PROSPECTUS 2024

TO CREATEOUR SUSTAINABLE FUTURESIN THE CAPITAL OF JAPANThe Journey to Becoming a Change Agentin Creating Sustainable Futures

The Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures
provides students with a broad
understanding of the world's diversities
and teaches them the practical skills
needed to contribute to building
sustainable futures for others, with others.
The students will learn about sustainability
issues on a global and local scale and will
collaborate with their peers andprofessors both on and oﬀ campus inorder to determine how to achievea sustainable future.

Obtaining a degree is part of the processof becoming a change agent, but it is not
the ultimate objective in life nor in SPSF.
As the circumstances and environment
surrounding problems around the worldcontinue to change, it becomes increasingly
necessary to learn and adapt in order tobuild sustainable futures. To this end, theknowledge and expertise, the understandingof multiple perspectives, and the
problem-solving competency cultivated at
SPSF will form the foundation of thestudents’ lifelong journey.

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Aiming to Build a Sustainable Future
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All Courses Conducted in English

A Pioneer in Global Education in JapanSPSF is designed to develop students’ critical andcreative thinking skills to help them to work in the
global and local environment and ﬁnd solutions to
issues faced by the international community using aninterdisciplinary approach. By interacting and collaborating with students from other majors, students will
understand issues from multiple perspectives. That’s
what makes SPSF so unique!

SPSF aims to create a learning environment free from conﬂicts ofinterest, where students from diverse backgrounds around the world
can discuss their futures and deepen their understanding of eachother’s perspectives. In order to do this, English is used as the common
language in which all participants communicate. With slightly more
limited credits, courses conducted in Japanese are also available for SPSF
students who wish to improve their Japanese-language proﬁciency or for
those who are interested in courses relating to their respective
specialized ﬁelds of study that are oﬀered outside SPSF.

Sophia University now has 70 years of experience inproviding courses in English and developing
programs in which students can obtain credits
solely in English. The knowledge obtained throughthe many years of experience is utilized in thedevelopment of SPSF.

All Nine Faculties on One Campus

Oﬀering Bachelor’s Degrees
in Specialized Fields of StudySPSF students can study under the common core theme "sustainable
futures" together with students from other disciplines to further theirunderstanding of the theme and to obtain a bachelor's degree in one ofseven disciplines when they graduate.

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Sophia University has a compact footprint that brings
together all faculties on a single campus. It allows SPSF tocoordinate discipline-based courses seamlessly across six
departments and oﬀer an interdisciplinary learning
environment at the same time.

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SPSF: A New Learning Environment
to Create Sustainable FuturesCI

SPSF SOPHIA PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURESSPSF EXPLAINED

Learning on & oﬀ Campus
Students will have opportunities for internships, ﬁeld
research, and other initiatives that foster practicallearning in Japan and abroad. A variety of other opportunities such as study-abroad programs at aﬃliateduniversities, internships abroad, and international ﬁeld
studies are also oﬀered.

Message fromSPSF PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Creating a sustainable future is not a responsibility to bedelegated to others, but rather a challenge we must tackle
together. SPSF acknowledges the interdependence in sustainability and adopts an interdisciplinary approach that spansvarious ﬁelds in the social sciences,encompassing nature, society, andour future. We also oﬀer global
internships, clubs, and extracurricular activities dedicated to promoting
sustainability. Let's shape asustainable future together!

Professor

Dr.Hideki MARUYAMA2CURRICULUMYOUR FOUR YEARS AT SPSF
YEAR 1
AutumnYEAR 2SpringAutumnYEAR 3
Spring

Theme-based

Academic Skills
Academic Writing 1

Academic Skills

Academic Presentations

Specialized
Education

SPSF SOPHIA PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURESof the selected ﬁeldsof study
Dept. Info P. 5–10

SpringAutumnSpring

Theme-basedFirst-Year Lecture in/about SF

SPSF
Common Core

Autumn

THE THEMEBASEDCOURSESYEAR 4

Third-Year Seminar for SF

Academic Skills

Academic Writing 2First-Year Lecture in/about Sustainable Futures

Academic Skills

This lecture course is required for all SPSF ﬁrst-year students. The six departments provide lectures related to each discipline of sustainability, while the
SPSF coordinator shares the latest studies on sustainability and develops thelecture content from each department. Students learn about issues related to
the various disciplines and engage in discussions that connect this broad
content through the all-encompassing perspective of sustainability. The course
deals with the basics of sustainability study and academic discipline in order towork towards sustainable futures.

