Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to give you a solid foundation in the
core business subjects, and to allow you to shape your course selections
to match your interests by choosing from a broad menu of electives.
To complete your MBA studies and earn an MBA degree, you will need
to complete courses totaling 46 credits. Most courses are worth two credits.
The curriculum is made up of four parts:
- Core (16 credits)
- Global Intensive (2 credits or more)
- Electives (16 credits or more)
- Required Courses (8 credits)
Core [16 credits]
The core consists of eight courses that build a foundation of knowledge in the key areas of management. You are required to obtain 16 credits in this category. Students are strongly encouraged to take these courses in their first year.
- Accounting
- Marketing
- Finance
- People and Organizations
- Business Economics
- Strategic Management
- Operations Management
- Business and Society in the Global Context
Global Intensive [2 credits or more]
This Category consists of 3 Global Intensive Subjects (1, 2, 3) and Kyoto/Japan Intensive Subject. Global Intensive Subjects are offered in a compressed format (typically one-week). Kyoto/Japan Intensive Subject is a semester-based course. You are required to obtain at least 2 credits in this category.
Electives [16 credits or more]
There are two categories of electives: Global MBA electives and courses taken at overseas partner universities/Japanese MBA courses. Students are recommended to take these courses to deepen their knowledge after taking most of the core courses. You are required to obtain at least 16 credits from this category.
A. Global MBA Electives
These courses cover a broad range of business subjects, including those in our three focus areas of Sustainability, Culture and Creativity, Business in Asia and Advanced Management.
Sustainability Courses
- Foundations for Sustainable Management
- Green Management in Action
- Environmental Accounting
- Sustainable and Responsible Marketing
- Sustainable Human Resource Management
- Political Economy of Sustainability
Culture and Creativity Courses
- Cultural and Creative Industries
- The Business of Fashion Industry
- Cultural Tourism
- e-Marketing
- Creativity in Organizations
Business in Asia Courses
- Understanding Japanese Corporations
- Japanese Business Practices
- Marketing in Asia
- Human Resource Management in Asia
- Investment in Asia
- Operations Management in Asia
Advanced Management Courses
- Business Analysis and Valuation
- Business Law
- Business Research Method
- Knowledge and Innovation Management
- Marketing Research
- Making Sense of the Global Economy
- Statistics
- Strategic Cost Management
- Strategic Management for Innovation and Change
- Professional Development
- Writing Skills for Effective Communication
- Information Technology / Management
Data Science in Business
Entrepreneurship
Project-based Internship
B. Courses Taken at Overseas Partner Universities and Japanese MBA courses
If you apply to spend a term or a quarter studying at one of our overseas partner universities and/or take courses offered by our sister Japanese MBA unit (Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1 required), up to ten course credits can be counted toward the degree. Please note that there will be a selection process to participate in the exchange programs at our overseas partner universities and the approval of the course professor is required prior to registration for a Japanese MBA course.
Required Courses [8 credits]
The required courses consist of four steps: Critical and Analytical Thinking (1st semester), Master’s Thesis and Research Project I (2nd semester), Master’s Thesis and Research Project II (3rd semester) and Master’s Thesis and Research Project III (4th semester). We will hold a separate orientation to cover these details in depth.
- Critical and Analytical Thinking
- Master's Thesis and Research Project I
- Master's Thesis and Research Project II
- Master's Thesis and Research Project III
Japanese Language and Culture Courses [for-credit, but do not count toward MBA degree]
Doshisha’s Center for Global Education and Japanese Studies offers a wide range of Japanese Language and Culture courses, and a certain number of these courses are open to international students enrolled in Global Business and Management Studies. Please note, however, that these courses cannot be included in the 46 credits required for the degree.
