2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Social and Human Sciences Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
Graduate Lecture in Education, Welfare and Health F2
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Mitsue Nagamine / Tomomi Mizuno
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- SHS.D444
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 5, 2026
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
We will deepen our understanding of stress responses by reading literature on the polyvagal theory, a recently proposed framework on autonomic adaptive reactions that has attracted considerable attention.
The aim of this course is to cultivate students’ ability to develop a multifaceted understanding of human beings and to select appropriate physiological and welfare‑related indicators in accordance with the objectives of stress‑related research.
Course description and aims
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
1) Explain the polyvagal theory;
2) Explain the trauma-informed approach;
3) Acquire skills in the barrier-finding fieldwork method.
Keywords
health, psychophysiology, stress, polyvagal theory, barrier-finding fieldwork method
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lectures and group work will be conducted.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | What is "Polyvagal theory”？ |
Understand the Polyvagal theory |
| Class 2 | Polyvagal theory and trauma |
State the traumatic stress by polyvagal theory |
| Class 3 | Trauma-Informed Care |
Understand the Trauma-Informed Care |
| Class 4 | Barrier-free for people with visual impairments |
Understand the barriers people with visual impairments encounter when moving around |
| Class 5 | Barrier-free for people in wheelchairs and the senior citizens |
Understand the barriers people in wheelchairs and the senior citizens encounter when moving around |
| Class 6 | Barrier-free for people with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities |
Understand the barriers people with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities encounter when moving around |
| Class 7 | The practice of barrier-finding fieldwork |
Identify problems in the actual city by using the practice of barrier-finding fieldwork and develop solutions |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Not required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Porges, S. W. (2017). The pocket guide to the polyvagal theory: The transformative power of feeling safe. W W Norton & Co.
Candy H. (2009). Barrier-Free Travel (Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts & Bolts Guide for Wheelers & Slow Walker). Demos Health
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students' course scores are based on Q&A during class (40%) and final presentation (60%).
*Students have to attend more than 5 times to evaluate this course.
Related courses
- SHS.D461 ： Graduate Methodologies in Education, Welfare and Health S1
- SHS.D441 ： Graduate Lecture in Education, Welfare and Health S1
- SHS.D442 ： Graduate Lecture in Education, Welfare and Health F1
- SHS.D443 ： Graduate Lecture in Education, Welfare and Health F1
Prerequisites
Students are expected to be familiar with searching for articles in an academic article database (EBSCOhost, Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, etc.), and be interested in understanding people from multiple perspectives.
Other
None