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Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program

Program in brief

This program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to effectively handle a wide rage of maritime challenges.

  • Program Director: Associate Professor Matthew Brummer
  • Degree Offered: Master of Policy Studies
  • Language of Instruction: English
  • Time Schedule:
    • Program duration…1 year
    • Enrollment…October
    • Graduation…September
  • Financial Support
    • Applicants who belong to a maritime safety and security related organization in eligible countries can apply for financial support from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).
  • How to Apply
    • For applicants from countries eligible for JICA scholarship, please apply as a participant of JICA's Knowledge Co-Creation Program.
      JICA office: Click here (JICA offices in Asia)
      JICA Chugoku Center: (mail to) cicttp@jica.go.jp
    • For externally funded or self-financed international applicants:
      MSP brochure Click here
      Online Application Click here

    The Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program (MSP) is a collaborative program designed and administered jointly by GRIPS and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG). The program makes it possible for students to benefit from the resources of both institutions in the fields of public policy, security studies, maritime safety, and maritime security. The students will have the opportunity to acquire professional knowledge, analytical skills, and communication skills relevant to their work while becoming members of a network of future coast guard leaders from around the world.

    Students study in Tokyo at GRIPS during the first half of the academic year and in Kure, Hiroshima at the Japan Coast Guard Academy (JCGA) during the second half.

    Study at GRIPS
    Students take required and elective courses at GRIPS from October through March. Required courses include International Relations, International Security Studies, International Law, International Relations in East Asia, and International Law of the Sea. The diverse elective courses enable students to deepen their knowledge in theie individual fields of interest. Students will develop analytical skills necessary to conduct robust study of a wide range of maritime policy issues.

    Study at the JCGA
    From April through July, the students will take courses and participate in practical training and educational programs at the JCGA. The required courses are Policy for Search and Rescue, Salvage and Maritime Disaster Prevention, and Maritime Police Policy. Students can further enhance their ability to effectively execute their duties as coast guard leaders through the study of a wide range of elective subjects designed to further develop knowledge of technology, investigations, and best practices for maritime law enforcement agencies.

    Research Paper
    During the course of one year, students write a research paper on issues relevant to the study of maritime safety and security. In order to do so, the student will work together with two academic advisors—one from each GRIPS and the JCGA—to complete the paper before graduation.

    Target Group

    Junior coast guard officers from Japan and overseas who have more than 3 years of work experience and who are under 46 years of age as of October 1, 2026.

    Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program Curriculum 2025/2026

    (as of October 2025)

    CATEGORY COURSE NAME INSTRUCTOR

    I

    REQUIRED COURSES

    Independent Study Various
    International Relations in East Asia Takagi
    International Relations Iwama
    International Security Studies Michishita
    Maritime Police Policy Okuzono
    International Law Shimoyama, Iwatani
    International Law of the Sea Furuya
    Case Study on Maritime Safety and Security Policy I Furuya
    Case Study on Maritime Safety and Security PolicyⅡ Furuya

    II

    RECOMMENDED COURSES

    Essential Microeconomics Kurosawa
    Essential Macroeconomics Yokoyama
    Economic Development of Southeast Asia Kudo
    Government and Market Okamoto
    Development Economics Kijima
    East Asian Economies Kudo
    The Making of Modern Japan Pressello
    Government and Politics in Japan Masuyama
    International Political Economy Chey
    Comparative Politics Takenaka
    State and Politics in Southeast Asia Lim
    Non-Traditional Security Cross
    Analysis of Great Power Politics Iwama, et al.
    Comparative Political Economy TBA
    International Development Policy Ohno
    The World and the SDGs Kudo
    Introduction to Quantitative Methods Morohosi
    Introduction to Oceanography Horiuchi
    Marine Environment and Pollution Kawamura
    International Comparative Criminal Law Shintani
    Contemporary Japanese Maritime Gray Zone Securiy Policy Furuya
    Safety Management Systems I TBA
    Safety Management Systems Ⅱ Yamada
    Policy for Search & Rescue, Salvage and Maritime Disaster Prevention Yamaji
    Ship Maneuverability and Practical Operation TBA
    Fundamentals of Advanced Energy Engineering Kanki
    Information Management System I Yamanaka
    Information Management System Ⅱ Isozaki

    III

    ELECTIVE COURSES

    Selected Topics in Policy Studies I -IV
    Courses not listed in this table

    X

    OTHERS

    Describing Tables and Figures TBA
    Thesis Writing for MSP O'Neill
    Qualitative Writing TBA
    Introduction to Academic Research Petchko
    Introduction to Academic Writing O'Neill
    Other courses offered by the Center for Professional Communication

7-22-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8677

TEL : +81-(0)3-6439-6000     
FAX : +81-(0)3-6439-6010

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