Core Subjects and Thematic Subjects
Regardless of which faculty or department you graduated from, there are "Technical Core Courses" to learn "a certain level of skills and abilities," "Liberal Arts Core Courses" to learn "a certain range of knowledge and culture," and "Theme Courses" to further develop the "Core Courses.
Aoyama Gakuin University In the "Liberal Arts Core Courses," students will learn the knowledge and skills that will help them throughout their lives. Supported by this view of knowledge, Aoyama Gakuin University positions the subjects related to human understanding as self-understanding subjects, and requires that each of the subjects related to Christian understanding, social understanding, natural understanding, and historical understanding be studied with an awareness of their relationship to the self.
The core skills courses are also positioned as a means of self-expression, and students are expected to construct knowledge in relation to the self.
First and second year [elective required].
Aogaku Core subjects" that align the foundations of [culture] and [skills] that students should acquire
2nd to 4th year
Theme-specific subjects" to further apply and develop the learning in the core subjects
[Student Class Introduction MOVIE] Learning at the "The Aoyama Standard"
[Student Class Introduction MOVIE] "The Aoyama Standard" Learning / Introduction to Christianity I
[Class introduction MOVIE by students] "The Aoyama Standard" learning/self-understanding (individual subject)
[Student-introduced class MOVIE] "The Aoyama Standard" learning / Issues in modern society (individual subject)
[Student-introduced class MOVIE] "The Aoyama Standard" learning / Science and technology perspective (individual subject)
[Student-introduced class MOVIE] Learning at "The Aoyama Standard" / History and Humanity (individual subject)
Core Subjects
In The Aoyama Standard Courses, core subjects are defined as two cores.
One is the "skill core subjects" that guarantee a certain level of skills and abilities. The other is the "liberal arts core subjects" that guarantee a certain range of knowledge and culture. The "skill core subjects" are made up of three areas: language skills, physical skills, and information skills, while the "liberal arts core subjects" are made up of five areas: subjects related to understanding Christianity, subjects related to understanding human beings, subjects related to understanding society, subjects related to understanding nature, and subjects related to understanding history.
"Core subjects" are set as elective compulsory subjects (some are compulsory subjects), and the liberal arts core is divided into "individual subjects" and "comprehensive subjects" based on the class format.
"Core liberal arts subjects" to cultivate liberal arts and basic skills
The "Liberal Arts Core Subjects" consist of five subjects: "Understanding Christianity-related Subjects (Area A)," which lead to an understanding of the university's founding spirit; "Understanding Humanity-related Subjects (Area B)," which teach what kind of existence humans are through culture, art, scientific thinking, and technological civilization; "Understanding Society-related Subjects (Area C)," which help students understand the structure and systems that make up society and the social issues that exist; "Understanding Nature-related Subjects (Area D)," which help students understand the mechanisms of natural phenomena and how humans, society, and culture have been constructed within nature; and "Understanding History-related Subjects (Area E)," which help students understand how politics, economics, law, academia, culture, language, etc. have been constructed throughout history and deepen their macro historical insight into the history of humanity, civilization, and natural history.
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Christianity-related subjects
The learning outcome goal of the "Christianity Understanding Related Courses (Area A)" is to understand that Aoyama Gakuin University University has the backbone of Christianity, how Christianity was born, under what conditions it developed, and how it continues to influence society, art, culture, politics, economy, and academia. This will be an opportunity to learn what role Christianity has played in Japanese society and history, and in particular what role our university has played at turning points in history and society, and what kind of graduates we have produced as "salt of the earth and light of the world." In addition, you will understand the characteristics of Christian understanding of humanity from a broad perspective, and learn what missions and challenges you will take on for the future, and what the source of your emotional support comes from.
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Human Understanding Related Subjects
The learning outcome goal of "Human Understanding Related Subjects (Area B)" is to obtain clues to independently clarify who you are. To do so, you need to know the distribution of various academic disciplines, understand the wonder and complexity of "language" that cultivates the human psyche, acquire a wide range of culture, and deepen your self-understanding. The aim is to obtain a "map of knowledge" that connects the individual, solitary existence of the self to the universal values of scholarship and culture.
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Social Understanding Related Subjects
The learning outcome goal of "Social Understanding Related Subjects (Area C)" is to be able to understand human relationships from multiple perspectives, including politics, economics, law, international relations, institutions and customs, and social systems. This also includes gaining a broad understanding of the fact that humans are social beings, through deepening a basic understanding of social structure and social life, and through questions such as what part of what we call human nature is regulated by society, and how humans express themselves and have their roles recognized by interacting with the state of society.
