International Peace Studies Program

  Japan

• All Other Areas: 
Niigata

Description: The International Peace Studies Program (IPSP) at the International University of Japan (IUJ) is a two-year program developed for individuals who wish to contribute to creating the conditions for peace, enhancing the security of individuals, and eliminating poverty and other institutional impediments for human development in the world.

It enables program participants to acquire the basic skills and knowledge necessary to design, implement and evaluate public policies for achieving peace, protecting human security and expanding the capabilities and freedom of individuals. The program places a particularly strong emphasis on developing deep understanding and humane compassion of different cultures in the world.

Highlights:
1. Reformulating and analyzing practical policy issues for achieving peace and protecting human security

Analyzing practical policy issues for peace, development and human security is the core of the International Peace Studies Program (IPSP). The Program is supported by three important sources of inspiration: the desire of students to strengthen their capacity to design, implement and evaluate important practical policies in government, business and civil society organizations, the desire of the experienced faculty members with strong academic background to work with Program students for finding better policies for peace and human security, and the synergy produced by the students from more than 40 countries in the world and multinational faculty members. The IPSP enables its students to acquire the basic skills and concepts necessary for analyzing policy problems for peace and human security in coherent theoretical models and concepts that reflect the historical experiences of individuals, organizations and nations in the world. The Program is particularly useful for individuals who wish to reexamine their actual job experiences in a much broader scope of international experiences and at a depth required for an academic analysis. Faculty members endeavor to work with the Program students to reformulate practical policy problems for peace, development and human security in an appropriate theoretical and empirical framework.

2. Platform for formulating global policy issues for IUJ

The IPSP is a multidisciplinary science that aims at achieving peace, eliminating poverty and advancing human security. Its focus is the security and development of individuals, and it analyses historical and institutional impediments that prevent individuals from realizing their potential capabilities and jeopardize their security. The subjects of its analysis include a host of important global policy issues, such as peace and conflict, poverty and development, environment and sustainable development, discrimination by gender or ethnicity, intercultural communication, formation of global civil society, and corporate social responsibility. The IPSP serves as a platform to formulate the important global policy issues for the entire IUJ community.

3. Unique opportunity to learn international relations, economics and management

The IPSP is supported by International Development Program (IDP) of Graduate School of International Relations and International Management Program (MBA) of Graduate School of International Management. IDP provides the analysis of the functions of markets, and MBA that of business organizations. The IPSP is free from naive misunderstanding of the functions of market mechanism and business organizations, often found in the literature of peace studies. In this sense, the IPSP is IUJ Peace Studies based on the solid analysis of market mechanism and business firms.

4. Interdisciplinary, focus on Japan and other Asian countries

The IPSP offers courses that study the evolutionary process of modern Japan. In particular it enables students to examine the historical relationships of Japan with other countries, including Korea, China, Russia, and the U.S. Its courses study the conflict as well as the efforts to achieve peace in Japan and east Asia. The multinationality and diverse background of IUJ students provide a unique opportunity to undertake such studies.

5. All courses in English, but a great chance to learn Japanese

The official language of IUJ is English. All course works is conducted in English. Thus all students must have English skills necessary to study actively in the English academic environment. But for non-Japanese-speakers, IUJ offers a very effective Japanese language program with two different levels of goals in Japanese proficiency. Program students can get deeper insights into the life of Japan outside campus by learning Japanese. All students are encouraged to learn Japanese during their two years of study.

6. Access to internet resources

Students have access to an efficient campus-wide LAN (Local Area Network) that is linked 24 hours a day to the global Internet, for collecting information from

7. Additional language support to students with weak English skills

Students with weak English skills (TOEFL score less than 600, or its equivalent) are required to take English courses in order to work effectively in English environment.

8. Accomplished faculty engaged in research

Our faculty has accumulated vast teaching and research experiences in and out of Japan. They have been receiving research grants and publishing extensively. Faculty is closely working with students in their theses writing. Students get full one year for their theses writing and constant supervision from respective supervisors through personal meetings and three advanced seminars which are spread out through one year. Faculty also has unique ability to engage in interdisciplinary teaching and research in peace, conflict and development related issues.

9. Diverse student body

Our university is uniquely diversified with students and faculty coming from all over the world. Students from more than fifty countries bring a variety of cultures, perspectives, wisdom and experience. It is simply a human laboratory in a resort.

10. Small classes and low student-to-faculty ratio

Small classes in our program provide an excellent opportunity for students to closely interact with the faculty. We attempt to maintain an interactive class atmosphere through small class size.

11. Flexibility and customizable course of studies

Given the structure of program, students can enjoy greater flexibility and customize their courses of studies by selecting courses from International Development Program (IDP) which mainly focuses on economics and International Business School (MBA) which concentrates on business.

12. Internships in Japan and outside

Many students of IUJ receive internships in and out of Japan. They also participate in exchange programs with well-known universities IUJ has also established links programs with universities abroad. IUJ assists students in getting internships, job opportunities etc.

Degree Level: Masters Degree

Minimum Education: Bachelors

Cost in US$: 38,000

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Japan Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Scholarships are Available. IUJ offers the following scholarships: 1) IUJ Type A: 83% exemption of admission fee, full exemption of tuition, and stipend of 100,000 yen (approx. USD 930) a month 2) IUJ Type B: 83% exemption of admission fee and full exemption of tuition 3) IUJ Type C: 30% exemption of tuition 4) IUJ Type S: 50% exemption of tuition Also, IUJ recommends candidates for scholarship organizations such as ADB, IDP, Japanese Government, and many more.

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Letters of Reference
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume
• Transcript
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is 1 month

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

International University of Japan's Mission Statement: The International University of Japan (IUJ), located in Niigata Prefecture, is a graduate school founded in 1982 with extensive support from academic and business circles. Its mission is to develop future leaders equipped with high levels of specialized theoretical and practical knowledge and the ability to contribute to global society. With students coming from 50+ countries, the campus provides an ideal environment to nurture such global leaders. All courses are conducted in English.

Year Founded: 1982