Graduate school master’s course. For a specialty in culture and the arts, we teach how to pursue a deeper sense of what art is, and we provide students with the tools they need to support culture through continuing research and creation. For a specialty in design engineering, we teach how to develop plans for solutions for the many diverse problems facing modern society as well as how to focus on design that works toward producing a healthy lifestyle, and we provide tools so that students can continue to apply what they learn.
We also have graduate school doctorate courses. In these programs in arts and engineering, we provide an educational foundation in research activities, review and criticism, and altruism, which enables students to grow to be creative researchers.
Graduate school master’s course Details for areas of study
Education Objectives
Specialty in Culture and the Arts
For people who want to research the deeper meaning of the art that bolsters the human “spirit,” and who want to continue to work on the research and creation needed to support culture.
Specialty in Design Engineering
For people who want to develop plans for the many diverse problems facing modern society, work toward implementing programs that produce a healthy lifestyle, focus on “functional” design, and gain the tools needed to continue to apply what they learn.
Degree conferment plan
- Understand what it means to learn about the history of art and design, and with the goal of continued progress in that area, develop the skills necessary to conduct serious academic research in an area of expertise. … “Pursuing specialized research based on a foundation of historical understanding”
- Be able to logically investigate and construct systems of interaction between human society and art and design, and master the language needed to review and criticize such programs. … “Acquiring logical thinking skills and a critical eye”
- While maintaining a global outlook, have an affinity for the local area and natural environment, and contribute to society with altruistic behavior. … “Developing the ability to use research to solve local problems, starting with the rejuvenation of eastern Japan” Upon completion of this program, there will be a recognition of completion and the conferment of a master’s degree.
Master’s course education plan for each area
Specialty in Culture and the Arts
Conservation for Cultural Property field
[ Personnel goals ]
Historical investigation and observation through cultural assets, scientific experiments and analysis of materials, and the ability to restore items via the development of restoration techniques. Cultivating personnel to be in a position to work with pieces of art and cultural assets. Fostering an approach and methodology that enables people to think on their own to overcome problems encountered in the real world.
[ Education details ]
Working with actual cultural assets through the Institute for Conservation of Cultural Property and other organizations, investigating and recording while looking through historical items and documents, and deeply analyzing those thoughts, techniques, and materials. Founded on this, implementing and practicing restoration methods that adhere to an international standard. While honoring traditional techniques and learning classic techniques for restoration of Asian art and Buddhist statues, also doing research into the best restoration methods for the wide variety of contemporary art and the many kinds of materials such cultural assets can be made from. For that reason, in addition to courses on art history and restoration methods, the program also includes classes such as chemistry, physics, and biology, which are rare at colleges for the arts.
History and Culture field
[ Personnel goals ]
Cultivating “heritage successors” who are capable of developing and implementing their own solutions to current local issues of impoverishment and decline brought about by low birth rate, aging population, and economic disparity. Developing managers of cultural heritage (heritage managers), managers of historical records (archivists), and curators with strong visual expression (curators), who are able to conduct academic research in their area of specialty or work in local government or with local businesses.
[ Education details ]
With a foundation in scholarship relating to humanity and environment, conducting research via detailed fieldwork based on local history and culture. Reconstructing value both new and old from history and traditional culture, and conducting hands-on research that contributes to the development of harmony with nature and modern society. By participating in research projects advanced by the Tohoku Cultural Research Center and the Institute for Conservation of Cultural Property, develop a strong sense of being on site through hands-on and practical education. Also, through a connection with areas of design, and with an eye on historical and cultural research into visual expression, support displays of progress both within the school and without.
Paintings field (Japanese painting/Oil painting/Printmaking)
[ Personnel goals ]
We will produce powerful artists who have a critical spirit based on historical research and an understanding of the current state of their field, and who can transmit their works to the world without being influenced by current trends. Through the power of painting, we will nurture artists who will have an impact on society by presenting new values while connecting with various fields, and who will continue to contribute to the construction of a rich society through the power of art.
