Concept and objectives of the course

Every region has inherited its history, culture and environment from the past. While re-evaluating those legacies, students in the Regional Planning Course learn methods of investigating and analyzing contemporary issues faced by regional societies, and conduct research that focuses on policies and measures for development and revitalization. By providing real policy-making experiences as part of municipal administration, NPO activities and think-tank-style planning activities, we aim to produce graduates with the ability to contribute to the revitalization and restoration of regional societies.

Our future graduates

• People highly skilled in detecting issues and problems faced by a regional society
• People with a passion for going to the scene to discover problems on their own, and with a highly receptive mind that enables them to listen to and understand the real voice of local residents
• People with the great insight required to identify the social background behind issues and problems, and to formulate the tasks that need to be carried out to resolve them
• People with excellent communication skills fostered by our program, which emphasizes practical opportunities such as internship programs and practice in conducting surveys

Features of our curriculum

The curriculum of the Regional Planning Course is based on the School Common Subjects. Its specialized subjects cover two areas: methods of understanding regional society, economy, culture and environment, and project planning for revitalization of regional societies. In Year 2, students learn, through lectures and exercises, about methods of comprehensive understanding and holistic perspectives with regard to regional societies, and also join in the internship program to learn about regional problems and local residents’ efforts to solve them through first-hand experiences. In Year 3, students narrow down their individual area of study to topics such as demographics or the industry or policies of a region, to deepen their learning and practice surveying within their area. In Year 4, students analyze and study the data obtained from their survey and complete their research by organizing the results as a dissertation paper.

Career prospects

• Local government
• Think tanks
• Urban planning consultant
• Private developer
• Travel, transportation and tourism industries
• Information system related industries
• Media and broadcasting
• Postgraduate research