Educational/Research Objectives and Policies - Division of Life Sciences

Educational and Research Objectives

Master's Program

The Master’s Program aims to nurture individuals with specialized knowledge in life sciences, advanced skills, and high ethical standards, who can contribute to society as specialists in a wide range of fields related to life sciences.

Doctoral Program

The Doctoral Program aims to nurture high-level individuals with advanced specialized knowledge and skills, as well as a global perspective and high ethical standards, who are capable of playing leading roles in the fast-advancing field of life sciences.

Policies

Diploma Policy

Master's Program

Based on the educational and research objectives of the Master’s Program, the Division of Life Sciences confers a “master’s degree (in life sciences)” on students who have completed the curriculum and fulfilled the completion requirements established by the Division of Life Sciences, and acquired the following qualities:

Basic general knowledge of life sciences and advanced knowledge and skills in the major field of study.
Logical thinking skills required of a specialized professional, ability to identify and resolve problems independently, and ability to convey one’s thoughts and ideas.
Convictions based on sound ethical principles and ability and willingness to actively fulfill one’s role in society.

Doctoral Program

Based on the educational and research objectives of the Doctoral Program, the Division of Life Sciences confers a “doctoral degree (in life sciences)” on students who have completed the curriculum and fulfilled the completion requirements established by the Division of Life Sciences, and acquired the following qualities:

Broad understanding of leading-edge, specialized knowledge in life sciences and ability to acquire advanced research methods and independently conduct outstanding research.
Logical thinking skills required of a specialized professional, ability to identify and resolve problems independently, and ability to develop English proficiency and disseminate information internationally.
Convictions based on sound ethical principles and ability and willingness to actively fulfill one’s role in the advancement of society and life sciences.

Curriculum Policy

Master's Program

With the goal of nurturing individuals who can apply advanced knowledge and skills in life sciences in social contexts, the Division of Life Sciences provides practical education for acquiring specialized knowledge and skills, presentation skills, and problem identification and solving skills through lectures, colloquiums, seminars, and special research in a wide range of fields.

1.Educational Content and Methods
a. The Advanced Study course consists of lectures in the fields that the faculty members in the Division of Life Sciences specialize in, covering various aspects of life sciences, from molecules to cells, organisms, and groups. Students develop the knowledge and skills gained at undergraduate level and acquire more advanced specialized knowledge and practical approaches for research.
b. In the Seminar course, students read English academic papers related to research in their major field of study under a turn-based system to build an understanding of the latest findings and the background and positioning of their own research. The core component of this course is presentations, in which students use slides and other presentation aids, given in the respective research laboratories to which the students are assigned.
c. In Colloquium 1 in the spring semester of the first year, students select a research theme and give presentations on the background and plan for that research in Colloquium 2 in the fall semester, using slides in front of the class instructors and all first year students, and engage in discussions. The colloquium courses consist of intensive lectures.
d. In Special Research, students conduct cutting-edge research and refine their problem identification and solving skills through discussions with their research supervisor, before finally preparing a master’s thesis.
Through this curriculum, students improve their specialized knowledge and skills in life sciences, basic English proficiency in their major field of study, presentation and communication skills, as well as acquiring the understanding and skills needed to contribute to society as a highly skilled professional or researcher with high ethical standards.

2. Evaluation of Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes of each course are evaluated according to the methods for assessing grades stipulated in the syllabus. In addition to credits from specialized courses, students are evaluated based on the screening of their master’s thesis in accordance with the degree screening criteria of the Division of Life Sciences, as well as on the result of the final examination as the criteria for awarding a degree.

Doctoral Program

The goal of the Doctoral Program is to nurture high-level individuals with advanced specialized knowledge and skills, as well as a global perspective and high ethical standards, who are capable of playing leading roles in various life sciences fields. Therefore, we provide practical education for developing advanced specialized knowledge and skills, English proficiency, presentation skills, and research skills through the Advanced Study in English course, colloquiums, seminars, and special research.

1. Educational Content and Methods
a. In Advanced Study in Life Sciences English, students develop a global perspective and English proficiency in their major field of study by using English to participate in discussions at international seminars and laboratory seminars in the graduate school division and to report the content of these in English.
b. In Colloquium 3 in the fall semester of the second year, students present the progress of the research that they are conducting on their chosen research theme using slides and discuss the results that they have obtained and the future prospects of the research with other participants.
c. In Life Sciences Seminars I to VI, students read English papers related to research in their major field of study under a turn-based system to build an understanding of the latest findings and the background and positioning of their own research. The core component of this course is presentations, in which students use slides and other presentations aids given in the respective research laboratories to which the students are assigned.
d. In Special Research in Life Sciences, students implement cutting-edge research and refine their ability to identify and solve highly significant problems through discussion with their research supervisor, before finally preparing a doctoral thesis.

Through this curriculum, students improve their leading-edge knowledge and skills in the fast-growing field of life sciences, English proficiency in their major field of study, and presentation and communication skills, as well as acquire the knowledge and research skills needed to contribute to society as an independent researcher with high ethical standards.

2. Evaluation of Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes of each course are evaluated according to the methods for assessing grades stipulated in the syllabus. In addition to credits from specialized courses, students are evaluated based on the review of their master’s thesis in accordance with the degree screening criteria of the Division of Life Sciences, as well as on the result of the final examination as the criteria for awarding a degree.

Admission Policy

Master's Program

To ensure that all students grow into the kind of individuals described in the Diploma Policy after studying the curriculum of the Master’s Program, the Division of Life Sciences seeks students who have the following qualities:

Fundamental knowledge of and experimentation skills in life sciences.
Basic English proficiency needed to acquire knowledge of life sciences.
Advanced specialized knowledge and skills and willingness to contribute to society as a highly skilled professional or researcher.

To ensure that students have these qualities, applicants are screened through multiple entrance examination systems, either based on a written entrance examination, oral entrance examination, and their application documents (general entrance examination, entrance examination for working adults, entrance examination for international students), or based on an oral examination and their application documents (entrance examination for internally recommended students, entrance examination for recommended working adults). Then, a pass or fail result is awarded following a comprehensive evaluation of these examination results.

Doctoral Program

To ensure that all students grow into the kind of individuals described in the Diploma Policy after studying the curriculum of the Doctoral Program, the Division of Life Sciences seeks students who have the following qualities:

Knowledge and research skills in the various life sciences fields
English proficiency needed to conduct research in life sciences
Research skills for conducting pioneering research in the major field of study and willingness to contribute to society or life sciences as a researcher

To confirm that students have these qualities, applicants are screened through multiple examination systems based on a written entrance examination, oral entrance examination, and their application documents. Then, a pass or fail result is awarded following a comprehensive evaluation of these examination results.