masters degree in japan

[charlosian]

Hello, I am currently a senior in university now, and I'm getting my degree in arts multimedia. today i was talking to one of my former Japanese instructors about my plans for the future, i think i want to study abroad, but that would require a lot of money, since i cant get scholarships or financial aid for a non degree language program. but my teacher said maybe i should go to grad school, so i thought i should look into that as i could possibly study abroad and get a masters degree and still practice Japanese. so i was just wondering if anyone knew some Japanese universities that have grad degrees in arts, multimedia ie graphic, web design etc. also any info on scholarships would be great. I'm sure this was posted before, but I'm not good at searching and i don't much free time to be on the computer, unless related to school. thanks

[bolt_krank]

Monbukagakusho have good scholarships - and they'll organise stuff for you too.
Check out the Japanese Embassy webpage for your country. They'll be information on it there.

[Charles]

I was in almost exactly your position. I sought the advice of one of my professors, who as a native Japanese, had long experience in grad school in Japan. I asked him about doing an MA or MFA in Japan, he said, "why the hell would you want to do that?" Then he launched into a long tirade about how worthless grad school is in Japan. His major complaint seemed to be that you don't actually do any work of your own, so it would be worthless for your own personal advancement, he said you'd just spend your whole time doing grunt work for the department, with all the credit going to the department heads.

[charlosian]

I was in almost exactly your position. I sought the advice of one of my professors, who as a native Japanese, had long experience in grad school in Japan. I asked him about doing an MA or MFA in Japan, he said, "why the hell would you want to do that?" Then he launched into a long tirade about how worthless grad school is in Japan. His major complaint seemed to be that you don't actually do any work of your own, so it would be worthless for your own personal advancement, he said you'd just spend your whole time doing grunt work for the department, with all the credit going to the department heads.

wow, so did you do grad study in japan? i never heard that before, but i will keep it in mind.
thanks for the feedback guys.

[Greji]

His major complaint seemed to be that you don't actually do any work of your own, so it would be worthless for your own personal advancement, he said you'd just spend your whole time doing grunt work for the department, with all the credit going to the department heads.

I don't understand what he was trying to tell you Charles! I could give a shit less about who gets credit for my work as long as I received my Masters ticket. My organazation and most of the Japanese government pay an additional allowance for the level of education. The starting salary at many places will be higher for a Masters.

The unannounced fact is that if a job requires a college degree, it doesn't matter if it is in basket weaving. A four year degree of any type and a warm body will suffice for hire. If the type of degree is advertised for employment, then and only then will it matter and it will have to be a Masters or higher.

Therefore, why would this clown care if the profs or department heads took any, or all credit for the work. I suppose if you were going on to work at that University might have some affect, but going to work in any other company or organization, it wouldn't mean anything who takes credit for college achievement, as long as you graduated.

[Charles]

wow, so did you do grad study in japan? i never heard that before, but i will keep it in mind.
thanks for the feedback guys.

No, I didn't. I don't have any direct evidence that what my professor said is true, but I respect him and have no reason to believe it isn't true. For all I know, he just had a bad personal experience.. which wouldn't be uncommon for professors who sought positions outside Japan. But I'll pass it along, for what it's worth.

[Charles]

I don't understand what he was trying to tell you Charles! I could give a shit less about who gets credit for my work as long as I received my Masters ticket. My organazation and most of the Japanese government pay an additional allowance for the level of education. The starting salary at many places will be higher for a Masters.

The unannounced fact is that if a job requires a college degree, it doesn't matter if it is in basket weaving. A four year degree of any type and a warm body will suffice for hire. If the type of degree matters for employer, then it will be a Masters or higher.

Therefore, why would this clown care if the profs or department heads took any, or all credit for the work. I suppose if you were going on to work at that University might have some affect, but going to work in any other company or organization, it wouldn't mean anything who takes credit for college achievement, as long as you graduated.

You're confusing undergrads with grad students. A Master's degree isn't just a piece of paper like your bachelors, it's supposed to be where you stake out your turf in the field, by doing original research and publishing it. And how are you supposed to do that when you're just doing someone else's research? And if you expect to go on to a PhD, that's a career killer.
Masters degrees are more specialized, if you expect to get hired in a specific field, let's say, you need an MA in Art History because you want to work in a museum, a degree in an unrelated field isn't going to cut it. And someone else's research into areas you aren't interested in aren't going to make you a specialist in your desired field. It isn't just a level of achievement certifying you are worth a specific amount of money, it's your entry into a field of specialization.

[Greji]

You're confusing undergrads with grad students. A Master's degree isn't just a piece of paper like your bachelors, it's supposed to be where you stake out your turf in the field, by doing original research and publishing it.

That's correct, but in fact, where outside of academia do they care about course content? If you get your Masters in you desired field, most places (outside of academia) could care less, as long as it is in the field that they want.

Simply, most businesses that require a directed Masters do not require it for the courses in the University. Your research in the field of their interest (whether it is directly involved with the company's area of business, or not) and the award of the Masters is the qualification they want. The research completed in the field of their interest, shows that you have the tools they want to do the work.

Getting your research published, or just to be published in anything, generally will not benefit a graduate in seeking employment outside of the fields contained in the academia.

I'm not saying it can't make eyewash for the package, but most employers don't have a high interest in whether it is a degree with a thesis or one that doesn't require a thesis for graduation. They want the Masters ticket in the area of their interest and (sadly, considering the sweat and worry one puts into ones study and worry in completing the academic requirements) in a lot of cases it will only be a qualifying tic on the checklist to employment, making the applicant with it eligible and the applicant without, unqualified.

