Curriculum Policy of School of Science
School of Science
The curriculum in the Faculty of Science has been meticulously designed to cultivate the knowledge and abilities outlined in the diploma policy. These abilities include: education combined with a sense of humanity; specialization with a purpose; effective information processing; the ability to become a leader in contemporary society; and the lifelong pursuit of self-realization.
In this faculty, each department has established a 4-year educational program. In the first year, students obtain basic knowledge and skills to study natural science through major foundation courses common to all departments and major courses in each department. In addition, all students study the required general education courses. The proportion of major courses to study will be higher in the second year. In the third year, students take more advanced lectures and interdisciplinary lectures. Moreover, lab experiments and seminars are offered for students to practice, confirm, and more deeply understand the knowledge mastered in their major courses. In the fourth year, discipline-specific education is provided centering on theme-based studies and seminars in assigned laboratories. By conducting advanced research on their own, students can acquire expertise and practical ability to respond to society's needs.
Department of Mathematics
The Department of Mathematics aims to develop researchers who can explore various fields, such as education with the active use of knowledge of the natural sciences, especially of mathematical sciences. Students can develop a broad perspective, logical thinking ability, ethics in science, high-level research skills, activity to take action, and a sense of internationality. For this reason, we have set up our own major courses for students to learn the beautiful theoretical systems interwoven with the concepts of contemporary mathematics, including numbers and spaces and their harmony from the basics without difficulty. We also focus on information-related courses using computer technology. Furthermore, students select a variety of general education courses and major foundation courses common to the Faculty of Science in order to understand not only natural sciences, but also social sciences and global problems in order to make a contribution to the sustainable development of humanity. The Department of Mathematics has established a 4-year educational program. In the first year, students study general education courses as well as fundamental materials in mathematics. In addition to lectures, there is time for exercises to deepen their understanding of mathematical problems, and to learn to think logically and express their ideas clearly. In the second year, we will lay the foundation for full-scale mathematics learning. In addition to the fields of algebra, analysis, and geometry, there are courses related to the foundation of computer networks. Students are given more time for exercises in order to deepen their interaction with faculty members. In the third year, students will learn more advanced and professional subjects. Students will concentrate on their major fields of study by participating in small seminar-style classes, using a textbook. Students will also learn practical skills related to information processing and programming in their third year. Under the guidance of their supervising teacher, fourth-year students will focus on “theme-based studies” to explore their chosen field in depth. This is a summary of 4-year course, in which students develop specialized knowledge and practical application skills to meet the needs of society. The Department of Mathematics offers a variety of lessons, exercises, and seminars in class sizes of no larger than twenty students in each year. The curriculum is organized in such a way that motivated students will naturally acquire oral presentation skills, communication skills, and a sense of internationality. Moreover, throughout their four years, students can take advantage of the wide range of materials in the Mathematics Library, and lay the foundation for the systematic understanding of mathematics as an academic discipline.
Department of Physics
The Department of Physics in the Faculty of Science seeks to foster individuals with a broad perspective, to think scientifically, make logical decisions and contribute to society. For this reason, the Department of Physics has prepared a specialized curriculum mainly on physics to find the reasons for natural phenomena. Students not only learn to understand the various problems related to the sustainable development of humanity, but also study various general education courses and major courses common throughout the Faculty of Science and information education courses.
In the Department of Physics, students will be given a complete 4-year course of study. In the first year, students will take major foundation courses and other major courses, such as mechanics and physics experiments, in addition to general education courses. Students will also learn English and mathematics, both of which are indispensable for learning physics. In the second year, subjects such as electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, oscillation and wave, and thermodynamics are offered, with an increase in the ratio of major courses. Seminars are also offered to deepen the understanding of these basic subjects. For students after the third year, major courses at the higher level, such as solid-state physics, particle and nuclear physics are offered, in addition to statistical mechanics and theory of relativity as core subjects of modern physics. The Department of Physics provides a curriculum for systematic learning from the subjects students study in their first and second years to their classes in the higher years. Students in the first through third years are divided into small groups in the physics experiment classes in order to deepen their understanding of lab work and training. Students choose a laboratory in experiment or theory in their fourth year and conduct graduation research (theme-based study of physics). Students are assigned to a laboratory and, in small groups, given comprehensive guidance on research and presentation skills.
For the study of physics, it is important to learn step-by-step. Therefore, the curriculum of the department of physics is designed to help students reach a level high enough to perform state-of-the-art research and acquire the specialized knowledge to be active as a science expert. This is accomplished by taking core and specialized subjects and learning from lectures and seminars, as a basis for future learning and professional growth.
Department of Chemistry
The purpose of the education in the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Science is to nurture researchers with specialized knowledge, who are able to explore new research fields based on a broad perspective, a logical thinking ability, scientific ethics, and a high research ability, and also to develop human resources to be active in various fields of society, including education. The discipline-specific courses are designed to ensure that all students understand chemistry such as structures, physical and chemical properties, and reactions of substances from both microscopic and macroscopic viewpoints. Moreover, students select various general education courses and major foundation courses in the Faculty of Science to understand global issues in the natural sciences, as well as those in the social sciences so that they are able to contribute to the sustainable development of mankind.