Critical Thinking & Discussion

Courses oﬀered by Dept. of Economics

Bachelor’s thesis

Courses oﬀered by Dept. of Education

Bachelor’s thesis

Courses oﬀered by Dept. of Global Studies

Bachelor’s thesis

Interdisciplinary Learning

Courses oﬀered by Dept. of Journalism

Bachelor’s thesis

Courses oﬀered by Dept. of Management

Bachelor’s thesis

Courses oﬀered by Dept. of Sociology

Bachelor’s thesis

Foreign language courses taught in English

GeneralStudiesThird-Year Seminar for Sustainable Futures
This seminar course is also required to integrate the contents of various
lessons the SPSF students have learned. Students bring their knowledge
and skills to collaborate in addressing global and local issues related tosustainable futures. The seminar will be based on PBL style and potentiallyoﬀer oﬀ-campus programs such as internships, study tours abroad, andonline lessons. The students set their groups for common selective issues
about sustainability and develop a solution after researching and analyzing
the backgrounds and structures of the issues.

Compulsory & elective courses including foreign language courses taught in JapaneseInternships

Others

Lectures andseminars for
Sustainable Futures.

Study AbroadSocial Engagement Programs
Oﬀ-Campus Programs / Life Events
Other activities may need the extra semester(s) to graduation.

“SPSF Common Core” The Required Courses for All SPSF Students.
Impression

ACADEMICSKILLSA s all of these compulsory classes are conducted in small classes (about 10

Impression

people), I personally enjoyed that I was able to connect more not only withpeers but also with the professor. I feel like college can be full of classes witheven hundreds of students where your distance from your professor can makeit diﬃcult to seek help when needed. In contrast, the Academic courses weremore personalized and easy to keep on track as there were often times when
professors would talk to you one-on-one which really helped.
First-year in the Department of Management

GENERALSTUDIES

deﬁnitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. These classes give the basics ofwhat will be used throughout university life. Academic writing was especially
important considering we have to write a lot of reports and cite sources.

3

small-sized SPSF classes, allowing me to meet and exchange opinions withstudents from Japanese departments too. I have enjoyed taking 'Mixed Roots
Identity and Transnational Identity' by Professor Rooks since it gave me an
opportunity and space to rethink and embrace my cultural identity. 'Cultural
Revitalization and Community Building' by Professor Mizutani, has also opened
my eyes on communities I was ignorant about.

Usaburo MENDENHALL

I get quite nervous standing and presenting in front of other people, so thisSecond-year in the Department of Journalism Maya YAMADAT he General Studies courses provide a balance in class format compared to theSecond-year in the Department of Sociology

Sana HORIKAWA

A mong the General Studies courses, I loved the class 'Philosophy of the
Human Person' taught by Professor Haidar. Despite being online during the
pandemic, this course was very interesting as it introduced me to the world ofPhilosophy through its easy-to-follow lectures and readings. Sometimes, I
would ponder topics such as moral dilemmas and human freedom for days.
Second-year in the Department of Economics

Prakash SAPKOTA

4

DEPARTMENTS
DEPT. OF

DEPT. OFECONOMICSEDUCATION

Do you want to learn how economics can be used to provide insight into real-world, social and economic phenomena,
as well as enhance logical thinking skills? Join us at the Department of Economics, where we teach you basic andadvanced economic concepts, such as macroeconomics, microeconomics, and sustainable development. You will also
apply your analytical skills to examine various issues associated with developing sustainable societies in a range ofsettings. You will have the opportunity to take courses in other Sophia University Departments and develop knowledge of other areas where economic concepts can be applied. Our courses feature small class sizes to promote active
discussion between students and lecturers. We welcome self-motivated applicants who are interested in improving
their understanding of the socio-economic issues occurring in modern society.

