While continuing a tradition dating back to the pre-war period, the Graduate School of Sociology has continually aimed to meet the needs of the modern age by researching, surveying and analyzing a wide range of contemporary social issues, resulting in the establishment of innovative theories. This graduate school can be characterized by its attempt to seek a unified way to educate both highly qualified specialists and researchers. The sociology course educates highly qualified specialists aiming to be certified social researchers and professional journalists. The social welfare course, with its emphasis on practicums and seminars aims to nurture specialists in the field. The graduate school of Sociology, particularly in the area of social welfare, also aims to foster leaders of the next generation in East Asia, people who have global vision and the ideal of international co-operation, through collaboration with East Asian countries.