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History
History of Hokusei Gakuen University
Sarah C. Smith
Hokusei Gakuen University was founded as one of the schools established by the Hokusei Gakuen that are dedicated to the spirit and tradition of Christian education.
The history of Hokusei Gakuen dates back to the time of Sarah C. Smith, an American missionary, who established a school for girls in 1887.
Smith Girls' School continued to flourish thanks to the energy and dedication of S.C. Smith and the cooperation of the young scholars who had studied with Dr. Clark of Sapporo Agricultural School.
It was these Japanese elder students who later renamed the school Hokusei Girls' School. Hokusei Gakuen has dedicated itself to the education of women in Hokkaido over a long period of time, establishing the history and tradition of the school. In 1951, Hokusei Gakuen Women's Junior College was founded, and a four-year coeducational university was established in 1962 to meet the needs of society. In 2002, the junior college was made coeducational.
| 1887 | Girl's school and kindergarten opened at Kita 1-jo Nishi 6-chome in Sapporo. |
| 1951 | Hokusei Gakuen accredited as an incorporated educational institution. Hokusei Gakuen Women's Junior College founded (English Department). |
| 1954 | Home Economics Department established in the Women's Junior College. |
| 1958 | Advanced Course established in the English Department of the Women's Junior College. |
| 1962 | Hokusei Gakuen University founded (School of Humanities/Department of English, Department of Social Welfare). |
| 1965 | School of Economics/Department of Economics established. Sister-school affiliation established with Lewis & Clark College (USA). Construction of the Webster Groves Hall (chapel) completed. |
| 1968 | Social welfare summer seminar commenced. |
| 1975 | English Department and Home Economics Department renamed the Department of English and Department of Home Economics. |
| 1980 | Advanced Courses established (Advanced Course of Humanities in English, Advanced Course of Humanities in Social Welfare, Advanced Course of Economics in Economics). |
| 1987 | School of Economics/Department of Management Information established. 100th anniversary of the establishment of Hokusei Gakuen. |
| 1988 | International Students Exchange Agreement concluded with Buena Vista University (USA), B.C.A. (USA) and Dalian University of Foreign Languages (China). |
| 1989 | Home Economics Department of the Women's Junior College renamed the Department of Life Sciences. |
| 1992 | Graduate schools established (Graduate School of Literature/ Graduate School of Social Welfare (Master's Program). |
| 1996 | School of Social Welfare established (Department of Social Policy/ Department of Social Work/Department of Psychology for Well-being). |
| 1999 | International Students Exchange Agreement concluded with Liverpool John Moores University (UK). |
| 2000 | Additional graduate school programs (Graduate School of Social Welfare/Master's and Doctoral Programs in Social Welfare, Master's Program in Psychology) established. International Students Exchange Agreement concluded with St.Thomas University (Canada). |
| 2001 | Additional graduate school programs (Graduate School of Literature/Master's Program in Linguistic Culture and Communication, Graduate School of Economics/Master's Program in Economics) established. International Students Exchange Agreement concluded with the Catholic University (Republic of Korea). 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Women's Junior College. |
| 2002 | Additional departments (School of Humanities/Department of Psychology and Applied Communication, School of Economics/Department of Law and Economics) established. Hokusei Gakuen Women's Junior College renamed Hokusei Gakuen University Junior College (coeducational) and relocated to Ohyach. Department of Life Sciences of the Junior College renamed the Department of Life and Creative Sciences. |
| 2004 | International Students Exchange Agreement concluded with Tunghai University (Taiwan). |
| 2006 | Master's Program in Psychology renamed Master's Program in Clinical Psychology. |
| 2011 | International Students Exchange Agreement concluded with Algoma University (Canada）. |
| 2012 | International Students Exchange Agreement concluded with University of Central Lancashire (UK) and Regent's University (UK). 125th anniversary of the establishment of Hokusei Gakuen and 50th anniversary of the establishment of the University. |
| 2013 | International Students Exchange Agreement concluded with San Pablo University (Spain), Nebrija University (Spain), Geneve School of Business (Switzerland), and Maranatha Christian University (Republic of Indonesia). |
| 2014 | International Students Exchange Agreement concluded with Juniata College (USA) and Manchester University (USA). International Students Exchange Agreement concluded with St.Olaf College (USA). |
| 2015 | 50th Anniversary of International Exchange Program of the University. |
| 2019 | International Students Exchange Agreement concluded with University of Hawai'i Maui College(USA) and University of Wisconsin-with Milwaukee(USA) |
| 2021 | 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Junior College |
| 2022 | 60th anniversary of the establishment of the University |
| 2023 | School of Social Welfare/Department of Social Welfare established. School of Social Welfare/Department of Psychology for Well-being renamed Department of Psychology. |