Educational Goals and Three Policies

Our Vision and Purpose

Science and engineering are essential disciplines for the sustainable development of humans, and for resourcelimited countries like Japan, these disciplines are immediate needs that support the country. Soka University's Graduate School of Science and Engineering was established with the view to the future of the fields of information, life, and the environment, which are the new frontiers of science and technology in the 21st century. With these three fields closely linked to each other and integrated with other fields, we believe that they can promote the progress of the world in harmony with nature, as critical technologies that will perpetuate cultural creation by humans. The vision and purpose of the Graduate School of Science and Engineering are to develop creative and global-minded individuals who will be well versed in the basics of science and engineering with advanced professional skills and flexible application skills, and value the humanistic founding principles of the university.

Educational Goals

The Graduate School of Science and Engineering has the following educational goals:
  1. Through systematic science and engineering education with general education and specialized courses in each major, we will develop highly-trained engineers, professionals, and researchers with logical thinking and creative skills.
  2. We will nurture individuals equipped with the flexible caliber and the communication skills that are necessary in the global society.
  3. We will foster engineers, professionals, and researchers who will aspire to engage in research and development of science and technology towards coexistence between individuals, society, and nature as well as who can contribute to the creation of a truly prosperous society.

Three Policies

Diploma Policy

Information Systems Science Major


In addition to the requirements for completion as specified by Information Systems Science Major, a “Master of Science in Engineering” will be awarded to students who have acquired the following knowledge and abilities, in accordance with the educational goals of SOKA University and the Graduate School of Science and Engineering:
 
  • Sufficient knowledge in one of the following fields in addition to basic knowledge of Information Systems Science in general: “Mathematical Informatics System”, “Information Processing System”, or “Communication and Control System”. 
  • Qualities required of professionals (ability to think logically, problem-solving skills, and communication skills).
  • Ethics and a responsibility as a professional.


In addition to the requirements for completion as specified by Information Systems Science Major, a “Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering” will be awarded to students who have acquired the following knowledge and abilities, in accordance with the educational goals of SOKA University and the Graduate School of Science and Engineering:
 
  • World-leading advanced knowledge in one of the fields of "Mathematical Information Systems," "Information Processing Systems," or "Information Processing Systems," in addition to specialized knowledge of information systems science in general.
  • The ability to establish their own research themes and find ways to promote their research, with the spirit of investigation and originality required of a researcher.
  • Communication skills in English at a level that will enable them to interact with overseas researchers.
  • Ethics and responsibility as a researcher.

Biosciences Major

<Master’s Program>
In addition to the requirements for completion as specified by Biosciences Major, a “Master of Science” will be awarded to students who have acquired the following knowledge and abilities, in accordance with the educational goals of SOKA University and the Graduate School of Science and Engineering:
 
  • Sufficient knowledge in one of the following fields in addition to basic knowledge of Biosciences in general: "Biomolecular Sciences," "Cellular Biosciences," "Bioinformation Science," or "Functional Biosciences”.
  • Qualities required of a teacher or professional (ability to think logically, solve problems, and communicate effectively).
  • Ethics and a responsibility as a teacher or professional.


In addition to the requirements for completion as specified by Biosciences Major, a “Doctor of Science” will be awarded to students who have acquired the following knowledge and abilities, in accordance with the educational goals of SOKA University and the Graduate School of Science and Engineering:
 
  • World-leading advanced knowledge in one of the fields of "Biomolecular Sciences," "Cellular Biosciences," "Bioinformation Science," or "Functional Biosciences,” in addition to specialized knowledge of Biosciences in general.
  • The ability to establish their own research themes and find ways to promote their research, with the spirit of investigation and originality required of a researcher.
  • Communication skills in English at a level that will enable them to interact with overseas researchers.
  • Ethics and responsibility as a researcher.

Environmental Engineering for Symbiosis Major


In addition to the requirements for completion as specified by Information Systems Science Major, a “Master of Science in Engineering” will be awarded to students who have acquired the following knowledge and abilities, in accordance with the educational goals of SOKA University and the Graduate School of Science and Engineering:
 
  • Sufficient knowledge in one of the following fields: "Global Environmental Chemistry", "Biosphere Science", "Environmental Response Engineering", or "Sustainable Environmental Engineering", in addition to a basic knowledge of Environmental Engineering in general.
  • Qualities required of a teacher or professional (ability to think logically, solve problems, and communicate effectively).
  • Ethics and a responsibility as a teacher or professional.


