The Doctoral Course of the Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science is an interdisciplinary medical graduate school that contributes to Japan and the region as a center of education, research, and advanced medical treatment in the fields of medicine, dentistry, and pharmaceutical sciences. The Doctoral Course will, by creating research results that are highly recognized by the international community and widely utilized in the local community, develop researchers capable of engaging in research independently, demonstrating their creativity; medical professionals with advanced expertise and ethics based on their true sense of humanity; and university teachers demonstrating leadership in the education, research and medical fields. To accomplish this, students are expected to develop the following practical skills, an inquisitive mind, communications skills, expertise in the specialized field, and general knowledge.

Ability to solve practical problems [Practical skills]

The ability to take the initiative to lead society in their fields of study with an international mindset in response to globalization and build a new framework for realizing a sustainable society by solving problems that arise every day

Ability to autonomously inquire [Inquisitive mind]

The ability to set long-term and short-term tasks and develop skills in each phase from basic to social empirical research while maintaining high motivation to learn and realize self-fulfillment and contribute to the development of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy throughout their life

Communication that promotes creation of results [Communication skills]

The ability to properly communicate to others information they have collected and what they have analyzed in a wide range of research areas and to summarize the opinions of people in their team or unit and provide appropriate direction

Extensive professional skills that lead to knowledge creation [Expertise]

The ability to address issues, not constrained by the boundaries of research fields, with extensive advanced knowledge, skills, and approaches in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy, which in turn will contribute to society

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

The ability to identify academic problems based on their extensive knowledge and to think logically, judge, and be creative to solve those problems, with rich knowledge at the international level supported by their humanity and sense of ethics as a researcher

To be conferred a Doctoral degree (in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or philosophy), a student must earn the prescribed credits, receive research supervision, write and present a dissertation, undergo the degree examination, and pass the final examination. Throughout this process, students must gradually expand the horizon of human knowledge and demonstrate their perspectives and understanding of humanity, society, and nature based on reason. The procedures for students to submit a dissertation are specified in Instructions of Doctoral Dissertation, an open handbook. Members of the Degree Examination Committee will be selected by the School Affairs Committee. Students will present their dissertations in front of this Degree Examination Committee. The Faculty Council will make the final judgment whether a degree is conferred or not based on the examination report.

1) Doctoral Degree Program in Medicine

The Doctoral Degree Program in Medicine develops highly specialized medical professionals with extensive medical knowledge and advanced research skills who can provide highly advanced medical treatment as well as community medicine; teachers of higher education with solid teaching and research skills in medicine and medical treatment; and researchers in the fields of medicine and medical treatment who can play an active role on an interdisciplinary and international basis with creative and outstanding research and development skills.

For example, we envision advanced clinical research doctors who use advanced medical technology to treat cancer and intractable diseases, advanced general clinicians who are active in various aspects of medicine based on their deep understanding and insight into the life sciences, university teachers who develop future generations of medicine by expanding human wisdom in the medical and life science fields and implementing it in society, and researchers who play an active role in research institutes and companies in Japan and abroad related to medicine and life sciences.

The degree of Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Philosophy will be conferred on a student who satisfies the following two requirements:

In the coursework, students must earn the required credits by taking courses in accordance with the systematic curriculum consisting of courses common to students in the Division (advanced liberal arts courses), courses common to students in the Division (introductory specialized courses), and advanced specialized courses to acquire practical skills, an inquisitive mind, communication skills, expertise, and general knowledge. In the research work, students take practice courses to actively work on their research projects under the supervision of their academic supervisor, write a dissertation challenging the horizon of human wisdom, and pass the degree examination and the final examination. In seminars and research for doctoral degree courses, students must actively demonstrate that their ability to think logically, conduct research, and be persuasive meet the prescribed standards by presenting and discussing their research results.

2) Doctoral Degree Program in Dentistry

The Doctoral Degree Program in Dentistry develops highly specialized medical professionals with extensive dental science knowledge and advanced research skills who can provide highly advanced medical treatment as well as community medicine; university teachers with solid teaching and research skills in dental medicine and dental medical treatment; and researchers in the fields of dental medicine and dental medical treatment who can play an active role on an interdisciplinary and international basis with creative and outstanding research and development skills.

For example, we envision general clinical dentists who are active in various aspects of dentistry based on their deep understanding and insight into the life sciences, advanced clinical dentists with a research-oriented mindset who provide treatment making full use of advanced dental technology, university teachers who develop future generations of dental medicine by expanding human wisdom in the dental medicine and life science fields and implementing it in society, and researchers who play an active role in research institutes and companies in Japan and abroad related to dental medicine and life sciences.

The degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine or Doctor of Philosophy will be conferred on students who satisfy the following two requirements: In the coursework, students must earn the required credits by taking courses in accordance with the systematic curriculum consisting of courses common to students in the Division (advanced liberal arts courses), courses common to students in the Division (introductory specialized courses), and advanced specialized courses to acquire practical skills, an inquisitive mind, communication skills, expertise, and general knowledge. In the research work, students take practice courses where they actively work on their research projects under the supervision of their academic supervisors and challenge the limits of human wisdom. In seminars and research for doctoral degree courses, students must actively demonstrate that their ability to think logically, conduct research, and be persuasive meet the prescribed standards by presenting and discussing their research results. As the final step, students write a dissertation for the Doctoral degree and must pass the degree examination and the final examination.

3) Doctoral Degree Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences

The Doctoral Degree Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences promotes research and education at an international standard that leads the fields of pharmacy, pharmacotherapeutics, and related fields, and contributes broadly to human health. Through these research and educational activities, the Program develops pharmacy researchers, university teachers, leading advanced pharmacists, and advanced professionals with deep academic knowledge, advanced expertise, the ability to act and lead society, and the motivation to continue to grow independently. To accomplish this, students are expected to develop the following qualities and abilities:

Practical ability: The practical ability to lead society and work to realize a sustainable society based on an international mindset in response to the globalization of pharmacy and academic communication skills

Inquisitive mind: The ability to pursue lifelong personal development and continue studying with a high level of academic motivation to contribute to the development of pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics

Communication skills: The ability to collect and analyze information in a wide range of pharmacy-related fields independently and appropriately and to utilize and communicate this information appropriately

Expertise: Extensive expertise and skills in pharmacy, pharmacotherapeutics, and related fields

General knowledge: A rich, international-level knowledge that serves as a foundation for problem identification and solution skills, humanity, and a sense of ethics

The Doctoral Degree Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences expects its students to develop the qualities and abilities stated above, acquire world-class extensive academic knowledge suitable for knowledge professionals who lead the pharmacy, pharmacotherapeutics, and related fields, and acquire advanced research skills to identify and solve problems in various aspects of health and medicine, from basic research to social research. The Program will confer the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy or Doctor of Philosophy on students who satisfy the requirements above, earn the prescribed credits, and write a dissertation presenting their research results recognized as satisfying the level for conferring the degree.