The Graduate School of Social Sciences was established in 1986 as the Hiroshima University’s only graduate program in the social sciences, through the cooperation of faculty from the Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences as well as the now defunct Graduate Schools of Economics and Law. In 2004 the School underwent reorganization and introduced a system of departments. The School consists of three departments (Law and Politics, Economics, and the Management Studies evening program). Students select the department to which they will belong and the subject of their study in accordance with their academic interests and future career plans. As one of Japan’s leading universities, Hiroshima University offers a research staff and library collection that excel in both quantity and quality, including important academic journals from around the world as well as online access. University programs combine an excellent research environment with an energetic and helpful academic staff.

The Graduate School of Social Sciences provides highly specialized education that builds on undergraduate academic achievements in social sciences. Our goal is to cultivate future high-level professionals with the ability to analyze problems and formulate policies and strategies to find solutions to the issues confronting today’s local communities, businesses, public and governmental bodies, and international organizations. This also includes fostering future researchers with rich and profound specializations and a broad range of knowledge who will lead research in social sciences.

As part of Hiroshima University, a renowned research university, the Graduate School of Social Sciences not only produces specialized researchers through its education, but human resources capable in every quarter of society. Research-wise, the Graduate School aims to serve as a major center of knowledge and intelligence in the field of social sciences in the Chugoku-Shikoku region and engages in theoretical and practical research activities and aims at actively returning novel benefits of the interaction of its education and research to society in order to meet the needs of modern society. At the same time, the Graduate School serves as a think tank to meet local expectations.