In addition to the requirements for completion as specified by Environmental Engineering for Symbiosis Major, a “Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering” will be awarded to students who have acquired the following knowledge and abilities, in accordance with the educational goals of SOKA University and the Graduate School of Science and Engineering:
 
  • World-leading advanced knowledge in one of the following fields: "Global Environmental Chemistry", "Biosphere Science", "Environmental Response Engineering", or "Sustainable Environmental Engineering", in addition to a basic knowledge of Environmental Engineering in general.
  • The ability to establish their own research themes and find ways to promote their research, with the spirit of investigation and originality required of a researcher.
  • Communication skills in English at a level that will enable them to interact with overseas researchers.
  • Ethics and responsibility as a researcher.
Curriculum Policy

The vision and purpose of the Graduate School of Science and Engineering are to develop creative and global-minded individuals who will be well versed in the basics of science and engineering with advanced professional skills and flexible application skills, and value the humanistic founding principles of the university, with the view to the future of the fields of information, life, and the environment, which are the new frontiers of the 21st century's science and technology. As an educational program for this purpose, we offer master's and doctoral programs as well as funding programs to support students' research activities. This education program is implemented in three majors: Information Systems Science, Biosciences, and Environmental Engineering for Symbiosis.

Information Systems Science and Environmental Engineering for Symbiosis Major

[Master of Science in Engineering]
  1. We offer a variety of courses through which students can further deepen a wide range of basic skills and enhance their expertise based on the basic studies at the bachelor's program, as well as acquire the ability to apply and develop their learning.
  2. The process of guidance for master's theses implements practical research activities to develop students' ability to independently find research agenda and solve problems. The program also aims to nurture engineers and researchers who can position and organize their research based on logical thinking and push forward with research.
  3. We encourage our students to widely disseminate their research results both inside and outside Japan and cultivate a high level of logical explanation skills. We also foster engineers, researchers, and educators who will always be highly aware of the international competitiveness of research.

[Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering]
  1. Students will acquire surrounding knowledge of advanced specialized knowledge in the field of research while receiving practical education through specific research in their major field, thereby cultivating the planning, preparing, and implementing abilities that are necessary for research and development.
  2. In the course of guidance for doctoral theses, students will acquire the abilities to lead others in identifying problems to be solved, examining solution methods, and examining feasibility concerning research. We will also nurture researchers who can take leadership to organize a team to plan and implement globally competitive studies.
  3. Through planning research and explaining results, students will develop comprehensive skills to consider the social significance of the research, its contribution to and impact on society, and ethicality. 

Biosciences Major

[Master of Science]
  1. Based on the basic studies at the bachelor’s program, students acquire specialized knowledge and to advance expertise in the fields of "Biomolecular Sciences," "Cellular Biosciences," "Bioinformation Science," or "Functional Biosciences,” while developing their basic skills. 
  2. The process of guidance for master’s theses implements practical research activities to develop students’ ability to think logically and formulate research strategies to solve problems autonomously.
  3. Through presentations and discussions, students develop the ability to explain logically and communicate effectively. Most of courses are offered in English to cultive internationally-minded individuals. 

[Doctor of Science]
  1. By acquiring knowledge not only in specific research fields but also in Biosciences in general and cultivating an overview of life phenomena, we will foster researchers who have the ability to discover and solve original research problems.
  2. To develop ingenuity, students acquire methods and ways of thinking in Bioscience fields that differ from their field of research.
  3. Cultivate the ability to think deeply and explore the truth.
  4. Cultivate the ability to write papers and make presentations in English, and develop researchers who can work on the international stage.
  5. Training researchers with a sense of ethics and responsibility.
Admission Policy
The Master's Program develops engineers, researchers, and educators who have acquired the independent ability and international mindset to identify research problems and solve them through deepening their basic skills and advancing their expertise.
The Doctoral Program develops researchers who can plan, propose, and conduct research and development, and who can organize competitive research through practical education based on specific research.
The Graduate School of Science and Engineering offers a wide variety of courses and educational programs to achieve these objectives, as well as various grant programs to support student research activities, and requires the following requirements of prospective students.

Desired Image of Students by the Graduate School of Science and Engineering

The Master's rogram requires the following entrance requirements for admission.
  1. Students who have the basic skills and motivation to realize the ideals and objectives of the Graduate School of Science and Engineering.
  2. Students who respect the Soka University Founding Principles and aim to contribute to society by providing others with the results of their studies.
  3. Students who challenge the creation of new values with an enterprising spirit, and who will make tireless efforts for self-improvement.

The Doctoral Program requires the following entrance requirements for admission.
  1. Students who have the professional ability and motivation to realize the ideals and objectives of the Graduate School of Science and Engineering. 
  2. Students who respect the Soka University Founding Principles and aim to contribute to society by providing others with the results of their studies.
  3. Students who challenge the creation of new value with an enterprising spirit and carry out self-improvement efforts to cultivate the planning, formulation, and implementation skills necessary for research and development.