Outline of research advising
Asaka Campus
Graduate School of Life Sciences
■ Master’s program
1．Research Advising in Each Semester
1st semester:
Students are to receive guidance for the selection of courses based on their thesis title.
Students are to make a research proposal and acquire research skills for surveys, experiments, and other investigations.
2nd semester:
Students are to survey current research activities in areas related to their research topic.
Students are to adjust their research proposal according to their progress in attaining their research goal.
Students are to cultivate their presentation and communication skills by presenting at a midpoint research presentation session one year after admission.
3rd semester:
Students are to conduct surveys and experiments based on their research theme and improve their research accuracy while confirming the validity of the research method.
Students are to receive guidance on how to proactively make presentations on their research results at domestic and overseas conferences and by submitting papers for publication.
4th semester:
Students are to examine the outline of their master's thesis.
Students are to finalize their master's thesis.
２．Outline of the Thesis Reporting Session (Thesis Presentation Session) and Requirements for Presentation, etc.
Students in the master's program must give a presentation on their research topic and method related to their research theme as well as on their research findings that have thus far been made at the midpoint research presentation session held at the end of the second semester or the beginning of the third semester.
The detail information for the manners or styles of how to give a presentation will be directed each time.
３．Guideline for writing a master's thesis
<Master's thesis>
As a general rule , the below items must be included.
Front cover: Academic year of completion, thesis title/subtitle, graduate school/course/program, student ID number, student name
Inside Cover: Thesis title/subtitle, graduate school/course/program, student name
Table of contents: Title of each chapter and its page number
Text: Research purpose, experimental methods, results and discussion, summary, references, acknowledgments
* A simple softcover binding must be used to bind a master's thesis. However, students are allowed to temporarily submit a thesis bound with a lever file on loan from the Administration Section of the Asaka Campus Office . In such a case, students are to submit a simple softcover thesis to their Chief Thesis Examiner and Deputy Thesis Examiner as soon as the Examiners have reviewed the master's thesis. The lever file is to be returned to the Administration Section of the Asaka Campus Office.
<Master's thesis abstract>
As a general rule, the below items must be included.
Thesis title, student ID number, student name, academic supervisor name, research purpose, experimental methods, results and discussion, and references
* If figures or tables are used, they must fit within the space of the prescribed pages.
<Specific subject research paper>
For more information, please contact the Administration section of the Asaka Campus Office.
４．Master's program completion requirements
A master's degree is awarded to students who have been enrolled in a master's program for two or more years, have earned 30 or more credits, have received research advising as necessary, have received appropriate evaluation at the midpoint research presentation session, and have passed the review and final examination of their master's thesis or specific subject research paper in line with the aims of the Graduate School of Life Sciences.
1) Requirements for master's thesis submission
Earn the number of credits, as determined by the Graduate School of Life Sciences, required for the completion of their course of study.
Receive necessary research advising determined by the Graduate School of Life Sciences and receive approval from their academic supervisor and co-supervisor regarding the submission of their thesis.
Give a midpoint research presentation determined by the Graduate School of Life Sciences.
Provide notification of the title of their degree thesis during the period determined by the Graduate School of Life Sciences.
However, students who meet the following requirements may submit a master's thesis as part of a special early graduation program.
Students who have earned or are expected to earn 30 or more credits for all required courses and have received the grade of A or S for all of these courses. However, transferred credits "T" will be evaluated retrospectively as the pre-transfer grade.
Students who have published at least one peer-reviewed paper as a first-author in an area related to their master's thesis (a paper written in Japanese is also acceptable). A reprint or acceptance notice must be attached.
Students who have been recommended by their Academic Advisor
* One-year, early graduation students are exempt from the midpoint research presentation.
2) Review standards for master's thesis
The thesis is based on the results of research in which the student who wishes to earn a master's degree has been independently engaged, and the novelty of the thesis must be clearly shown.
The survey of previous studies based on bibliographical sources and fact-finding research should be appropriately conducted, and the positioning of the research should be clearly shown.
Research methods should be appropriate and be described in a clear and specific manner.
The conclusion of the thesis and the development of analysis and discussion should be logical and convincing.
The thesis should be organized in a proper format, with sources cited appropriately.
3) Specific subject research paper submission requirements
Pursuant to the above master's thesis. However, students are to contact their academic supervisor for more information.
4) Specific subject research paper review standards
To be at a level that shows the acquirement of in-depth knowledge of life sciences from a broad perspective and the cultivation of the extraordinary ability demanded to build a sustainable society. However, this shall not preclude thesis length being less than the required length for a normal master's thesis.
５．Schedule (students entering in April)
1st semester in the first year of study
Early April: Entrance ceremony, enrollment procedure, course registration guidance
Mid-April: Course registration
Early May: Submission of a master's thesis title
Mid-Sept.: Announcement of grades
* Students are to receive guidance for the selection of courses in line with their thesis title.