The Education major at the Department of Education explores education and human development from international
and interdisciplinary perspectives. You will take three core courses on Comparative Education, International Education, and Education and International Development, and three foundations courses on Curriculum and Instruction,
Philosophy of Education, and Sociology of Education. The major prepares future educators, researchers, and global
citizens who can create education for sustainable futures that respects human dignity. We look forward to welcoming
you to our program.

CURRICULUMCURRICULUMAs of AY2023

Second-year

SPSF SOPHIA PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

Specialized Education

Introduction to Microeconomics

Second-year

Introduction to Statistics

Research, Discipline, and Other Major Core (Compulsory Electives); Environmental and Natural Resource Economics,
Poverty in the Global Economy, Economics of Social Policy, Global Development Goals, Bachelor ’s Thesis, etc.

Compulsory

Introduction to Comparative Education

Research in Education

Comparative Education in Asia

Bachelor’s Thesis/
Bachelor’s Graduation ProjectInternational Education
Education and International Development
Curriculum and Instruction
Special Topics in Education 1-5

Electives

SPSF Fundamentals
Interdisciplinary Learning

General Studies

Refer to page 3 and 4.

Refer to page 3 and 4.

Language

Economics is the study of how individuals, businesses, and governments make choices

I n the words of our students: “education is at the core of many sustainability issues”;“education is the foundation for achieving sustainability by spreading its importance tosociety”. Education is key to sustainable futures. Quality education (SDG 4) is central to
all the other SDGs. It is through education that we can nurture minds, hearts, andhands for sustainable futures.

about the use of scarce resources. Sustainability is therefore an important consideration in the economic analysis of societal challenges such as inequality, globalization,
environmental problems or ﬁnancial instability. Our interdisciplinary approach allows
students to acquire a broader view on these issues and to think about sustainability
from an integrated perspective.

Associate Professor

Dr. Matthias SCHLEGL

Associate Professor

I think that the Economics program within SPSF provides a unique opportunity to
specialise in economics at a high level, which is an option at only a select number ofother English-medium undergraduate courses in Japan. Speciﬁcally, the Economics
program within SPSF provides the chance to study at a internationally competitive level,with highly demanding seminar courses to prepare students for entrance to international graduate programs.
Second-year in the Department of Economics

5

Undergraduate Seminar in Education 1-4

SPSF Research Methods

Interdisciplinary Learning

Language

Fourth-year

Introduction to Educational Studies

Introduction to Data Analysis

General Studies

Third-year
Refer to page 3 and 4.

SPSF Common Core

Introduction to Macroeconomics

Electives

First-year

Fourth-year

Refer to page 3 and 4.

SPSF Common Core

Compulsory

Third-year

Specialized Education

First-year

As of AY2023

Keita Robert Hooker YOSHIKAWA

Dr. Maria MANZONI n the SPSF curriculum, many of the courses are conducted in smaller classes, therefore
we often have the opportunity to have critical discussions with our classmates. During
our discussions, I enjoy exchanging opinions with others of diﬀerent perspectives,
backgrounds, and academic interests. The discussion with students among the 6 SPSF
departments has been a great chance for me to widen my viewpoint and understanding.
Second-year in the Department of Education

Mana UEDA

6

DEPT. OF

DEPT. OFGLOBAL STUDIESJOURNALISM

The Faculty of Global Studies (FGS) oﬀers a unique opportunity for students to study both International Relations andArea Studies, enabling them to develop an interdisciplinary perspective on pressing global issues. Majoring either inInternational Relations or Area Studies in their third year, students engage in small-sized classes and seminars andlearn through lively group discussions. The ﬂexible curriculum allows students to explore other departments, learn
foreign languages, and study abroad. Students broaden their horizons and develop skills for their future careers. Join
FGS and become part of a community dedicated to making a positive impact on society both in Japan and worldwide.

