Department of Economics
IMAP Program Guide

October 2022 Admission

International M.A. Program - Contents
1. Type of Courses
2. Program Requirements
3. Course Offerings
4. Course Registration, Amendment, Cancellation, etc.
5. Advisor
6. Requirement for Completion (Master’s Thesis)(1) Path to M.A.
(2) Master’s Thesis(3) Admission to the International Ph.D. Program
7. Completion in March
8. Program Milestones
9. The GPA System
Appendix11. Type of Courses
The International M.A. Program in Economics offers two major types of classes: (1) Lectures and (2)Seminars.

(1) Lectures (2 credits per course)
Lectures are given by a faculty member (or a group of faculty members). There are three major types
as shown below.
Regular Lectures

Regularly offered in Int’l M.A. Program in Economics

Special Lectures

Irregularly offered in Int’l M.A. Program in Economics

GSISS Joint Courses

1. Thesis Writing
2. Presentation & Discussion Skills

Offered in GSISS (Credits do
not count for M.A. degree)(2) Seminars (2 credits per course)
Seminars are led by your academic advisor and can include directed reading, dissertation advising,etc.
Seminars Ⅰa, Ⅰb

Must be taken in a pair in 1st year

Seminars Ⅱa, Ⅱb

Must be taken in a pair in 2nd year If you intend to complete the program in one year, you have to take all these Seminars inyour 1st year.

2. Program Requirements
You must
Complete 32 credits, then write, submit and defend a traditional Master’s thesis.
 The credits can be roughly divided into two; those by seminars and by the others.
Credits
8 credits
24 credits

Conditions

Note

From SeminarsⅠa, Ⅰb, Ⅱa, and Ⅱb
From Lectures and Designated Special Lectures

See Table-1

At least 4 credits

See Table-1

From “core” courses

 A 2.0 or better in your GPA is also required (max: 4.5).

2Additional details of the Program Lectures in IPhD:
You are recommended to take the lectures offered in the International Ph.D. Program in Economics(shown in Table - 1), and earn up to 6 credits for your Master’s degree. Such credits counted towards
your Master’s degree will not be valid towards your PhD degree (if you proceed to IPhD).
Table - 1
Credits tobe earned

Course Title
Advanced International Finance
Advanced International Trade
Advanced Comparative Economic Studies222

Advanced Comparative Fiscal Studies

2

Advanced Empirical Analysis of Economic Systems
Structure and Dynamics of Developing Economies
Statistical Systems
Microeconomics

2
2
2
2

Advanced Macroeconomics

2

Statistics

2

Limit

6 creditsin total Other Countable Courses:
If you are proficient enough in Japanese language, you may take and earn credits from the courses
other than in this English program (within limits) as shown in the table below.
Courses / Category

Credits (Limits)

Master’s lectures offered in the Department of Economics

Eligible for the Required 24

Designated Master’s lectures offered in Department of;Business Administration (GSISS),
International and Business Law (GSISS)

Up to 8(of the above 24)

Designated Master’s lectures offered in Graduate School of;
Education,
Engineering,
Environment and Information Sciences
Urban Innovation (up to 6 credits)
Certain upper-level courses offered by the College of Economics

Up to 6(of the above 24)

No Particular Limit

Most of the above courses are offered in Japanese. You have to obtain an approval by the course
instructor prior to your course registration.

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 External Courses (noncountable for Master’s):
You can take courses exterior to your program (IMAP) and earn credits, which do not count towards
the Master’s degree. Such courses are listed hereunder.


GSISS Joint Courses

Special Lectures (excluding those listed in Table – 1)Analysis Ⅲ, Measure Theory, Stochastic Models, Engineering Mathematics Probability,
Functional Analysis(offered in the School of Engineering Science’s Mathematical Science Program)Japanese Language Courses (offered by the International Student Center of YNU) - forinternational students onlyForeign Language Courses and Lectures (offered in the Bachelor’s Program in Economics)

Introduction to Linear Mathematics (Algebra)Ⅱ*, and Differential and Integral CalculusⅡ*
These courses are generally taught in Japanese.
*You have to obtain an approval by the course instructor prior to your course registration.

