Course-by-Course Education Program to Cultivate Researchers in Physical Sciences with Broad Perspectives

Program Overview

The Program is provided jointly by the School of Physical Sciences and the School of High Energy Accelerator Science. It seeks to foster researchers in the field of physical sciences who are fully equipped with a high degree of professional qualities as well as broad perspective and international competence to meet the needs of society. In the 1st to 2nd years of the 5-year doctoral course, the Program focuses on building basic academic skills at the graduate school level. In the 3rd to 5th years of the 5-year doctoral course students are placed according to their aptitude into one of the following four courses: Basic Course*, Advanced Research Course, Project Research Course (available only in the School of Physical Sciences), and Development Research Course (available only in the School of Physical Sciences).
* For newly enrolled students in or after 2018, though basic course can not be selected / completed, course subject registration(credit acquisition)is available .

Comprehensive graduate-level basic education in the 1st and 2nd years of the 5-year doctoral course

The 1st and 2nd years of the 5-year doctoral course has "Comprehensive Subjects" (e.g. Freshman Course) and "Common Specialized Basic Subjects" that offer lectures on basic physical sciences related to specialized fields specific to individual majors.
"Special Study on Physical Sciences," which can be taken during the 1st and 2nd years of the 5-year doctoral course, have a laboratory rotation system that allows students to participate in actual research, for about one month in each lab.
The broad perspective and strong expertise in physical sciences that students gain from this basic education prepares them for the course-specific education they choose for the 3rd through 5th years of their 5-year doctoral course.

Please refer to the following link for " Special Study on Physical Sciences (Laboratory Rotation) ".

Course-by-Course Education Program

I Advanced Research Course (Compulsory course subject: "Seminar on Advanced Physical Science Research," "Exercise on Advanced Physical Science Research")
Students participate in an overseas internship at a research lab directed by a forefront researcher in the field.
Students pursue advanced research in their disciplines through international joint research, etc.

II Development Research Course (Compulsory course subject: "Seminar on Research and Development,"
"Exercise of Research and Development")
This course seeks to nurture researchers who are capable of exercising leadership in the development of
highly practical technologies based on unique and cutting-edge R&D projects at parent institutes.

III Project Research Course (Compulsory course subject: "Special Program of Big Project Research,"
"Exercise on Project Research")
This course seeks to nurture researchers capable of becoming big project research leaders through their
ability to plan and advance big project research.

IV Basic Course (Take subjects which are determined the by Individual Departments in the School of Physical
Sciences, and by the School of High Energy Accelerator Science)
This course seeks to produce research personnel with advanced research abilities and broad perspective
whose general capabilities enable them to make contributions to society.

New and Continuing Course Applications

[New Course Applications]

Students who wish to choose a course in or after 2019 newly should submit "(Form 1) Application for Course Subject" to the Program Committee.
Also, "Subject Registration" for course completion should be submitted to the department office.
*For newly enrolled students in or after 2018, though basic course can not be selected / completed, course subject registration(credit acquisition)is available.

[Continuing Course Applications]

Students whose course selection was approved by AY 2017 must submit "(Form 10) Instruction Plan for the Research" to continue their course in AY2020.
For further information, see the Guideline of Course-by-Course Education Program in the Physical Sciences.

*For students whose course selection was approved in or after 2018, the above forms are not needed to continue the course, as it will update automatically .

With the course application, the Course Registration paper (Rishu-Todoke) for the required subjects in the course should also be submitted to the department office.

Regarding Credit Approvals (New and Continuing)

The Advanced Research Course, Project Research Course and Development Research Course require students to apply to have their credits approved for the subjects they take in fulfillment of their course.
While applications for credit approval are accepted at any time, students must apply no later than the review period for course completion approval (in July or February).

