "History of the Japanese Economy," "Economics of Development and Poverty," and "Economics of Climate Change," acquiring more advanced knowledge related to global economic and social issues, and nurturing the ability to set their own goals based on that knowledge.
   In addition, students will learn the basics of language expression through the compulsory subjects "Academic Writing" (common subject) and English (6 credits compulsory). In the IP (International Program), after learning academic English, students will study economics in English and develop their communication skills in English.
   In addition, in the compulsory subjects "Seminar I, II, III," students will learn about specific economic and social issues through discussion and develop the ability to drive debate. Furthermore, by taking subjects in the SUCCEED (Soka University Courses for Comprehensive Economics Education) program, students can learn about economic and social issues in Japan and Asia in English with international students from around the world.
3. To be able to govern their own behavior, respect diversity, and work with others to achieve their goals through the study of economics, students first learn the basics of time management, group learning, and active learning in the first-year compulsory subject "First-Year Seminar" (common subject). After that, students will engage in group learning and active learning in "Seminars I, II, III," IP (International Program), and other specialized subjects to develop self-development skills, basic interpersonal skills, and goal achievement skills.
4. In order to be able to tackle economic and social problems and propose solutions using economics to bring about peace and happiness for people, students will tackle economic and social problems through individual and group research in the required courses "Exercises I, II, and III." In addition, in "Social Contribution and Economics," students will gain practical experience in learning how economics can contribute to society, and in "Humanistic Economics," students will work to solve economic and social problems to bring about peace and happiness for people by conceiving a new form of economy based on humanism. Furthermore, in "Exercises IV" and "Graduation Thesis Research," students will set individual problems under the guidance of faculty and present solutions using economics.

Admissions Policy

Faculty of Economics Based on Soka University's Admission Policy and the philosophy and purpose of the Faculty, Soka University of Technology (Soka University) selects students with the qualities and abilities to develop into human resources as stated in the educational goals of the Faculty, from a wide range of domestic and overseas applicants, in the following manner.

1. Faculty of Economics Students who share the philosophy of humanistic economy that the University of Tokyo has upheld since its establishment, and who wish to contribute to world peace and the happiness of mankind, and who wish to study at the University with the will to play an active role as a leader in global society. We will evaluate your will through an interview in the Comprehensive Selection (PASCAL, Basic Academic Ability, Essay Method) and School Recommendation Selection (Entrance Examination with Recommendation of Designated Schools).
2. Students who have the basic academic ability to acquire sufficient knowledge and skills required for problem discovery and resolution, as well as logical thinking, judgment, and expression. In the comprehensive selection process (PASCAL entrance exam, basic academic ability method, essay format), school recommendation selection process (designated school recommendation entrance exam), general selection entrance exam using the University Common Test, university-wide unified entrance exam, general entrance exam (hereinafter referred to as (general selection)), and foreign student entrance exam (including the English program "SUCCEED = Soka University Courses for Comprehensive Economics Education"), basic knowledge and skills, as well as ability to think, judge, and express are evaluated in particular.
3. Students who have basic English skills are essential for playing an active role in the global society. In the comprehensive selection process (PASCAL entrance exam, basic academic ability method, essay method), preferential treatment is given to students who meet certain score standards in various English proficiency tests.
4. Students who are interested in real-world economic and social issues, who think for themselves and act to solve problems, and who are willing to learn in collaboration with a diverse range of people. In the comprehensive selection process (PASCAL entrance exam, basic academic ability method, essay method) and school recommendation selection process (designated school recommendation entrance exam), documents are reviewed and interviews are conducted to evaluate the initiative and motivation to learn in efforts up to high school, etc. In the comprehensive selection process (PASCAL entrance exam), each student's initiative, diversity, collaboration, and expression are evaluated through a "group discussion" using an active learning method. In the comprehensive selection process (essay method), thinking ability and expression are evaluated through an "essay". In the general selection process, applicants are asked to fill out information about their initiatives and collaboration up to high school, etc. at the time of application, and this information will be used for academic guidance after admission.