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Natural science related subjects
The learning goal of "Natural Science Related Subjects (Area D)" is to understand humans as living organisms through natural science in a broad sense, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, life science, earth science, and environmental science, to review human activities from a scientific point of view, and to understand the current state of basic scientific knowledge on various levels. The time when natural science was left to scientists alone is over, and now issues such as bioethics such as genetic manipulation and environmental issues have become issues for all life on this planet. "The endless joy of contact with nature is by no means reserved for scientists alone. It is available to all who immerse themselves in the splendor of the earth, sea, and sky and the amazing life that inhabits them." (Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder, 1956)
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History-related subjects
The learning outcome goals for "History Comprehension Related Subjects (Area E)" include a solid knowledge and understanding of the historical background on which modern society is based. Much of the history education you have learned in school so far has been influenced by the examination system, and has omitted modern history or focused on memorizing the points that are likely to be tested. However, as former West German President Richard von Weizsäcker said in a famous speech, "Those who close their eyes to the past are ultimately blind to the present," the construction of a better human society for the future cannot proceed without a firm gaze on the past and an attitude of trying to learn the essence of things from it. In order to determine the path to dealing with the various challenges of modern society, it is necessary to get a good clue by looking back at the historical background, even though it may seem like a roundabout way. Also, if we look at the international community, all of the various efforts for international peace centered on the United Nations are explored from the experience of past tragic wars and frictions. Studying history, including modern history, and deepening your understanding of history will provide you with the necessary education to cultivate international mutual understanding and trust, as you students aim to take flight into the international community.
"Skill Core Subjects" to improve the skills required for success in the real world
The "skill core subjects" are basically elective compulsory subjects and consist of three areas: "language skills (area F)," which aims to improve skills in English as well as French and other foreign languages; "physical skills (area G)," which aims to acquire basic knowledge about one's own body and knowledge of physical techniques and improve athletic skills; and "information skills (area H)," which aims to acquire IT (Information Technology) techniques and media literacy necessary to survive in the information society.
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Language skills related subjects
The learning outcome goal of "Language Skills (Area F)" is to improve communication skills, presentation skills, and creative skills through the acquisition of a foreign language, and to be able to understand society, history, and culture through language. It is said that acquiring language skills, including Japanese, is both the starting point and the final goal of learning. Our thoughts are constantly challenged in the endless universe of words, and they create knowledge.
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Physical Skills Related Subjects
The learning outcome goal of "Physical Skills (Area G)" is to understand various issues of health science and physical education from a medical perspective in relation to oneself through "health and sports exercises" that include practical elements, and to acquire techniques of subjective physical expression through the acquisition of athletic ability and physical techniques for various sports. The goal is to acquire physical techniques related to self-realization, self-expression, and world and self-awareness that go beyond the acquisition of traditional sports skills.
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Information Skills Related Subjects
The learning outcome goal of "Information Skills (Area H)" is to acquire the ability to understand scientific and objective quantities by recognizing the value of using information devices such as computers and acquiring statistical processing ability, basic knowledge about information devices, basic knowledge about programming, and the basics of quantitative analysis. "Information Skills I" is conducted in a seminar format. This is a completely new system not found at other universities, and it adopts a "self-study method" that makes use of the students' initiative and creativity. Please deepen your learning independently and at your own responsibility, in line with your life pattern.
Thematic Courses
The "Thematic Subjects" are applied and advanced subjects related to the understanding of the eight areas of the "Core Subjects", and are basically designed for students in their second year or later. Therefore, the "Thematic Subjects" are somewhat individual themes or the basic or introductory content of each faculty's specialty, so you can deepen your broad liberal arts in a narrower way, or take them while considering the specialized subjects of your faculty or department. In addition, the "Thematic Subjects" include a wide variety of subjects that transcend fields, including subjects on complex and interdisciplinary themes such as "environmental issues," "gender," and "bioethics," so you can study in conjunction with the "Core Subjects" based on your own issues and interests, and refine your "knowledge map."
Nine thematic areas
- Christianity-related subjects
- Human Understanding Related Subjects
- Social Understanding Related Subjects
- Natural science related subjects
- History-related subjects
- Language skills related subjects
- Physical Skills Related Subjects
- Information Skills Related Subjects
- Career Skills Related Courses
You can check the "The Aoyama Standard Courses - How to Take Courses and Course Allocation Table" in the course guide for each faculty.