Department of Applied Life Science

Diploma Policy for Department of Applied Life Science

United Graduate School of Agricultural Science has as its basic philosophy the training of creative, applied researchers who can contribute to the advancement of agricultural science, which accounts for a large part of the science related to biological resource development that is essential for improving the quality of life of humanity, while complementing fields that would be difficult to master at a single university alone, and who can also contribute to the development of bio-related industries.
Based on the above philosophy, Department of Applied Life Science aims to award degrees to students who have acquired the following abilities related to the application of the scientific elucidation of life phenomena to biological production and related industries, and to the effective and efficient use of biological resources through the investigation of their characteristics, and who have also earned the required number of credits and passed the thesis examination and final examination.

1. Without being limited to knowledge and experience in cutting-edge research, students have developed logical ability and expressiveness that span both science and humanities, and have acquired the insight appropriate to highly specialized intellectuals.
2. Students will acquire the flexible application skills to utilize the characteristics of agricultural science as an applied and integrated science, raise social issues that need to be addressed from multiple perspectives, and plan and promote diverse research activities aimed at resolving those issues.
3. By learning cutting-edge knowledge and technology in the research and development of effective and efficient use of biological resources through the scientific elucidation of life phenomena and their application to biological production and related industries, as well as through the investigation of the characteristics of biological resources, students acquire advanced professional capabilities as independent researchers and creative engineers in their respective fields of expertise.
4. They continually hone their advanced professional abilities, broad perspectives and deep insight, rich social skills and leadership skills, and acquire the ability to voluntarily promote motivation for even more advanced learning.
5. As part of their research achievements that constitute their doctoral thesis, they have acquired the ability to complete the entire research promotion process, from proposing a research topic to publishing the results, through the publication of a research paper in an academic journal that meets certain standards.
6. They have acquired a drive for self-improvement, continually reviewing the position of their field of expertise in Japan and the international community and the social needs that are required in that field from a comparative perspective, while continuing to challenge themselves to explore issues and transform themselves, taking into account the relationship with other fields.
7. They have acquired a wealth of "social skills" that allow them to be trusted by those around them as good members of society and to advance their work while expanding cooperative relationships.
8. They have acquired practical leadership skills, centered on various types of literacy and comprehensive management abilities, necessary for active leadership in organizations and society, including overseas. Through presentations and discussions at academic conferences and joint seminars, they have acquired the ability to understand the position of their own research in the field of biological production and related industrial applications based on the scientific elucidation of life phenomena, as well as the effective and efficient use of biological resources through the investigation of their characteristics, and have acquired the ability to foresee future prospects.

Curriculum Policy of Department of Applied Life Science

In order to enable students to acquire the abilities set forth in the diploma policy, Department of Applied Life Science will organize a systematic curriculum according to the characteristics of each academic field in order to enable them to acquire basic to specialized knowledge, and will clearly state the content and implementation methods of the education.

1. In order to provide students with basic knowledge on the application of the scientific elucidation of life phenomena to biological production and related industries, and on the effective and efficient use of biological resources through the investigation of their characteristics, as well as general knowledge in related fields, a number of special lectures will be held in both Japanese and English, each of which will take up a variety of topics in the field of agriculture, as well as introductory lectures that will take up an omnibus of basic topics in a variety of fields, offered jointly with other graduate schools in United Graduate School of Agricultural Science.
2. In order to cultivate problem-solving thinking skills, experiments and exercises related to research activities will be conducted.
3. In order to acquire cutting-edge knowledge and technology related to the application of the scientific elucidation of life phenomena to biological production and related industries, as well as the effective and efficient use of biological resources through the investigation of their characteristics, and to have the opportunity to put this knowledge into practice, students will be provided with an opportunity to carry out experiments, exercises, and practical training related to research activities, which will allow them to gain experience in putting their specialized skills into practice in the real world.
4. In order to develop the habit of independently acquiring advanced skills, experiments and exercises related to research activities will be conducted.
5. In order to set goals within a social context, plan and implement research and development methods, and compile results, experiments and exercises related to research activities will be conducted.
6. We will conduct experiments and exercises related to research activities, including activities that will help students develop the ability to build social relationships and solve problems.
7. This program will provide students with the opportunity to gain experience in demonstrating leadership skills in collaborative activities aimed at solving problems. It will also include lectures on practical themes to develop problem-solving skills and the ability to act as a discussion leader, as well as practical training that includes opportunities to work collaboratively outside of the university, including overseas.
8. In order to improve students' language (English) skills, presentation techniques, and discussion skills, and to gain experience in collaborative research, we will hold lectures to improve students' English presentation skills, lectures that mainly consist of discussions, seminars where students hold discussions based on the presentations of their research results, and practical training that includes opportunities to work collaboratively with researchers outside the university (including overseas).

In order to develop engineers, researchers and educators who have acquired the abilities set out in the department's diploma policy, grades are evaluated based on report assignments and class participation in lectures, and on attitude toward experiments, surveys, analyses, discussions and presentations of results, as well as the progress of research and the results obtained in seminars and practical courses. Exam grades for course subjects are expressed in five grades: S, A, B, C and D, with S, A, B and C being passes and D being a fail. Students who pass are awarded the designated credits.
Regarding dissertations, doctoral dissertations that meet the prescribed requirements will be reviewed and a final examination will be conducted by a dissertation review committee, which will in principle include Faculty Member from each of the constituent universities, in accordance with the dissertation review criteria. The Graduate School Professor Council will then vote on whether to approve the dissertations, and those that are deemed to be approved will be awarded a doctoral degree.