Home > Undergraduate School > Department of Social Welfare

Undergraduate School

Department of Social Welfare

Objectives

The mission of the Department of Social Welfare is to educate students to be qualified social work professionals. The department is dedicated to the enrichment of quality of life (QOL) of all people, particularly all those who need support to lead a healthy and independent life style.
The students develop technical skills (involving communication skills) and knowledge (involving basic medical knowledge,) which are required in the area of social work. We also help our students to acquire research-based knowledge so that they can find solutions to social problems.

Characteristics of the curriculum

• The foremost characteristic is that meeting the qualifications to take the national examination for certified social workers is a prerequisite for graduation.
• Students can be qualified to take the national examination for certified psychiatric workers or care workers in addition to the qualification to take the national examination for certified social workers by selecting one of two additional courses.
• Students can build their future careers through courses, learning ethics, theories and practical skills that are required for social workers systematically from the first year.
• Students can develop practical problem-solving competence and enhance their communicative competence through small-group classes or seminars.
• Students can acquire skills that can be directly applied to work through social work internships or care work training.

Qualifications we aim for and careers of the alumni

The qualifications we aim for are:

• National certified social workers
• National certified psychiatric social workers
• National certified care workers
• Social welfare secretary
• Child counselor

Employment

• Prefectural and city governments
• Prefectural and city councils of social welfare
• Child welfare facilities, like orphanages
• Disability welfare facilities, like supporting facilities for disabilities
• Elderly care facilities, like special nursing homes for the elderly
• Medical institutions, like general hospitals or psychiatric hospitals
• Others, such as local comprehensive assistance centers or disabilities' community life supporting centers

Learning support

For the sake of students who want to experience practical social work methods, our department has established a supportive system among social welfare workplaces. Moreover, if students want to enlighten themselves in addition to regular curriculums, we can make arrangements to support them in cooperation with welfare facilities and institutions.

International activities

We have been abroad (U.S.A) to study cross-cultural communication with students who belonged to the department of physical therapy. Now, we are planning an original study tour that includes English study, field trips (social welfare institutions, music therapy laboratories, etc). Here in Niigata, we have opportunities for academic exchanges, for example, inviting scholars from China.