○ Advanced Research Course

[Required Subject s]
"Seminar on Advanced Physical Science Research (4 credits)" and "Exercise on Advanced Physical Science Research (4 credits)"
[Forms to Submit]
"(Form 4-1) Travel Report" and, if the total number of internship days is less than 90, an "Internship Explanation" written by the student's supervisor

When requesting credit approval following an internship, students should select ''1. I am applying for the credit accreditation as I have completed the internships.'' when submitting their Travel Report.
If the designated number of days has been satisfied by the internship, the supervisor will submit a report and the department will approve the credits.
If the designated number of days has not been satisfied by the internship, the Program Committee will verify that the internship produced sufficient enough results to confer credits based on the "Internship Explanation" received from the student's supervisor.
The Program Committee will also verify all of the student's travel reports using "Form 4-1 Travel Report" and determine whether the requirements for credit approval have been satisfied. If so, the Program Committee will then approve the credits.

○ Project Research Course

[Required Subject s]
"Special Program of Big Project Research (2 credits)" and "Exercise on Project Research (4 credits)"
[Forms to Submit]
"Project Plan" or "Report"
[Classroom-based Lecture Subject s]
Like ordinary subjects, the subject's main instructor will report grades and approve credits.
[Other t han Classroom-based Lecture Subject s]
Once the "Project Plan" or "Report" has been verified by the student's supervisor and submitted, the Program Committee will verify it and approve the credits.

○ Development Research Course

[Required Subject s]
"Seminar on Research and Development (2 credits)" and "Exercise of Research and Development (4 credits)"
[Forms to Submit]
Copy of patent proposals, etc. and a patent statement confirming that the department has received the patent applications. Patent receipts received if patent applications were submitted, and documents related to the patent proposal, such as the Unexamined Patent Application Publication.
[Classroom-based Lecture Subject s]
Like ordinary subjects, the subject's main instructor will report grades and approve credits.
[Other t han Classroom-based Lecture Subject s]
Once verified by the student's supervisor and submitted, copies of the patent proposal forms designated by the student's department are submitted to the Program Committee together with a patent statement confirming that the student's department has received any patent applications.
The Program Committee approves the credits after verifying any patent receipts for the patent applications and other documents related to the patent proposal, such as the Unexamined Patent Application Publication.

Approval of Course Completion (New and Continuing)

Students expecting to complete their course should submit a "(Form 8-1) Course Completion Report" to their department office by the designated deadline immediately prior to their dissertation review period (in March or September).
Students in the Advanced Research Course, Project Research Course or Development Research Course should also submit "(Form 8-2 / 8-3 / 8-4) Course Completion Report" and the designated supporting materials required for course completion.
Course completion approvals will be reviewed and decided at the Program Committee meetings in March and September.
Students for whom course completion has been approved receive their Certificate of Course Completion.

Guidelines and Forms

Other

● For Students Matriculating in AY2018
For newly enrolled students in or after 2018, though basic course can not be selected / completed,　course subject registration(credit acquisition)is available .

● Grant
The Program provides no grant.
Students who need grant to cover internship-related expenses (e.g. airfare, accommodations, etc.) as part of their course (e.g. Advanced Research Course) may apply for funding through campus-wide opportunities, such as the "SOKENDAI Student Dispatch Program."

Additionally, with prior approval, students may also be able to use budget from their department's management expenses grants or supervisor's research budget for course expenses.

● Renewal of the Application Forms
The related application forms above have been renewed since AY 2021. The students currently taking the subjects are also requested to use the new forms.
All the forms can be submitted by the electronic data since the seals are no longer required in the new forms.
Please note that the Form 10 is not revised; however, the seal is not needed if submitted with the academic supervisor's approval.

● Transitional Arrangements for Discontinueing "Course-by-Course Education Program"
"Course-by-Course Education Program" will be discontinue at the end of the AY2022 due to the curriculum restructuring for the AY2023.
For details, please click here ->>> Announcement for the Transitional Arrangements

Contact Information Regarding the Program Procedures

Program Administration Section, Academic and Students Affairs Division
SOKENDAI(The Graduate University for Advanced Studies)
Shonan Village, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0193
Tel: 046-858-1531/1583
Mail: gshien(at)ml.soken.ac.jp