Here at Waseda University stands the Faculty of Human Sciences. This faculty wasn’t always as it is today. Let’s take a walk through its history.
The Faculty of Human Sciences has roots that stretch back to April 1987. Waseda University was celebrating its 100th anniversary. To mark this centennial, Waseda established the Tokorozawa Campus. This campus is set in the verdant Sayamakyuryo Hills. It is a place surrounded by trees and a serene lake.
On this new campus, Waseda founded a School of Human Sciences. This school took a different approach. It moved away from traditional undergraduate school structures. Instead, it offered a wide range of sciences. These sciences all focused on the study of humans.
At the same time, the Advanced Research Center for Human Sciences was established. This center served as a shared research space for university students. It fostered interdisciplinary research. Projects spanned the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
The idea for Waseda University’s Graduate School of Human Sciences came about during the planning stages for the School of Human Sciences. The Faculty Committee quickly approved its creation. Soon after, the Establishment Preparations Committee began its work.
In 1990, the university’s Executive Board gave the green light. They approved plans for a graduate school. This school would offer majors in life science and health science. Its curriculum would encompass diverse fields from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. It would be named the Graduate School of Human Sciences. The plans were then submitted to the Ministry of Education and received approval.
In April 1991, the Graduate School of Human Sciences Master’s Program started. It offered 24 research guidance courses. In March 1993, 49 students earned their Master’s Degrees in Human Sciences. Then, in April 1993, 19 research guidance courses were created for the Doctoral Program. Three years later, in March 1996, four students received their Doctoral Degrees in Human Sciences after a review of their theses. In 1997, the school also began reviewing extracurricular theses.
Since 2000, the Graduate School of Human Sciences actively created new programs. They started an adult entrance examination. They reorganized research guidance courses. Human science majors were integrated. Student enrollment limits were increased.
In September 2004, the Faculty of Human Sciences was officially formed. It combined the School and Graduate School of Human Sciences. In 2006, the school expanded from five to eight research areas. This was an effort to further clarify research and educational content.
In 2007, a one-year limited Master’s Program began. It was called the Education Clinic Course. This program was part of the adult entrance examination. It aimed to develop highly skilled workers with practical experience. This was to meet society’s evolving needs.
Today, the Faculty of Human Sciences continues to evolve. It adapts to meet the changing needs of society. It fosters interdisciplinary research. It educates future leaders in the field of human sciences. The Faculty of Human Sciences remains a vital part of Waseda University.