Human Sciences

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Foreign:$ 3.47 k / Year(s) Deadline: Jan 13, 2026
351–400 place StudyQA ranking:11190 Duration:4 years

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The Human Sciences Program at Osaka University offers an interdisciplinary education designed to deepen understanding of human behavior, cultures, and societal dynamics. This program integrates perspectives from psychology, anthropology, sociology, and related fields to provide students with a comprehensive view of human life across different contexts and eras. Students are encouraged to explore the complexities of human nature, social institutions, and cultural developments through both theoretical frameworks and practical research methods. The curriculum includes courses on human development, social interactions, cultural diversity, and contemporary issues facing global societies. Emphasis is placed on cultivating critical thinking, analytical skills, and a global outlook, preparing graduates for diverse careers in research, education, policy-making, and international relations. The Human Sciences Program also offers opportunities for fieldwork, internships, and collaborative projects, enabling students to gain hands-on experience and apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. Faculty members are distinguished experts committed to supporting students’ academic growth and professional aspirations. Through a vibrant academic community, students can engage in seminars, workshops, and discussions that foster intellectual curiosity and exchange of ideas. The program aims to nurture well-rounded individuals equipped to contribute thoughtfully to society and to understand the intricate human factors that shape our world. Graduates of this program emerge as insightful, culturally aware, and socially responsible individuals capable of addressing complex issues with a nuanced perspective. This program is ideal for students passionate about exploring the human condition, committed to lifelong learning, and eager to make meaningful contributions in diverse fields related to human sciences.

General Education Subjects

Autumn Semester

Basic Subjects(Required)

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
13A401 Wed 4 Academic Writing I HUS-IN-002
13A403 Mon 4 Critical Thinking Skills HUS-IN-006
13A405 Wed 3 Presentation Skills HUS-IN-103
13A425 Mon 5 Quantitative Research Methods HUS-IN-101
13A426 Wed 4 Qualitative Research Methods HUS-IN-102

Basic Subjects(Elective)

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
13A002 Thu 4 Approaches to Understanding Cultures HUS-EX-102
13A039 Tue 4 Media and Communications in Japan HUS-EX-103
13A407 Thu 2 Japanese Literature, Modern and Contemporary HUS-EX-008
-- -- Promoting Human Rights Education HUS-EX-006
-- -- Urban Disaster Prevention HUS-EX-101
-- -- Bioethics and Health Law: Legal Issues Concerning Biotechnology, Medicine and Health Care System HUS-EX-104
-- -- Introduction to Japanese Legal / Political System and Culture HUS-EX-105

International General Education(Elective) *Japanese

Foreign Languages(Elective) *Japanese

Information Literacy and Processing(Required)

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
13A419 Tue 4 Data Processing Skills HUS-EX-013

Health and Sports(Required)

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
13A020(TBA) Fri 1 Health & Sports 1 --

Basic Major Subjects(Required)

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
13A408 Tue 2 Sociology I HUS-IN-008
13A410 Thu 4 Global Citizenship HUS-IN-014
13A411 Wed 2 International Education Ⅰ HUS-IN-013
13A417 Fri 4 Economics Ⅰ HUS-IN-022
13A436 Fri 3 Gender Studies HUS-IN-104

Basic Major Subjects(Elective)

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
13A412 Wed 3 Introduction to Social Psychology HUS-IN-016
13A414 Mon 2 Politics in Post-War Japan HUS-IN-019
13A415 Tue 5 Religion in Japanese Society HUS-EX-017
13A432 Wed 5 Japanese Myths and Legends HUS-EX-019
13A437 Thu 2 Sociology II HUS-IN-105
13A438 Wed 2 Anthropology II HUS-IN-106
13A439 Mon 3 Japanese Law HUS-IN-108
13A440 Fri 2 Media Sociology HUS-IN-109
13A441 Mon 2 Cross Cultural Psychology HUS-IN-110
13A443 Thu 3 Introduction to Civil Society Movements HUS-IN-111
13A444 Mon 4 Economics II HUS-IN-112
13A445 Wed 2 Politics II HUS-EX-106
13A446 Tue 5 International Law HUS-EX-107

Spring Semester

Basic Subjects(Required)

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
13A421 Wed 4 Academic Writing Ⅱ HUS-IN-003
13A423 Mon 4 Statistics for Social Research HUS-IN-005
-- -- Academic Writing II (Advanced Class) HUS-IN-004

Basic Subjects(Elective)

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
13A424 Tue 4 Psychology of Human Information Processing HUS-IN-007
13A447 Thu 2 Osaka in Modern Japanese Literature HUS-EX-007
-- -- Human Motivation and Behavior in Social Context HUS-EX-003
-- -- Japan's Relations with Asian Countries after the Second World War HUS-EX-010