[kusai Jijii]

You're confusing undergrads with grad students. A Master's degree isn't just a piece of paper like your bachelors, it's supposed to be where you stake out your turf in the field, by doing original research and publishing it.

Bullshit.
You have a wildly over-inflated idea of what an MA is.

[nottu]

[Greji]

if your across the table from a meaningful person, impress them with what you actually know, can do, and have done.

Every time I've tried to do that, I've got fired.... Lie!

[Behan]

Bullshit.
You have a wildly over-inflated idea of what an MA is.

I agree, Jiji. I think that description is more fitting for a PhD. An MA can often just be a long research paper listing lots of sources that you never really read. A lot of them(Most or All?) never get published but just take up space on shelves, collecting dust.

[kusai Jijii]

A lot of them(Most or All?) never get published but just take up space on shelves, collecting dust.

I for one sure as hell hope the fuck nobody drags my MA thesis off the shelf in the dark recesses of the uni library. Its a fucking joke that aint funny...

[Iraira]

The exercise of getting a Masters degree or even a PhD is simply a matter of chopping wood and carrying water.

No, it was a matter of making a lot of fruit fly food and separating the males from the females before they could boink them. Never had to pick up the prof's laundry, his wife did that. Nice thing was, the last time I visited "dad#2", his daughter had grown up, filled out and asked me out.

[succubusqueen]

[hundefar]

At least in my case, i do not regret studying in Japan. At least when it comes to the hands on experience.

hubba hubba

[succubusqueen]

hubba hubba

For some reason...i was afraid of this type of reply. But if u insist.., i did get some of "that hands on experience"....

Ahh...the gakusei life!....

[Greji]

For some reason...i was afraid of this type of reply. But if u insist.., i did get some of "that hands on experience"....

Ahh...the gakusei life!....

Ahh, you promised you wouldn't tell.....

[bolt_krank]

I did undergraduate and post graduate in Japan.
To sum up my experience, you can get away with doing f**k all.
I loved my time there, had a great time. But that was more just enjoying
the student lifestyle as opposed to getting a great education.
Undgrad - I had to do a thesis to graduate. This was one of the only times
I did any work in the 4 years. However, the opportunity is there to learn
a lot. And a lot of the professors are very keen to give you some of their
time if you show enthusiasm. But my lazy side got the best of me when I
realised I could get through with minimum effort and good marks.
I'm not bragging that I got good marks - because although the look good, when you compare them with the rest of the grade, there about average.
Which shows the status quo is don't worry about working.

Post grad - a lot more discussions, a lot more research, and you have to publish a paper to graduate. However, a lot less contact hours, and you get money to help in research. Overall I learnt some stuff, but not a lot. I did it just for the piece of paper at the end. If you want to learn a lot more, you will have the opportunity to learn it. In your own time. And you won't get anything for it but the knowledge itself. For some people this is enough, for others, they'd like a certificate. It's up to you.

But I think if you were to study in Japan for post grad - put in the effort learn the language, because that's probably gonna be the most useful knowledge you'll attain from your time there.


(my 2 cents...)

[Greji]

But I think if you were to study in Japan for post grad - put in the effort learn the language, because that's probably gonna be the most useful knowledge you'll attain from your time there.


(my 2 cents...)

Zingo! The grades and class rankings obviously mean something while you're in school, but their requirement as any sort of a necessity, pretty well ends upon award of the degree(s).

Most businesses, when considering the applicant do not have any desire or need to check on grades any more than class attendance.

When I used to sit on our applicant interview board for prospective employees, we had the full run of the gauntlet of Universities in Japan and again, the only requirement in that sector was a check mark in the "graduated" block. On one occasion, we had an applicant who had ranked number one in his class at Todai, which he dutifully put on his application. Since it was in fact Todai, this did create a lot of "wadai" about him. Obviously, just to get into Todai and then finish number one, is a helluva accomplishment, but in the end, he crashed and burned on the interviews. He was obviously intelligent and had all the answers, but he had the social and communication skills of your basic sea slug. Our personnel people were not looking for apprentice otakus to deal with our business customers, so he was bested in the homestretch by a kikokushijo with a Masters in an unrelated field from Northwestern (Me being from the Chicago area had ahh, almost nothing to do with this selection).

I think this is pretty much across the board for business employment. However, having said that, I think it remains relevant for those pursuing careers in education where they tend to take a closer look at educational accomplishments.
Just my two cents-

[Charles]

Zingo! The grades and class rankings obviously mean something while you're in school, but their requirement as any sort of a necessity, pretty well ends upon award of the degree(s).

Most businesses, when considering the applicant do not have any desire or need to check on grades any more than class attendance.

Oddly enough, I was just at a job interview today, and they required me to submit a certified transcript of all my university grades. They even asked my high school GPA, like I'd remember that. And it was just a temp job. Sheesh!

[Greji]

Oddly enough, I was just at a job interview today, and they required me to submit a certified transcript of all my university grades. They even asked my high school GPA, like I'd remember that. And it was just a temp job. Sheesh!

A school or educ related job? If it was a business, I would be highly suspect of that company ...but, or course, they can ask for anything they like.

[Charles]

A school or educ related job?

Yes, scoring essay tests. Judging by their desperation to hire me, I suspect this is a really crappy job (and it's really crappy wages). I will probably avoid it if possible, but I need some quick money.

[Greji]

Yes, scoring essay tests. Judging by their desperation to hire me, I suspect this is a really crappy job (and it's really crappy wages). I will probably avoid it if possible, but I need some quick money.

Good luck, some times ya gotta bite the bullet....

[charlosian]

thanks for all the feedback guys. i'm starting to think i dont really want to get a masters degree, its starting look like something i didnt expect.