 Credits earned during your Undergraduate Period:
The credits of the designated Master’s lectures (offered in the Dept. of Economics) you earned when
you were an undergraduate student can count for IMAP degree with the conditions hereunder.
Condition(s)Credits (Limits)

As long as the credits were not counted for your Bachelor’s degree

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Up to 10

3. Course Offerings
Because of the focused nature of the program, there is very little flexibility in the courses a student cantake to complete the degree. Table - 2a and 2b below give the courses offered in the program and therecommended courses respectively to earn 32 credits required for the graduation.
Table - 2 a
Credits
EarnedFrequency

Economic Systems

2

annualEconomic Policy

2

annualInternational Economics and Public Policy

2

annualApplied International Trade2

annualPublic Finance2biennial **International Finance2annualWorld Economy

2

biennial **Economic Development2biennial **Environment and Development2biennial **Regional Strategies of Economic Development2biennial **Seminar Ⅰa2

annualSeminar Ⅰb

2annualSeminar Ⅱa2annualSeminar Ⅱb

2annualThesis Writing †-annualPresentation and Discussion Skills †-annualCredits
EarnedFrequency

Microeconomics *2

annualMacroeconomics *2

annualStatistics *2

annualCourse Title
Core Courses

Other Elective
Courses

Seminars(Compulsory)

GSISS Joint
Courses

Table - 2 b (Recommended Courses)
Course Title

Core Courses

Notes: *These courses are offered in the International PhD Program in Economics.
** ‘Biennial’ means ‘offered once every two years’.
†
GSISS Joint Course credits do not count toward the M.A. degree.

54. Course Registration, Amendment, Cancellation, etc.
(1) Procedure and Schedule You have to submit the course registration application form to the Graduate School Affairs
Office first.
and By logging into the Educational Affairs Information System, you can register for Fall 2021
courses (lectures and seminars), amend and/or cancel them if necessary during the respective
periods described in the table below.
Registration

October 5 - 18, 2022

Amendment

October 24 - 26, 2022

Cancellation

November 7 - 11, 2022

Hours: 09:00 - 21:00( Last day: up until 17:00 )Note: As for the Spring and Fall courses in the following year, you will have to follow a similar
procedure (by paper and on the system) as above, for registration, amendment, andcancellation. The periods shall be announced in due course through the System.
You do not need to submit the course registration application form for amendment.
Please refer to the Academic Calendar 2021 via the following link.
calendar-en_2021.pdf (ynu.ac.jp)(2) Course with the Same Title
After you earned credit(s) for a course, you cannot earn any more credits by taking the same
course (course with the same title) again.

5. Advisor
 Each applicant for IMAP shall provide names of up to two preferred academic advisors in his/her
online application, after which a matching exercise will be made during the screening for admission.
 As a general rule, the advisor of each student is chosen by the department from the full-time faculty
members of the major that the student belongs to. However, a faculty member from another major
can also be chosen as an advisor if necessary.
 The student’s advisor is responsible for guiding the student until he/she completes the program.
 When it’s necessary to change the advisor due to an unavoidable reason, it has to be approved by thedepartment.
 You have to decide which courses you should take with the guidance of your advisor.

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6. Requirement for Completion (Master’s Thesis)(1)

Path to M.A.

Conditions:

Completion of 32 credits, including 8 credits of Seminars (Ia & Ib, IIa & IIb).
GPA has to be 2.0 or above.

1st Year

October

From October 5
to 18, 2022
Fall semester
2nd Year
Spring semester

Submit the course registration application form to the Graduate School
Affairs Office and register for Fall 2022 courses on the Educational Affairs
Information System, consulting with your advisor during the period (shownon the left).
You have to develop your research proposal and carry out research under
the guidance of your advisor through these semesters.

↓↓

You have to present your interim progress report (open to all faculty and ↓students of the Economics dep.) No grade is assigned.
Your advisor considers the report and give you necessary guidance. At
this stage you should have made substantial progress and may be ↓approaching to completion of your thesis.

June

You are required to submit your Master’s thesis in June on condition that you
have acquired 16 credits by the end of 1st year.

July

A committee of 2 faculty members including your main advisor shall beformed, and it will assess your thesis and give you an oral exam on thecontent of thesis in July.

(Defense)

After successful completion of thesis assessment and oral exam (defense), a
copy of your thesis shall be held at the university.

(2)

Master’s Thesis

A master’s thesis must contain the student’s original contribution to the relevant literature.

(3)

Admission to the International Ph.D. Program

Those wishing to go on to the International Ph.D. Program in Economics must apply for admission
by the standard web application method. The application fee will be waived.

