The Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences has established the Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Doctoral Course) to develop individuals with a Doctoral degree who can contribute widely to the local and international communities, as stated in the Degree Policy. To efficiently develop students’ abilities as specified in the Degree Policy, academic supervisors set a research supervision plan each year for each student after discussing it with the student. Assistant academic supervisors will also be assigned to promote intramural collaborative research and support students in their research. The research work for the year will be carried out based on the research supervision plan. To be recognized as having completed the Doctoral Course, students must earn 30 credits from subject courses, including a [research for doctoral degree] course in which their basic research skills are examined as a mid-term evaluation. In addition to these 30 credits, students must pass the degree examination, a final examination conducted by multiple teachers (excluding their academic supervisors). The curriculum is organized according to the characteristics of each field of study as follows:

Ability to solve practical problems [Practical skills]

In their research work, students are required to conduct research at the forefront of their research fields and actively make research presentations. As their research reaches an intermediate phase, students will be evaluated for their basic research skills in a [research for doctoral degree] course in which they give a presentation in front of teachers and students from different research fields. In the final step, they will give a presentation on their doctoral dissertations. In the [research for doctoral degree] course, students receive advice from teachers in different fields from their own research field.
Students who wish to become teachers will practice class teaching in the [Global Medical Education Practice] and [Global Dental Education Practice] courses, training and practice courses at the undergraduate school level for special auditors, to acquire a measure of internationality and the ability to plan and implement their activities. Through these classes, students will acquire the practical teaching skills to be leaders of the times and society.

Ability to autonomously inquire [Inquisitive mind]

To have autonomous inquiry skills is necessary to accomplish research, presentations, and dissertation writing. The curricula at the Graduate School are designed to develop highly-skilled people with an inquisitive mind who constantly reflect on themselves, are conscious of their advanced-level aspirations, and make continuous efforts toward self-fulfillment.

Communication that promotes creation of results [Communication skills]

The [Introduction to Basic Medical Sciences] courses, advanced liberal arts courses for students in the first and second enrollment year, provide classes in which students acquire the ability to collect and use information, including academic papers required for their research. Seminars, which students will take throughout the four years, provide opportunities to present their research results in academic conferences and papers, through which students acquire the ability to disseminate information. To cultivate the ability to use information with international awareness, a subject [Global Presentation] is provided in which students deliver a research presentation at international conferences.

Extensive professional skills that lead to knowledge creation [Expertise]

The Doctoral Course covers a wide range of fields of study; hence, it offers multiple degree programs and selective programs. Students take introductory specialized subjects and advanced specialized subjects according to the need for advanced professionals to be trained in each degree program or elective program.

Humanity and general knowledge at the international level [General knowledge]

To raise students’ intellectual curiosity beyond their own research fields and foster a research mindset through learning techniques and skills from a wide range of perspectives, the [Introduction to Basic Medical Sciences] and [Introduction to Clinical Medical Sciences] methodology courses are taught as part of the advanced liberal arts subjects in the first and second years. These courses include the Medical Science Series, a series of classes taught in English to cultivate the students’ internationality. To enhance students’ interest in diverse research fields, study sessions and lectures held on and off campus may also be considered as research methodology classes.

Grading

Mainly, summative evaluation is conducted for lectures, and formative evaluation is conducted for exercises and seminars.

Other

The Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Doctoral Course) of the Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences works to continuously improve its educational methods, led by the School Affairs Committee.

1) Doctoral Degree Program in Medicine

In the field of medicine, in order to develop diverse and outstanding medical professionals who can contribute to a wide range of fields in both the local and international communities, the Division has three elective programs in addition to the Doctoral Degree Program in Medicine: Training of Comprehensive Cancer Researchers and Research Doctors; Training of Glocal Medical Professionals; and Training of Medical Data Science Innovators (MDS).
In addition, to facilitate the efficient acquisition of the abilities specified in the Degree Policy, the curriculum is designed to accommodate working students and international students as follows:

• In the coursework, students take 1) Courses common to students in the Division (advanced liberal arts courses), 2) Courses common to students in the Division (introductory specialized courses), and 3) Advanced specialized courses as required or elective required courses. A variety of elective courses are also offered so that students can achieve self-oriented learning.
• The research work comprises practices in which students collect information, develop a plan, and conduct and record their research under the supervision of the academic supervisor, and seminars in which they logically discuss the purpose of the research, methods, and results. In the [research for doctoral degree] subject, students make a mid-term research presentation in front of teachers and students from other research fields in the Graduate School, receive constructive comments on their research, and are evaluated on their basic research skills by answering questions. These subjects cultivate active communication skills, the ability to act, and internationality.
• In the main, summative evaluation is conducted for lectures, and formative evaluation is conducted for exercises and seminars.

2) Doctoral Degree Program in Dentistry

In the field of dentistry, to develop diverse and outstanding dental professionals who can contribute to a wide range of fields from local communities to the international community, the Division has one elective program, [Borderless Dental Researcher Training], in addition to the Doctoral Degree Program in Dentistry. In addition, to facilitate the efficient acquisition of the abilities specified in the Degree Policy, the curriculum is designed to accommodate also working students and international students as follows:

• In the coursework, students take 1) Courses common to students in the Division (advanced liberal arts courses), 2) Courses common to students in the Division (introductory specialized courses), and 3) Advanced specialized courses as required or elective required courses. A variety of elective courses are also offered so that students can achieve self-oriented learning.
• The research work comprises practices in which students collect information, develop a plan, and conduct and record their research under the supervision of the academic supervisor, and seminars in which they logically discuss the purpose of the research, methods, and results. In the [research for doctoral degree] subject, students make a mid-term research presentation in front of teachers and students from other research fields in the Graduate School, receive constructive comments on their research, and are evaluated on their basic research skills by answering questions. These subjects cultivate active communication skills, the ability to act, and internationality.
• In the main, summative evaluation is conducted for lectures, and formative evaluation is conducted for exercises and seminars.

3) Doctoral Degree Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences

The Doctoral Degree Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences formulates the following curriculum to fulfill the Degree Policy:
Organization policy and learning methods: In the fields of actual clinical practice and related basic research and life science research related to pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics, students are expected to develop advanced abilities as a researcher to identify problems, conduct research, solve problems, and present results by autonomously conducting advanced and original research and practices, become independent as knowledge professionals, and realize their personal goals.

• In the coursework, to provide opportunities for beginning students to acquire the motivation for specialized learning after taking courses common to students in the Division (advanced liberal arts courses), omnibus courses common to students in the Division (introductory specialized courses) are taught by the world’s most advanced pharmaceutical and life science researchers. The specialized courses consist of main subjects and sub-subjects so that students can systematically acquire specialized and advanced knowledge and information on pharmaceutical research from various perspectives.
• The research work consists of practices to develop advanced research skills through practical research and research supervision; seminars in which students conduct research and give presentations at academic conferences by actively utilizing their knowledge and information; presentations at international conferences to develop advanced internationality, academic communication skills, and practical skills; and evaluation of basic research abilities at the midpoint of research work.

Evaluation policy of academic achievement: The academic achievement of a student is evaluated based on the acquisition of the prescribed number of credits, examination of a dissertation describing the research results based on the research work, and a final examination.