Educational Policy of School of Agriculture（Bachelor's Degree Courses）
Fundamental Educational Goals
The School of Agriculture aims to enhance educational activities that pave the way for “agriculture that supports the sustainable development of humanity.” Through broad-based foundational education in the Department of Agriculture and specialized education in the subsequent five programs (Biological Production, Agricultural and Biological Chemistry, Plant Science, Animal Science, Environmental Science), the school fosters high-level comprehensive abilities that encompass the acquisition of specialized agricultural knowledge and its application to societal implementation. Additionally, through close dialogue and discussions among students and faculty, the school supports the cultivation of rich human qualities in everyone. The goal is to develop individuals with high-level comprehensive abilities and character, who can play a central role in various fields both domestically and internationally, while contributing to the realization of a “living in harmony with Earth” that is rich and flourishing.
Exemplary Students
The Fundamental Educational Goals outlined in the program are interpreted as follows: the “comprehensive abilities that include acquiring specialized agricultural knowledge and applying it to societal implementation” are viewed as Specialized Ability and Inquiry Ability; “close dialogue and discussions among students and faculty” as Communication Ability; “rich human qualities” as Liberal Arts Ability; and “playing a central role in various fields both domestically and internationally” as Implementation Ability. Based on the philosophy and objectives of the school, the program aims to cultivate students who can contribute to the challenge of realizing a “living in harmony with Earth” with the core keywords of Earth, Humanity, and Agriculture.
Students who can contribute to the challenge of realizing a living in harmony with Earth with the core keywords of Earth, Humanity, and Agriculture.
We will foster individuals to develop the following five abilities:
〇 Implementation ability to identify and tackle challenges independently.
〇 Inquiry ability to discover challenges based on a foundation of liberal arts and specialized knowledge.
〇 Communication ability to engage in discussions with individuals from various fields during the problem-solving process.
〇 Specialized ability to possess fundamental and systematic expertise in each of the five programs.
〇 Liberal arts ability to maintain interest in and a commitment to learning about all fields related to agriculture, including Earth and Humanity.
Policy for Graduation Certification and Degree Awarding (Degree Policy)
The School of Agriculture awards degrees to exemplary students who have studied for the prescribed period of time, acquired the following competences, and earned the credits required for graduation.
Abilities acquired: Implementation Ability, Inquiry Ability, Communication Ability, Specialized Ability, Liberal Arts Ability
【Implementation Ability】Implementation ability to identify and tackle challenges independently
This is the ability to apply one's practical skills toward the realization of a sustainable global coexistence system, addressing issues ranging from local to global that are covered by the education in the School of Agriculture.
【Inquiry Ability】Inquiry ability to discover challenges based on a foundation of liberal arts and specialized knowledge
This is the ability to independently and comprehensively investigate and identify challenges deemed essential for future progress.
【Communication Ability】Communication ability to engage in discussions with individuals from various fields during the problem-solving process.
This is the ability to engage with diverse individuals, accurately convey one's own thoughts and opinions, and discover better solutions by listening to and understanding the perspectives of others.
【Specialized Ability】Specialized ability to possess fundamental and systematic expertise in each of the five programs
This is the ability to effectively utilize the foundational knowledge and skills acquired in each of the five programs.
【Liberal Arts Ability】Liberal arts ability to maintain interest in and a commitment to learning about all fields, including Earth and Humanity, that are related to agriculture
This is the ability to maintain a broad interest in and continued learning of themes ranging from local issues related to “food” and “the environment” to global themes of planetary coexistence.
Policy for Curriculum Planning and Implementation (Curriculum Policy)
To develop individuals who have mastered the abilities set out in the Policy for Graduation Certification and Degree Awarding (Degree Policy), the School of Agriculture organizes and implements curricula based on the following educational policies and principles.
Education Implementation Policy
The School of Agriculture provides education that helps students develop the ability to continue learning independently in order to realize a harmonious global coexistence.
Education Principles
The following educational content is provided, from the perspective of proactive and interactive deep learning, with emphasis on what students have become able to do, rather than what has been taught.
【General Education】
In addition to education aimed at developing the general skills required of all students, the School of Agriculture provides essential introductory lectures to cultivate the “liberal arts ability” befitting a Bachelor degree in Agriculture. Specifically, alongside General Education Courses, lectures such as “Introduction to Agricultural Science,” “Introduction to Agriculture,” and “Japanese Agricultural Studies” are offered to help students understand the broad scope of agriculture and foster an agricultural mindset focused on addressing the diverse challenges necessary for achieving a sustainable society.
In addition to lectures, practical training courses are provided that offer real life experiences in agricultural production and collaboration. Also, experiential training that would be difficult to implement solely at this university are offered through the Chugoku-Shikoku credit transfer system, which includes exchanges with students from other universities.