77. Completion in March
When you satisfy all the necessary conditions for the degree, you are not allowed to stay in the IMAP
program over the end of the academic year (September).
However, in the situations described below, if your advisors approve your completion in March, you
can opt for it.
Situation
Delayed Completion

 Being enrolled for more than 2 years, you are expected to satisfy all the necessary
conditions for completion in Fall semester in or after the 3rd year.

Note: You have to apply for this irregular ‘Completion in March’ during theapplication period designated by the Graduate School Affairs Office (in early
October).

88. Program Milestones
Chart for Completion (in 2 Years)

for illustrative purposes only
Admission

October (1st Year)↓
Obtain Confirmation on
Advisor

From entry until
September (1st Year)

Complete 16
credits by end/ 1stYear↓

From entry until Spring
Semester (2nd Year)

Develop Research
Proposal and carryout research↓
P PresentInterim Progress

Spring Semester(2nd Year)↓
June (2nd Year)

Submit Thesis↓
July (2nd Year)

Pass Oral
Exam

Conferral of DegreeNote:

Be sure to adhere to the rules and requirements stated in the Program Catalogue.
* Dependent on intent to apply for the IPhD Program

99. The GPA System
 Students will be given GPs (Grade Points) according to their academic evaluation, and their GPA will
be calculated based on the following formula.
 Calculation formula: GPA = ∑ (GPs x Number of credits) / Number of credits from all registeredcourses Only lectures are included in the GPA calculation and an overall GPA of 2.0 or better is required forcompletion. Along with the introduction of the GPA system, academic evaluations (scores) and GPs
shall be given as follows:
Academic evaluation

ScoresGPs

Superior (S)(100 to 90 points)

4.5

Excellent (A)(89 to 80 points)

4.0Good (B)(79 to 70 points)

3.0

Fair (C)(69 to 60 points)

2.0

Failing (F)(59 and below)

0.0

Appendix(1) Classrooms(2) Forms
Course Registration Application
Pledge for Academic Conduct
Both of the above forms are attached hereto.

(3) Regulations of Graduate School of International Social Sciences10(1) Classrooms
YNU Campus Map

COLLEGE OF ECONOMICS [Econ]
N4-1 Research Bldg.

N4-2
N4-3
N4-4

Lecture Hall 1
Lecture Hall 2
New Research Bldg.

1F Department of Economics, Administration Office
3F Seminar Rooms（301-312,314-317）
3F Study Room of Master’s Program(Economics)(313) including IMAP
3F Center for Economic and Social Studies in Asia
2F Research Support Office
4F - 5F Economics Faculty Offices

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
N3-1 Business Administration Research Bldg.
N3-3 Lecture Hall 2
N3-4 Research Bldg.
1F Graduate School Affairs Office
6F Study Room of Master’s Program(Business Administration)(601~603)
7F Study Room of Doctoral Program(Business Administration) (701～703)
N3-5 Lecture Hall 1
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCES [GSISS]
N3-2 Graduate School of International
3F Computer Room (301)
Social Sciences (GSISS) Bldg.
3F Computer Room (Satellite Lab) (302)3F Library of International Social Science Studies (304)5F Study Room of Doctoral Program in Economics (501)5F Study Room of Doctoral Program (IB Law)(502)5F Photocopier Room (503)6F Seminar Rooms（602-609）
7F, 8F Economics Faculty Offices
8F Research Support OfficeN4-5 Law Bldg.
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Course Registration Application
Year

Semester (Circle either one of two below.)
SpringStudent ID

Name

Phone

Email

Category

Course Title

Code

Semester

Fall

Day Period

Instructor

LectureSeminarMisc.

※ Please submit this form to the Graduate School Affairs Office after obtaining approval from your main

advisor.
※ You must also register for courses on the Educational Affairs Information System during the designatedperiod.

Advisor’ssignature:12

To the Dean of the Graduate School of International Social Sciences,

Pledgefor Academic Conduct
I hereby pledge not to plagiarize, fabricate, use a false identity, or commit any other offense against
research ethics when writing the following academic document necessary for a degree or thepermission of enrolment including: Master’s thesis, PhD dissertation, and PhD research proposal.
Furthermore, I pledge that I will proceed with the writing of all my academic documents with a fullunderstanding of the Regulations on Academic Degrees of Yokohama National University.

