*Official text of the University Regulation is Japanese, and English version is provided forreference only. Should there be any discrepancies between Japanese version and English version,
Japanese version will prevail.

Rikkyo University Regulations Book
Rikkyo University Edition

Part 5: Academic Affairs
Rikkyo University Degree Regulations
Enacted: April 1, 1961
Revised: April 1, 1976
April 1, 1990
April 1, 1991
October 11, 1991
April 1, 1992
April 1, 1993
April 1, 1994
April 1, 1996
April 1, 1997
April 1, 1998
April 1, 2000
April 1, 2002
April 1, 2004
April 1, 2006
April 1, 2007
October 1, 2007
April 1, 2008
April 1, 2009
October 1, 2009
April 1, 2010
April 1, 2011
April 1, 2012
April 1, 2013
March 1, 2014
April 1, 2014
April 1, 2015
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2017
April 1, 2018
April 1, 2020
April 1, 2021
April 1, 2022
April 1, 2023
April 1, 2024

- 1 -(Purpose)
Article 1
1. The purpose of these regulations is to set forth necessary matters with regard to the degrees
conferred by Rikkyo University (hereinafter referred to as “the University”) in accordancewith Article 104 (Paragraphs 1 through 4) of the School Education Act (Law No.26, 1947),
the 1953 Degree Regulations (Ministry of Education, Science and Culture Order No. 9 of
1953), and the Rikkyo University Regulations and Rikkyo University Graduate School
Regulations.
(Areas of Specialization)
Article 2
1. The names (degree tags) for areas of specialization for the undergraduate degrees conferredby the University’s colleges and departments shall be as follows.
College

Department

Degree Name

Department of Christian Studies

College of Arts

Specializationin Christian Studies

Department of History

in History

Department of Educationin Education

Department of Letters
Course in English and American
Literature
Course in German Literature

Bachelor of Arts

in English and American Literaturein German Literature

Course in French Literature

in French Literature

Course in Japanese Literature

in Japanese Literature

Course in Philosophy and Creative
Writingin Philosophy and Creative Writing

Department of Economics
College of
Economics

Department of Accounting and FinanceBachelor of Arts

in Economics

Department of Economic Policy Studies
Department of Mathematics
College of
Science

Department of Physics

Bachelor of Science

Department of Chemistry―

Department of Life Science
Department of Sociology
College ofSociology

Department of Contemporary Culture
and Society

Bachelor of Arts

in Sociology

Department of Communication andMedia Studies
College of Law
and Politics

College ofTourism

College ofCommunity and
Human Services
College ofBusiness

Department of Law
Department of International Business
Law
Department of Politics
Department of Tourism and Hospitality
Management
Department of Culture and Tourism
Studies

Bachelor of Arts

in Law
in Politics

Bachelor of Arts

Department of Social Workin Tourism

in Social Work

Department of Community Development

Bachelor of Arts

Department of Sport and Wellness
Department of Business
Department of Global Business- 2 -in Community Development
in Sport and Wellness

Bachelor of Arts

in Business2.

College ofContemporary
Psychology
College ofIntercultural
Communication

Department of Psychology
Department of Body Expression andCinematic Arts

Bachelor of Arts

in Psychology

Department of Intercultural
Communication

Bachelor of Arts

in Intercultural Communication Studies

Global Liberal
Arts Program―

Bachelor of Arts―

College of Sport
and Wellness

Department of Sport and Wellness

Bachelor of Arts

in Sport and Wellness

in Body Expression and Cinematic Arts

The names for areas of specialization for the postgraduate (Master’s and Doctoral) degrees
conferred by the University’s Graduate School shall be as follows.
Graduate School
Graduate School of Arts

