Outline of research advising

■ Master's program

In principle, the research will be conducted based on the following advising.

1. Content of research advising in each semester

　1st semester

• Students determine a research theme and receive advisement on their plan to take courses.

• Students formulate a research proposal and learn research methodologies that are necessary for their research activities with regard to materials, surveys, and other matters.

• Students receive advisement on how to review previous studies in research fields that are related to the questions and research theme they are addressing.

2nd semester

• Students reconsider or revise their research proposal according to the progress in their efforts to implement the proposal.

• Students make presentations on and discuss previous studies and research methodologies related to their research theme to improve their presentation and discussion skills, which are necessary for furthering their research.

• Students consider the overall goal and structure of their master’s thesis.

3rd semester

• Students prepare to present their research findings in an organized manner, while conducting surveys, analyses, etc. based on their determined research theme in order to check the appropriateness of their research methodologies. In addition, they make interim reports on their research project at research presentation sessions held by each course or on other occasions.

4th semester

• Students develop their research findings into a master’s thesis and receive comprehensive advisement on the structure of the thesis, analysis results, expressions used in the thesis, etc..

• Students enhance the accuracy of their research and complete their master’s thesis.

2. Thesis presentation meetings (sessions), etc.

Students who wish to submit their master’s thesis in the relevant semester make presentations on the progress of their thesis writing and the achievements of their thesis at research report meetings or research presentation sessions held by each course or on other occasions.

Details about how to make presentations are given by each Course.

3. Research paper

The Courses consisting of English Language and Literature, Education, and International Culture and Communication Studies allow students to submit a research paper on a specific subject instead of a master’s thesis. A research paper on a specific subject denotes a paper written based on practical surveys and research on a specific subject. Students who aim to submit a research paper on a specific subject must meet the following requirements in the process of submission.

Course of International Culture and Communication Studies

1. Students determine a title and content of a research paper in consultation with their academic supervisors.

2. Eligibility to submit a research paper on a specific subject requires students to accomplish practical achievements that contribute to enhancing the quality of education, including the development of curricula or educational materials, and reports on practical research, in the field of English education (in the case of students who aim to acquire a teaching certificate for master’s degree holders) or Japanese language education. Students who aim to advance to the Doctoral Program are not eligible to submit a research paper on a specific subject.

3. Students who will submit a research paper on a specific subject must make reports at the master’s thesis interim report meeting and the master’s thesis achievement presentation session, just as other students do.

Course of Public–Private Partnership

■ Master's program

1. Content of research advising in each semester(model case)

   Standard program

   Students will:

• Set a tentative research theme at the time of admission.

• In the 1st and 2nd semesters, enhance basic ability to conduct research through guidance from the main supervisor and co-supervisors and through courses.

• In the 3rd semester, create a research plan in consultation with the main supervisor and co-supervisors and proceed with analysis and discussion.

• In the 4th semester, take advantage of opportunities such as thesis presentations to advance the writing of the thesis concretely.

　 Professional intensive program

    Students will:

• At the time of application, submit a research plan designated by the course.

• In the 1st semester, enhance basic ability to conduct research through guidance from the main supervisor and co-supervisors and through courses.

• In the 2nd semester, create a research plan in consultation with the main supervisor and co-supervisors and proceed with analysis and discussion.

2. Outline of thesis presentation meetings (sessions) and presentation requirements

　 Standard program

• After the start of the 4th semester, a mid-term presentation will be held shortly.

• Before the end of the 4th semester, a final presentation will be held.

• After submission of the thesis, a final examination (oral exam) will be conducted.

• From the 1st to the 3rd semester, presentations may also be held.

　  Professional intensive program

• After the start of the 2nd semester, a mid-term presentation will be held shortly.

• Before the end of the 2nd semester, a final presentation will be held.

• After submission of the thesis, a final examination (oral exam) will be conducted.

• In the 1st semester Presentations may also be held.

■Doctoral program

1．Content of research advising in each semester

Students are required to receive academic and research advising, keeping close contact with their academic supervisors. The content of advising in each semester is shown below.