International General Education(Elective) *Japanese

Foreign Languages(Elective) *Japanese

Health and Sports(Required)

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
13A021 Fri 1 Health & Sports 2 --
13A051 Fri 1 Health & Sports 2 --

Basic Major Subjects(Required)

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
13A409 Fri 4 Contemporary Japan HUS-IN-010
13A428 Tue 2 Anthropology I HUS-IN-009
13A429 Mon 3 Japanese History HUS-IN-012
13A433 Thu 3 Human Rights HUS-IN-023

Basic Major Subjects(Elective)

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
13A413 Thu 4 Introduction to Sociology of Marriage and the Family HUS-IN-017
13A418 Mon 2 Introduction to International Relations HUS-EX-015
13A427 Mon 2 Japan in the World HUS-IN-011
13A430 Wed 2 Self,Identity and Society HUS-IN-015
13A431 Thu 2 Anthropology and Contemporary Global Issues HUS-IN-021
13A434 Wed 3 Politics I HUS-EX-014
13A435 Tue 4 Introduction to International Organizations HUS-EX-016
13A416 Studying Osaka HUS-EX-018 --
13A442 International Educatin ll HUS-IN-107 --

Major Subjects

Autumn Semester

Required Subjects

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
Z25501 Wed 4.5 Independent Study HUS-IN-400
Z25510 Year-round Fieldwork HUS-IN-401
Z25530 Wed 4.5 Dissertation Tutorial HUS-IN-403

Elective subjects

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
Z26001 Thu 2 Sexuality and Education HUS-IN-301
Z26002 -- Gender and Education HUS-IN-302
Z26004 Thu 3 Peace and Conflict Studies II HUS-IN-304
Z26008 Thu 4 Gender and Development HUS-IN-308
Z26009 -- Diversity and Human Rights in Japan HUS-IN-309
Z26011 Mon 4 Primatology in Japan HUS-IN-311
Z26012 Mon 4 Multivariate Data Science HUS-IN-312
Z26013 Fri 3 Issues in Asian Anthropology HUS-IN-313
Z26015 Wed 3 International Development and Collaboration Ⅱ HUS-IN-315
Z26016 Tue 2 Issues in Global Human Sciences HUS-IN-316
Z26019 Wed 3 Contemporary Japanese Thought HUS-IN-319
Z26023 Tue 3 Global Issues in Education HUS-IN-323
Z26024 Wed 3 Psychology of Aging HUS-IN-324
Z26025 Fri 2 Special Topic in Human Sciences I HUS-IN-325
Z26026 Mon 3 Special Topic in Human Sciences II HUS-IN-326
Z26027 Mon 2 Special Topic in Human Sciences III HUS-IN-327
Z26029 Thu 3.4 Special Topic in Human Sciences V HUS-IN-329
Z26031 -- Global Environment-Development Balance HUS-EX-300
Z26032 -- Global Civil Society HUS-EX-301
Z26034 Thu 2 World Affairs and the Media HUS-EX-303
Z26035 Tue 2 Economic Development HUS-EX-304
Z26036(TBA) Fri 3.4.5 Diplomacy, Economics and Politics in Japan HUS-EX-305
Z26037 Mon 5 Topics in Japanese Culture I HUS-EX-306
Z26039 -- Topics in Japanese Culture III HUS-EX-308
Z26041 Tue 2 Topics in Japanese Society I HUS-EX-310
Z26043 Tue 2 Topics in Japanese Society III HUS-EX-312
Z26045 Mon 3 Topics in Japanese Religion I HUS-EX-314
Z26047(TBA)   Topics in Japanese Political Thought I HUS-EX-316
Z26052 Thu 5 History of Meiji Japan HUS-EX-321
Z26053 Wed 2 Traditional Performing Arts in Contemporary Japanese Society HUS-EX-322
Z26054 -- Gender in Contemporary Japanese popular Culture HUS-EX-323
Z26501 Tue 4 Ethnographic Fieldwork HUS-IN-330
Z26505 Fri 4 Seminar in Cultural Icons in Manga and Anime HUS-IN-334
Z26507 Mon 3 Seminar for Contemporary Philosophy HUS-IN-336
Z26508 Tue 2 Seminar in International Labor Theory HUS-IN-337

Spring Semester

Required Subjects

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
Z25001 Thu 3 Peace and Conflict Studies I HUS-IN-200
Z25002 Wed 2 Sociology of Knowledge HUS-IN-300
Z25510 Year-round Fieldwork HUS-IN-401
Z25520 Wed 4.5 Dissertation Seminar HUS-IN-402

