Introduction

International Christian University (ICU) has been a pioneer in liberal arts education in Japan since its founding in 1953. ICU is ranked as one of the top private universities in the Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings.

Our mission is the establishment of an academic tradition of freedom and reverence based on Christian ideals as well as the cultivation of internationally minded citizens who perform service to God and humankind and make contributions to lasting peace. As a university founded through international cooperation, ICU pursues three commitments expressed in the university's name: International, Christian and Academic Commitments.

Our Facts (As of May 1, 2018)

• Enrollment: Undergraduate 3034, Graduate 178
• International Students: 9.2%
• Faculty: 149 members
• Student / Faculty Ratio: 20:1
• Foreign Faculty: 38.3%
• Classes Offered in Foreign Languages: 30.6%
• Career: Employment & Others 82.2%, To Advanced Studies 17.8%
• Undergraduate: 31 majors (Humanities, Natural sciences and Social sciences)
• Graduate School: 4 programs (Education and Psychology, Public Policy and Social Research, Comparative Culture, Natural Sciences)

Academics

• Dialogue Oriented Classes
  The student-to-full-time faculty ratio is 20 to 1 (as of May 2018). Ever since its founding, ICU has maintained a consistent focus on small-group education because the university believes that instructing students in small groups is essential to a good liberal arts education.
• Bilingual Education
  ICU has adhered to the concepts of bilingualism by making Japanese and English its official languages. The university requires students to complete the English for Liberal Arts Program (ELA) or Japanese Language Programs (JLP) in order to graduate.
• Undergraduate
  Once enrolled at ICU, students begin taking courses in Languages (English/Japanese), General Education, Physical Education, and other College-Wide Courses. Students also take foundational courses from a selection of over 30 majors (areas of specialization) in the humanities and sciences, developing core academic skills as they identify their individual interests and aptitudes. This approach comes from ICU's belief in "later specialization," which gives students more time to study a variety of subjects before deciding on a major. ICU encourages its students to nurture a broad perspective and cultivate flexible thinking by experiencing different worlds of knowledge, and form a comprehensive, versatile academic foundation before beginning the process of selecting a major.
  
  At the end of their second year, students choose their majors and set off on more individualized, major-specific tracks. The final leg of the academic journey comes in the fourth year, when students bring together all the things they have learned for a year-long senior thesis project. Although some universities have started to eliminate their senior thesis (research) project requirements, ICU believes that graduation work is a crucial opportunity for students to test the knowledge and abilities that they have cultivated over their four years of undergraduate studies.
   
• Graduate School
  The ICU Graduate School is a small institution offering interdisciplinary instruction based on liberal arts education in fields such as Education,　Politics, Japanese Cultural Studies and Natural Sciences. Since its establishment in 1953, ICU has cultivated highly-competent graduates, granting more than 2,400 Master's degrees and 220 PhDs.
  
  Instruction is tailored to meet the needs of each student through small classes. Each student will be assigned an academic advisor upon enrollment, being treated as an important member of ICU community. The interdisciplinary program enables students
  to choose a topic of interest and carry out their research in various ways.
  
  ICU offers students both courses taught in Japanese and courses taught in English. Students can choose their courses in accordance with their needs and interests. Japanese students and non-Japanese students can improve their language skills in English and Japanese by participating in courses together. Japanese language programs for international students and English language courses to acquire the English skills essential for research are also provided. In the Public Policy and Social Research Program, it is possible to complete the Master's degree by taking only classes in English.