Program Structure
This program is offered as a minor program. In addition to the course credits required for completion of their major program, students participating in this program must earn a total of 10 credits for a master’s degree (5 credits from required courses and 5 credits from elective courses) and a total of 5 credits for a doctoral degree (2 credits from required courses and 3 credits from elective courses). At the end of each degree program, students must submit a report (research findings in essay or other format) for a QE (Qualifying Examination).
Courses
The curriculum of this program consists of the courses listed below.
| Program | Course Name | When to Take | Number of Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required | 選択 | |||
| Master’s Program | Introduction to Issue-based Study I | Summer, 1st year | 1 | |
| Introduction to Issue-based Study II | Summer, 1st year | 1 | ||
| Policy Analysis | Spring, 1st year | 1 | ||
| Methodology of Global Society Field Research | Summer, 1st & 2nd year | 1 | ||
| Interdisciplinary Seminar | 1st year (Intensive) | 1 | ||
| Lecture Series | 1st & 2nd year (Intensive) | 1 | ||
| Tutorial for Master’s Student I | 1st & 2nd year (Intensive) | 1 | ||
| Tutorial for Master’s Student II | 1st & 2nd year (Intensive) | 1 | ||
| Tutorial for Master’s Student III | 1st & 2nd year (Intensive) | 1 | ||
| Tutorial for Master’s Student IV | 1st & 2nd year (Intensive) | 1 | ||
| Total (10 courses) | - | 5 | 5 | |
| Doctoral Program | Advanced Issue-based Study I | Spring, 1st year | 1 | |
| Advanced Issue-based Study II | Autumn, 1st year | 1 | ||
| Tutorial for Doctoral Student I | 1st, 2nd & 3rd year (Intensive) | 1 | ||
| Tutorial for Doctoral Student II | 1st, 2nd & 3rd year (Intensive) | 1 | ||
| Tutorial for Doctoral Student III | 1st, 2nd & 3rd year (Intensive) | 1 | ||
| Total (5 courses) | - | 2 | 3 | |
Issue-based Study
Through this problem-based learning course, students will acquire the knowledge and skills required for problem solving firsthand and discuss various factors that can ensure effective problem solving, such as institutional design and technical support. A number of challenges are designed specifically for this program by taking its relevance to the SDGs and the research themes that students have chosen for this program into consideration. The "Introduction" course of the master's program and the "Advanced" course of the doctoral program are conducted jointly. They will discuss each challenge, collaborate to conduct research and seek solutions in groups. At the end of the semester, all course students and faculty members participate in a debriefing session, where students present their study results and discuss them together.
Policy Analysis
This course, given by the specialized professor with policy-making experience, covers policies in general - policies not only for national and local governments, but also for international organizations, corporations and other organizations - and explores practical issues related to policy- and decision-making processes. In addition, the issues facing Japan and the world in the 21st century will be taken up as case studies to perform a comparative analysis of the policies of each country and each local government. Through classes that actively incorporate active learning methods such as group work, group discussions, and presentations, this course aim to enable students to carry out policy analysis in policy areas of their own interest.
Methodology of Global Society Field Research
This course is offered by the Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Global Society. Students from other graduate schools are required to take this course as a part of the program’s curriculum. However, if courses with similar objectives are offered by other graduate schools, they may be substituted for this course. This course provides an introduction to field-oriented problem solving, on which this program focuses, discusses the methodology of research involving fieldwork, and presents lectures on ethics and safety. Students will learn how to approach subjects and how to conduct surveys for research in various fields, thereby recognizing the importance of acquiring interdisciplinary integration skills for conducting surveys and fieldwork in order to resolve complex contemporary issues.
Interdisciplinary Seminar
Each student will receive support for his/her program research jointly provided by his/her graduate school academic advisor (the instructor who recommended the student to the program) and his/her tutorial instructor teaching the Tutorial course. Their support includes coordination between the student’s program research and master’s thesis research, guidance on research report writing, and course guidance to solidify a course plan as well as a theme and concept of the program research based on the research plan submitted at the time of application. Students are required to earn one credit by attending eight classes (intensive classes are available) in their first year. In principle, the tutorial instructor should be someone specializing in the research area related to the student’s research theme, but should be someone whose specialization differs, to some extent, from the student’s major at the graduate school.
Note: The tutorial instructors who will be in charge of Interdisciplinary Seminar will be selected by the Academic and Student Affairs Subcommittee.
Lecture Series
From among the tutorial instructors assigned to research areas under each agenda, students will choose four instructors for their own research themes and receive instruction from each through Tutorial I, II, III and IV. Tutorial instructors will work with students on their research projects with an expert’s standpoint and provide advice to help students better tackle their projects. Students are required to work on a project that spans two or more research areas and agendas through this course. Students can take the Tutorial course from the same instructor only once.
Tutorial for Master’s Student
From among the tutorial instructors assigned to research areas under each agenda, students will choose four instructors for their own research themes and receive instruction from each through Tutorial I, II, III and IV. Tutorial instructors will work with students on their research projects with an expert’s standpoint and provide advice to help students better tackle their projects. Students are required to work on a project that spans two or more research areas and agendas through this course. Students can take the Tutorial course from the same instructor only once. The goal is to look at your own research from a variety of specialized perspectives, deepen your understanding of the issues, and acquire new ways of thinking and approaching them.
Tutorial for Doctoral Student
From among the tutorial instructors assigned to research areas under each agenda, students will choose three instructors for their own research themes and receive instruction from each through Tutorial for Doctoral Student I, II and III. Tutorial instructors will work with students on their research projects with an expert’s standpoint and provide advice to help students better tackle their projects. Students are required to work on a project that spans two or more research areas and agendas through this course. Students can take the Tutorial course from the same instructor only once. The goal is to look at your own research from a variety of specialized perspectives, deepen your understanding of the issues, and acquire new ways of thinking and approaching them.
