Purpose of human resource development

The purpose of the Graduate School of Image Arts is to develop human resources involved in images who can acquire highly specialized and versatile knowledge, skills, technologies, and methodologies, who can grasp their own tasks from a broad perspective, and who can flexibly address diversifying image-related fields.

Admission policy

The Graduate School of Image Arts seeks students involved in images, who are interested in and motivated to acquire highly specialized and versatile knowledge, skills, technologies, and methodologies, who will grasp their own tasks from a broad perspective, and who will flexibly address diversifying image-related fields.

In order to select personnel who can achieve the above, the Graduate School of Image Arts has a selection process based on the following indicators.

1. Whether the past achievements can be judged to have the quality to achieve the educational goals set forth in the degree granting policy (diploma policy) in the subject zone, which is the research area of the Graduate School of Image Arts.
2. Whether the research plan is specific and consistent with the purpose of developing human resources at the Graduate School of Image Arts.
3. Whether the examinee has a basic skills in imaging research and the language skills required for the production of work and reading written materials.
4. Whether the examinee can clearly convey their own knowledge in the field of images in his/her own words and indicate a future vision after taking the course.

Curriculum formulation and implementation policy (curriculum policy)

In order to achieve the educational goals set forth in the Diploma policy the Graduate School of Image Arts formulates and implements a curriculum that enables students to synergistically combine learning both in thematic and project-type class subjects that are oriented toward students identifying tasks on their own and bringing them to fruition in master's thesis & production, and in the discipline & research-type class subjects that enable students to acquire the knowledge, analytical methods, skills, and technologies necessary for research in various fields related to images.

Thematic and project-type class subjects comprise introductory subjects, core subjects, and advanced subjects, with a focus on exercise subjects (practicum) based on multiple instruction systems. This curriculum aims to cultivate a wide range of interests, ethical attitudes, and flexible application skills in the diversifying image-related fields, and to foster students' independent-minded thinking, expression, and communication skills.

By providing step-by-step paths from enrollment to the master's thesis and production, we support students' voluntary and independent-minded efforts so that they can embody their own research results.

In the discipline and research-type class subjects, research areas related to images cover five subject zones. By taking advanced subjects (lecture subjects and practical training subjects) associated with each zone, students are able to acquire knowledge, technologies, skills, and methodologies related to each zone from both theoretical and practical aspects in light of their interest in the problems, thereby expanding their research horizons.

<5 Subject Zones>

[Film Arts Zone]

In the production of live-action films and CG animations, students learn the visual field to situate their own production intentions from a broad perspective in related fields, as well as the necessary expression techniques, and aim to produce works with outstanding individuality. Students also deepen their theoretical and historical research on film art.

[Game Entertainment Zone]

The aim is to produce creative entertainment works from an academic and/or artistic point of view, by learning and utilizing advanced expertise and skills related to game production. The aim is also to explore the knowledge system of play and games in depth.

[Creative Technology Zone]

Students gain advanced knowledge and skills relating to the transmission and reception of audiovisual information utilizing media technology, and conduct advanced research on creative applications and development based on this knowledge.

[Content Business Management Zone]

Specialized education is provided mainly on the design and operation method of business models in industrial fields using images and in related fields. The main purpose is to gain advanced expert knowledge in the visual media industry, which is categorized as a contents industry in Japan and a creative industry in foreign countries, and in related businesses. At the same time, the purpose is also to acquire the ability to develop and implement projects aimed at creating organic relationships with local communities and society through visual media, based on resource management methodologies that utilize visual media socially. Students gain a high level of expert knowledge in the management, marketing, and social contribution of the visual media industry (contents industry, creative industry, and information media industry), as well as acquire knowledge and skills for responding to practical tasks associated with image-related formulation of policy and planning and development from global and local perspectives.

[Society and Images Zone]

In order to respond to the various issues of modern society, students record tangible and intangible cultural products created by human cultural activities and archive them as image resources, and acquire the attitude, knowledge, and skills to enable the total design of accumulation and utilization of image resources, from broadcasting to documentary video production and utilization in academic fields.

Diploma policy

The Graduate School of Image Arts specifies the ability (educational goals) that students should acquire at the point of completion of a course as follows, with the purpose of developing human resources involved in images, who can acquire highly specialized and versatile knowledge, skills, technologies, and methodologies, who can grasp their own tasks from a broad perspective, and who can flexibly address diversifying image-related fields. Acquisition of these abilities is considered to be achieved by meeting the completion requirements specified by the Graduate School (Students must acquire at least 30 credits, including 4 credits of compulsory subjects, and pass master's thesis and production examinations). Upon this achievement, a Master's Degree in the Graduate School of Image Arts (Master's Degree (Image Arts)) will be awarded.

Educational goals

• (Interest, motivation, and attitude)—Based on a wide range of interests and ethical attitudes toward images, students are motivated to flexibly address the diversifying image-related fields while looking to give back to society and make international contributions.
• (Knowledge and understanding)—Students have both a broad range of skills in general imaging and a high level of knowledge in specialized fields, and can appropriately understand various tasks related to the expression, utilization, and/or technology of imaging.
• (Skills and expression)—Student are able to acquire technologies, skills, and methodologies that are indispensable to promote advanced research through images and/or on images, and can conduct production, research, and reading of literature in a way that serves for giving back to society and making international contributions.
• (Thoughts and judgments)—After analyzing various thoughts and practices related to images and setting new subjects in responding to social needs, students are able to create and develop original expressions and considerations through images and/or on images, and can express these ideas clearly.

Evaluation criteria for master's thesis and production

1. Whether the subject that was set is clear and appropriate, and has significance as research (validity of the theme).
2. Whether prior works, research, etc. have been studied and examined, and whether achievement points have been taken into account (relevance to existing results).
3. Whether the angle of vision for production and analysis is clear and the descriptions as well as development are persuasive (elaborateness of the contents).
4. Whether the acquired skills, techniques, and analytical methods, etc. are appropriately used (appropriateness of the means).
5. Whether fact-finding, search of literature, and written materials of works, etc. are sufficient (eligibility of information sources).
6. Whether the format and contents of the work and thesis demonstrate originality and ingenuity, and whether they are unique (originality).