Graduate School of
Economics

Graduate School of Science

Graduate School of Sociology

Graduate School of Law and
Politics

Specialization (Degree Name)
MasterDoctorArts
Philosophy(Master of Arts in English and(Doctor of Philosophy in English
American Literature, Master ofand American Literature, Doctor
Arts in History, Master of Artsof Philosophy in History, Doctor
in Japanese Literature, Master of of Philosophy in JapaneseArts in French Literature, Master Literature, Doctor of Philosophyof Arts in German Literature and in French Literature, Doctor of
Master of Arts in
Philosophy in German Literature
Interdisciplinary Cultural
and Doctor of Philosophy in
Studies)Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies)
Education
Education(Doctor of Philosophy in(Master of Arts in Education)
Education)
Comparative Civilization
Comparative Civilizations(Master of Arts in Comparative(Doctor of Philosophy in
Civilizations)Comparative Civilizations)
Economics
Economics(Master of Arts in Economics)(Doctor of Philosophy in
Economics)
Accounting
Accounting(Master of Arts in Accounting)(Doctor of Philosophy in
Accounting)
Science
Science(Doctor of Philosophy in Physics,(Master of Science in Physics,
Master of Science in Chemistry, Doctor of Philosophy in
Chemistry, Doctor of Philosophy
Master of Science inin Mathematics and Doctor of
Mathematics and Master ofPhilosophy in Life Science)
Science in Life Science)
Sociology
Sociology(Doctor of Philosophy in(Master of Arts in Sociology)
Sociology)
Law
Law(Doctor of Philosophy in Law)
(Master of Arts in Law)
Politics
Politics(Master of Arts in Politics)(Doctor of Philosophy in Politics)- 3 -Graduate School of Tourism

Tourism(Master of Arts in Tourism)

Graduate School ofCommunity and Human
Services

Social Work
(Master of Arts in Social Work)(Deleted)

Graduate School of Business
Administration
Graduate School of Social
Design Studies

Graduate School ofIntercultural Communication

Graduate School of Business

Graduate School ofContemporary Psychology

Graduate School of ChristianStudies

Business Administration(Master of Business
Administration)
Business Administration in
Social Design Studies(Master of Business
Administration in Social Design
Studies)
Social Development andAdministration(Master of Social Development
and Administration)
Intercultural Communication(Master of Arts in Intercultural
Communication Studies)
Business(Master of Arts in Business)
International Business(Master of International
Business)
International Business(Master of Public Management
and Administration)
Psychology(Master of Arts in Psychology)
Clinical Psychology(Master of Arts in ClinicalPsychology)
Body Expression and Cinematic
Arts(Master of Arts in Body
Expression and Cinematic Arts)
Theology(Master of Theology)
Arts(Master of Arts)
Applied Theology(Master of Applied Theology)- 4 -Tourism(Doctor of Philosophy in
Tourism)
Social Work
(Doctor of Philosophy in Social
Work)
Sport and Wellness(Doctor of Philosophy in Sport
and Wellness)
Business Administration(Doctor of Business
Administration)
Business Administration in Social
Design Studies(Doctor of Business
Administration in Social Design
Studies)Intercultural Communication(Doctor of Philosophy inIntercultural Communication
Studies)
Business(Doctor of Philosophy in
Business)

Psychology(Doctor of Philosophy in
Psychology)
Clinical Psychology(Doctor of Philosophy in ClinicalPsychology)
Body Expression and Cinematic
Arts(Doctor of Philosophy in Body
Expression and Cinematic Arts)
Theology(Doctor of Theology)
Philosophy(Doctor of Philosophy)

Graduate School of Artificial
Intelligence and Science
Graduate School of Sport andWellness

Artificial Intelligence(Master of Science in Artificial
Intelligence)Sport and Wellness(Master of Arts in Sport andWellness)

Artificial Intelligence(Doctor of Science in Artificial
Intelligence)Sport and Wellness(Doctor of Philosophy in Sport
and Wellness)