Table of Issues and Faculties
Clicking on the tab displays the issue field associated with the agenda.
| Issue Field | Example of Specific Issues | Faculties |
|---|---|---|
| Resources and Energy | Environmental Monitoring with a Focus on Environmental Minerals Resource Development Policy |
ISGS Yoshihiro KUWAHARA (P) Nobuhiko NAKANO (AP) |
| Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Climate Change | Long-Term Disaster Control Measures History of Disasters Climate Change Sustainable Use of Oceans and Lakes |
ISGS Hironobu KAN(P) |
| Environment and Biodiversity | Biodiversity Conservation Exotic Species Issues |
ISGS Kunio ARAYA(P) Junko KUSUMI(AP) |
| Forest Resources | Protection Forest Management Forest Conservation History of Commons |
BBS Conducted by part-time lecturers upon request |
| Agricultural Economy | Shortage of Farm Successors Regional Revitalization through Development of Biomass Industry Food Issues |
BBS Mitsuyasu YABE(P) |
| Sustainable Economic Development | Waste Issues Natural Energy Regional Economy and Science and Technology Management of Commons |
ISGS Kazuo MISUMI(P) GIPAD Atsuo SATO(P) |
| Urban Issues (Migration) | Regional Revitalization Issues concerning Vacant Housing and Absentee Landlords Administrative Support in Accepting Foreign Nationals |
ISGS Geerhardt KORNATOWSKI(AP) |
| Protection of Culture and Ecosystems | Protection of Cultural Properties in Times of Disaster Protection against Vermin |
ISGS Yoshinori TAJIRI(P) |
| Issue Field | Example of Specific Issues | Faculties |
|---|---|---|
| Disaster Phenomena | Mechanisms of Disasters--Floods, Landslides, Tsunamis, etc. Geotechnical Investigation Methods Disaster Simulation |
SE Hemanta HAZARIKA(P) Yasuhiro MITANI(P) |
| Disaster Prevention and Reduction | Making Houses Quake-Resistant Measures to Protect against Mudflow Disasters Use of IoT and AI for Disaster Prevention and Reduction History of Disaster Preparedness and Response |
SE Hemanta HAZARIKA(P) Yasuhiro MITANI(P) |
| Sociology of Disaster | Local Disaster Preparedness Plan Effective Evacuation Drills Development of Systems for Disaster Response and Post-Disaster Reconstruction |
SE Yasuhiro MITANI(P) |
| Governance | Risk Communication Risk Management Disaster Damage (Economic Loss) Assessment Global Governance in Disasters |
ISGS Teruhisa SE(P) |
| Conflicts and States and Society | Ethnic Minorities Issues Concerning Historical Perceptions Reconstruction of Collapsed States and Failed States |
ISGS Dai YAMAO(AP) Matthew AUGUSTINE(AP) GIPAD Atsuo SATO(P) |
| Non-Traditional Security Issues | Cross-Border Crime and Terrorism Human Trafficking Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases |
ISGS Takeshi ONIMARU(P) |
| Environment and Ecology | Societal Conservation of Farmland Sustainable Lifestyle Post-Disaster Reconstruction and Environment (Garbage, Landscapes and Ecosystems) |
SE Conducted by part-time lecturers upon request |
| Mobility and Culture and Society | Education for Successful Multicultural Society History of Risk Management |
ISGS Koji ITO(P) yosuke KOBAYASHI(AP) |
| Issue Field | Example of Specific Issues | Faculties |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Information and Remote Medical Technology | Issues of Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases Community Health Management Disparities in Quality of Health Care |
MS Naoki NAKASHIMA(P) |
| Human Development and Intelligence | Evolutionary Foundation of Cognition and Communication ＡＩ Support for Developmental Disabilities Information Appliances and Education |
HES Kazuhide HASHIYA(P) ISEE Daisuke IKEDA(AP) Tesshu Hanaka(AP) Brian Kenji Iwana(AP) |
| Family | Gender Child Poverty Issues Caregiver Support |
HES Akiko YAMASHITA(AP) Toshiko NONOMURA(P) |
| Welfare | Community Welfare Caregiving Equipment Community Health Care |
HES Akiko YAMASHITA(AP) |
| Community | Inbound Tourism Policy Regional Currency Measures to Combat Depopulation |
ISGS Kazuo MISUMI(P) Yuichiro FUJIOKA(AP) |
| Regional Culture and Landscapes | Regional Tourism, Tourism and Community Design Regional Culture and Scenery Multicultural Symbiosis |
ISGS Fukachi FURUKAWA(L) |
| Use and Preservation of Historical Materials | Use of Content Digital Preservation of Historical Materials |
ISGS Tsuyoshi NAMIGATA(P) |
| Local Autonomy |
Intergovernmental Relations between Central and Local Governments, Decentralization, Regional Revitalization Public Finance Issues Role of Central and Local Governments in Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Preparations for Volunteers in Disasters Problems of Accepting Foreign Workers in Local Governments |
ISGS Teruhisa SE(P) GIPAD Atsuo SATO(P) |
[Legend]
ISGS: Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Global Society
HES: Graduate School of Human-Environment Studies
SE: Graduate School of Engineering
ISEE: Graduate School of Information Science and Electrical Engineering
MS: Graduate School of Medical Sciences
BBS: Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences
GIPAD: Graduate Program of Interdisciplinary Policy Analysis and Design
P: Professor
AP: Associate Professor
L: Lecturer