Date (Month/ Day/ Year)
Graduate School of International Social Sciences, Yokohama National University
Specialization
Student ID
Name (print)
Signature13

Regulations of the Graduate School of International Social Sciences at Yokohama
National University(Regulations No.33, March 28 2013)(Purpose)
Article 1
Subject to the provisions of Articles 11 and 12 of the School Regulations of Yokohama National
University (Regulations No. 202 ( 2004); hereinafter referred to as “Graduate School Regulations”), thepurpose of these Rules shall be to regulate courses, the numbers of credits, and methods of undertaking
courses, etc., for specialties of the Graduate School of International Social Sciences at Yokohama
National University (hereinafter referred to as the “Graduate School”) and necessary matters for the
Graduate School, provided, however, that matters related to the Law School/ Graduate School ofInternational Social Sciences at Yokohama National University shall be subject to the provisions of the
Detailed Regulations for the Law School/ Graduate School of International Social Sciences, Yokohama
National University.
(Courses, etc.)
Article 2
1 Courses and the number of credits for departments at the Graduate School shall be separately regulatedby the Dean of the Graduate School of International Social Sciences at Yokohama National University(hereinafter referred to as the “Dean”) with input from the faculty council (hereinafter referred to as
the “ Faculty Council”).
2 15 hours of classes in courses (lectures and seminars) at the Graduate School shall constitute a single
credit.
3 The term “academic dissertation(s)” refers to master’s theses and doctoral dissertations and includes
the research outcomes of specific assignments given in connection with master's theses (hereinafterreferred to as “Theses for Specific Assignments” in plural form or “Thesis for Specific Assignment”
in singular form).
(Flexible Curriculum across Departments )Article 3
1 Systematic educational programs related to multi-specialty fusion fields and specific assignments(hereinafter referred to as the “Flexible Curriculum across Departments”) shall be assigned in Ph.D.
Programs.
2 The Flexible Curriculum across Departments regulated under the previous paragraph shall include
those under the following Items.
(1) International Public Policy Education Programs(2) Tax Law and Accounting Educational Programs
3 Matters necessary for the Flexible Curriculum across Departments shall be separately regulated by the
Faculty Council.
(Advisors, etc.)
Article 41 In order to teach classes for Master’s Programs and provide guidance for courses and the writing ofacademic dissertations, (hereinafter referred to as “Research Guidance”), an advisor shall be allocatedto each student.

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2 In order to teach classes and provide Research Guidance for Ph.D. Programs, a single thesis advisor
and two other advisors (hereinafter referred to as “Thesis Advisor” and “ advisors”) shall be allocatedto each student.
3 Thesis Advisor and advisors shall organize an advisors’ committee for the student.
4 Matters necessary for advisors, Thesis Advisors, etc., and advisors’ committees shall be separately
regulated by the Faculty Council.
(Progression of the Program)
Article 5Students must obtain the credits prescribed by the Faculty Council, with the guidance of the advisors
and Thesis Advisors.
(System for Extending the Period of Registration)
Article 6
If students desire to extend the Period of Registration subject to Article 14 of the Graduate School
Regulations, they must apply for permission from the head of the Graduate School in accordance withseparate regulations.
(Undertaking of Courses at Graduate Schools of Other Universities, etc.)
Article 7
1 Students may take courses at graduate schools belonging to other universities (throughout, thisincludes foreign graduate schools) or at other graduate schools of this university after obtaining theapproval of the Faculty Council.
2 Credits obtained for courses undertaken in accordance with the provisions of the previous paragraphmay be accepted toward the completion of relevant programs, up to a prescribed number of credits.
(Undertaking Courses at Foreign Graduate Schools During Leaves of Absence)
Article 8
1 If it is deemed useful, credits obtained for courses undertaken at foreign graduate schools during leavesof absence may be accepted toward the completion of specific courses at the Graduate School after
obtaining the approval of the Faculty Council.
2 The number of credits deemed to have been acquired in accordance with the provisions of the previous
paragraph shall not exceed 10 credits per student, including the number of credits under the provisionsof paragraph 2 of the previous Article.
(Research Guidance of Graduate Schools of Other Universities, etc.)
Article 9
1 Students may undertake research guidance at graduate schools of other universities or research
institutes (hereinafter referred to as “Other Graduate Schools, etc.”) after obtaining the approval of
the relevant faculty; provided, however, that if students in a Master’s Program are allowed to receive
such Research Guidance, the period in which they may undertake the corresponding Research
Guidance shall not exceed one year.
2 Subject to the provisions of the previous paragraph, it shall be possible to recognize Research
Guidance undertaken at Other Graduate Schools, etc., as a part of the research guidance necessary forcompletion of the relevant Program.
(Requirements for Completion)
Article 1015

