Understanding culture and society –
To become explorers in Humanities

A Curiosity that Expands Out to the World

The attitude of striving to reach a deep and comprehensive understanding of human beings and the culture that we have constructed is a common thread that runs throughout the Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences. At the core of it is a humanism that assumes an interest in human knowledge and behavior and attempts to earnestly connect to it in all of its entirety. Furthermore, our inquiring minds and intellectual curiosity expands across the globe. The fields of research covered by this Faculty stretch across a wide range of social phenomena – from the human being itself to the cultural matters we create, including languages, ideologies, religions, literatures, histories and social systems. Osaka has been known as a commercial town since early-modern times, and has tended to be known for valuing profit. However, the townsmen of Osaka have always appreciated knowledge and have had a passion for the arts. The wealthy merchants of Osaka founded schools for the townspeople and committed themselves to fostering top-level individuals. The Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences is grounded in such illustrious traditions ingrained in the history of this city and aims to further develop this long-established tradition.

Mastering a “Human Sciences” Fit for the 21^st Century through Smaller Classes

The Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences consists of a total of 13 courses in 3 departments: the Department of Philosophy and History, the Department of Human Behavioral Sciences, and the Department of Language and Culture Studies. Each course/specialization adopts a small-class system, strictly adhering to a few to tens of students per class. Selecting from the diverse classes offered by each course/specialization, students can freely design their own curriculums based on their interests and delve into the specialized or interdisciplinary topic of their choice. The goals of this Faculty are: to foster culture and society by turning our focus onto multiple fields, to cultivate skills that allow us to arrive at the essence of human beings who think and act in such environments, and to acquire practical skills, such as communication and a knowledge of the “human sciences” indispensable to living in a global society.

A Renewed Graduate School of Literature and Human Sciences

While respecting the importance of traditional and basic studies, the Graduate School of Literature and Human Sciences has explored interdisciplinary and applied fields of academic studies to fulfill the needs of the times and of society. In addition, since the academic year 2020, the graduate school was reorganized in pursuit of further development of the Osaka City University as a research-oriented university.

Today, we offer further enriched education and research environments in both fundamental and applied fields of academia through 16 courses in 4 departments: the Department of Philosophy and History, the Department of Human Behavioral Sciences, the Department of Language and Culture, and the Department of Cultural Management.

Careers After Graduation

The Graduate School of Literature and Human Sciences has sent a multitude of promising young individuals out to the world since its founding.

Many of our graduates are already active researchers across the globe in positions such as university professors. Combined with those who teach at high schools and other institutions, over 70% of our graduates are engaged in careers in the fields of research and education.

In the future, we further anticipate graduates advancing into domestic and international research and institutes of education as well as government offices related to international exchange and cultural affairs.