*For detailed course information, see Syllabus Inquiry page.

SPSF, taught in English, offers bachelor’s degrees in seven fields of study: Journalism, Education, Sociology, Economics, Management, International Relations, Area Studies.

This program is implemented in six departments: the Department of Education and Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Human Sciences (2020); the Department of Economics in the Faculty of Economics (2020); the Department of Global Studies in the Faculty of Global Studies (2020); the Department of Journalism in the Faculty of Humanities (2021); and the Department of Management in the Faculty of Economics (2022).

As Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN, a wide range of global level issues related to war and conflicts, economic disparity, poverty, environment, education and more are required to be tackled by international communities. Against the backdrop of today’s rapidly globalizing world, society is witnessing an eruption of such global issues transcending nations and regions and complex, difficult issues where diverse value systems collide. SPSF aims to establish curricula to work on finding solutions to these new issues and foster students’ abilities to overcome them.

One of Sophia University’s strengths is that all of faculties are concentrated on one campus in central Tokyo. Taking advantage of that integrated framework, SPSF offers discipline-based classes where students can enhance their knowledge in their respective fields of study as well as interdisciplinary classes offered with the cooperation of the relevant departments. Cross-listed discipline-based classes are also open to students who wish to take courses in different departments that relate to their own curricula. Utilizing these classes, the SPSF program focuses on helping students learn perspectives and modes of thinking in both their own areas and different areas in hopes of nurturing sensitivity to diversity.

Prospective students will specify their desired field of study when applying, take courses in English in their respective specialties (Journalism, Education, Sociology, Economics, Management, International Relations, Area Studies), and work toward their bachelor’s degrees. The program is Sophia University’s third English-taught undergraduate program, following the Faculty of Liberal Arts and the English-taught program in the Faculty of Science and Technology. Like these existing offerings, the SPSF program is open to applicants from Japan and around the world.

All degrees are accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT).  

Residence requirements refer to the amount of time a student must be enrolled in the university. To graduate, a student, in principle, must be enrolled for a total of four years (eight semesters). The time spent on leave of absence or suspension from the university will not be counted as part of the residence requirement. A student’s total period of residence at the university may not exceed eight years, excluding the period of time spent on leave of absence from the university.