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History, Philosophy and Goals
The Graduate School of Humanities and Economic Sciences was launched in April 2025. This graduate school focuses on “human beings” as its main subject of study, and integrates the humanities, which study the past human activities, and the social sciences (sociology, pedagogy, psychology, economics, business management, etc.), which study various issues in contemporary society. In addition, we aim to explore various aspects of human life and society through the mutual exchange of fields including design studies and data science.
Philosophy and Goals
The missions and objectives of the School is to train researchers and professionals who are able to recognize various problems arising from economic and social activities and come up with specific methods to solve them.
Programs and Fields of Specialization
| Degree | Field | Program |
| Master of Economics | Economics | Public Administration |
| Socio-Economic Policy | ||
| Management | Medical-Welfare Management | |
| Mountain-Area Management | ||
| Tax Service |
Main Fields of Research
The ethos of Self-Restoration made its debut on the international stage in 2003 with the launch of the Public Administration (PA) Program, sponsored in part by JICA. The PA program, with its classes conducted entirely in English, is pivotal to the cultivation of global human resources in the School. The PA Program was offered in principle for the benefit of JICA sponsored international students; however, the flexible curriculum allows students from other courses to take up to 14 credits in PA courses. Moreover, from 2010, the course is open to all.
Public Administration Program
The Public Administration Program at the Graduate School of Humanities and Economic Sciences offers a specialized program for international students, focusing on policy development and public administration challenges in developing countries.
1.Program Strengths and Faculty Expertise
The program leverages the extensive experience of its professors, who have worked on policy development projects in various Asian developing countries and are experts in East Asian studies. Students receive practical, individualized guidance from dedicated professors, with the option for interdisciplinary joint instruction if their research requires it. The curriculum is systematically designed to build both academic capabilities and practical experience.
2.Addressing Challenges in Developing Countries
The program acknowledges the significant hurdles faced by developing countries in public administration, such as ineffective administrative systems, disorganization, corruption, and issues with law and order. It recognizes the ongoing efforts to improve administrative services and reform public servant systems, despite a lack of practical experience. Furthermore, the program addresses the need for capacity building in local governments regarding financial and administrative management, and social management (including ODA projects) due to decentralization initiatives.
3.Utilizing Japanese Development Experience
The Graduate School boasts two professors with over 20 years of experience in public administration-related disciplines, including extensive involvement in ODA projects funded by JICA. This rich experience is fully utilized to help international students find solutions to their specific challenges
The program emphasizes human resource development in three crucial areas:
- Management of public policy
- Decentralization of public administration
- Improvement of governance and anti-corruption
The ultimate goal is to train highly skilled professionals who can lead in their fields and effectively solve diverse problems in public administration.
4.Learning from Japan’s Development Journey
A key advantage of the program is the opportunity to learn from Japan’s own experiences with development challenges. Japan has already tackled or is currently facing issues like environmental problems, energy efficiency, eco-economy, digital economy, and an aging society, which many developing countries will encounter in the future. The program offers insights into both front-running Japanese cases and historical legacies of state-building since the Meiji modernization. This aligns with JICA’s Development Study Program (JICA-DSP), providing international students with valuable learning opportunities from Japan’s development and cooperation experiences.
Admissions for Public Administration Program
Brochure for Public Administration Program
Students’ Master’s Thesis
List of Faculty Members
Graduate Careers
Graduates have gone on to pursue postgraduate studies in doctoral programs, become local and national government civil servants, and find employment in banking institutions, manufacturing, tax accounting, and trading businesses.
For Prospective Students
Applicants to the School may take one of five different types of entrance exam. Applicants may choose the type of entrance exam they take according to their individual abilities. For more details, see the page or inquire at the address below:
Graduate School Office of Economics
Tel: +81-83-933-5597
E-Mail: ec191@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp