Qualities Students Should Acquire by Graduation

The School of International Liberal Arts awards the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Culture upon students who have successfully completed the requisite 124 graduation credits, achieved a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 1.5 or higher and completed the English objectives. Students are expected to acquire the qualities and capabilities necessary to contribute to world society as global citizens described below.

1. Advanced cognitive skills (comparison, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation) based on critical thinking (critical and analytic thought)
2. Basic and applied knowledge and the ability to apply it through education in the International Liberal Arts,Global Business Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and English Education Courses.
3. The ability to identify and solve problems
4. Advanced communicative proficiency in both Japanese and English
5. Proficiency in the use of information technology

Curricular Structure and Implementation Policy

The foundational mission of the School of International Liberal Studies is to foster an international perspective and equip students with practical skills in in the global language that is English, positioning them to excel both in Japan and on the global stage. The courses comprising all our curricula are designed with a global outlook, and we maintain small class sizes to facilitate close faculty-student interactions.

In the Global Liberal Arts course, all instruction is conducted in English, except for career education and Japanese language courses. The International Business Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and English Education courses utilize Japanese or English as per subject requirements.

The School of International Liberal Arts curriculum comprises basic education courses, language courses, study abroad courses, specialized education courses, career development courses, a graduation thesis, and optional courses. This structure aligns with our guiding principles:

1. We cultivate ethical values and instill qualities of responsible citizenship through courses such as the Freshman Seminar and Career Design.

2. We offer programs in Global Liberal Arts, International Business Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and English Language Education, enhancing each student’s expertise.

3. Students choose their field of study, and the curriculum is structured to enable them to advance and hone their research skills and problem-solving abilities.

4. Active learning is central to our pedagogy, nurturing critical thinking skills among all students.

5. Language courses, such as “Japanese Expression,” “Communication English,” and “Academic English,” are integrated to develop Japanese language skills and bolster English proficiency, which are crucial for global citizenship.

6. We provide courses for students to acquire ICT knowledge and skills, enabling them to effectively use ICT technology in e-portfolios, presentations, and more.

This curriculum framework manifests in the following structure:

1. In the first year and the first half of the second year, students focus on proficiency-based language courses (English) and language courses (Japanese) to enhance their practical language skills. Moreover, they select and engage in a variety of basic education courses in Introduction to Global Education, Global Liberal Arts (humanities, social sciences, general sciences, studies is social issues, modern Japanese art and culture), Business Management, and English Education.

2. By the start of the second semester in the first year, students must select one of the following course models: Global Liberal Arts, International Business Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, or English Language Education, in preparation for specialized courses.

3. From the first year through the second semester of the second year, students participate in required study abroad and engage in “English (ESL),” “Independent Study,” and “Area Studies.”

4. In the third and fourth years, students delve deeper into the specializations of their chosen courses, culminating their studies by crafting a graduation thesis under the guidance of their advisors, marking their growth and alignment with the Faculty’s Diploma Policy.

The Ideal MIU Student

The School of International Liberal Arts welcomes students who identify with its educational policies and are motivated to achieve personal realization as global citizens through their studies in the international environment at MIU, and whose high school education has provided a foundation of knowledge, skills, and motivation to meet the standards described in the Diploma Policy.

1. A desire to develop critical thinking (comparison, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, etc.)
2. Interested in and highly motivated to developing English, English communication skills, cross-cultural understanding, and cultivating broad knowledge, which are the characteristics of MIU.
3. Basic ability to identify and solve problems
4. Basic foundation and motivation for developing communicative proficiency in both Japanese and English
5. Foundational academic abilities and skills and self-initiative