FEATURE

Features of the Graduate School of Sustainability Studies

Aiming to realize a sustainable society
Open up your interest in learning and go beyond boundaries.

To realize a sustainable society, we must take a multifaceted view of people’s behavior, identify issues, and take measures across multiple fields. Considering those necessities, we need to examine not only the field of natural science but also economic activities, equality of people and nations, resource cycles, and all other perspectives. Accordingly, by teaching and researching specialized knowledge in a cross-disciplinary manner through omnibus courses taught by faculty members specializing in different research fields, we will thus transcend the boundaries of humanities and sciences to foster human resources who will contribute to realizing a sustainable society.

FIELD

Research Fields and Faculty Members

Members

Economic and Social Science Field

Environmental Economics

Prof.Shixian LONG

I focus on industrial environmental theory and environmental economics to address issues related to the SDGs and the cyclical systems of humans, the economy, and nature. The seminar provides research guidance on accumulating and understanding the necessary academic information and the discursive and empirical research methods used to solve these issues.

Research Profiles

Area Studies

Prof.Norio HORIE

Issues related to the SDGs in migration and border studies will be addressed. Research guidance will be provided on gathering and understanding the necessary academic information and on research and research methods.

Center for Far Eastern Studies

Organization and Human Resource Management

Prof.Jun MA

Issues related to the SDGs in the management of organizations and human resources and human resource development policies will be topics for research guidance on gathering and understanding the necessary academic literature and study methods.

Research Profiles

Sustainability Science

Prof.Geetha MOHAN

Research interests focused on addressing the problems of sustainability science topics associated with integrated water resources management, global food security, and interlinkage evaluation across SDGs.
Further exploring to develop innovative climate adaptation solutions and co-benefits engaging field research studies and multidisciplinary teams to build resilient livelihoods and sustainable societies in Asia and Africa.

Center for Far Eastern Studies

Sustainability Science

Associate Prof.
Shamik CHAKRABORTY

Rooted in the discipline of sustainability studies as a holistic and transformative science, research guidance will be provided on issues related to the SDGs and provide research guidance on sustainable use and management of natural resources, and valuation of ecosystem services from the perspective of social ecological systems.

Research Profiles

International Relations

Associate Prof.Josuke IKEDA

Issues related to the SDGs will be addressed from the perspective of the intersection of world politics, global ethics, and education. The seminar involves the collection and analysis of empirical and normative academic information, theory building, and case studies.

Research Profiles

Area Studies

Assistant Prof.Shishir SHARMIN

The issues addressed are related to the SDGs in land use and environmental conservation. The project will address the conservation of ecosystems and the natural environment using state-of-the-art technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. In addition, the seminar will provide directed study on organizing and understanding basic academic knowledge and research methods.

Center for Far Eastern Studies

Natural Environment Science Field

Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Green Chemistry

Prof.Hideki KURAMITZ

Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Green Chemistry Topics related to the SDGs in environmental chemistry and analytical chemistry research will be addressed. Research and direction will be provided in our laboratory on developing new sensors and analytical methods and their application to environmental measurements.

Website

Chemical Oceanography and Environmental Geochemistry

Prof.Jing ZHANG

We analyze trace elements and isotopes in oceanic and terrestrial waters and the atmosphere as “fingerprints” in order to elucidate the material cycles of the global environment and their mechanisms. Our research interests include coastal groundwater upwelling systems, formation mechanisms of deep-sea cold upwelling, changes in the Japan Sea’s deep circulation, and the effects of anthropogenic substances on the marginal seas and North Pacific ecosystems.

Website

Geochemistry and Paleoceanography

Prof.Keiji HORIKAWA

Our laboratory provides directed study and skills development to analyze and evaluate climate and environmental conditions, transitions, and change factors. This work is done through trace element analysis and isotope ratio analysis based on seafloor sediments, seawater, and terrestrial water samples.