1st semester

• Students determine a research theme through discussion with their academic supervisors, and formulate a necessary research plan, research methods and a survey plan for the research theme. Students take the necessary courses based on the academic advising.

2nd semester

• Students discuss and determine their research plan and methods, and conduct surveys and research, taking into consideration the deadline for submitting their research findings to an academic journal, the Graduate School Bulletin, and other journals, while receiving advising from their academic supervisors in line with the progress of their research. Students take the necessary courses based on the academic advising.

3rd semester

• Students discuss and determine their research plan and methods, and conduct surveys and research, taking into consideration the deadline for submitting their research findings to an academic journal, the Graduate School Bulletin, and other journals, while receiving advising from their academic supervisors in line with the progress of their research. Students take the necessary courses based on the academic advising.

4th semester

• Students conduct surveys and analyze survey data to put together their research findings, receiving advising from their academic supervisors in line with the progress of their research. They are also encouraged to actively submit their papers to internal and external journals to satisfy completion requirements. Students take the necessary courses based on the academic advising.

5th semester

• Students continue to conduct surveys and analyze survey data to put together their research findings, receiving advising from their academic supervisors in line with the progress of their research. They are also encouraged to actively submit their papers to internal and external journals. Students begin to write their doctoral thesis. Students take the necessary courses based on the academic advising.

6th semester

• Students conduct a more accurate analysis to enhance the completeness of their doctoral thesis, and submit it. They also make necessary changes to their thesis to further enhance its completeness in preparation for a preliminary review and a public hearing. Students take the necessary courses based on the academic advising.

２．Outline of thesis presentation meetings (sessions) and the requirements for presentations

In both the spring semester and fall semester, interim and term-end sessions are held, which are attended by all students. All students are obliged to present their research plan and the progress of their research, so that their presentation will be used as a milestone for research advising and be used to manage the progress of writing their degree thesis. Since students are required to receive and answer questions about their research content from people other than their academic advisers at these sessions, they can develop their ability to answer questions asked from different perspectives. They are also expected to try to improve their thesis by learning the research content of other students. For the details of presentation sessions, see materials distributed as needed by the course instructors.

■ Master's program

1. Content of research advising in each semester

Students are required to receive academic and research advising, making close contact with their academic supervisors. The content of advising in each semester is shown below. The information on research presentation sessions described below is provided for students enrolled in the spring semester. For students enrolled in the fall semester, refer to the session schedule described in the subsequent semester.

1st semester

• Students determine their academic supervisors and co-supervisors, select a research theme, and formulate necessary survey and research methods and a research proposal based on the research theme.

• Students take necessary courses based on the academic advising.

• Students report the progress of their research at an interim presentation session (late May) and a term-end presentation session (late July).

2nd semester

• Students mainly conduct surveys and research, receiving advising from their academic supervisors in line with the progress of their research.

• Students take necessary courses based on the academic advising.

• Students report the progress of their research at an interim presentation session (late November) and a term-end presentation session (late January).

3rd semester

• Students analyze survey and research data to put together their research findings.

• Students are encouraged to submit their research findings to an academic journal, the Graduate School Bulletin, and other journals.

• Students take necessary courses based on the academic advising.

• Students report the progress of their research at an interim presentation session (late May) and a term-end presentation session (late July).

4th semester

• Students write their master’s thesis. In some cases, they conduct additional surveys and research. They are also encouraged to submit their research findings to an academic journal, the Graduate School Bulletin, and other journals.

• Students take necessary courses based on the academic advising.

Students submit their master’s thesis (early January) and take an oral examination (late January). Those who have succeeded in completing the Master’s Program are announced in early February.

(For students enrolled in the fall semester: submission of a master’s thesis (early July), oral examination (late July), announcement of students who have completed the program (early September))

2. Outline of thesis presentation meetings (sessions) and the requirements for presentations

Two research presentation sessions (interim and term-end sessions) are held in each semester to provide students with opportunities to pursue their studies and to interact with each other. Students are required to attend every session and report the progress and findings of their research in front of all faculty members.

