Education Policy｜Physics｜GRADUATE SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCE｜Graduate School

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCE

Basic Educational Policies for the Konan University Graduate School of Natural Science’s Physics Program

Based on the principles set forth at the founding of our university, the Konan University Graduate School of Natural Science’s Physics Program works to provide high ethical values, a broad range of instruction in the natural sciences and expert knowledge in the field of physics. For the Master’s Program, our basic educational policy is to cultivate highly-skilled professionals who possess the necessary abilities for engaging in technical operations related to physics and researchers with a rich and exceptional skillset in research and development. For the Doctoral Program, our basic educational policy is to cultivate independent researchers who are capable of advancing the field of physics and possess exceptional R&D skills as well as highly-skilled professionals who can offer the impressive abilities needed to carry out advanced technical operations in the field of physics.

Konan University Graduate School of Natural Science Physics Program DP (policies on degree conferment)

[Master’s Program]

The Konan University Graduate School of Natural Science’s Physics Program confers master’s degrees (natural science) to students with high ethical values who possess a broad range of knowledge in the natural sciences and expert knowledge in the field of physics and have acquired the abilities necessary for engaging in technical operations and a richly creative and advanced skillset for research and development. Candidates are required to have been enrolled in the Graduate School of Natural Science for the designated period and must have acquired the prescribed number of credits (a total of 30 or more credits, including 16 credits from required courses and 14 credits from electives) upon completing the courses stipulated in the Physics Program’s CP (policies on the formulation and implementation of education curricula) and must also have passed the final examinations and master’s thesis review within the prescribed number of years after finishing their directed study.

[Doctoral Program]

The Konan University Graduate School of Natural Science’s Physics Program will confer a doctoral degree (natural science) on students with a high level of ethical values who possess a deep knowledge of physics and the ability to expand and develop work in this field while independently carrying out creative research, as well as those who have acquired the skillset necessary to engage in advanced technical operations related to physics. Candidates are required to have been enrolled in the Graduate School of Natural Science for the designated period and must have acquired the prescribed number of credits (a total of 10 or more credits, including 8 credits from required courses and 2 credits from electives) upon completing the courses stipulated in the Physics Program’s CP (policies on the formulation and implementation of education curricula) and must also have passed the final examinations and doctoral thesis review within the prescribed number of years after finishing their directed study.

Konan University Graduate School of Natural Science Physics Program CP (policies on the formulation and implementation of education curricula)

[Master’s Program]

Along with the formulation and implementation of curricula for acquiring a broad understanding of the natural sciences and expert knowledge in the field of physics, the Konan University Graduate School of Natural Science’s Physics Program works to cultivate the high level of ethical values indispensable to researchers and highly-skilled professionals.
The curricula is composed of basic subjects for developing a broad scientific perspective, specialized subjects for acquiring expert knowledge in each field of specialization and common subjects for developing the abilities and techniques necessary for independent researchers and technicians. Among the required courses for specialized subjects, a Special Research in Physics course, which is the foundation of the master’s degree thesis, and a Physics Research Lecture for explaining and discussing basic technical knowledge and advanced expert knowledge have been established. In addition, an organized framework of directed study is provided to assist students in acquiring their master’s degree (natural science), following presentations on the progress of research and a master’s thesis review.

[Doctoral Program]

n order to cultivate graduates as put forth in our basic educational policies, the Konan University Graduate School of Natural Science’s Physics Program formulates and implements curricula according to the following policies and confers its doctoral degrees to those who have passed a thesis review within our organizational framework for directed study.

1. A research supervisor will appoint a subject for directed study to each student, and as a rule, these educational objectives must be met within 3 years. For this purpose, broad and effective directed study centering on one’s research supervisor is provided by the entire Physics Program staff.
2. Seminars will be decided according to one’s subject of directed study and, thereby, established as required courses. Basic academic and technical knowledge required for cultivating advanced-level researchers will be introduced and discussed.
3. Basic academic and technical knowledge covering both the fundamentals of physics and advanced topics will be acquired through special lectures (primary electives), while the necessary skills for conducting research will be cultivated from practical experience gained in seminars (secondary electives).
4. Each year, a presentation is held covering the progress of student research. After undergoing a sufficient question and answer session conducted by the entire Physics Program staff, presentations are evaluated and appropriate guidance delivered in preparation of the student’s doctoral thesis.
5. Research will be organized based on ethical considerations and, with attention paid to one’s ability to push research forward, a doctoral thesis review and final examinations will be conducted to evaluate one’s aptitude for independent research.

Konan University Graduate School of Natural Science Physics Program AP (policies on enrollment)

[Master’s Program]

The Konan University Graduate School of Natural Science Physics Program accepts applicants who understand its educational/research principles and objectives, possess the basic academic ability needed to study their particular field of physics, are capable of conducting research autonomously and have the desire to contribute to society along with the potential to be highly active in their selected field of study.

[Doctoral Program]

The Konan University Graduate School of Natural Science Physics Program accepts applicants who understand its educational/research principles and objectives, possess a sufficiently advanced basic academic ability for studying their particular field of physics, are capable of conducting high-level research and have the desire to contribute to society along with the potential to be highly and independently active in their selected field of study.