Three policies
Admissions policy
MASTER'S PROGRAM
The Master's program, aiming to improve and broaden its level of research and education as a graduate institution of advanced and interdisciplinary fields, is open not only to new graduates, but also to practitioners who are active in various fields. Note that, in principle, applicants for the Major in Nursing are expected to have completed a basic education degree program in nursing. Major in Public Health, Sport and Health Sciences program accepts individuals with diverse backgrounds, regardless of whether they come from medical or non-medical undergraduate programs. Admission to the master's program is determined through a comprehensive evaluation of the applicants' motivation for learning and research in the program, as well as their ability to set research goals, think logically, analyze, and explain their thoughts. This evaluation is based on a written essay and an interview. The entrance examination for the master's program is conducted three times a year, in July, November, and January, in order to accept students with diverse values from both domestic and international backgrounds.
DOCTORAL PROGRAM
In the doctoral program, it is expected that students have fulfilled the above requirements for obtaining a master's degree in this graduate school and possess the ability to become a leading researcher or practitioner in the field of health, medicine, and welfare. The admission process evaluates the applicant's knowledge and research capabilities in their specialty area, based on their motivation letter, research proposal, letters of recommendation, and English proficiency test results. The doctoral program entrance exam is held twice a year, in November and January. The program welcomes applicants who have completed a master's program in other fields. It is also possible to complete the program entirely in English and obtain a doctoral degree.
Curriculum policy
The curriculam for both the Master's and Doctoral programs prioritize the following three aspects in common.
- The emphasis on interdisciplinary education:
The graduate school, which accepts students from a wide range of backgrounds and specialties, provide an environment for collaborative learning, where students share their perspectives and terminologies and improve themselves through active discussions. Therefore, it places importance on taking classes in various fields in order to broaden students' perspectives and cultivate fundamental abilities that contribute to improving the level of social health. - The emphasis on integration of practice and research:
Classes and opportunities are provided to understand the process of mutual exchange between practice and research, where data obtained through practice is systematized to construct theory, the theoretical framework is utilized to solve practical issues in the field, and existing theories are verified and modified based on feedback from the field. - The emphasis on empirical research methods:
In order to efficiently utilize limited resources and achieve effective results in the fields of health, medical care, and welfare, clinical and economic rationality must be balanced for individuals and groups alike. Therefore, the graduate school places great emphasis on acquiring evidence-based analytical methods necessary for rational decision-making, rather than relying on intuition or experience.
MASTER'S PROGRAM
The curriculum of the master's program consists of Introductory Module, Analytic Methodology Module, Specialized Module, Internship Related Module, and Research Focused Module. Graduation requirements are determined depending on the major/program. In Introductory Module, students with diverse backgrounds and specialties learn the basic knowledge necessary for learning in this graduate school. In Analytic Methodology Module, students acquire basic theories and specific methods for analyzing and interpreting evidence necessary for rational decision making, regardless of their specialized fields. In Specialized Module, students acquire advanced knowledge and skills in their specialized fields. In Internship Related Module, practical education aiming to integrate practice and research is conducted. In Research Focused Module, students receive research guidance for writing a master's thesis or a thematic research paper. These courses are designed to receive step-by-step education from many teachers. The Major in Nursing has multiple divisions corresponding to the specialties of nursing, fostering highly specialized practitioners, researchers, and educators. Several divisions also provide the Certified Nurse Specialist Program structured as an advanced practice nursing education program that meets the standards of the Japan Association of Nursing Programs in Universities. The Public Health Program in the Major in Public Health, Sport and Health Science offers core disciplines, including biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy and management, social and behavioral sciences, and environmental health, in accordance with international standards.
DOCTORAL PROGRAM
The doctoral program takes the achievements yielded from the master's program and sets a new focus on research and thesis guidance for each student's individual research plans. To enable students to obtain their degree upon completion of the three-year coursework, a system has been established in which students receive guidance from multiple instructors at each stage leading to degree conferment through taking "special lecture courses" and "joint exercise courses". Students who graduated from other graduate school and students who have been working in practical field for some time after completing this graduate school and are not familiar with the latest theories and analytical methods can complement their knowledge by taking courses offered in the master's program.
Diploma policy
MASTER'S PROGRAM
The Graduate School of Health Management aims to foster researchers and practitioners who can appropriately analyze, examine, and solve the issues surrounding healthcare, medicine, and welfare. Master's program students are required to be enrolled for at least two years and earn 30 or more credits in order to acquire fundamental knowledge and analytical skills (46 or more credits for the Certified Nurse Specialist program). Each major/program has established its own graduation requirements. The students also need to establish a research question based on the trends in the specialized field, to verify it using the scientific method, to summarize the discussion based on the research results, to present research findings at a thesis presentation session, and complete a master's thesis or a thematic research paper. Upon passing the final examination, they will be awarded a Master's degree.
DOCTORAL PROGRAM
The doctoral program aims to foster leading researchers and practitioners who can lead the fields of health, medicine, and welfare for many years to come and contribute to society. Specifically, the requirements are as follows: 1. The achievement of clear results in the specialized field 2. The demonstrated ability to independently conduct advanced research During their enrollment period, doctoral students are required to take designated courses and earn 10 credits in order to acquire the ability to independently conduct advanced research. Students are also required to give mid-term presentation once a year (a total of three times during their enrollment period) and are evaluated on whether they have been advancing high-level research that provides new and important insights in their specialized field. Students must submit a dissertation based on their research results published in a refereed academic journal. Upon passing the final examination, they will be awarded a doctoral degree.