Journalism is a major that examines the impact of media and communication on our world and future. The Department of Journalism's Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures oﬀers a unique program that emphasizes the role ofjournalists and media organizations in shaping a better tomorrow. Students will acquire both theoretical knowledge
and practical skills in journalism and communication while addressing real-world issues related to sustainable futures.
Through seminars and a graduation dissertation, students will also develop their critical thinking and analyticalabilities. If you have a passion for journalism and sustainability, we invite you to join our program.

CURRICULUMCURRICULUMAs of AY2023

First-year

Second-year

Third-year

Introduction to Global Studies

First-year

Fourth-year

Refer to page 3 and 4.

SPSF Common Core

Bachelor’s Thesis

Compulsory

Specialized Education

Compulsory Introduction to International Relations

Specialized Education

Second-year

Introduction to Area Studies
200 level Global Studies (GS), International Relations (IR), Area Studies (AS)
Major & Minor 300-400 level (IR/AS)
Seminar1& 2

Communication 1

Seminar 2

International Communication 1-2
Mass Media1-2, Reporting English1-3, Ethics of Mass
Communication1-2, etc.
Electives

Language (Japanese / Chinese / French / Spanish)

Interdisciplinary Learning
General Studies

Refer to page 3 and 4.

Language

S PSF enriches students' learning experience by fostering diverse perspectives. Engaging
discussions highlight the complexities of global goals and tailoring solutions to local
contexts, considering diverse histories, cultures, and social systems. SPSF sparks a profoundinterest in sustainable development issues intricately woven into our daily lives, empowering students to make meaningful contributions in our ever-evolving world.
Dr. Ayako KOBAYASHIT he Department of Journalism focuses on sustainable futures. To achieve the SDGs, weneed to share facts and ideas across contexts. We will learn about journalism and media
communication and their roles in addressing environmental and social issues. This programaims to develop students’ skills and abilities for sustainable futures.
Associate Professor

after two years of study, the diversity and inclusive environment have created a unique academic
atmosphere in the department, which helped us work on several problems globally, such as the
cross-cultural communication cases. Through multiple cultural considerations, we found more possible
solutions and perspectives on the topic of global warming, sustainable journalism, and world peace cases.
Also, the globalization process made most social problems more complicated. Still, when conducting theteam discussion with students from all over the world, we found more possibilities and opportunities.

departments, realizing other interests I did not have before. The ﬁrst-year lecture on SPSF
was one of the ﬁrst ways I have gotten an idea of other departments to develop anunderstanding and extend my interests from the course. I am also hopeful for the futureof this program to oﬀer more variety of courses, as new departments are being introduced to the program.
Third-year in the Department of Global Studies

Dr. Tomoki KUNIEDAAt ﬁrst, I thought that I couldn't ﬁt in well because of the language and cultural diﬀerences, however

I believe the department oﬀers various areas which gave me an insight into other7

Bachelor’s Thesis

Introduction to Global Media, Media Research, Global Media Program, etc.

Refer to page 3 and 4.

Associate Professor

Seminar3

Seminar 4

Interdisciplinary Learning

Language

Fourth-year

Seminar1 (Media Research)

Other Core Category2 courses, FGS Electives, FLA courses, FFS courses, CLER courses etc.

General Studies

Third-year
Refer to page 3 and 4.

SPSF Common Core

Academic Skills for Global Studies

Electives

As of AY2023

Yuto TOYOSHIMA

Second year in the Department of Journalism

Jialin YANG

8

DEPT. OF

DEPT. OFMANAGEMENTSOCIOLOGY

Business plays a vital role in tackling contemporary societal challenges by developing innovative business models.
Our mission is to nurture aspiring leaders who can make rational decisions and catalyze transformative shifts inorganizations and communities. Students sharpen their evidence-based critical and analytical thinking skills throughour specialized curriculum across areas such as accounting, entrepreneurship, marketing, organization, and strategy.
Foreign language and cross-departmental courses, as well as study abroad programs enhance students’ transdisciplinary and global communication skills. We welcome applicants to join us in identifying problems and ﬁnding
solutions to create a sustainable future as the next generation of business leaders.

