Faculty of Environmental and Information Studies, Tokyo City University
Faculty of Environmental and Information Studies
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For Our Future
The Faculty of Environmental and Information Studies (FEIS) was established in December 1996, in a newly developed area of Yokohama City, just south of Tokyo . FEIS endeavors to prepare young men and women to deal with both environmental and information concerns, major global challenges of our modern society. In the 21st century, society has become increasingly complex and global, and people who expect to take an active role will be required to possess a wide variety of academic and cultural knowledge. The two departments in FEIS, the Department of Environmental and Information Studies and the Department of Information Ecology Studies, are designed to prepare today's students for the challenges of this demanding century.
Educational Philosophy
Interdisciplinary: To direct students in acquiring a solid foundation to succeed in a society that is increasing international and electronic, FEIS offers a variety of courses beyond the required disciplinary framework. These include courses in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Students in both departments are able to grow by gaining a wide range of knowledge with an interdisciplinary character.
Information Literacy and Problem Solving: “Literacy” is, at its most basic level, the ability to read and write. Beyond this, however, it means possessing and being able to apply knowledge. In an electronic or wired society, the ability to critically evaluate information along with the capability to deal with that information is required. Thus, information processing is given prominence in FEIS. As a first step toward developing information literacy, students learn to make active use of information processing equipment by operating a variety of a machines, such as advanced work stations set up in the Center for Information Studies.
In addition, FEIS employs fieldwork in classes such as Environmental Design Workshop and Ecological Planning Workshop to provide practical experiences. Case studies seminars in the 3rd year supply an introduction to research methods and provide the opportunity for students to discover their own individual interests. Finally, students undertake a senior research project in their 4th year, which gives them the opportunity to research an individual topic in detail under the direction of a faculty member. This work culminates in a graduation thesis and presentation to the faculty and students at the end of the senior year.
Specialization: In the Department of Environmental and Information Studies, students are able to focus on areas such as environmental policy, environmental city design, environmental renewal, environmental public management and environmental logistics, among others, for their graduation theses. Students in the Department of Information Ecology Studies can choose from topics in information systems, information design, media communications, business information, and so on.