The Department of Chemistry provides a 4-year educational program to ensure that students become capable of understanding a wide perspective of chemistry. In the first year, students will take major foundation courses and basic courses in the students’ major, in addition to general education courses. The purpose of the first-year educational courses is to ensure that students gain a broad understanding of the natural sciences from both theoretical and experimental aspects, and to acquire a basic knowledge of English and mathematics. In the second year, the proportion of specialized education courses will increase. The major courses are introduced in a step-by-step manner to ensure that the students acquire fundamental knowledge of organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, and quantum chemistry. In the third year, students will take major courses in the above-mentioned chemistry fields and in inter-disciplinary areas to systematically understand the chemistry and materials. To gain a deeper understanding and more specialized knowledge, students from their second year will take experiment classes in which they will conduct labwork. By doing their own experiments, we believe their scientific thinking ability will also be developed. The curriculum is designed for students to acquire a research methodology, namely, ‘observing-hypothesizing-demonstrating-reporting’, which is common to natural sciences. In the fourth year, students will concentrate on their theme-based studies and research seminar in chemistry. By conducting their own state-of-the-art research, students will acquire expert knowledge and practical skills to meet the needs of society.
The curriculum of the Department of Chemistry is organized to offer small size classes promoting active learning, seminars, and many experiments. The curriculum is designed so that students can actively take these subjects and acquire the necessary skills to process information, write well-organized and high quality reports, give effective oral presentations, and improve their communicative ability to function in today's globalized society.
Department of Biology
The Department of Biology, Faculty of Science encourages students to acquire a broad vision, logical thinking ability, scientific ethics, a high research ability, dynamism and internationality. We aim to foster researchers who can explore new fields by using their expertise in the natural sciences, especially biology, and to develop the human resources for various areas of society, including education.
To achieve this goal, we have designed a comprehensive curriculum for students to understand the fundamental principles of life activities in a multifaceted manner from a whole being, then tissues to cells and molecular levels.
In addition, students can select from a variety of general education subjects and specialized fundamental subjects in the Faculty of Science. In doing so, they will understand not only the natural sciences but also the social sciences, including global issues. We hope that our students will contribute to the sustainable development of human society. In their first year, students will study specialized fundamental subjects and basic specialized education subjects of biology, in addition to general education subjects. We will nurture students to understand the natural sciences thoroughly through the study of both theory and laboratory experiments. We aim to equip students with a strong foundation of English, mathematics, physics and chemistry. In their second year, the proportion of subjects focusing on their majors will increase. Courses, which are the foundation of modern biology, are offered, such as biochemistry, genetics, molecular genetics, cell biology, immune biology, developmental biology, plant development physiology and phylogenetic biology. Students will also take laboratory experiment courses, which will expose them to the basics of biological experiments. In their third year, in order to better understand each field of biology, students can take more advanced lectures and interdisciplinary lectures. In addition, students can devote more time to laboratory experimental coursework to practice and check their knowledge more deeply. The laboratory experimental coursework will also develop their scientific thinking skills. The curriculum is designed for students to acquire sound research methodology, namely, ‘observing-hypothesizing-demonstrating-reporting’ which is common to the natural sciences. In their fourth year, we offer a substantial professional education centered on thesis research and biology seminars in the affiliated laboratories. By undertaking cutting-edge research, students can acquire expert knowledge and practical skills to meet the needs of society.
In the Department of Biology, we offer small size classes promoting active learning, seminars, and many experiments. By joining the Department of Biology, students can acquire the skills necessary for information processing, reporting, presenting, effective communication, and functioning in today's international society.
Department of Earth Sciences
The educational goal of the Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, is to educate our human resources to be active in various fields of the society. Our curriculum provides a range of coursework for students to acquire a broad knowledge of the Earth sciences, and to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of the Earth. Students will also take various general education courses, in order to acquire knowledge of liberal arts and a true sense of humanity useful for life after graduation. Through our program, students will learn to think logically, solve problems, understand ethics in science, and gain a broad perspective, all of which are critical in becoming a global citizen.
The curriculum of the Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, is designed to be a four-year educational program. In the first year, students will take a number of fundamental courses in Earth Science, in addition to general education and major foundation courses in science. In the second year, discipline-specific education courses in the fields of mineral sciences, petrology, geology, geochemistry, geophysics, and atmospheric sciences will be offered. In addition, students begin to enroll in laboratory experiments by choosing from elective required courses. These laboratory experiments will allow them to practice, confirm, and understand the knowledge they gained from the lectures. In the third year, students will take advanced courses in Earth science, as well as courses in interdisciplinary fields. In addition to the laboratory experiments, field experiment and observation courses will be offered as elective courses to gain the ability to observe and analyze the scientific phenomena of the Earth. The curriculum will allow students to acquire sound research methodology, namely, ‘observing-hypothesizing-demonstrating-reporting’ which is common to the Earth sciences. In their fourth year, students are assigned to a research laboratory for a highly concentrated discipline-specific education through seminars and thesis research. By conducting their own advanced research, students will acquire specialized knowledge, which will enable them to develop their problem solving skills, and to respond to the demands of society.
In the Department of Earth Sciences, we offer small size classes promoting active learning, seminars, and many laboratory experiments. By joining the Department of Earth Sciences, students will be able to acquire the skills necessary for information processing, reporting, presenting, effective communication, and surviving in today's international society.