About International College of Liberal Arts

The International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA) at Yamanashi Gakuin University is a liberal arts college in Japan, offering a four-year degree program taught entirely in English. iCLA offers majors in Global Business and Economics, Interdisciplinary Arts, Interdisciplinary Data Science, Japan Studies, Political Science, and Psychology. Students can also take electives in Japanese Language and Sociology alongside their major studies.

Based in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, iCLA uses English as the college’s primary language of instruction. Over 80 percent of its students and 60 percent of its faculty members come from outside Japan, creating a truly multicultural environment.

At iCLA, international students can study Japanese along with their degree studies, starting from any level, including complete beginner. Students can choose from courses across different disciplines and learn from an intuitive and practical curriculum, which also provides the opportunity to study abroad for up to one year at one of iCLA’s more than 60 partner universities in over 30 countries.

The innovative courses taught at iCLA lead to a Bachelor of International Liberal Arts degree. iCLA offers small and interactive classes, with a low student to faculty ratio, establishing close connections between the instructors and students. This enhances both the communication and collaboration among students and helps iCLA’s graduates meet the varied demands of today’s global workplace, where knowledge of the liberal arts, communication skills, English, as well as a deep understanding of cultural differences are imperative.

Yamanashi is 90 minutes from central Tokyo, and is famous for its breathtaking landscapes, hot springs, historic sites, hiking trails, as well as vineyards, all against the backdrop of Mount Fuji.

Study options

Students take courses from the common curriculum during their first year, which provides them with exposure to all six majors before making a decision. They are:

Global Business and Economics

With academic pathways leading to careers in finance, international business, and economics, all courses are studied from a global perspective, giving students the ability to leverage their knowledge of Japanese business culture and prepare for a vocation either in Japan or internationally.

Interdisciplinary Arts

Gathering inspiration from multiple sources, students gain a rich understanding of their chosen specialization and work through the medium of a wider creative process by exploring these disciplines from practical, theoretical, and historical perspectives.

Interdisciplinary Data Science

With three distinct pathways in Data Science for Finance, Data Science for Political Economy, and Data Science for Psychology, students put their knowledge of data science methodologies to use in real-life research scenarios throughout the degree, preparing them for an exciting career in an expanding and in demand field.

Japan Studies

Japan Studies endeavours to investigate and deconstruct the intricacies of Japan by providing students with a comprehensive understanding of this fascinating country, its language and its history. Students gain a deep understanding of how Japan became the country it is today and its global position in the future.

Political Science

iCLA’s political science major equips students with deep knowledge of political science and its sub fields, analytical techniques, and themes, with pathways in comparative politics, international relations, and public administration.

Psychology

iCLA’s psychology major equips students with a thorough understanding of how technology influences human behaviour across various psychological disciplines, preparing students for a diverse range of professional and research settings.

Elective courses and workshops

Students can choose their electives from any of the majors, or from iCLA’s courses in:

• Quantitative reasoning and natural sciences
• Japanese language
• Health and physical education
• Sociology

iCLA also offers experiential workshops in Japanese arts and culture.

Graduate outcomes

iCLA provides dedicated support to international students, from the initial stages of their career planning all the way through to choosing their post-graduation career path. Students have regular career consultation sessions with career development advisors, and receive one-on-one guidance from faculty members who have extensive experience in career guidance. Internship opportunities within Japan are also available for students to apply the business skills they have learned on a practical level.

iCLA’s Bachelor of International Liberal Arts is designed to prepare graduates for the rigors of the modern workplace. Graduating with a set of transferrable and critical skills, notable versatility, communication skills and a global outlook, students will be equipped to catch the eye of prospective employers and will have a wide range of career prospects open to them.

Graduates from iCLA have pursued career paths with both international and domestic Japanese companies, in a range of fields such as international business, finance, technology, the public sector, the arts, hospitality and tourism, as well as postgraduate studies at prestigious universities within Japan and overseas.

What’s new

iCLA launched a new Interdisciplinary Data Science major in September 2024. iCLA’s Interdisciplinary Data Science major prepares students with essential skills for the 21st century within a liberal arts framework. Going beyond technical aspects, data science fosters critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Serving as a bridge across various disciplines, it offers an interdisciplinary perspective to tackle real-world challenges. The curriculum is meticulously designed to meet the rising demand for professionals skilled in data analytics, with a strong emphasis on ethical data practices. Offering three distinct pathways tailored to each field, this program integrates data analytics with specialized knowledge in finance, psychology, and political economy.

Studying Interdisciplinary Data Science at iCLA provides a comprehensive education that extends beyond technical skills. Students gain insights into economic systems, human behavior, societal structures, and political dynamics, enhancing their analytical capabilities. This interdisciplinary approach equips graduates for careers where understanding and interpreting data across diverse contexts are crucial. It combines deep data expertise with a broader understanding of the complexities that shape our global landscape.