Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
Graduate School Regulations
February 3, 2020
Regulation No. 1179
PurportArticle 1
These Graduate School regulations stipulate matters pertaining to the curricula, subjects, and degreecompletion within the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, in accordance with Article 15-2, Item
4 of the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University University Regulations.

English Notation
Article 2
English notation for the graduate school, programs, and majors shall be as follows:
1) アジア太平洋研究科 Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
2) 博士前期課程 Master's Program
3) 博士後期課程 Doctoral Program4) アジア太平洋学専攻 Major in Asia Pacific Studies5) 国際協力政策専攻 Major in International Cooperation Policy

Purposes of Education and ResearchArticle 3
The Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Master's Program in Asia Pacific Studies aims to cultivate
human resources who will possess a keen interest in research pertaining to and specialized knowledge
and skills necessary for development of the Asia Pacific region in such areas as international relations
and social and cultural studies, will achieve practical resolutions for issues in the region, and willcontribute to sustainable development and coexistence in the region.
2

The Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Master's Program in International Cooperation

Policy aims to cultivate human resources who will possess a keen interest in research pertaining toand specialized knowledge and skills necessary for development of the Asia Pacific region in suchareas as public administration, environment, development, health and tourism, will achieve practicalresolutions for issues in the region, and will contribute to sustainable development and coexistence inthe region.
3

The Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Doctoral Program in Asia Pacific Studies aims

to foster the advanced capacity for pioneering a new academic discipline (area) necessary fordevelopment of the Asia Pacific region and cultivate advanced researchers and highly qualified
professionals with doctorate degree who will contribute to sustainable development of and coexistencein the region.

Curriculum Policy
Article 4
Subjects in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Master’s Program consist of Analytical
Foundation Subjects, Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region, Seminars, Major Subjects, Core
Related Subjects, and Optional Subjects offered over the course of two years.
2Major Subjects are subdivided by Division into Major Subjects for International Relations,

Major Subjects for Society and Culture, Major Subjects for International Public Administration, Major
Subjects for Sustainability Science, Major Subjects for Tourism and Hospitality, and Major Subjects
for Development Economics.
3Subjects in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Doctoral Program consist of Lecture

Subjects, Seminar Subjects, Research and Presentations, Tutorials, and Optional Subjects offered overthe course of three years.

Subjects
Article 5
Subject

Names,

NumberofCredits,MethodsofInstruction,

Subject

Type(Required/Elective/Optional), and Semester Levels for the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
Master’s Programs are outlined in Table 1, and those for the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
Doctoral Program are outlined in Table 2.

Required Credits for Completion
Article 6
To complete a Master’s in Asia Pacific Studies through the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, astudent must complete at least 32 credits, including 4 credits of Core Subjects on the Asia PacificRegion, 4 credits of Seminars, and 10 credits of Major Subjects from their respective Division (i.e.
International Relations Division or Society and Culture Subjects). Credits from Optional Subjects
cannot be included in the credits required for completion.
2To complete a Master’s in International Cooperation Policy through the Graduate School ofAsia Pacific Studies, a student must complete at least 32 credits, including 4 credits of Core Subjects
on the Asia Pacific Region, 4 credits of Seminars, and 10 credits of Major Subjects from theirrespective Division (i.e. International Public Administration Division, Sustainability Science Division,
Tourism and Hospitality Division, or Development Economics Division). Credits from Optional
Subjects cannot be included in the credits required for completion.

Article 7To complete a Doctorate through the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, a student must complete
30 credits. Credits from Optional Subjects cannot be included in the credits required for completion.

Regulations for Amendments and Deletions
Article 8
Amendments and deletions to these Regulations shall be made by the University Senate upondeliberation by the Graduate School Faculty Council.

Supplementary Provision
1

These Graduate School Regulations shall take effect on April 1, 2020.

2

Curriculum policy, subjects, and credits required for completion stipulated in Ritsumeikan

Asia Pacific University University Regulations enacted on April 26, 2019 will apply to students
enrolled prior to AY 2020, regardless of those stipulated in Article 4 through Article 7 and the Tables
below.
Supplementary Provision (November 24, 2020: Partial revisions in line with the dissolution of thePublic Health Management Division)
These Regulations shall take effect on April 1, 2021
2Regulations currently in force shall apply to students enrolled as of March 31, 2021.

Table 1: Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Master’s Programs
Field

Subject Name

SubjectMethods
TypeNumbers ofSemester(Requiredof credits Instructi
Levels/Elective/onOptional)