Sociology is the study of how social surroundings inﬂuence and are inﬂuenced by human behavior and consciousness.
Sociologists critically question social reality to understand and improve social phenomena. Sociology covers all aspectsof life, from personal relationships to global issues. Our curriculum aims to foster intellectual curiosity and criticalinterest in human society. By teaching students how to analyze and comprehend our complex world with sociologicaltheory and methodology, we help students understand the various dimensions of modern society as well as theirrelation to social structure and change. This enables our students to develop skills to propose solutions for an inclusive and sustainable society.

CURRICULUMCURRICULUMAs of AY2023

First-year

Second-year

Introduction to Management

Methodology; Challenging Frontline Issues in Global Business, etc.
General; Principles of Accounting, Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, etc.
Specialized; Consumer Behavior, Financial Accounting, Strategic Management, Global Branding,Research Seminar in Management, Bachelor’s Thesis, etc.

Electives

Second-year

Compulsory

Electives

Principles of Sociology

Sociological Theory1&2

First Year Seminar in Sociology

Qualitative Methods in Sociology

Quantitative Methods in Sociology
Sociological

Introduction to Statistics

General Studies

Refer to page 3 and 4.

Language

S ociology is a thematically broad discipline. It has strong overlaps with other disciplines like economics, education, journalism, and global studies. Within SPSF, you canalso take courses from these other disciplines. This will help you gain a deeper
understanding of the highly complex issues we are facing today and is a clear asset in
identifying ways of moving towards sustainable futures. This is something that is
unique to SPSF.

S tudents in the SPSF management course will learn the theories and frameworks to

identify challenges facing sustainability in our society. I believe that studying in our
department will provide students with valuable knowledge, giving them opportunities to think about solutions for social issues through the lens of business andmanagement.
Associate Professor

Dr. Taku TOGAWA

Professor

various career paths. As a high school student, I remember feeling uncertain about myfuture career. However, taking management courses like marketing, accounting, economics, and entrepreneurship allowed me to try out diﬀerent subjects and gain clarity about
my goals and interest.

9

Dr. Carola HOMMERICH

The interdisciplinary courses held by the SPSF program are helpful in providing opportunities to holistically approach the topic of Sustainability. By gaining new perspectives fromcourses of diﬀerent ﬁelds and through discussions with peers from diverse backgrounds,
the SPSF program encourages students to critically analyze the possibilities as well as thechallenges we face in attaining a sustainable future which I believe is something of vital
importance in current society.

M anagement, being a wide-ranging ﬁeld, oﬀers students the opportunity to explore

First-year in the Department of Management

Advanced Seminar in Sociology

Interdisciplinary Learning

Refer to page 3 and 4.

Language

Fourth-year

Environmental Sociology, Contemporary Social Problems, Social Change in Postwar Japan, Sociology of Families, Sociology of Globalization,
Sociology of Happiness, Work and Employment in Japan, Special Topics in Sociology 1-2, Bachelor ’s Thesis, etc.

Interdisciplinary Learning
General Studies

Third-year
Refer to page 3 and 4.

SPSF Common Core

Specialized Education

Specialized Education

First-year

Fourth-year

Refer to page 3 and 4.

SPSF Common Core

Compulsory

Third-year

As of AY2023

Usaburo MENDENHALLThe Department of Sociology

Riki KOGURE

10STUDENTS’ LIFE at SOPHIAEXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIESSTUDY ABROAD
Q&A

Tigha MITSUHASHI
Third-year in the Department of
Education

Mana UEDA
Second-year in the Department of
Education

I am currently the vice representative ofI’ m currently part of the table tennis

club at Sophia, and I am currently taking
the role of vice captain at the time ofwriting. Table tennis being a sport thatanyone can enjoy at any age, developing your skills in it can be worthwhileand fun. For me personally, being partof the club has helped me grow as aperson and I enjoy every moment of it.