Website

Plant Ecology

Prof.Naoya WADA

Issues related to the SDGs in ecology and conservation science are addressed. Our seminars provide research guidance on gathering and understanding the necessary academic information and research methods.

Website

Symbiosis Biology and Insect Science

Associate Prof.Tsutomu TSUCHIDA

Our laboratory provides direction on issues that contribute to integrated pest management and utilization of biological genetic resources, targeting interactions and symbiotic phenomena between organisms.

Website

Environmental Physics

Associate Prof.Katsunari ENOMOTO

Our laboratory uses laser spectroscopy to investigate the properties and elementary processes of air pollutants and heavy metal-containing molecules and directs research on developing environmental monitoring techniques.

Research Profiles

Molecular Genetics and Genetic Breeding Science

LecturerMasayuki YAMAMOTO

Our laboratory addresses SDG-related issues in plant breeding and production, providing the necessary scientific information, knowledge, and direction in research methods.

Research Profiles

Soil Environmental Studies and Environmental Chemistry

LecturerKazuto SAZAWA

Our laboratory provides instruction in the chemical analysis of organic substances in soil and aquatic environments, their interactions with environmental contaminants, and the ecotoxicological changes that result from these interactions.

Research Profiles

Geochemistry

Assistant Prof.Takanori KAGOSHIMA

Our laboratory guides research on analyzing the mechanisms of volcanic and seismic activity and material circulation by measuring the isotopic composition of volatile elements in gas and water samples emitted from volcanoes and faults.

Research Profiles

International Field

International Exchange, Study Abroad Support, Life Science

Associate Prof.Tomoko YOSHIKAWA

International Exchange, Study Abroad Support, Life Science Seminars provide the guidance necessary to learn and conduct research across national and cultural boundaries.

Research Profiles

International Exchange, Study Abroad Support, Physical Sciences

LecturerEun-Kyung PARK

Seminars provide the guidance necessary for scientific communication skills and the cross-cultural understanding required for those who aspire to achieve the global SDGs.

Research Profiles

CAREER

Image of human resources to be trained

Human resources who can create new value based on multifaceted perspectives and cross-disciplinary academic knowledge

持続可能社会創成学環の構成

The Department of Science and Engineering and the Department of Social Sciences teach and research interdisciplinary theories and interdisciplinary applications and nurture human resources who can contribute to building a sustainable society. In particular, the Departments teach students the profundities of these fields in a manner that cultivates the deep academic knowledge, outstanding abilities, and ethical standards to take up positions that require a high level of expertise.

Educational objectives, educational goals,
and three policies

We aim to develop human resources who (i) can create new knowledge about the problems that must be solved before we can build a sustainable society, (ii) have the ability to create new value, (iii) have the English language skills needed to be active globally, and (iv) can provide solutions to the issues facing society.

Educational objectives

Our educational objective is to develop human resources who can contribute to realizing a “sustainable society” by reading sustainability studies from an international perspective and acquiring problem-solving skills—primarily for “global-scale” issues—through a cross-disciplinary approach that integrates natural and social sciences.

Educational Goals

To nurture highly-skilled professionals who can contribute to realizing a sustainable society from both local and global perspectives, the program aims to cultivate four abilities: (i) fundamental ability, (ii) specialized knowledge, (iii) a sense of ethics, and (iv) creativity.

Admissions policy

To foster human resources who are motivated to contribute to realizing a sustainable society as highly skilled professionals in the future, we seek students who meet the following four requirements:

Applicants must have basic academic skills equivalent to a university degree and a desire to acquire broad knowledge of academic fields related to sustainable society.
Applicants must have (i) basic academic skills in the field of study in which they specialize and (ii) the desire to contribute as an advanced professional by acquiring a wealth of specialized knowledge and advanced research skills.
Applicants must act proactively with a sense of responsibility and ethics as a member of society and have an awareness of the need to contribute to building a sustainable society.
Applicants must be willing to tackle various issues facing society and have a broad perspective and flexible thinking skills needed to build a sustainable society.

