Academics
Graduate School of Law
The Graduate School of Law offers a curriculum for students to gain advanced research skills and a deep understanding of the law, political science, and related fields and to be able to perform tasks requiring a high level of expertise.
To gain basic knowledge and abilities in addition to their field of specialization, the Master's Program offers students "Basic Research Courses" and the Doctoral Program offers "Research Theory Courses.” "Basic Research Courses" of the Master's Program offer basic research skills, such as research ethics, research methodology, and academic writing, to help students acquire the basic knowledge and abilities necessary for research. The Doctoral Program "Research Theory Courses" provide students with the research guidance needed to be qualified as independent researchers.
In addition to the courses mentioned above, students are required to write a thesis or dissertation, researching their own topic under the guidance of their supervising professor.
The Graduate School of Law has five areas of specialization: Public Law, Private Law, Criminal Law, International Business Transaction Law, and Political Science.
After completing these Chuo Programs, graduates are prepared to pursue justice and fairness in our society as professional researchers or business/government lawyers.
An Invitation to an In-Depth Exploration of Law and Political Science
Established in 1951, the Chuo University Graduate School of Law has since nurtured numerous distinguished researchers and highly specialized professionals. Guided by Chuo University’s founding spirit of “Fostering the Ability to Apply Knowledge to Practice,” we have dedicated ourselves to research and education that emphasize both social relevance and practical application.
The Graduate School of Law comprises five majors: Public Law, Private Law, Criminal Law, International Business Transaction Law, and Political Science, encompassing nearly all major areas of law and political science. Approximately 70 full-time faculty members, each with expertise in diverse fields, are committed to supervising students in advanced research. Regarding the curriculum, we offer a wide range of courses designed to meet students’ needs and interests, including lectures and seminars in Law and Political Science fields, Research Basic Courses, Specialized Introductory Courses, and Special Lectures. Furthermore, the School actively promotes internationalization through conducting several English-only courses, such as Introduction to Japanese Law, Comparative Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Regulatory Policy, Comparative Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure, Japanese Competition Law & Policy in Global Context, and International Law from Japanese Perspective.
Moreover, the University has specialist research groups, such as the Public Law Study Group, the Civil Law Study Group, the Criminal Law Study Group, the Foundation of Law Study Group, the International Relations Law Study Group, the Political Science Study Group, and the International Relations Study Group, all of which are open to student participation and research presentation. Students also have opportunities to engage in research projects at the Institute of Comparative Law in Japan, the Institute of Social Sciences, and the Institute of Policy and Cultural Studies, where students can explore cutting-edge studies by researchers both inside and outside the University, fostering meaningful academic exchange that enriches their future professional and intellectual development.
The Graduate School of Law welcomes students with an environment that enables them to devote themselves to research. We support our students’ academic pursuits by offering various forms of financial assistance, including the Chuo University Graduate School Benefit Scholarship, the Iizuka Takeshi Scholarship, and the Long-Term Study Abroad Program Scholarship. In addition, doctoral students have the opportunity to be appointed as Assistant Professors (one-year term) in the Faculty of Law through a competitive examination process which enable them to focus on conducting their researches.
We now live in an increasingly complex and interconnected society, where specialized expertise is required in various fields, and the integration of different fields is leading to a borderless society. As the boundaries between fields continue to dissolve, developing effective solutions to social issues by analyzing them from one’s perspective, and in-depth and advanced interdisciplinary research that extends beyond undergraduate studies is crucial. The Graduate School of Law provides an ideal environment for those eager to pursue such study and is committed to supporting our students in achieving their aspirations.
Shigeki YANAGAWA
Dean, Graduate School of Law