For the details of presentation sessions, see materials distributed as needed by the course instructors.

3. Research paper

Students who have a full-time job are allowed to submit a research paper instead of a master’s degree thesis.

A research paper refers to a paper written based on practical surveys and research on a specific subject.

Relevant students need to meet the following three requirements at the time of submission:

1. Give 1 or more oral presentations of their thesis at an academic conference,

2. Publish 1 or more theses in a professional journal, and

3. (Be expected to) Earn 32 or more credits for courses.

*Regarding 1 and 2, students must clarify which part of the thesis they have contributed to when submitting it.

Students who choose to submit a research paper must provide notification about it during the final semester after gaining approval from their academic advisers.

The review criteria for a practically researched specific subject research paper must meet all of the criteria in 1. and 2.

1.The research must have potential for application.

2.The applicant must have the ability to promote the research, the ability to logically explain the research results, and a wide range of specialized knowledge in the research field. 

■ Doctoral program

1. Content of research advising in each semester

Students are required to receive academic and research advising, making close contact with their academic supervisors. The content of advising in each semester is shown below. The information on research presentation sessions described below is provided for students enrolled in the spring semester. For students enrolled in the fall semester, refer to the session schedule described in the subsequent semester. Students are required to report their research progress at least once per semester in consultation with their academic supervisor.

1st semester

• Students determine their academic supervisors and co-supervisors, select a research theme, and formulate necessary survey and research methods and a research proposal based on the research theme.

• Students take the necessary courses based on the academic advising.

• Students report the progress of their research at an interim presentation session and a term　end presentation session.

2nd semester

• Students mainly conduct surveys and research, receiving advising from their academic supervisors in line with the progress of their research.

• Students take the necessary courses based on the academic advising.

• Students report the progress of their research at an interim presentation session and a term end presentation session.

3rd semester

• Students mainly conduct surveys and research, receiving advising from their academic supervisors in line with the progress of their research.

• Students take the necessary courses based on the academic advising.

• Students report the progress of their research at an interim presentation session and a term end presentation session.

• Students submit their research findings to academic journals and the Graduate School Bulletin and give a presentation at academic conferences at home and abroad.

4th semester

• Students analyze survey and research data to put together their research findings.

• Students take the necessary courses based on the academic advising.

• Students report the progress of their research at an interim presentation session and a term end presentation session.

• Students submit their research findings to academic journals and the Graduate School Bulletin and give a presentation at academic conferences at home and abroad.

5th semester

• Students continue to analyze survey and research data to put together their research findings.

• Students take the necessary courses based on the academic advising.

• Students report the progress of their research at an interim presentation session and a term end presentation session.

• Students submit their research findings to academic journals and the Graduate School Bulletin and give a presentation at academic conferences at home and abroad to satisfy completion requirements.

• Students write their doctoral thesis.

6th semester

• Students take the necessary courses based on the academic advising.

• Students conduct additional surveys and research as needed.

• Students submit their doctoral thesis.

A Review Committee is established after a chief examiner and a deputy chief examiner are selected. The first and second committee meetings are held in late November and late December, respectively. (For students enrolled in the fall semester: 1st meeting (late June), 2nd meeting (mid-July)). In some cases, the third and subsequent meetings are held.

A public hearing on the doctoral thesis and an announcement of review results are held in late January and in mid-March, respectively.

(For students enrolled in the fall semester: public hearing on doctoral thesis (late July), announcement of review results (mid-September))

2. Outline of thesis presentation meetings (sessions) and the requirements for presentations

Students are provided with opportunities to pursue their studies and to interact with each other. Students are obliged to attend every session and report the progress and findings of their research in front of all faculty members. Since students are required to receive and answer questions about their research content from people other than their academic supervisors at these sessions, they can develop their ability to answer questions asked from different perspectives. They are also expected to try to improve their thesis by learning the research content of other students. For the details of presentation sessions, see materials distributed as needed by the course instructors.