Assessment Plan

"Desired teacher image" and "Faculty organization organization policy"

<Faculty organization organization policy>

1. Based on the standards for establishing universities, graduate schools, and Professional Graduate School, and taking into consideration the balance of areas of specialization in education and research, the Faculty of Faculty of Economics will assign the necessary faculty members to achieve its educational and research objectives.
2. In order to ensure collaboration among faculty members and conduct systematic education and research, appropriate division of roles will be established among faculty members in the curriculum and university administration.
3. We will seek talent from both within Japan and overseas, and will take into consideration age, gender, and practical work experience.

The number of credits required for students in the Faculty of Faculty of Economics to graduate is as shown in the table below.
Furthermore, if you do not meet the following requirements, you will not be able to graduate even if you have acquired the required number of credits.

• Cumulative GPA must be 2 or higher.
• Students must earn at least 8 credits each in the humanities and natural science fields.

*Humanities-related subjects: subjects with the word "Humanities" written on the general and specialized subjects list
Natural Sciences: Subjects with the word "Nature" in the general and specialized subject list

*1 In principle, the first foreign language must be "English" and 6 credits must be obtained from the general subjects "③ Language Subjects (English)" (p. 56) or Undergraduate English Subjects (p. 74).
In the Department of Economics, the 6 credits of English required for graduation can be met by taking the following undergraduate English courses.

Students who have taken IP or Pre-IP in the first semester only must take Economics English Communication to complete the remaining English credits.
*2 For the second foreign language, students must earn 4 credits in one language (excluding language seminars) other than the language selected as the first foreign language from the general subjects “③ Language Subjects” (pp. 56-57).
*3 If you complete more than the number of credits required for graduation (28 credits) in required elective subjects, these will be counted as elective subjects.
*4 Free choice means that students can freely select any of the following subjects to earn credits: "General Subjects," "Economics Department Special Subjects," or "Other Department Special Subjects."
However, if you earn more than the number of credits required for graduation from the "General Subjects" and "Specialized Subjects in the Department of Economics," you will be considered to have free choice credits. For example, if you earn 40 elective credits in specialized subjects, two credits will be counted as free choice credits (if you have already earned 30 free choice credits, they will be counted as credits exceeding the number of credits required for graduation).

1st and 2nd year

The way of taking courses differs between IP students, Pre-IP students, and general students. The standard course model within the course limit of 20 credits per semester is as follows. Depending on each student's interests, it is possible to take courses other than the above.
Also, IP courses vary by level, so you may be required to take courses other than those shown in the model below.

• First year: Required courses (First Year Seminar, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Economics and History; general students also take Introduction to Bookkeeping), IP courses, or undergraduate English courses. In addition, it is strongly recommended to take language courses (other than English), Introduction to Data Science, Academic Writing, and Career Education courses.
• Second year: Students must take required courses (Basic Statistics, Seminar I, and for IP students, Introduction to Bookkeeping), IP courses, or undergraduate English courses. Students should also consider their course selection and take introductory courses for those courses. In addition, it is strongly recommended that students take Intermediate Microeconomics and Intermediate Macroeconomics. Students who have not taken enough common courses in their first year IP or Pre-IP courses should take common courses instead of the introductory courses for their second course.

(1)International Program (IP)

This is a program where students learn the basics of specialized subjects in English while cultivating academic English ability and discussion skills. In IP, students take 6 credits of courses each semester, and need to study at least 20 hours a week in total, both in class and outside of class. As shown in the diagram on the next page, students are placed in classes according to their English proficiency (ITP test scores). To continue taking IP, students must reach a certain level of English proficiency each semester and earn a GPA of 3 or higher each semester (2.7 or higher in the first semester only).

(2) Pre-IP

This is a program for first-year students who are aiming to take IP courses. Students take six credits of courses each semester, aiming to improve their academic English skills.

(3) General students

Students will take Economics English Communication (2 credits) each semester to improve their overall English ability.