SPSF SOPHIA PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

the school event planning and organizing
circle, “nexnect”. Our circle organizes
several school events throughout the year,
but our most popular events will be
Yukata Day (held in July), and Autumn
Freshman Week (October). I enjoy seeing
students and staﬀ participating and having
fun in the events organized by nexnect,
and this circle has been a great place forme to develop my teamwork skills.

Hana SAEKI
Keita Robert Hooker
YOSHIKAWA
Second-year in the Department of
Economics

I participate in KASA sustainability which
is a club that promotes sustainability on
campus. KASA sustainability engages in a
number of projects on campus such ascomposting and the operation of an
on-campus garden. These activities arevery rewarding as I can engage withstudents from diverse backgrounds
including those who are
in graduate and doctoral
programs at Sophia.
Together, we work
toward developing amore sustainable
university environment.

Third-year in the Department of Global Studies

How was your study abroad?
Studying abroad in Canada helped me recognize my interests in
multiculturalism and how salad societies work by allowing inclusive
open discussions, empowering and accepting diﬀerent communities, and overcoming challenges together. It helped me notice andshare diﬀerences between Japan and Canada to my friends whilelearning my own strengths and capabilities!

●

Message for prospective students
Studying abroad can be intimidating.
However, everything you experience will
make you far more conﬁdent, resilient,
open to new perspectives, and prepared
for anything in the future. If exploring
and connecting with people all aroundthe world is something you want to try,
then studying abroad is the perfectopportunity!

●

CAREER PROSPECTS
Jialin YANG
Second-year in the Departmentof Journalism

S ince I’m from department of
Journalism, maybe I will go to several
newspaper companies or social
media companies with the recommendation from the Professors.

11

Q: Can I apply for a study abroad scholarship?
A: Yes, you can, except each scholarship has requirements to be
met. The Study Abroad Support Program oﬀered by JASSO(Japan Student Services Organization) and other internal
scholarships granted by Sophia will be announced to theeligible students after passing the internal selection.
Q: In which year do students go to study abroad?
A: Mostly in the 3rd year, followed by 2nd-year and 4th-year.

DORMITORY LIFE

Iku NAKAMURA

Poonyaporn SUTHAMPORNFirst-year in the Department of Education

Third-year in the Department of Sociology

I want to study further about
conﬂicts, security, and development
to work in international cooperation
organization in the future. I am
attempting to attain MA in a foreign
university.

Q: What are the general steps for participating in the exchange
program?
A: General steps are,
1. Students apply for the exchange program and pass theinternal selection.
2. Sophia University oﬃcially nominates the students to thehost institution.
3. Students submit application documents to the hostinstitution.
4. The host institution reviews their application and issues a
Letter of Acceptance.
Your exchange program is fully ﬁnalized only after being
accepted by the host institution after the internal selection at
Sophia and the screening process by the host institution.

Poonyaporn SUTHAMPORN
Third-year in the Department of Sociology

While I am still on the journey of discovering
what career path to take, I am certain that I
would like to be involved in a career thatcirculates around sustainability promotion.
Whether that is becoming a sustainability
analyst, joining a CSR department, etc.

S urrounded by residents from diverse nationalities andupbringings, I was able to learn and experience diﬀerent
cultures beyond the university environment through dorm
events such as the welcome event, summer festival,
cultural night etc. At the dorm, I am
also currently a Living Group Leader(LGL) as I wanted to be a small partin forming an enjoyable living
experience where residents connect
with one another and engage in
diﬀerent activities together.

Sana HORIKAWA
Second-year in the Department of
Sociology

L iving in Arrupe dorm with 6 otherpeople has been fun yet also a learning
experience. I have been able to grow mycommunity and create a diﬀerent kindof connection with my dorm mates, who
are always there to welcome me home.
Being with other Sophia students andseeing their lifestyles and cultural
practices at a personal level every day, I
have been able to truly learn more not
only about others, but also myself.

Tigha Mitsuhashi
Third-year in the Department of
Education

The Sophia Edagawa
Men's Dormitory is quite
unique compared to otherdormitories as the student
life is more independent.
For individuals who wantto grow, and develop asense of independence,
the Sophia Edagawa
Men's Dormitory is a greatplace to start.

