Master's/Doctoral (Nursing)

Messages from the head of the nursing major

Kaori Yagasaki,
Head of the Nursing Major
for the Graduate School
of Health Management

In recent years, the aging society with a very low birthrate has been rapidly progressing, and it is necessary to respond to the changes in society and medical care. The major of Nursing offers 14 specialized fields of study, four of which (gerontological nursing, oncology nursing, psychiatric nursing, and genetic nursing) are accompanied by a professional nursing program. We are committed to fostering researchers and advanced practitioners who can explore, create, and practice nursing in each specialty in order to support people to live their lives safely and securely by understanding various health issues associated with pregnancy, childbirth, growth and development, illness and disability, and aging during their life stages. In addition, taking advantage of the characteristics of a comprehensive university, we organically collaborate and cooperate with experts in other fields, and nurture and send out human resources who can perceive and act on issues related to human health and nursing from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. The master's program has a curriculum that systematically arranges common and specialized subjects to cultivate a universal knowledge base, deep insight, ethics, and rich sensitivity, and to enhance expertise. In addition, joint classes with the Major of Public Health and Sports Health Science and cooperation and collaboration with other graduate schools, taking advantage of the characteristics of a comprehensive university, provide students with opportunities to take on a variety of challenges and expand their potential. The program is designed to bring together a diverse group of students and faculty members. These programs enable diverse students and faculty members to learn together and enhance each other's skills. In addition, the master's program offers an overseas training program (Mayo Clinic), which provides an environment to enhance advanced nursing practice and research skills. In the doctoral program, faculty advisors in each area of specialization provide ongoing guidance to enhance students' abilities and attitudes to explore a wide range of academic knowledge and universal knowledge as pioneers and leaders in nursing, and to cultivate the ability to conduct pioneering and international research. In particular, we provide a global learning environment with a curriculum on research methods and study abroad programs, with sub-supervisors invited from abroad. The faculty members and students of the Graduate School value free and open learning and challenge each other. Based on the "spirit of practical learning" to persistently and empirically elucidate the truth and solve problems on diverse research issues, we aim to contribute to the improvement of the quality of nursing and medical care as researchers and outstanding advanced practitioners.

Type of personnel to be trained (Diploma Policy)

Backed by interdisciplinary and abundant knowledge and high ethical standards, students will acquire the ability to think beyond existing frameworks, to make clinical judgments to facilitate comprehensive understanding of complex and advanced health issues, and to practice care that leads to the best possible outcomes based on evidence-based practice and theoretical and conceptual foundations. The purpose of this course is to foster personnel who can develop, construct, and practice new ideals of nursing care, providing a degree to those who have acquired such abilities.

The Major of Nursing has 4 domains (14 divisions) that correspond to the specialties of nursing, fostering highly specialized practitioners, researchers, and educators. Of the four divisions (Division of Geriatric Nursing, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Cancer Nursing, and Genetic/Genomic Nursing), we have established the Certified Nurse Specialist Program* to train certified nurse specialists.

*All of these divisions are accredited by the Japan Association of Nursing Programs in Universities as 38 credit programs for certified nurse specialists in the advanced practice nursing education program. (For details, please refer to the respective research division page.)
In the CNS program, students will have the opportunity to train at the MAYO CLINIC (U.S.A.) to learn about the roles and responsibilities of Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) and Nurse Practitioners (NP), who are Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) in the United States. Those who are interested can also receive training at the MAYO CLINIC if they meet the requirements.

Composition of Major Fields of Study

In the Master's program of the course for Nursing, it is recommended to have an interview with the desired supervising professor in the field of interest before applying.

Master's thesis

Overview

This program provides research and dissertation guidance to enable students to obtain a doctoral degree upon completion of three years of study.
During their first year, students will take advanced topic courses (courses that examine the methodologies and analytical techniques of basic theories and empirical research), and attend joint seminar classes (classes that focus on research reports and discussions between students, researchers, and practitioners within and outside Keio University) throughout their period of study.
Those who have graduated from a master's program of another graduate school, or those who have graduated from our master's program but have been working in a related field for some time and are not familiar with the latest theories and analytical methods, are able to supplement their knowledge by taking courses offered in the master's program according to the instructions of their academic advisor.
If a student is permitted to study at a graduate school abroad, the period spent studying abroad can only be counted as one year of enrollment, and the acquired class credits can be accepted as "joint seminar" credits.

Dissertation mid-term evaluation

Each year, a brief presentation will be made at the mid-term evaluation of the dissertation. At the evaluation, students will receive the necessary guidance and advice as well as have their progress checked and reviewed.

Requirements for obtaining the degree

Students must be enrolled in the doctoral program for at least three years (excluding periods of temporary leave of absence), earn the prescribed number of credits (a minimum of 10 credits in total, consisting of 4 credits in advanced topic courses and 6 credits or more in joint seminar classes), receive the necessary guidance for their research, and pass the doctoral dissertation review and the final examination in order to receive the doctoral degree.
It is also possible to complete the program entirely in English.

Study/Training Overseas

This is a short-term study abroad program at the University of Washington (Seattle, WA, USA), during the fall and winter semesters (early October to late March), for doctoral students in the Major in Nursing. Students will be able to receive a certificate of completion by attending lectures in the university's doctoral program.

Scholarships

Our research is granted support from the Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation program by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).
Information on other scholarships can be found here.

List of faculty members in charge of the doctoral programs

Miho Suzuki（Specialty：Bacic Nursing）
Tomoko Koike（Specialty：Nursing Management and Policy）
Atsuko Taguchi（Specialty：Theoretical Issues in Public Health Nursing・Theoretical Issues in Community Health Nursing）
Yuko Takeda（Specialty：Genetic/Genomic Nursing、Cancer Nursing、Adult Nursing）
Satoko Nagata（Specialty：Home Care Nursing）
Kiyoka Nozue（Specialty：Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing、Liaison Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing）
Hiroki Fukahori（Specialty：Geriatric Nursing、Family Nursing、Nursing Management）
Noriko Fukuda（Specialty：Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing、Liaison Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing）
Rika Fujiya（Specialty： Global Health Nursing）
Yasuko Hososaka（Specialty：Maternal nursing）
Kaori Yagasaki（Specialty：Cancer Nursing、Adult Nursing、Palliative Care）

Doctoral dissertation