Elective subjects

Course Code Day/Period Course Title Course Number
Z26003 Wed 3 Social Stratification in Japanese Society HUS-IN-303
Z26005 -- Popular Culture in Japan HUS-IN-305
Z26006 Wed 3 Current Issues in Japanese Law and Society HUS-IN-306
Z26007 Fri 3 Global Poverty and Development HUS-IN-307
Z26010 Thu 4.5 Contemporary Educational Issues in Japan HUS-IN-310
Z26014 Wed 3 International Development and Collaboration I HUS-IN-314
Z26017 Tue 4 Disaster Prevention and International Cooperation HUS-IN-317
Z26018 -- Comparative Study of Civilization HUS-IN-318
Z26020 Thu 2 Comparative Theories of Society and Culture HUS-IN-320
Z26021 Fri 4 Issues in Gerontology HUS-IN-321
Z26022 Tue 2 Food, Culture and Society HUS-IN-322
Z26030 Thu 2 Peace Operations and the Global Community HUS-EX-300
Z26033 Tue 4 International Trade and Investment HUS-EX-302
Z26038 Mon 5 Topics in Japanese Culture II HUS-EX-307
Z26040 -- Topics in Japanese Culture IV HUS-EX-309
Z26042 Tue 2 Topics in Japanese Society II HUS-EX-311
Z26044 -- Topics in Japanese Society IV HUS-EX-313
Z26046 Mon 3 Topics in Japanese Religion II HUS-EX-315
Z26048 Fri 3 Topics in Japanese Political Thought II HUS-EX-317
Z26049 Mon 2 Japanese Aesthetics HUS-EX-318
Z26050 Thu 3 Classic Poetry in China, Japan and Korea HUS-EX-319
Z26051 Tue 4 Japanese Philosophical Thoughts in Global Contexts HUS-EX-320
Z26502 Mon 3 Seminar in Critical Studies of Globalizaton HUS-IN-331
Z26503 Fri 2 Seminar in Studies of Multicultural Societies HUS-IN-332
Z26504 -- Seminar in Human Rights and Cultural Relativism HUS-IN-333
Z26506 Mon 5 Seminar in Measurements of Poverty and Inequality HUS-IN-335

 

  • Application Fee: 17,000 JPY
  • Enrollment fee: 282,000 JPY
  • International applicants (students from outside of Japan) who have completed a standard 12-year school education curriculum of a country other than Japan. Included here are applicants who have completed a standard 12-year school education curriculum in a country outside Japan in less than 12 years as a result of being promoted a grade ahead of their peers. 
  • TOEFL iBT (Internet-based TOEFL) A minimum score of 80 is required. 
  • IELTS Academic Module A minimum score of 6.0 is required. I
  • Secondary school transcripts and certificates 
  • Application Essays- Personal statement and Additional essay
  • Letter of recommendation Submit a letter of recommendation from the principal and/or a senior science teacher of the last secondary school you attended, along with an evaluation of your personality and academic results. The form is not designated. A science teacher who knows the applicant well is preferable. The letter should be sealed and signed by the principal / teacher (opened letters will not be accepted).
  • Results of national standardized tests for university admission Submit official scores of any standardized academic test for university entrance that you have taken. 

Scholarships

  • MEXT Scholarship
  • Osaka University Scholarship. This scholarship is for students with outstanding grades. A monthly stipend of 80,000 JPY is provided to those who received an OU scholarship.

The Human Sciences Program at Osaka University offers an interdisciplinary education aimed at understanding human beings from multiple perspectives. The curriculum is designed to explore various aspects of human life, including social, cultural, psychological, and biological dimensions. Students have the opportunity to engage with a wide range of disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, psychology, history, and philosophy, enabling them to develop a comprehensive understanding of human behavior and society. The program emphasizes critical thinking, research skills, and the ability to analyze complex social issues. Through coursework, seminars, and research projects, students are encouraged to examine contemporary challenges faced by societies around the world, fostering a global perspective and fostering innovative solutions. Osaka University’s Human Sciences Program also promotes international exchange and collaborative research, allowing students to gain diverse cultural insights and build networks with scholars worldwide. Graduates of the program are well-equipped to pursue careers in education, research, public policy, social work, and international organizations. The program’s faculty consists of experienced professors who are actively involved in cutting-edge research, ensuring that students receive current and relevant education. Facilities include well-equipped laboratories, libraries, and study spaces to support advanced learning and research activities. The program also aims to cultivate ethical and socially responsible individuals who understand human diversity and promote peace and social justice. Overall, Osaka University's Human Sciences Program provides a rich academic environment that nurtures critical inquiry, intercultural understanding, and practical application of knowledge concerning human beings and society.

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