3. --deleted(Degree Conferment Requirements)
Article 3
1. The prescribed undergraduate degrees set forth in the preceding article shall be conferred
upon persons who have graduated from the University, in accordance with the provisions ofArticle 5 (Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3) of the University Regulations.
2. The prescribed master’s degrees set forth in the preceding article shall be conferred upon
persons who have completed a master’s program (or master’s program as the initial phase ofa two-phase doctoral program) at the University Graduate School, in accordance with theprovisions of Article 5 (Paragraphs 1 and 2) of the University Graduate School Regulations.
3. The prescribed doctoral degrees set forth in the preceding article shall be conferred upon
persons who have completed a doctoral program (the second phase of a two-phase doctoral
program) at the University Graduate School, in accordance with the provisions of Article 6(Paragraphs 1 through 4) of the University Graduate School Regulations.
4. The prescribed doctoral degrees set forth in the preceding article may be conferred upon
persons who have not completed a doctoral program (the second phase of a two-phase
doctoral program) at the University Graduate School, in accordance with the provisions ofArticle 6 (Paragraph 5) of the University Graduate School Regulations.
5. --deleted(Submission of Degree Theses)
Article 4
1. Degree application theses (hereinafter referred to “thesis” or “theses”) shall be submitted to
the University President (hereinafter referred to as “the President”) in accordance with theprovisions set forth by each graduate school.
2. When a person enrolled in a doctoral program at the University Graduate School applies forthe conferment of a doctoral degree, they shall submit a thesis to the President along with adegree application form, a list or transcript of research results, a summary or abstract
detailing the main portent of the thesis, a resume, and thesis review handling fees as
stipulated separately.
3. When a person who has not completed a doctoral program at the University Graduate
School applies for the conferment of a doctoral degree, they shall submit a thesis (specifying
the name of the area of specialization for their desired degree) to the President along with adegree application form, a list or transcript of research results, a summary or abstract
detailing the main portent of the thesis, a resume, and thesis review handling fees as
stipulated separately.
4. When a person who has been enrolled on a doctoral program at the University Graduate
School for a period of three (3) years or more—and has then withdrawn from the University
Graduate School—applies for the conferment of a doctoral degree, they shall do so inaccordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
5. When an application for the conferment of a degree fulfills the requirements of any one ofthe preceding four paragraphs, the President shall accept said application. As a general rule,
once such an application has been accepted, it cannot be withdrawn.
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6.
7.

Theses and thesis review handling fees submitted in accordance with Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3
shall not be returned.
The provisions of these Regulations and Paragraph 1 of this article shall apply with regard to
the “research outcomes in relation to a specific task/topic” provided for under Article 5(Paragraph 2) of the University Graduate School Regulations.

(Theses)
Article 5
1. Each main thesis submitted in accordance with the provisions of the preceding article shouldhave one main volume. As a general rule, in the case of a master’s thesis, one copy should
be submitted. In the case of a doctoral thesis, one PDF format copy and three book-boundcopies should be submitted; provided, however, that students may also attach other theses
for reference purposes.
2. When it is necessary in order to conduct a thesis review, the review committee may orderthe submission of other materials, including reference theses, thesis translations, models andsamples, etc.
(Referral of Theses for Review)
Article 6
1. When a thesis has been accepted in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 (Paragraph5) of these Regulations, the President shall refer said thesis to the Graduate School Faculty
Meeting for the relevant school for the degree being applied for, for review purposes.
(Review Committees)
Article 7
1. Upon referral of a thesis for review purposes in accordance with the provisions of thepreceding article, the relevant Graduate School Faculty Meeting shall establish a review
committee comprising of three or more persons, including a member (or members) ofteaching staff specializing in the relevant area of specialization for the degree being appliedfor.
2. Each review committee shall comprise of one chief reviewer and two or more deputy
reviewers.
3. When a review committee deems it necessary to do so in order to conduct a thesis review,
said review committee may, after discussion at a meeting of the relevant Graduate School
Faculty Meeting, add additional specialist teaching staff (with specialisms relating to thethesis in question) to its members as deputy reviewers.
4. The chief reviewer for each review committee shall be selected from amongst teaching staff
belonging to the relevant degree program for the degree being applied for; provided,
however, that separate provisions shall be stipulated in the case of degree programs forwhich recruitment has been halted.
(Thesis Reviews and Examinations)
Article 8
1. Review committees shall conduct thesis reviews and final examinations.
2. Final examinations shall comprise of examinations on the thesis and its related subject
modules, as well as two types of foreign language (oral and written) examinations.
However, for those who are applying for a degree in accordance with the provisions ofArticle 3(Paragraph 4) of Rikkyo University Degree Regulations may be exempted from one
or two types of foreign language examinations if the Graduate School Faculty Meeting
deems that there are special reasons to be considered.
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3.
4.

