Outline（The Division of Interdisciplinary Gender Studies）

28.03.2016 Update

Outline

Currently, there are very few graduate schools in Japan that offer doctoral programs in women studies / gender theory. Furthermore, there are very few educators in advanced gender studies despite the notable growth of women studies and gender education at Japanese undergraduate institutions in recent years and despite the pressing societal need for such personnel.

This graduate division takes the comprehensive nature of gender studies into account and emphasizes the establishment of gender studies as an academic research field. Founded in April 2005 as part of the efforts of the 21st Century COE Program "Frontiers of Gender Studies" to enhance doctoral programs in the field of gender studies, it is the first independent graduate division in Japan to promote interdisciplinary gender studies covering social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.