12

Enrollment: September (Autumn semester)

Structure:
Undergraduate Program, Six Departments: Economics,
Education, Global Studies, Journalism, Management, Sociology
Establishment: In 2020**Initial student enrollment was in 2020 in the four departments: Economics,
Education, Global Studies, and Sociology. The two departments,
Journalism and Management, began accepting students every year
in succession the following academic year.

Degree (B.A.):
Journalism (Dept. of Journalism), Education (Dept. of Education), Sociology (Dept. of Sociology),
Economics (Dept. of Economics), Management (Dept. of Management),
International Relations (Dept. of Global Studies), Area Studies (Dept. of Global Studies)
Enrolled Students by academic year
September, 2020
September, 2021
September, 2022

0

2

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1
VNM

5

NPL

8

PAK

%

10

11

EAS

64

12

AUS

%

15

BGD

36

Japanese
Non-Japanese

Number of Students by nationality (Non-Japanese)(As of May,2023)

IND

Student Ratio of Japanese to
Non-Japanese (As of May,2023)

DOCUMENT SCREENING

REPUBLIC OF KOREA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICACHINAGERMANYINDIA
INDONESIATHAILAND
AUSTRALIABANGLADESH
EAST TIMORLUXEMBOURGNEPALPAKISTAN
VIET NAM

SPSF FAQ
Q: Is the SPSF’s enrollment intended for Japanese high school graduates or overseas high school andinternational school graduates (including international students)?
A: Both are possible. The program starts in autumn semester, which makes it easier for international students, returnees, and students frominternational / overseas schools to enroll. Of course, graduates of Japanese high schools are also welcome to enroll.

For First-year Students
Acceptance decisions are made on the basis of
SAT/ACT/IB Diploma/GCE A Level scores (grades),TOEFL/IELTS scores, oﬃcial high school transcripts,
an essay, and two recommendation letters.

First year: ¥1,560,000
Second year: ¥1,350,000
For details, please refer to:https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/Application Period
First Period: Mid-November - Early December
Second Period: Mid-March - Early April

We hope to meet you in this program

Rita YOSHIDA

in the future. If you would like to not
only learn from professors but also
from other students who havediverse backgrounds with diﬀerent
ways of thinking, I recommend the
SPSF program.

First-year in the Department ofManagement

nationality, appearance, language or other visible factors, but also ourcharacteristics, way of thinking and other invisible factors are diverse. So I
think you would never be alone because you are diﬀerent from others. In
addition, you can learn diﬀerent perspectives from your classmates andprofessors, which is very important for your future. I hope my comments
will help you make your decisions, and I hope to see you on campus.

Shion WATANUMA

Q: What is the diﬀerence between SPSF and the Faculty of Liberal Arts (FLA)?
A: At the SPSF, students focus on the majors in their own department. Students take major courses in their department from the ﬁrst to thefourth year. At the same time, students take SPSF common core courses in which students from six departments study together, such ascourses on the theme of 'Sustainable Futures' and Academic Skills in English, and also take courses in the disciplines of the otherdepartments of the SPSF.
Meanwhile, the FLA oﬀers a liberal arts curriculum, which provides students with an academic foundation and intellectual orientation before
they choose a disciplinary major. The ﬁrst year of study in the FLA is devoted to basic education, including the Core Program, General
Studies courses, and language. From the second year onwards, the FLA curriculum requires students to choose a major from three ﬁelds(Comparative Culture, International Business and Economics, and Social Studies). The degree awarded is a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.
The SPSF and FLA thus have signiﬁcant diﬀerences in curriculum and degrees.
Q: Can I take classes which are taught in Japanese in the same department?
A: Yes, it is possible. Sophia oﬀers a broad range of specialized courses which are taught in Japanese, which SPSF students can also take.
However, please note that up to 24 credits of courses taught in Japanese count towards graduation requirements. Please make sure to plan
your course of study carefully in consultation with your department advisor, considering the graduation requirements.

