Curriculum
This graduate school offers a two-year Master’s Program and a three-year Doctoral Program.
Master's Course
All candidates must complete at least 30 credits of courses, including Special Research I & II
All Master’s Program courses are taught by multiple faculty members. This allows candidates to engage in interdisciplinary and syncretic research and for our faculty to provide in-depth research and study instruction. In some cases, assistant course instructors may specialize in fields different from the course of study.
There is also a “One-Year Course” in Law, Policy and Conflict Resolution Studies and in Law and Public Policy Practice. Enrollment in these courses is limited to a maximum of three candidates per year.
Notes:
- A research presentation symposium is held for candidates majoring in Instructional System Studies to present their research plans.
- These Instructional System Studies courses are an additional two credits.
Requirements for Graduation
Candidates can graduate from a course of study once they have obtained a total of at least 30 credits, including the following:
| A. | Completion of at least 26 credits of courses, including Special Research I and all courses specified as mandatory for their major. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. | Completion of Special Research II (4 credits), which requires passing a final exam and either of the following:
|
Please inquire with our faculty for more details.
Doctoral Course
All candidates must complete at least 14 credits of courses (at least 16 credits when majoring in Instructional System Studies).
Candidates must complete at least 10 credits, including Special Research I, by the end of their second year.
- Breakdown of Required Credits
- In-Major Courses: At least 8 credits (at least 10 credits when majoring in Instructional System Studies)
Integrated Study Course: 2 credits Special Research I: 2 credits Special Research II: 2 credits
All Doctoral Program courses are led by a main instructor and one or two assistant instructors. This allows for our faculty to provide in-depth research and study instruction.
Candidates are strongly recommended to conduct a research project as set in the curriculum, or to proactively participate and present research findings in extracurricular research symposia or academic conferences.
Graduation Requirements
Doctoral candidates must enroll for at least three years, take at least 14 credits of courses (at least 16 when majoring in Instructional System Studies), receive the necessary research instruction, write and defend a doctoral thesis, and pass a final exam. Candidates who have produced outstanding research results may be able to graduate after two years of enrollment.
However, candidates who have completed their Master’s at Kumamoto University or another educational institution in just one year must enroll in the Doctoral Program for at least 2 years.