Major of School Education (As of April 1, 2008) Outline of the Major Research in this major covers the entire

domain of school education. It comprises two programs: School Education, addressing elementary and secondary education, and Early Childhood Education, focusing on the preschool level. Profile of the School Education Department This department offers essentially complete coverage of the study of education in school contexts, embracing six disciplinary areas: educational philosophy, educational methods, educational history, educational administration, educational sociology, and international comparative education. Each area offers a combination of lectures and seminars designed to enhance students research skills and capabilities. Each student selects one of the six areas as his/her area of research specialization, pursuing studies in this area and producing a masters thesis. Educational Philosophy: Jun Yamana, Keita Furuya This is a fundamental field in the study of education, entailing philosophical inquiry into the underlying purposes and audiences of education. A broad range of perspectives are explored, from research on classical educational thought through the analytical philosophy of education, existential education, and critical education studies, as well as approaches drawn from system theory and educational anthropology. Inquiry into the conditions for the survival of education in the face of current challenges constitutes another important task in educational philosophy. Educational Methods: Fumihiko Shinohara, Tomohisa Hirano, Masahiko Yamada, Masami Hayashi This area addresses the themes of teaching, curriculum, educational technology (science education), extracurricular guidance, lesson study, and teacher education (research on the teaching profession). Encompassing not only regular curricular subjects but also life environment studies (as part of

the regular curriculum), special activities, and integrated studies, research and education in this area explore a variety of issues involved in school educational practice and skills development for its practitionersteachers. Educational History: Kuniomi Kawase, Miho Hashimoto Educational History is a fundamental field in the study of education, involving interpretation and evaluation of a variety of educational phenomena (thought, theories, practices, etc.) from an historical perspective, attuned to their interrelation with extra-educational fields such as politics, economics, society, culture, and religion. Faculty members specializing in Japanese and Western educational history guide students inquiry into educational history, primarily employing documentary sources. Educational Administration: Junji Yamazaki, Yasuyuki Iwata, Tomomi Usui This area employs institutional and public administration approaches concerned with the organs, systems, and administrative processes of education, combining these with research in fields such as educational administration and school management that address the operation and management of boards of education, schools, and classes. A variety of approaches are employed, including the study of other nationsboth discretely and in an international comparative context, historical research, and research employing educational survey methods. Candidates in this disciplinary area are expected to conduct research into actual cases of educational administration. Educational Sociology: Yasuhiko Jinnouchi, Shigeru Koshigoe, Mariko Kaneko A sociological perspective is applied to research encompassing the entire spectrum of educational issues. Subject matter in this area includes education and society, the social function of schools, school organization and culture, and sociological approaches to study of the curriculum. International Comparative Education: Hideaki Shibuya, Shigeru Asanuma, Chikako Mise The core themes for education and research in this area include: (1) the study of education in other nationsboth discretely and in a comparative context with Japanin areas such as language education, values education, multicultural education, education policy/planning, and curricula; (2)

analysis of educational programs in international organizations and programs for educational development and cooperation; (3) practice-oriented research on international education in schools, including the application of perspectives from the discipline of education to explore concrete measures for international understanding and global education; this also encompasses the formulation of programs in international understanding and development education through the integrated studies curriculum and partnerships with the nongovernmental/nonprofit sectors and international and governmental organizations. North America, Asia, and Oceania provide the principal sites for comparative education research undertaken by faculty members in this area. Faculty Member Jun Yamana Keita Furuya Fumihiko Shinohara Tomohisa Hirano Masahiko Yamada (co-appointment) Hayashi, Masami Kuniomi Kawase Areas of Specialization / Research Themes (Content, etc.) Educational philosophy / Research on educational thought in the modern and contemporary eras Educational philosophy / Research on educational philosophy in the modern and contemporary eras Educational methods / Teaching and research on educational technology (science education) Educational methods / Curriculum research; research on integrated studies and life environment studies Educational methods / Teaching (fundamental principles and techniques for constructing classroom teaching) Educational methods / Extracurricular guidance Educational history / Western educational history (historical study of new education; history of secondary education) Educational history / Japanese educational history (historical study of curricula, history of international educational exchange) Educational administration / Research on the teaching profession (life course of teachers, professional development systems for teachers) Educational administration / Theory of teacher

Miho Hashimoto

Junji Yamazaki

Yasuyuki Iwata

Tomomi Usui

training Educational administration / School management (school organization theory, teacher training and capacity development)

Yasuhiko Jinnouchi Educational sociology / Sociological study of teachers Shigeru Koshigoe Educational sociology / Research on entrance examinations and educational articulation; research on socialization of children Mariko Kaneko Educational sociology / Sociological study of curricula Hideaki Shibuya International comparative education / Comparative education (analysis of education policy in Asian nations, the function of NGOs in education) International comparative education / International education International comparative education / International education

Shigeru Asanuma Chikako Mise

Profile of the Early Childhood Education Department The Department in Early Childhood Education focuses on the years from infancy through early childhood as part of the process of education and lifespan development, using practice-oriented research to cultivate experts in early childhood development and education. It is staffed by four faculty members, specializing in infant psychology, early childhood education, area-specific education (artistic expression), and area-specific education (health). Students gain experience in teaching children and delivering parenting support in real-life early childhood education contexts, at the same time as developing their own research topics and producing a masters thesis. Faculty Member Tohru Iguchi Kyoko Iwatate Areas of Specialization / Research Themes (Content, etc.) Area-specific education (artistic expression) / Research on the musical expression of Carl Orff Infant psychology / Psychological research on development of expertise in childcare workers and discipline and socialization in children

Mayumi Fukumoto

Izumi Yoshida

Early childhood education / Research on the history of early childhood education, its curricula, and the professional culture of teachers Area-specific education (health) / Research on physical movement and psychological development in infants