* Students are to make a research proposal and acquire research methodology for surveys, experiments, and
other investigations.
2nd semester in the first year of study
Late Sept.: Course registration
Late Feb.: Midpoint research presentation session
Mid-March: Announcement of grades
*Based on their own awareness of the issues, students are to survey current research activities in areas related to their research topic.
* Students are to adjust their research proposal based on their progress in attaining their research goal.
* Students are to cultivate their presentation and communication skills by presenting at a midpoint research presentation session, one year after admission.
3rd semester in the second year of study
Early April: Procedure for academic year promotion
Mid-April: Course registration
Early May: Submission of a master's thesis title
Early Sept.: Announcement of grades
* Students are to conduct surveys and experiments based on their finalized research theme and improve their research accuracy while confirming the validity of the research method.
* Students are to receive guidance on how to proactively make presentations on their research results at domestic and overseas conferences as well as by submitting papers for publication.
4th semester in the second year of study
Late Sept.: Course registration
* Students are to examine the outline of their master's thesis.
* Students are to conduct observation and analysis of their obtained research results and finalize their master's thesis.
Early Jan.: Submission of a master's thesis
Mid-Feb.: Master's thesis presentation session
Late Feb.: Announcement of completion of all requirements in fulfillment of the master's program, and announcement of grades
Early March: Announcement of students who have completed the course
Late March: Diploma presentation ceremony/ Graduation ceremony
■ Doctoral program
1. Research Advising in Each Semester
1st semester
Students are to pick their academic adviser in accordance with their desired research area.
Students are to decide on their research subject and receive guidance in preparation for making a research proposal.
2nd semester
Students are to carry out a survey on prior studies in areas related to their research topic based on their awareness of the issues.
Students are to make a hypothesis and conduct preliminary experiments and surveys based on their research goal.
Students are to cultivate their presentation and communication skills by presenting a midpoint research presentation session.
3rd semester to 4th semester
Students are to collect and analyze data related to their research subject and have their academic advisor confirm their research progress.
Students are to cultivate their advanced presentation and communication skills by presenting a midpoint report session.
5th semester
Students are to receive guidance on the validity of their research method and the data related to their research subject and improve their research accuracy.
Students are to receive guidance on how to proactively make presentations on their research results at domestic and overseas conferences as well as by submitting papers for publication to academic journals.
6th semester
Students are to examine the outline of their doctoral thesis (Type A).
Students are to finalize their doctoral thesis.
2. Outline of the Thesis Reporting Session (Thesis Presentation Session) and Requirements for Presentation, etc.
<Midpoint research presentation session>
Students in the doctoral program must give a presentation on their research topic and method related to their research theme as well as on their research findings that have thus far been made at the midpoint research presentation session held at the end of the second semester or the beginning of the third semester.
The detail information for the manners or styles of how to give a presentation will be directed each time.
<Midpoint report session>
Students in the doctoral program must give a report at the midpoint report session held at the end of the third semester. For the midpoint research presentation session, students will give a presentation about their research.
The detail information for the manners or styles of how to give a presentation will be directed each time.
<Doctoral program research report>
As a general rule, students enrolled in the doctoral program must submit a doctoral program research report at the end of the 2nd, 4th, and 6th semester.
３．Guideline for writing a doctoral thesis
Please refer to the doctoral thesis (Type A) submission guidelines that were handed out.
４．Doctoral program completion requirements
1) Doctoral thesis submission requirements
Student must publish one or more original papers (publication notification is also acceptable)*. At least one of these papers must be equivalent to a full paper published as a first-author in an English academic journal in which the theses are rigorously refereed. Students who have completed a Master's program at another university and are enrolled in the Doctoral program at Toyo University must publish one or more original papers that meet the above criteria during their course of study in the Doctoral program.
Students must report their research progress at interim debrief meetings determined by the Graduate School of Life Sciences.
However, there are cases where those students who have produced outstanding research results are allowed to submit a doctoral thesis for early completion after being enrolled at graduate school for three years or more (including enrollment period for students who have completed a master's program).
In that case, the above condition (1.) will change as below.
Students must publish two or more original papers (publication notification is also acceptable)*. At least two of these papers must be equivalent to a full paper published as a first-author in an English academic journal in which the theses are rigorously refereed. Students who have completed a Master's program at another university and are enrolled in the Doctoral program at Toyo University must publish two or more original papers that meet the above criteria during their course of study in the Doctoral program.
*Notes:
An original paper used in the past to earn a degree may not be used.
A separately specified consent form is required if there are co-researchers.
A reprint is to be attached if the above English academic thesis is already published. If it is in the stage of publication acceptance, then materials that show evidence of the notification (e-mail, letter, etc.) is to be attached. After publication, a reprint is to be submitted without delay.
2) Doctoral thesis review standards
In accordance with the separately specified doctoral thesis review standards of the Graduate School of Life Sciences.