Produces specialists in consultation and assistance through strong connections to the local community

Social Workers assist people with developmental issues, aging, parenting, family nursing care, disease, disability, poverty, abuse and domestic violence. Students acquire a general knowledge of medicine and health and basic psychology, psychiatric medicine, sociology and law. Through these studies, the department aims at providing students hands-on education across a broad range of fields to raise capable individuals who can collaborate with specialists and related institutions toward finding solutions.

Characteristics of the Department

Acquisition of knowledge in medicine and health through inter-departmental subjects with the Department of Nursing Science

The learning of general ideas regarding health and the characteristics of diseases and disabilities is essential for both social workers and psychiatric social workers in order to provide effective consultation and assistance. Students acquire a broad band of practical and useful knowledge through courses offered in both social welfare and nursing.

Highly attentive approach to instruction and help with study through small-class education

Classes are provided in an intensive small-class environment with 17 instructors to 30 students. Based on the individuality of each student, instructors from different specialized areas guide them all through their university years, providing lectures, on-site practicums at welfare institutions, and help with their graduation thesis and study toward qualifications.

Acquisition of qualification to take social worker and psychiatric social worker national examinations, as well as teaching license

Students can acquire the qualification to take social worker and psychiatric social worker national examinations. Furthermore, students can also receive a high-school teaching license (1st Class Category, Civics/Welfare) if they complete a teacher-training course.

Qualifications offered in this department

• Qualification to take the National Social Worker Examination *Acquirable through completion of designated subjects
• Qualification to take the National Psychiatric Social Worker Examination *Acquirable through completion of designated subjects
• High School Teacher License (1st Class Category, Civics/Welfare) *Acquirable through completion of a teacher-training course

Four-Year Curriculum of the Department of Social Welfare Science

First Year
Study of the basics of social welfare and inter-departmental subjects

Students acquire a broad knowledge through studying a variety of general subjects and more specific areas, such as medicine, health and welfare, in inter-departmental subjects. In addition, they study specialized subjects such as Introduction to Social Welfare to gain the basic knowledge necessary to become a social worker.

Second Year
Study of specialized areas in more depth

The number of specialized subjects increases this year to allow for further acquisition of knowledge regarding social welfare. In the Core Seminar class, students learn basic academic skills, including information gathering and presentation methods.

Third Year
Acquisition of assistance skills and participation in on-site training

Through programs like social work seminars, students gain the philosophy, knowledge and skills necessary for employment as a social worker. During the second semester, they participate in a one-and-a-half-month social work practicum (elective) at social welfare institutions and facilities in Fukui Prefecture.

Fourth Year
Commitment to a graduation project leading to professional social worker status

Students engage in an on-site practicum for mental health and social welfare assistance (elective) during the first semester, and then, at the end of the year, submit their graduation project as their final work and the culmination of their four years at the university. Furthermore, they are provided support by the department toward two of the national examinations (social worker and psychiatric social worker) and the civil service examination to become a professional social worker.