Program Overview

Introduction to the University Program

The University of Osaka offers a comprehensive undergraduate program in Archaeology, which is the study of the histories and cultures of humankind, centered on analyses of material resources like historic ruins and relics. This course's didactic and research focus is Japanese archaeology, taking advantage of the university's geographical location in the Kinki region, which has been home to various capitals throughout Japanese history.

Program Details

Annual field surveys are a major feature of the course. In recent years, students have participated in excavation surveys of keyhole-shaped tombs from the Kofun era and kilns from the Heian period. Faculty members and graduate students eagerly engage in overseas archaeological surveys and comparative studies with other countries, working on various questions relating to Japanese archaeology from a broad perspective.

Career Opportunities

While the department is small, with only two full-time staff members, the faculty is always buzzing. Students who major in archaeology do not always go on to become archaeologists. The four years students spend on the course thinking about the development of human cultures over long periods and "getting their hands dirty" as they dig through ruins will benefit their futures, no matter what path they end up taking. Based on the invaluable experience of their university study, some alumni have gone on to become professional archaeologists working on the frontline of excavations, while others have moved into a variety of disciplines, including curation, education, civil service, journalism, and business.

Professors

• FUKUNAGA, Shinya (Ph.D.)
  • Japanese Archaeology; Mortuary Practices, Political History in Kofun Period, Ancient Bronze Mirrors
• TAKAHASHI, Teruhiko (Ph.D.)
  • Japanese Archaeology; Manual Industry, Cultural Exchanges in Nara and Heian Period, Ancient Pottery and Ceramic

Undergraduate Program Courses

The undergraduate program offers a wide range of courses, including:

• Philosophy, Thought and Culture
• Ethics
• Chinese Philosophy
• Indian Philosophy
• Japanese History
• Asian History
• European and American History
• Archaeology
• Japanese Studies
• Human Geography
• Japanese Linguistics
• Japanese Literature and Japanese Historical Linguistics
• Comparative Literature
• Chinese Literature
• English and American Literature and English Linguistics
• German Literature
• French Literature
• Aesthetics and Science of Literary Arts
• Musicology and Theatre Studies
• Art History