In the event that, as a result of a thesis review, the review committee finds the content of thethesis to be remarkably poor, the review committee shall not conduct final examinations.
In the case of reviews in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 (Paragraph 4) of theseRegulations, aside from the requirements set forth under Paragraph 2 of this Article, thereview committee must certify that the person in question possesses the same academic
knowledge and ability as a person who has been awarded a degree after completing adoctoral program (the second phase of a two-phase doctoral program) in relation to
specialist academic study.

(Exemption from Examinations)
Article 9
1. Persons applying for a degree in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 (Paragraphs 1,
2 and 4) of these Regulations are exempt from the foreign language examinations provided
for under Paragraph 2 of the preceding article.
(Review Periods)
Article 10
1. Each review committee must complete all thesis reviews and final examinations by theprescribed deadline. In the case of a master’s degree, the review committee must complete
thesis reviews and final examinations by the end of that semester. In the case of a doctoral
degree under the Article 4 (paragraph 2), the review committee must complete thesis
reviews and final examinations by the end of the year during which the degree application
was accepted, and a doctoral degree under the Article 4 (paragraph 3 or 4), must complete
within a year after the degree application was accepted; provided, however, that where
special reasons exist with regard to a doctoral degree the review committee may, after
discussion at a meeting of the relevant Graduate School Faculty Meeting, extend the review
and examination period up to a maximum of one year.
(Review Committee Reports)
Article 11
1. Upon the completion of the thesis review and final examinations pertaining to a particulardegree application, the review committee’s chief reviewer must promptly submit to therelevant Graduate School Faculty Meeting a written report including a summary of thecontent of the thesis, a summary of the thesis review and final examination results, and hisor her official opinion as to whether or not a degree should be conferred; provided, however,that where necessary the chief reviewer may request for one of the deputy reviewers to draft
the document in his or her place.
2. Where the review committee has not conducted final examinations in accordance with theprovisions of Article 8 (Paragraph 3) of these regulations, the review committee must report
this fact to the relevant Graduate School Faculty Meeting in writing.
(Graduate School Faculty Meeting Deliberations)
Article 12
1. Based on reports submitted in accordance with the previous article, Graduate School Faculty
Meeting shall deliberate and, in the case of degree applications pursuant to Paragraphs 2 and
3 of Article 3 of these regulations determine based on the provisions of the University
Graduate School Regulations whether or not a degree is to be conferred; or, in the case ofdegree applications pursuant to Paragraphs 4 of Article 3 of these regulations, determine
whether or not the relevant applicant has passed or failed with regard to their thesis and final
examinations, and whether or not a doctoral degree is to be conferred.
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2.

Decisions based on deliberations provided for under the preceding paragraph require at least
two-thirds (2/3) of the meeting members to be in attendance, and at least three-quarters (3/4)
of the meeting members in attendance must be in agreement; provided, however, thatmeeting members who are unable to attend due to official business or business trips shall not
be included in the count.