[ Education details ]
With painting at the core, we provide instruction that breaks down the boundaries of disciplines (Japanese painting, Western painting, printmaking, etc.). We will explore the essence of painting by examining the meaning of how human beings have created art and drawn pictures. In cooperation with various projects, students will actively participate in presentations and art projects outside of the university to develop skills to communicate to the world.
Sculpture field
[ Personnel goals ]
We want to continue to produce artists who value free spirit and who, in the future, will specialize in three-dimensional work, and through the creation of art as well as through art theory research, will develop their individual creativity to the highest level.
[ Education details ]
In addition to classes where creating pieces is the cornerstone, this program also features an assertive approach to the world of art and developing the hands-on skills that are indispensable for a specialist. Also, taking a proactive approach to providing support (providing locations to display work, public relations activities, etc.) for currently enrolled students as well as graduates.
Crafts field
[ Personnel goals ]
Cultivating artists who use new points of view to help with the rediscovery of Tohoku and local areas via the utilization of advanced traditional techniques in industrial arts. Nurturing the ability to use art to provide new points of view for modern society.
[ Education details ]
Through a fusion of materials, acquisition of advanced traditional techniques, and research on a variety of materials creating works that exhibit individuality and creativity. Also, from the many types of creation, learning development methods for interiors, construction, and public spaces, and striving toward work which shows the independence of the artist.
Composite art field
[ Personnel goals ]
The modern artistic expression is diversified, and the lines for previous divisions based on materials and techniques are starting to blur. Cultivating multicreators who pursue interdisciplinary “possibilities of new expressive activities, the creation of value ” that transcends fields, and who are international artists with abundant creativity.
[ Education details ]
The teachers in this program come together from areas of culture and the arts as well as design engineering, and through intensive individual guidance, a wide variety of themes and methods are proposed and discussed.
Art education field
[ Personnel goals ]
To develop those who want to pursue teaching at the middle or high school level, in conjunction with doing research for their own classes and implementing and investigating the contents of that research in various places, we also provide educational guidance for dealing with all sorts of students in the classroom in the future.
[ Education details ]
Developing the expertise needed to be an art teacher, learning how to provide good guidance to students, nurturing communication skills, and receiving a global education are the key points of this program.
Specialty in Design and Engineering
Product design field
[ Personnel goals ]
We aim to nurture designers and researchers who have specialized knowledge and skills in product design and a broad perspective ranging from product design to UX design, and who are capable of creating products and the experiential value that surrounds them. After completing the graduate program, we expect students to have creative intelligence and the ability to think logically, to discover the essence of social issues, and to create the mechanisms for future lifestyles and society.
[ Education details ]
Through problem-solving learning using Design thinking and collaborative projects with local communities and companies, students develop the ability to plan and execute activities to promote their own research themes and to raise issues for future society. Students summarize their research process and results, and participate in academic conference activities from their first year. In this way, students will always maintain a critical perspective and deepen their research considerations.
Architecture and Environmental design field
[ Personnel goals ]
We develop human resources who are capable of architectural and environmental design appropriate to a recycling-oriented energy society.
[ Education details ]
In this field, students learn practical ecological architectural design such as renovation of existing buildings and proposals for the introduction of natural energy. It is also unique in that students can focus on the field of area renovation, a new method of urban development.
Film and Media field
[ Personnel goals ]
We nurture human resources who will lead the visual expression of the near future, such as film directors, CG creators, animators, photographers, media artists, and video coordinators.
[ Education details ]
Recently in Yamagata prefecture, film activities have flourished due to the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, the Shonai Eigamura film studio, and others. By working closely with these organizations, students will be right in the middle of the current progressive film world. As a result, as students discover the themes of various types of research and production, they will be in an exceptionally practical environment for learning about film. This is not limited to just film but is interwoven with research and production for a wide variety of genres such as photography, CG, animation, media works, and more.
Community design field
[ Personnel goals ]
In this field, we nurture human resources who can solve regional issues related to our future, such as natural disasters, super-low birthrates, aging society, and population outflow, and who can create systems to sustain the region.
[ Education details ]
In this field, students are taught by faculty members who are active community designers. In addition to researching their own themes, students can learn the facilitation skills required for design activities in the community.