Moreover, given the increasing importance of mathematical and data sciences in recent years, a foundational course in these areas is offered as a compulsory subject in the first year.
【Specialized Education】
First year: Foundational courses in agricultural science
Second year: Basic courses in specialized fields for respective programs
Third year: Graduation thesis research unit specialized subjects
Fourth year: Learning from foundational to advanced major programs, including graduation thesis research
Each program and education unit has a model curriculum with clearly defined learning objectives, identifying core courses to ensure students develop the necessary competencies.
The specialized education offered by each program is as follows.
【Biological Production】
The Biological Production Program provides education that cultivates the ability to tackle challenges from diverse perspectives by integrating biology, engineering, economics, and information technology. This enables students to gain a deep understanding of agricultural products and their production systems.
【Agricultural and Biological Chemistry】
The Agricultural and Biological Chemistry Program offers education that enables students to study metabolites, glycans, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and other substances at the molecular level across various organisms. It equips students to elucidate life phenomena occurring inside and outside cells from a chemical perspective and to learn and master methodologies with broad applications ranging from food and pharmaceutical development to environmental conservation.
【Plant Science】
The Plant Science Program provides a thorough education in crop breeding, production, and quality management, with the aim of enhancing crop productivity in a sustainable way. By integrating molecular, genetic, chromosomal, and organismal perspectives, the program equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address global challenges such as population growth, climate change, and diseases.
【Animal Science】
The Animal Science Program cultivates students’ ability to understand the biological processes underlying animal reproduction, growth, disease prevention and management, and the maintenance of animal health. The program provides education that equips students with both fundamental knowledge and applied skills, enabling them to contribute to the development of safe and efficient technologies for animal production and livestock-derived foods, as well as to advances across the broader field of animal life sciences—including support for human health and medicine.
【Environmental Science】
The Environmental Science Program offers education that enables students to learn and master the relationships between the environment and humans across various scales, from local to global. This includes the structure and function of biological communities and ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, rivers, and farmland; the mechanisms for creating and maintaining biodiversity; as well as rural and environmental policy, and the connections between the environment and business.
The curriculum is designed to enhance students' systematic acquisition of knowledge, skills, and techniques by gradually increasing specialization through foundational lectures, followed by experiments and practical training. This not only hones the “specialized ability” required to be a highly skilled professional but also increases opportunities for collaboration and communication. Mathematical and data science education is essential within specialized education and is incorporated into exercises, practical training, experiments, and graduation thesis research tailored to each specialty.
Throughout various practical lectures, experiments, training, and exercises from the first to the third year, and culminating in the graduation thesis research in the fourth year, students develop “inquiry ability” based on the knowledge and experience acquired at the School of Agriculture. They also cultivate “implementation ability,” maintaining a lifelong learning desire and contributing to the advancement of agriculture in today’s world.
【Language Education】
To prepare students for success in a global society and to foster interaction with international students from diverse countries and regions studying at the School of Agriculture, we actively provide opportunities to enhance English proficiency and communication skills. English lectures are offered to GDP students, including both international and Japanese students. Additionally, from the third year onwards, in the graduation thesis education units, we provide additional opportunities to develop listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills in English, which serves as the common language for research communication.
Educational Methods
The aforementioned educational content is provided in the following ways.
(1) We will implement educational methods that proactively expand students' potential. Through general education where people interact, specialized education where knowledge converges, and language education where words intersect, we will implement educational methods that promote mutual understanding and personal growth, enabling students to expand their potential.
(2) The educational system takes advantage of the unified department structure followed by five specialized programs. In the first year, students acquire a broad foundation of knowledge in agriculture. After identifying their interests and aptitudes, they are assigned to one of the five programs from the second year onwards, where they take major programs to develop “specialized abilities.” In the fourth year, through the advanced and practical research experience of their graduation thesis, students cultivate the ability to learn independently, then logically summarize, express, and act on their specialized information. This approach emphasizes respecting one’s own specialty while engaging with various other fields, fostering collaborative thinking, action, creation, and growth across all programs.
(3) Practical educational programs aligned with student development are offered, including study abroad programs, internships, and practicums that connect students with the local community and the world.
(4) The Assisted Reproductive Technology Career Development Course, established through collaboration between the Faculty of Health Sciences in the Medical School and the School of Agriculture, aims to cultivate highly skilled technicians in assisted reproductive technology through a systematic educational program.
(5) The School of Agriculture’s unique International Special Course offers a program where Japanese students who aim to contribute to the international community and international students, primarily from Asian countries, can grow through competition and cooperation with each other.
Academic Performance Evaluation Policy
The evaluation of course performance will be based on criteria and methods that are clearly outlined in advance and the learning outcomes will be assessed accordingly.
Extracurricular Education Policy
Students are provided with extracurricular activities to enable them to understand their personal development beyond classroom learning.