1 With regard to the requirements for completion of a Master’s Program, a student must be enrolled in
the Program for more than two years, obtain 32 or more credits, satisfy the separately set standard of
a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher, undertake the relevant Research Guidance, and,
thereafter, pass an examination on research outcomes concerning the student’s master’s thesis (i.e.,
the Thesis for Specific Assignment) and specific assignment, as well as a final exam; with regard to
the period of enrollment, it shall be sufficient for a student who has achieved particularly superior
research performance to be enrolled in the Graduate School for a minimum of one year.

2 Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous paragraph, with regard to the requirements forcompletion of a Master’s Program by a student who has been allowed to extend the Period ofRegistration under the provisions of Article 6, such a student shall be enrolled for the corresponding
period while undertaking the same, obtain 32 credits or more, satisfy the separately regulated
standards for a GPA of 2.0 or higher, undertake the relevant Research Guidance, and, thereafter, passan examination on research outcomes (i.e., the Thesis for Specific Assignment) related to a master’s
thesis and specific assignment, as well as a final exam.
3 For a student who desires to take the Qualifying Exams, instead of passing an examination on researchoutcomes for a master’s thesis and specific assignment (i.e., the Thesis for Specific Assignment) anda final exam as described above, such a student shall be allowed to take a test and examination on
basic research skills to earn a doctoral dissertation given by the Graduate School, as described in (1)and (2) below. In such a case, the expression “....obtain 32 credits or more...” above shall be changed
to read “...obtain 36 credits or more....” and the expression “...undertake the relevant Research
Guidance, and, thereafter...” shall be changed to read “...undertake the relevant Research Guidance,
successfully gain acceptance for a doctoral dissertation research project plan or pass a term paper, and,
thereafter....”(1) The test will ascertain the candidate’s advanced expertise in relation to the relevant specialty field
and basic background knowledge in associated fields, which should be acquired or cultivated in
the corresponding Master’s Program.
(2) The examination will assess abilities necessary to carry out research on the student's own initiativeat a level appropriate for doctoral dissertations, which should be acquired in the corresponding
Master’s Program.
4 With regard to the requirements for completion of Ph.D. Programs, a student must be enrolled in the
program for more than three years (or only two for a student who has completed a professional degree
program such as Law School), obtain 20 credits or more, have a GPA of 2.0 or higher, undertake therelevant Research Guidance, and, thereafter, pass a doctoral dissertation examination as well as a final
exam; however, for a student who has achieved particularly superior research performance theminimum period of enrollment shall be one year.
5 Subject to the proviso in paragraph 1, with regard to the requirements for completion of a Ph.D.
Program for a student who has competed a Master’s Program in a period of less than two years due toparticularly superior research performance (including students with a period of enrollment in anothergraduate school), the term “one year” in the previous paragraph shall be changed to read “more thanthe period resulting when the period of enrollment in the corresponding Master’s Program (and limited
to a period of no more than two years) is deducted from three years.”
6 With regard to the requirements for completion of a Ph.D. Program for a student who has completed
a Master’s Program, or a professional degree program at another graduate school for which thestandard period is between one and two years, the term “one year” in paragraph 4 shall be changed to16read “ the period resulting when the period of the Master’s or professional program is deducted fromthree years.”
7 Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous three paragraphs, with regard to the requirements forcompletion of a Ph.D. Program for a student who has been allowed to extend the Period of Registration
under the provisions of Article 6, that student shall be enrolled for the corresponding period while
undertaking the same, obtain 20 credits or more, maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher, undertake therelevant Research Guidance, and, thereafter, pass a doctoral dissertation examination as well as a finalexam.
8 Examinations for academic dissertations shall be subject to the Regulations on Academic Degrees of
Yokohama National University.
(Period for Submission of Academic Dissertation)
Article 11
Academic dissertations and documents required by the Faculty Council must be submitted within aperiod determined by the Graduate School.
(Administration Affairs)
Article 12
Administration affairs for the Graduate School shall be handled by the Social Science Administration
Department.
(Miscellaneous Provisions)
Article 13
In addition to the information provided hereunder, matters related to the Graduate School shall haveadditional requirements set by the Faculty Council.
Supplementary Provisions
These Regulations shall become effective on April 1, 2013.

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