Analytical

Research Method and Academic Writing2Lecture Required 1Foundation

Information Resources and Data Analysis

2

Lecture Required 1

Core Subjects on

Social and Cultural Processes in the Asia

2Lecture Elective 1

the Asia PacificPacific

RegionPolitics and Economics in the Asia Pacific2

Lecture Elective 1

Environment and Sustainable Development 2

Lecture Elective 1

Subjects

in the Asia PacificTourism in the Asia Pacific2

Lecture Elective 1

Public Health in the Asia Pacific2

Lecture Elective 1

Special Studies (Core Subjects on the Asia

2

Lecture Elective 1

Research Project I

2Seminar Elective 1

Research Project II

2Seminar Elective 2

Research Project III

2

Seminar Elective 3

Final Research Project2Seminar Required 4

Internatio Regionalism and Globalization2

Lecture Elective 1

2Lecture Elective 1

2Lecture Elective 1

Comparative Politics and Government

2Lecture Elective 1

Special Studies (International Relations)2

Lecture Elective 1

Conflict Resolution

2

Lecture Elective 1International Security

2

Lecture Elective 1

Society Changing Social Landscapes

2

Lecture Elective 1

and2

Lecture Elective 1

2Lecture Elective 1

Pacific Region)
Seminars

Major

Subjects nal

International Law

Relations International Political Economy

Media and Communication

Culture Migration and Trans-nationalism

FieldSubject Name

SubjectMethods
TypeNumbers ofSemester(Requiredof credits InstructiLevels/Elective/onOptional)

Social Organizations and Institutions

2

Lecture Elective 1

Sociology of Everyday Life

2

Lecture Elective 1

Special Studies (Society and Culture)2

Lecture Elective 1

Cultural Change

2

Lecture Elective 1Internatio Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation2

Lecture Elective 1

nal

Special Studies (International Public2

Lecture Elective 1

PublicAdministration)

Administ International Public Administration2

Lecture Elective 1

rationInternational Organizations

2

Lecture Elective 1

Project Management

2

Lecture Elective 1

Planning and Evaluation2

Lecture Elective 1

Community Development2

Lecture Elective 1

Sustainab Environment and Natural Resources2

Lecture Elective 1

Science Advanced Environmental Geosciences

2

Lecture Elective 1

Environmental Policy, Law and2

Lecture Elective 1

Environmental Economics

2Lecture Elective 1

Urban Sustainability

2

Lecture Elective 1

Industrial Ecology

2

Lecture Elective 1

Special Studies (Sustainability Science)2

Lecture Elective 1

Tourism Tourism Economics

2

Lecture Elective 1

and2

Lecture Elective 1

Hospitali Environmental Tourism

2

Lecture Elective 1tyCommunity Based Tourism

2

Lecture Elective 1

Health and Wellness Tourism

2

Lecture Elective 1

Special Studies (Tourism and Hospitality)

2

Lecture Elective 1

ility

Conservation

Administration

Cultural and Heritage Tourism

FieldSubject Name

Tourism Policy and Planning

SubjectMethods
Type
Numbers ofSemester(Requiredof credits Instructi
Levels/Elective/onOptional)
2

Lecture Elective 1

Develop Development Economics

2

Lecture Elective 1

ment

2

Lecture Elective 1

Economi Development Finance2

Lecture Elective 1

csComparative Economic Development2

Lecture Elective 1

Microeconomics

2

Lecture Elective 1

Community Development2

Lecture Elective 1

Special Studies (Development Economics)

2

Lecture Elective 1

Core Related

Decision Making Under Uncertainly

2

Lecture Elective 1

Subjects

Information Technology and Operations

2

Lecture Elective 1

Product Development Strategy

2

Lecture Elective 1

Marketing Strategy

2

Lecture Elective 1

Marketing Research

2

Lecture Elective 1

Hospitality Management

2

Lecture Elective 1Management Information Systems

2

Lecture Elective 1

Database Management

2

Lecture Elective 1

Advanced Data Analysis and Statistics

2

Lecture Elective 1

Optional Subjects Survival Japanese I

2Lecture Optional 1

Survival Japanese II

2

Lecture Optional 1

Japanese for Communication I

2

Lecture Optional 1

Japanese for Communication II

2

Lecture Optional 1

Japanese for Communication III

2

Lecture Optional 1

Japanese for Communication IV

2

Lecture Optional 1

Special Studies (Japanese)

2

Lecture Optional 1

Macroeconomics

Management

Table 2: Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Doctoral Program
Subject Name
Number Methods Subject Semesterof Credits ofType
LevelsInstructi (Requiredon/Elective/Optional)
Lecture Subjects

Perspectives on Asia Pacific Studies

2

Lecture Required 1

Theories on Asia Pacific Studies

2

Lecture Required 1Seminar Subjects Advanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies I 2

Seminar Required 1

Advanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies 2Seminar Required 2

II
Advanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies 2

Seminar Required 3

III
Advanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies 2

Seminar Required 4

IVAdvanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies 2Seminar Required 5

VAdvanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies 2Seminar Required 6

VIPresentations and Research Presentation

2

Seminar Required 3

Research Papers

Research Paper I

4

Seminar Required 2

Research Paper II

4Seminar Required 4

Tutorial I

2Seminar Required 4

Tutorial II

2

Seminar Required 5

Optional Subjects Survival Japanese I

2Lecture Optional 1

Survival Japanese II

2

Lecture Optional 1

Japanese for Communication I

2

Lecture Optional 1

Japanese for Communication II

2

Lecture Optional 1

Japanese for Communication III

2

Lecture Optional 1

Japanese for Communication IV

2

Lecture Optional 1

Tutorials