(Graduate School Faculty Meeting Chairpersons’ Reports)
Article 13
1. When a Graduate School Faculty Meeting has reached a decision in accordance with thepreceding article, the chairperson of said meeting must submit to the President, together withthe thesis itself, a written report including a summary of the content of the thesis, a summaryof the thesis review and final examination results, and his or her official opinion as towhether or not a degree should be conferred.
Article 13-2 – Deleted(Determination of Degree Conferment)
Article 14
1. Based on the report provided for under the preceding article, the President shall assemble theUniversity Graduate School Faculty Meeting and, after deliberation by the Meeting,determine whether or not a degree is to be conferred.
2. Decisions made by the University Graduate School Faculty Meeting as a result of thedeliberations provided for under the preceding paragraph are subject to the provisions ofArticle 12 (Paragraph 2) of these Regulations.
(Conferment of Degrees)
Article 15
1. The President shall confer the prescribed degrees upon persons determined to be deservingof the conferment of such degrees based on the determinations (decisions) provided forunder the preceding article; and shall notify persons for whom it has been found that
conferment of a degree is not possible.
(Announcement of Degree Thesis Summaries/Abstracts, etc.)
Article 16
1. When a doctoral degree has been conferred, the University must publicly announce asummary or abstract of the content of the relevant degree thesis and a summary of thereview findings within a period of three (3) months commencing from the date of theconferment of the degree, in accordance with the Rikkyo University Academic Repository.
(Announcement of Degree Theses)
Article 17
1. Persons who have been awarded a doctoral degree must publicly announce or present theirdegree thesis within a period of one (1) year commencing from the date of the conferment of
the degree, in accordance with the Rikkyo University Academic Repository; provided,
however, that this provision does not apply when the person in question has alreadyannounced or presented their thesis.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where there areunavoidable reasons to do so, and with the approval of the University, persons who havebeen awarded a doctoral degree may publicly announce or present a summarized version of
the content of their degree thesis as a substitute for their full thesis. In such cases, the
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3.

University shall supply the full, unabridged version of the thesis for viewing whenrequested.
When announcing the content of a degree thesis in accordance with the provisions of thepreceding paragraph, students must clearly indicate the fact that said thesis has been
subjected to a review by Rikkyo University.

(Usage of Degree Names)
Article 18
1. When using the name of their degree, persons who have been awarded a degree by the
University shall do so as follows, appending the name of the University to the front of thedegree: Rikkyo University Bachelor of (…); Rikkyo University Master of (…); Rikkyo
University Doctor of (…); Rikkyo University Juris Doctor; or as follows, appending thename of the University after the degree: Bachelor of (…), Rikkyo University; Master of (…),
Rikkyo University; Doctor of (…), Rikkyo University; Juris Doctor, Rikkyo University.
(Revocation of Conferred Degrees)
Article 19
1. When a person who has been awarded with a degree by the University has committed someact that dishonors the good name of the University, or when it has been found that said
person obtained their degree through some fraudulent means, the President must, after
discussion by the University Graduate School Faculty Meeting, revoke said person’s degree,order the return of the degree title, and publicly announce the fact of such revocation.
2. Decisions made under the preceding paragraph are subject to the provisions of Article 12(Paragraph 2) of these Regulations.
(Registration)
Article 20
1. When the University has conferred a doctoral degree, the President must record details of
the degree in the University’s degree register; and must, within a period of three (3) months,
submit a doctoral degree conferment report and using the format shown in Attachment 1, via
E-mail, to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
(Format for Diplomas)
Article 21
1. Diplomas shall follow the format shown in Attachment 2.
(Amendments and Repeal)
Article 22
1. Amendments and repeal of these regulations shall be made by the President after
consultation with the Deans' Council and the Graduate School Faculty Meeting.

Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 1961.
Supplemental Provision
1. These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 1976.
2.

With regard to students enrolled in the University in or prior to April 1975; the old Degree
Regulations shall apply.
- 9 -Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 1990.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 1991.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of October 11, 1991, and shall apply as of July 1, 1991.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 1992.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 1993.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 1994.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 1996.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 1997.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 1998.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2000.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2002.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2004.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2006.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2007.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of October 1, 2007.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2008.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2009.
- 10 -

Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of October 1, 2009.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2010.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2011.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2012.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2013.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of March 1, 2014.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2014.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2015.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2016.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2017.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2018.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2020.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2021.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2022.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2023.
Supplemental Provision
These regulations shall be enacted as of April 1, 2024.

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