Learning in the Department of Psychology
Learning in the Department of Psychology
Learning
Learning in the Department of Psychology
Learning
Learning in the Department of Psychology
We offer courses that cover all four major areas of psychology: cognitive, developmental, clinical, and social.
Students can smoothly deepen their learning from the basics to applied studies according to their interests.
Four-year steps
1
Learn the basics of 4 areas,
Discovering research methods in psychology
Discovering research methods in psychology
2
Deepen your knowledge in your field of interest,
Develop your research skills
Develop your research skills
3
Practicing the skills learned through practical training
Started research guidance in seminars
Started research guidance in seminars
4
The culmination of the graduation thesis and
Courses tailored to your future career
Courses tailored to your future career
Skills gained through learning
Logical Thinking
People's Minds and Actions
Ability to understand scientifically
Ability to understand scientifically
Problem Solving
People and social issues
Ability to take on challenges
Ability to take on challenges
Teamwork
Be aware of the problem
Ability to cooperate with others
Ability to cooperate with others
Communication
power of mutual understanding
Graduation thesis
Graduation research theme example
- The impact of view obstruction caused by a person's head on the theater experience
- The effect of smartphones on task performance
- The influence of pupil size and eyelid shape on facial impression evaluation
- Third-party evaluations of male sexual victims: The influence of traditional gender role attitudes
- The Effects of Narrative Advertising: The Influence of Story Content and Protagonist
Curriculum
Curriculum
Curriculum
Curriculum
Learn about the four areas of "cognition," "development," "clinical," and "social"
Specialize in a field that matches your interests
We purposely do not set up a course system, instead learning basic knowledge in all four areas: ``cognitive,'' ``developmental,'' ``clinical,'' and ``social.'' From the second year onward, students deepen their knowledge by studying specialized subjects in each field. Through exercises and practical training, students will gradually and experientially learn psychological research methods such as experiments and surveys, as well as support methods such as counseling and psychological testing.
In the graduation thesis seminar, which has about 10 students, students will conduct research on a topic of their interest as a culmination of their four years of study. There are many careers in which psychology expertise can be utilized.Career Preparation ProgramBy continuing on to the graduate school of psychology at our university, students can aim to obtain qualifications such as licensed psychologist or clinical psychologist.
In the graduation thesis seminar, which has about 10 students, students will conduct research on a topic of their interest as a culmination of their four years of study. There are many careers in which psychology expertise can be utilized.Career Preparation ProgramBy continuing on to the graduate school of psychology at our university, students can aim to obtain qualifications such as licensed psychologist or clinical psychologist.
![[2026 Curriculum Table] Psychology](https://www.swu.ac.jp/albums/586/abm00043990.png)
*1. If you aim to obtain the Certified Psychologist qualification, in addition to the subjects listed in column *1, you will also need to take the qualification-designated subjects from the department's offered subjects.
*2. To obtain the social researcher qualification, in addition to the subjects listed in column *2, it is necessary to take the qualification-designated subjects from among the subjects offered by the department.
*Course names are subject to change.
*2. To obtain the social researcher qualification, in addition to the subjects listed in column *2, it is necessary to take the qualification-designated subjects from among the subjects offered by the department.
*Course names are subject to change.
Voice
Student interview
Utilizing the attitude of understanding others from various perspectives in providing mental care to children
Wakana Shirai
4th year psychology department
Graduated from Saitama Prefectural Koshigaya Nishi High School
4th year psychology department
Graduated from Saitama Prefectural Koshigaya Nishi High School

What made you decide to study psychology?
I want to be someone who can alleviate mental disorders. This was a goal I had after a friend's words made me feel better in high school. I was also interested in observing people's behavior. I chose this department because I was attracted to the fact that it offers a curriculum that teaches counseling techniques such as clinical psychology, as well as the mechanisms of human behavior such as social psychology, and allows me to pursue my studies without narrowing my interests.What did you learn?
I learned a wide range of psychology, including personality, development, and counseling, and was able to develop an attitude of accepting and considering various possibilities when thinking about things and people's behavior.What do you want to work on next?
I participate in a learning support volunteer program organized by a public institution and teach children from poor families. I am sure that the experience of being able to practice what I have learned in the psychology department and develop the flexibility to respond to each individual will be useful for the future. After graduation, I will work as a local government employee, providing psychological care to abused children. I aim to become a psychologist who can create a space where children can feel safe.Which class left an impression on you?
This is the "Psychological Experimental Method Training" course in the second semester of my third year. I had always felt that I was not good at experiments, but planning and carrying out the experiment was much more enjoyable than I had imagined, and being able to carry out a satisfactory experiment gave me confidence.Third year first semester timetable (example)
Mon. | Tue | Wednesday. | Collect. | Fri. | |
1 | Welfare psychology | Education/School Psychology | |||
2 | Judicial/criminal psychology | Mental illness and its treatment
| |||
3 | Social / Group / Family Psychology
| Psychology Specialized Seminar I | psychological exercise | ||
4 | Social Behavior and Decision-Making | Health/Medical Psychology | psychological exercise | ||
5 | Perception/Cognitive Psychology |
Topics
Topics
Topics
Topics
#01
"Comprehensive Psychology Seminar" deepens learning by moving from classroom to practice
The psychological knowledge and theories learned in the classroom will be further developed into practical knowledge through various project activities. One of the projects, "Enjoy Sound and Motion," will elucidate how sound affects the body from the perspective of music psychology. In order to experience the mechanism by which music makes you want to move your body, students will learn about the latest research trends, and then use motion capture to conduct experiments to verify what kind of music makes you want to move your body.

#02
Experience the actual support provided by licensed psychologists at their workplace

This curriculum is designed to train people to become "certified psychologists," the first nationally qualified psychological professional, who provide psychological support in various fields such as health care, welfare, and education with the aim of maintaining and promoting mental health. In the "psychological training" practical course, students undergo training in all five major facilities where certified psychologists work, including hospitals, mental health and welfare centers, educational support centers, and employment centers for people with disabilities.
#03
"American Psychology Training" to learn about the latest in psychology
During the summer vacation, students will visit the Showa Boston campus in Boston, USA, and cutting-edge facilities in the city for about one month. In addition to specialized lectures where they will take personality tests, they will receive lectures from local psychological counselors and visit facilities in the city to hear from cutting-edge professionals in the field. They will learn about mental care and support efforts for children with disabilities.

#04
"Adolescent Psychology" studies a variety of themes such as identity, friendships, and romance

In addition to the four main areas (cognitive, developmental, clinical, and social), students can also study more specialized areas of psychology. One of these areas is "Adolescent Psychology," which focuses on adolescent growth and self-exploration. Students will delve deeply into the psychology and development of adolescents through familiar themes such as friendships, parent-child relationships, romance, and identity. For their graduation thesis, students can research a topic of their own interest, such as "The relationship between fear of blank schedules and anxiety about being alone" or "Characteristics of fans' psychology when they find out about their favorite idol's scandal (love affair)."
Project
Project-based learning
Project
Project-based learning
Showa Women's University conducts project-based learning in which students use their specialized knowledge to come up with solutions to problems that have no answers.
The department incorporates project-based learning in classes, exercises, and seminars.
Utilizing specialized knowledge to come up with solutions to unanswered problems
Psychology comprehensive seminar
This is a practical course aimed at understanding the role of psychology in society, integrating the study of specialized psychology subjects and other related subjects, and cultivating a wide range of abilities and humanity. Through participation in each project, students will gain hands-on experience of learning about psychology and its applications in connection with society.



