Waseda University
Waseda University, abbreviated as Sōdai, is a private university located in seven
campuses throughout Japan, with the main campus in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Waseda University is widely considered one of Japan's leading universities. Among
private institutions, Waseda is usually considered the most prestigious and selective
together with especially its rival Keio University but also others like Sophia
University. Many of the university's graduates go on to work in leading positions in
both public and private spheres in Japan.
The university consists of 13 undergraduate schools, 23 graduate schools, as well as
various research and affiliated institutes. It is considered one of the most prestigious
universities in Japan, being one of the 13 universities in the Japanese Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Global 30" Project, and
consistently ranking amongst the top universities in Japanese university rankings.
Established in 1882 as the Tōkyō Senmon Gakkō by Ōkuma Shigenobu, the school
was renamed Waseda University in 1902. Waseda alumni include seven post-war
prime ministers and many corporate leaders. Currently, seven of the Fortune Global
2007's CEOs are Waseda graduates. In particular, the School of Political Science and
Economics has had significant influence on Japanese society.
History and development
The university was founded by samurai scholar and Meiji-era politician and former
prime minister Ōkuma Shigenobu in 1882, and was designated as a full university in
1902. It started as a college with three departments under the old Japanese system of
higher education.
In 1882, the university had the department of political science and economics, law,
and physical science. Along with these departments, an English language course was
established, where the students of all the departments could learn English.
Three years later, the department of physical science was closed because it had too
few applicants. The department of science and engineering was established in 1908.
The department of literature was established in 1890.
The department of education was established in 1903, and the department of
commerce, in 1904.
Much of the campus was destroyed in the fire bombings of Tokyo during World War
II, but the university was rebuilt and reopened by 1949. It has grown to become a
comprehensive university with two senior high schools and school of art and
architecture.
Academic cap
Ōkuma had long desired to create an academic cap so distinctive that someone
wearing the cap would immediately be identified as a Waseda student. The chief tailor
of Takashimaya, Yashichiro, was called upon to design a cap in three days. Each
square cap was stamped on the inside with the student's name, his department, the
school seal and the legend, "This certifies that the owner is a student of Waseda".
Thus, the cap served as a form of identification, and effectively a status symbol. The
cap, with its gold-braided badge, is registered as a trademark.
Undergraduate and Graduate Schools
Undergraduate Schools (Entrance Capacity 8880):
School of Political Science and Economics (900)
School of Law (740)
School of Culture, Media and Society (860)
School of Humanities and Social Sciences (660)
School of Education (960)
School of Commerce (900)
School of Fundamental Science and Engineering (535)
School of Creative Science and Engineering (595)
School of Advanced Science and Engineering (540)
School of Social Sciences (630)
School of Human Sciences (560)
School of Sports Sciences (400)
School of International Liberal Studies (600)
Graduate Schools
Graduate School of Political Science
Graduate School of Economics
Graduate School of Law
Graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Graduate School of Commerce
Graduate School of Fundamental Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Education
Graduate School of Human Sciences
Graduate School of Social Sciences
Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies
Graduate School of Global Information and Telecommunication Studies
Graduate School of Japanese Applied Linguistics
Graduate School of Information, Production and Systems
Graduate School of Sports Sciences
Business School
The Okuma School of Public Management
Law School
Graduate School of Finance, Accounting and Law
Graduate School of Accountancy
Graduate School of Environment and Energy Engineering
Research institutes
Kagami Memorial Laboratory for Materials Science and Technology
Institute for Comparative Law
The Institute for Research in Business Administration
Institute for Research in Contemporary Political and Economic Affairs
Advanced Research Center for Human Sciences
Advanced Research Institute for Science and Engineering
Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies
Global Information and Telecommunication Institute
Institute for Advanced Studies in Education
Center for Japanese Language
Media Network Center
Environmental Research Institute
Environmental Safety Center
Center for Finance Research
Human Service Center
Comprehensive Research Organization (Project Research Institute)
Institute for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Consolidated Research Institute for Advanced Science and Medical Care
Information Technology Research Organization
Organization for Asian Studies
Waseda Institute for Advanced Study (WIAS)