Kyoto Notre Dame University -About Notre Dame

The Master of Arts program in Developmental and School Psychology investigates not only human development but also educational methods and techniques, providing students with insight into the experience of various age groups as well as differences between individuals. Areas of study include infant/child development, the human information processing, clinical and school child psychology, and social relationships.
The specific courses offered in the Developmental and School Psychology major are Developmental Psychology, Psychology of Infancy and Early Childhood, Psychology of Adolescence, Information Processing Approach to Human Development, School Psychology, Methods of Education, Educational and Psychological Testing, and Educational Social Psychology.

The Master of Arts program in Clinical Psychology prepares students for research in psychological problems related to personal relations at home, school, or work, as well as anxiety or stress disorders related to domestic violence, truancy, and other social problems. Students also learn professional techniques of counseling and psychotherapy. Based on systematic study of the foundations of Clinical Psychology, experiential learning includes basic counseling techniques, role play exercises, assessment, and opportunities for students to deepen their self-awareness and understanding through self-analysis. Training also includes practical experience at the Psychological Services Center on campus. Our graduate program in Clinical Psychology has been accredited by the Japanese Certification Board for Clinical Psychologists.

The Ph.D. program in Psychology relies on experimental methods and also on active participation in educational clinical settings. The doctoral program in Psychology includes the following six areas of study:

Cognitive Processes
Cognitive psychology focuses on how the mind processes information. Students investigate topics such as perception, attention, memory, language, categorization, spatial cognition, decision-making, and reasoning.

Developmental Psychology
Developmental Psychology investigates how the human mind develops throughout the lifespan. Observation and experiments with infants, children, adolescents, and adults enable students to identify meaningful changes and the origins of mental processes.

School Psychology
School Psychology focuses on personality, human relations, and other aspects of life related to schooling.

Educational Assessment
Educational Assessment includes research and practice in educational evaluation and curriculum development.

Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy focuses on the study of common elements among theories and techniques of various schools in the pursuit of viable, comprehensive methods of therapy.

Psychological Assessment
Psychological Assessment covers understanding of psychological phenomena in order to offer psychological assistance. It includes the study of theory and methods of assessment for intervention.