Diploma Policy

Based on the above-described educational objectives, a Master’s Degree (Sustainability Studies) will be awarded to those who have completed the prescribed course of study and acquired the following academic abilities.

Fundamental ability
Students will acquire the academic knowledge necessary to build a sustainable society, the English-language skills and logical-thinking skills necessary to be active on the global stage, and a bird’s-eye view of various issues from a multifaceted viewpoint.
Specialized knowledge
Students will acquire the specialized knowledge, research ability, and practical ability necessary for professions that require a high degree of specialization in the academic fields necessary for building a sustainable society and solving problems facing that society.
Sense of ethics
Students will acquire the ethical standards and normative consciousness necessary for working as a highly specialized professional and/or researcher.
Creativity
Students will acquire the ability to (i) create new knowledge about problems that need to be solved before building a sustainable society and further value from that knowledge and (ii) devise new solutions to the various issues facing society.

Curriculum policy

A systematic educational program is organized to enable students to acquire the four academic abilities listed in the Diploma Policy. The educational program is designed to enable students to learn independently and actively throughout their two years of study. The curriculum of the program consists of three categories: (i) foundation courses for developing basic skills in sustainability studies; (ii) practical courses for acquiring specialized knowledge in the sciences and social sciences related to sustainability studies; and (iii) special research courses for pursuing problem-solving research in the field of sustainability studies.
In addition to required lectures, exercises, special research, and special seminars, elective courses are offered in a variety of ways and formats, including lectures, exercises, experiments, and practical training.
Evaluation is based on objective grading criteria regarding the degree of achievement of the learning outcomes for each ability. In addition to the traditional “advanced research track,” which emphasizes special research, the “practical research track,” which emphasizes lectures and exercises in a wider range of fields, is established to meet the needs for relearning in an increasingly diverse society. The choice of track is made in the first term of the first year.

CURRICULUM

Curriculum and course model

Overview of curriculum

The program is designed primarily for students from the science and engineering and economics faculties of the University, but it also accepts students from the science, engineering, and social-science faculties of other universities. After completion of the program, students are expected to work in international organizations such as the United Nations and international NGOs, government offices, educational institutions, multinational manufacturing companies, and the financial industry.
In the first year, which focuses on the foundation and development of SDGs, students will take common graduate-school courses, common inter-university courses, and specialized inter-university courses. In the second year, which focuses on cross-disciplinary, bird’s-eye-view research guidance, students will mainly focus on special research courses.
The curriculum includes an “advanced research track” that emphasizes traditional special research and a “practical research track” that emphasizes lectures and exercises in a broader range of fields of study. A Master’s Degree in Sustainability Studies will be awarded to those who have completed the prescribed course of study and achieved the academic abilities as stated in the Diploma Policy.

Advanced Research Track：Students will conduct more advanced research on their research topics and deepen their academic knowledge. They are expected to advance to doctoral programs or work as researchers at research institutes or universities.
Practical Research Track：Students will take more courses to enhance their own abilities and expand their potential for applying those skills. Upon completing the course, they are expected to work in international organizations, governments, and companies.

Course Models and Careers after Graduation

履修科目

グローバル
SDGsプログラム
(GSDGs)
大学院
共通科目
学環
共通科目
学環GSDGs
専門科目
（基盤・必修）
学環GSDGs
専門科目
（実践・選択必修）
学環GSDGs
専門科目
（実践・選択）
学環GSDGs
（特別研究）
先端研究
トラック
学環GSDGs
（特別研究）
実践研究
トラック

グローバルSDGsプログラム (GSGDs)

グローバルSDGsプログラム授業科目一覧

大学院共通科目

〇 GSGDs必修科目

- 〇研究倫理Research Ethics
- 〇科学技術と持続可能社会Science, Technology and Sustainable Society

* GSGDs選択科目(2単位以上)

学環共通科目

〇 GSGDs必修科目

- 〇持続可能社会創成学概論Introduction to Science for Sustainable Societies

Global Sustainability Science Program

FEATURE

FIELD