(4) SUCCEED (Soka University Courses for Comprehensive Economics Education) subjects

This is a course where you can study economics in English together with international students. Japanese students can also take this course if they meet either of the following conditions 1 or 2.
1. ①Earn credits for two or more of the following three subjects: Global Economy Laboratory, Economics Laboratory A, and Economics Laboratory B. ②TOEFL-ITP score of 530 or higher.
③ Meet all of the following requirements: Cumulative GPA of 2.70 or higher.
2. TOEFL-iBT score of 79 or above
As a general rule, the maximum number of students per class is 20, including international students. If there are more applicants than this number, priority will be given to students from the Faculty Faculty of Economics.

*If your TOEFL-ITP score is 520 or above at the time of enrollment, you may begin your studies from Advanced A in Semester 1.

Many courses offered from the second year onwards require students to have taken certain courses beforehand. These requirements are clearly stated in the syllabus for each course, so be sure to check before enrolling. In particular, it is strongly recommended that students take "Intermediate Microeconomics" and "Intermediate Macroeconomics" during their second year, as these courses are prerequisites for many courses.

You must complete 18 credits from the subjects specified by the course you have selected.

Data & Finance

You will acquire skills in data processing, statistical analysis, and econometrics, and develop the ability to create new value in the fields of finance and international business.

Policy Studies

We aim to develop the ability to plan and design effective economic policies and strategies to solve various problems facing local economies, the Japanese and global economies, such as building a circular economy and society, creating new industries, revitalizing regional areas, AI and employment issues, a stable food supply, and an aging population with a declining birthrate.

Global & Development

Students will consider the sustainable development of developed economies, including Japan, and emerging and developing economies in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere, through the lens of domestic and international history and culture. They will also study international development cooperation policies to solve poverty and climate change issues, thereby gaining an understanding of economic activity from a global perspective and cultivating a broad perspective and analytical ability.

SUCCEED (Soka University Courses of Comprehensive Economic Education)

This course is conducted entirely in English. Japanese students can also take this course if they meet either ① or ② of the following conditions.

①Meet all three of the following conditions.

a) Earn credits for at least two of the following three courses: Global Economy Laboratory, Economics Laboratory A, and Economics Laboratory B.

b) TOEFL-ITP score of 530 or above

c) Cumulative GPA of 2.70 or higher

②TOEFL-iBT 79 or higher

Change your selected course

If you wish to change the course you selected in the 4th semester, you can do so when registering for classes from the 5th semester onwards. However, if you change courses, you must earn 18 credits from the subjects specified by the new course. Therefore, if you change courses carelessly, it may affect your graduation, so please carefully consider your future study direction before selecting a course.

(1) Seminar start date

Specialized seminars are offered in small classes (maximum 12 students in principle) from the fall semester of the second year onwards. "Seminar I" (fall semester of the second year), "Seminar II" (spring semester of the third year), and "Seminar III" (fall semester of the third year) are compulsory courses. "Seminar IV" is offered as an elective course in the fall semester of the fourth year. As a rule, students will be assigned to one professor's seminar from "Seminar I" through "Seminar IV" in succession.

(2) Seminar guidance and application period

Guidance and application will be held in the spring semester of the second year, at which point students will decide which seminar they will be assigned to.
Therefore, first-year grades will be used as one of the selection criteria by faculty members.

*The exercises you choose do not necessarily have to be related to the specialization you have selected from the three courses.

Modern Economy

Credits earned in courses studied abroad

Credits for specialized economics subjects acquired at the host university or at a university deemed appropriate by the Faculty of Faculty of Economics as a privately funded study abroad program will be recognized as credits for the Faculty of Economics of Economics at Soka University after discussion by the Faculty Faculty of Economics. Students (including students from other faculties) who wish to have specialized economics subjects recognized as credits must submit a university-wide application for overseas study credit recognition (specialized subjects), lecture content (distributed at the Academic Affairs Department Faculty of Economics), and the original transcript issued by the host university [including grade criteria] (which will be copied and returned to the student by Academic Affairs Department), in addition to the above. Syllabus of lectures at study abroad destination Please submit the following to Academic Affairs Department.