The Faculty of Intercultural Communication offers a curriculum that aims to develop and train individuals who are able to accept and respect different cultures, and have the ability and character to engage in international communication in a diversifying global society, based on an understanding of their own cultures.

Selection of a major and minor from seven courses in the cultural understanding and language fields

The Faculty of Intercultural Communication covers the study of international culture, an extremely wide academic field. Because of this, students select and study a major and minor from among seven courses so that they are able to clarify their area of study. The seven courses are divided into those in the cultural understanding field and the language field. The cultural field offers the International Cooperation Course, Arts and Media Studies Course, and the Regional Studies Course. The language field offers the English Education Course, French Research Course, Chinese Research Course, and the Korean Research Course.
Students in the Faculty of Intercultural Communication select a major and minor from these courses in their sophomore year and their studies center around subjects offered in their selected courses. By choosing a field that they are interested in from among the wide academic field, students are able to study with a more clear sense of purpose.

Nurturing communications abilities through foreign language studies

As a necessary tool to understand different cultures, the Faculty of Intercultural Communication places an emphasis on the development of communications abilities through foreign language studies.
At the time of admission, students select either a one-language intensive or two-language course from out of English, French, Chinese, or Korean as a mandatory foreign language. In their freshman year, students take five foreign language classes a week. In their sophomore year, they engage in intensive studies in foreign language classes three times a week.
By engaging in intensive foreign language studies in their freshman and sophomore year, students are able to deepen the understanding of different cultures by using these communications skills.

Improving language skills and putting a shine on international sensibilities in an ideal environment where approximately 40% of the faculty are from another country

Approximately 40% of the faculty in the Faculty of Intercultural Communication is from another country. There is a rich international color to the faculty with staff from Asia, North America, Europe, and Oceania. Because there are also many overseas exchange students who study here, students are presented with an ideal environment where they can engage in international exchange while still being on campus. In this environment, students are able to improve their communications skills, thoroughly acquire international sensibilities, as well as acquire the skills required to be active globally.

Extensive study abroad and support systems

In order to develop practical language skills and acquire international sensibilities, it is important to actually go overseas, come into contact with the local culture and study in an environment where the student uses the foreign language every day. Ryukoku University offers both short and long study abroad program from which students can choose for themselves a program that is right for them.
Prolonged study abroad programs are based on a system where the students themselves choose a study abroad destination, for a one-year exchange program at an overseas university with which Ryukoku University is affiliated with. There is also a credit certification system where the credits earned while studying abroad can be transferred as credits at Ryukoku University, making graduating in four years possible. In addition, the university supports students who wish to study abroad in various ways, including waiving tuition fees for Ryukoku University while studying abroad, regardless of whether the student is on an exchange program or chose their own study abroad destination (study abroad enrollment fees are required).
There are also short-term study abroad programs independently planned by the Faculty of Intercultural Communication during the summer and spring vacations, which many students utilize every year. By providing numerous opportunities for international exchange, creating a flexible curriculum, providing practical guidance while studying abroad, and other efforts, the Faculty of Intercultural Communication offers an environment that makes it easy for students to study abroad. The Faculty also provides an extensive support system that includes Language and Study Abroad Support Staff that students can consult with regarding languages and studying abroad.