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Earn an international Bachelor's degree in Japan, taught entirely in English

 

 

The International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA) is a four- year, American style liberal arts college where the primary language of instruction is English.

Located just 90 minutes west of Tokyo, iCLA combines a multi-cultural learning environment with a beautifully traditional Japanese setting in the shadow of Mt Fuji. 

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Why study at iCLA?

  • Japan is a safe and affordable study destination with excellent career prospects

  • Earn an internationally recognised Bachelor of International Liberal Arts

  • Majors in Global Business and Economics, Interdisciplinary Arts,  Interdisciplinary Data Science, Japan Studies, Political Science, and Psychology

  • Supplement you major with a wide array of electives and workshops in Sociology, Japanese language and culture, and more!

  • Guaranteed single room on-campus accommodation

  • Scholarships available

ratio-1

7:1

Student:Faculty ratio

globe-icon-01

80%+

International students

inter-3

50+

Nationalities

Partnerships-2

60+

Partner universities

full_time-3

88%

Full time faculty members educated overseas

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90mins

From central Tokyo

Political Science Major Overview

Political Science addresses some of the fundamental problems facing human society. Questions concerning government policies aimed at achieving economic stability and growth, the gap between the rich and poor, the role of NGOs to affect social and political change, the relations between countries, the crisis of our democratic institutions, and the path to world peace are all on the research agenda of contemporary political scientists.

We address these and other similarly important issues in a multidisciplinary way, and, simultaneously, train you to think critically and reason analytically about the constantly evolving political landscape in Asia as compared to the rest of the world.

In addition to the knowledge you gain from the major, iCLA can also prepare you for graduate studies, and for a rich and rewarding career. iCLA’s Political Science graduates are well equipped for professions both in Asia and globally in the fields of international relations and diplomacy, public administration and government service, non-government organizations and community building, and research and business.

 

"I chose to study Political Science because when I was younger I was really gifted in math but became increasingly frustrated with how young women in STEM were treated so instead of studying sciences I decided to study politics in order to learn how to make systemic changes that can make life easier for other young women in the future. 

After graduation, I hope to pursue a Master's degree before becoming a foreign service officer for the United States State Department or working for an intergovernmental organization with the hope of increasing the inclusion of women's politics in international relations."

Hallie - 4th year student from the USA

Why study Political Science?

Political Science is the study of relations between people and institutions as well as among institutions. It differentiates itself from disciplines such as Sociology or Anthropology which focus primarily on the relations among people in society or Psychology that investigates the individual.

It is a social science which contributes and, at the same time, borrows ideas from other disciplines such as Economics, Sociology, Social Psychology, and History.

In studying these relations, political scientists focus on the concept of power/power relations and how this power is used to design, shape or control policies. Examples of policies that we study are: welfare policies, environmental policies, labor, health, etc. So, we are concerned about issues such as poverty, environmental sustainability, employment, health and social care, etc. In this regard, we often analyze the relations between public, private and nongovernmental sectors in our societies. Therefore, we explore how these sectors work together and how their behaviors affect the formulation of new policies. 

Political science also investigates the power relations among countries, what is usually known as international relations. Included in this sub-field are the diplomatic relations between governments, for example, China-Japan; or North and South Korea; or Russia and the USA to mention a few. 

Another aspect that Political Science investigates is the overall structures of government within countries and in doing so it compares their party systems, electoral systems, forms of governments such as democratic versus authoritarian or totalitarian, and we do this often in a historical perspective by referring to political thinkers of the past and the ideologies those inspired with their writings. Political Science also focuses on understanding people's electoral behaviors. For example, one of our concerns is to understand why so many young people are not interested in voting for politicians around the globe? What are the facts behind such political apathy, and where will this change in political behavior bring our societies to? If you wish to change the world for the better by working on pressing social and political issues, believe that the system as it is, it is no longer sustainable, wish to pursue a career as lawyer, journalist, political analyst, public official, social worker, care worker, community organizer, politician or diplomat, and wish to be equipped with high level written and communication skills as well as critical and problem-solving skills and the empathic ability to interact effectively with other people in society, then this is the major for you.

What will I study?

Students who choose the major will take political science courses taught in the social science tradition. Because some of these courses require quantitative skills, students in the major are recommended to take courses in economics, mathematics, statistics and research methods. These courses are then supplemented by electives from our other majors or subject areas such as Data Science, Quantitative Reasoning, Psychology or Sociology.

What can I do next?

By nature, Political Science majors make great employees in any field because of their ability to communicate effectively, think critically, and solve complex problems in an empathetic fashion. These timeless skills make them attractive to employers in all walks of society.

Political Science majors who graduate from iCLA can pursue careers in both Asia and globally such as: Public Administrators, Diplomats/Experts in International Relations, Nonprofits / Non-Governmental Organization Leaders, Journalists, Law Enforcement, Political Consultants, Community Organizers, and Research Analysts. The Political Science major at iCLA also prepares students for a smooth admission into graduate schools in fields such as: Political Science, Public Administration, Law, and Journalism.

Message from the Program Coordinator, Professor Ross Laratta:

"Japan's interests, identities, and institutions have both been shaped by and played a significant role in shaping the global order. As one of the most attractive, safe, and peaceful places to study, Japan can improve students’ employability, help them to see the world from different perspectives, and appreciate other cultures. The political science major in our liberal arts college equips students with the written and communication skills, critical thinking ability and informed judgement that lead to a broad understanding of the human condition. These are the necessary skills students need to develop as competent and responsible citizens. In this major, students study domestic and global policy and politics. This often means that they understand best practices in Japan and evaluate critically how they could be replicated in other parts of the world. They also learn of the challenges facing Japan, often ahead of other countries, and learn what domestic and international policies the Japanese Government is putting in place in order to confront them. Discussing politics inside and outside the classroom with other students from different cultures and making friends from all over the world are also important parts of maturing as a person at iCLA."

LARATTA, Rosario v3