Combined degrees and interdisciplinary courses

[ultima]

Hi everyone.

I have only two questions regarding undergraduate studying at Japanese universities.

1) Are there universities offering combined degree programs (double degree as well)? For example, universities in the UK can offer degrees in anything from Physics and Hindi to Textile design and Russian. I haven't seen this practice anywhere in Japan, my main information source being the internet and university websites. I know there are such things as "Waseda double degree" program, but it's exclusive to Chinese and Singaporean universities. I haven't noticed any of the top lot, Todai, Kyodai and the follow-ups to award any combined diplomas before graduate level (which is, in itself, much like a combined degree).

2) Interdisciplinary degree courses. When I say interdisciplinary study I mean the study of joining factors of two fields i.e. if I study Financial mathematics and Chinese history I might be interested in studying financial patterns in ancient China.
For example, Ritsumeikan APU offers interdisciplinary studies of business management in Asia combined with tourism, leadership etc.

I am keeping this topic very broad in breadth, because I am still undecided between two directions I would like my academic pursuits to lie in.

Please feel free to comment

 

[Scalemx]

It is a good question. In Belgium we can/have to also study a minor course at my University, in addition to the major in Japanese studies. So I have a major in Asian studies (and a minor in Economics) bachelor's degree.

I think it must be the case that this is in Japan done by the sub-top private universities, rather than the established imperial Universities. In the imperial Universities, they have a solid flow of graduates getting certain jobs after receiving certain education. If you studied law at Todai, you will probably not need anything else as a bonus to get the job you want, so why would you take a combined course?

If I am correct, a study in Japan allows you to take classes by certain professors, so up to a certain point you can choose your curriculum, but there are boundaries. I think this interdisciplinary way is getting more popular, though.

The main issue that this 'lack' of interdisciplinary studies is based on is the state of undergraduate studies in Japan in general. A lot of students have part-time jobs and they consider getting into the University the hardest part and they will graduate anyway. They lack the ambition to really train themselves by studying even more after a hard life of extra studying at cram schools until the entrance exams.
I think if people want to really have two skills, they take on extra training in schools outside of University and learn for example design at University and Russian in a language school after hours. Not all courses are 7 hours a day, so it leaves open extra time for part-time jobs or extra schooling if you wish to do so.

 

[ultima]

Thank you for your reply, Scalemx.

The reason I would like to study an interdisciplinary course is purely because I have a profound interest in more than one area. I have been researching a lot since I've started this thread and have found several examples of what is close to my ideal picture or what might be a very broad generalization but still in the direction of my initial desire.

Let me explain;

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University has several courses such as International Relations with Business Management or Health Management and similar, you get the idea. Their entire curriculum is organized so as to provide for the more intense study of the ties between the subjects of i.e. Business Management and International Relations. Along with interdisciplinary study it is, of course, necessary to a priori have knowledge of the foundation principles of the area of study, so they do study the "basic, ordinary" subjects but simultaneously branch out.

Waseda SILS. A Liberal arts course. I am still to get fully acquainted with what Liberal Arts actually stands for and what is studied there (and what job prospectus you get). Nevertheless, a friend of mine studying there (native Japanese girl) has only words of excellence for it, though I have to bear in mind that she is very used to studying sometimes 15 hours a day or more.

As you can see, I am still undecided on where to release my academic drive, so I'll humbly withdraw from discussion till I decide on my ways.

Thank you for your assistance, Scalemx!

All other replies are welcome