Second-year in the Department of
Global Studies

I f you are interested in furthering your understanding ofsustainability and achieving multiple perspectives
through active discussions to broaden your views, SPSF
program may be a suitable environment for you!

I know that college applications can bereally stressful but it will all work out at theend!! SPSF is worth trying.

Kip Ondrejka SAXONFirst-year in the Department ofManagement

D o not be afraid to take courses outside yourdepartment. The SPSF Department curriculum is heavily
focused on sustainability and modern-day issues.

Q: What languages can SPSF students learn?
A: SPSF is a program entirely taught in English, not a program studying English as a foreign language. For languages other than English, students
can take language courses oﬀered in English (e.g., Japanese and Chinese) and language courses oﬀered in Japanese (e.g., German and
Korean). There are 21 languages students can study.

13

APPROX.

In Sophia, especially in SPSF, there are diverse people. Of course, our

%

THA

29

60

%

IDN

16

40

Female
Male

GER

9

Journalism
12 students
Education
22 students
Sociology
16 students
Economics
29 students
Management 9 students
Global Studies 41 students

TUITION[]

51

Student Ratio of Females to Males (As of May,2023)

USA

22

41

47

CHN

SPSF SOPHIA PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

12

REGULARADMISSIONS[]SPSF students’message for prospective students

37

KOR

Total Enrollment: 129 (As of May,2023)

ADMISSIONS

Program Name:
Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures (SPSF)LUXOVERVIEW & FAQ

SPSF OVERVIEWS PSF will be a great place
for you to broaden yourlearning and engage in
diﬀerent perspectives!!

Lydia Su Hyun BYUN
I f you are interested in

Sustainability, Liberal Arts,
or English-taught courses,
SPSF should be a good ﬁt.
There are Japanese andnon-Japanese professors
who are both academics
and professionals in thiscourse.

First-year in the Department of Journalism

I believe the SPSF is dedicated to providing students

with comprehensive education and diverse perspectives necessary to actively contribute to creating
sustainable futures. Oﬀering opportunities to workwith each other allows students to develop theirunderstanding of the world together. SPSF serves asa guiding force, motivating students to seek andinitiate positive change in the world. Come and learn
with us!

B y entering SPSF and Sophia

University you will encounter
faculty and peers from diverse
upbringings with diﬀerent
interests, and experiences. By
being part of SPSF, something
our community shares incommon is also our curiosity
about sustainability, and our
drive to take action. Upon
joining, it is my utmost hopethat you will familiarise yourself
with Sophia University’s
ecosystem/support systems,
leverage the aspects/resources
available and take the initiative
where you want to see a change
to make the most out of yourtime at Sophia Univerisity.

14

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Various types of scholarships andﬁnancial aids are available.

Scholarship application acceptedat the time of admission application●

New Student Scholarship
Either 1/3, 1/2, or full tuition support for the ﬁrst year.

●

Adachi Scholarship for international students fromSoutheast Asia and Africa
Equivalent to the full tuition and education enhancement fee
for the ﬁrst year.

Other ﬁnancial aid programs:[ Applications accepted after entrance ]●More Information
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/scholarships1/scholraship_e0005/

HOUSING SUPPORT●

Sophia University has several oﬀ-campus dormitories andoﬀers aﬃliated housing options.
For more information, please refer to the following webpage.
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/housing/

MANOTE Line
JR YA

Ueno

Yotsuya

ShinjukuTokyo

JR CHUO Line

Shibuya
Shinagawa

HanedaIn the Heart of Tokyo

The area around the campus has long been a hotspot of Japanese politics,
economy, and culture. It is a place where you can feel the dynamism of
the global city of Tokyo and enjoy a rich cultural experience that oﬀers
easy access to a variety of historical sites and cultural institutions such as
museums, theaters, and libraries.

Sophia University Admissions Oﬃce
7-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8554, JapanEMAIL : admission-u-co@sophia.ac.jp TEL : +81-3-3238-4018

www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/

FIND OUT MORE ON SPSF OFFICIAL WEB
Sophia SPSF Academics