The Three Policies of the School of Chemistry, Life Science, and Informatics (Master of Science)

Based on the diploma policy outlined by Keio University, this program aims to cultivate students who value diversity and use their expertise in science and technology to boldly venture into unknown frontiers and lead society. Moreover, our objective is to foster exceptional individuals through cutting-edge education and research in chemistry, life sciences, and related fields of informatics. We strive to cultivate professionals with deep foundational scientific expertise coupled with the ability to create new, interdisciplinary academic domains where existing fields converge. Graduates will possess outstanding communication skills that will prepare them to lead society and the world in disseminating impactful research outcomes.

The degree of Master of Science will be conferred upon students who demonstrate a deep understanding of knowledge, theories, and phenomena in the natural sciences, and who fulfill all the prescribed curriculum requirements.

(1) Demonstrate a strong determination to contribute to society, utilizing unique talents to proactively identify problems.

(2) Demonstrate the ability to break down complex problems into manageable elements and tackle them using advanced academic and technological expertise.

(3) Demonstrate the ability to generate world-leading, creative research outcomes across a broad spectrum of science and technology, from basic to applied fields.

These three competency objectives are common across all schools.

(4) Demonstrate the ability to effectively leverage one's foundational academic abilities within cutting-edge research across chemistry, life sciences, and related fields of informatics.

(5) Demonstrate the ability to contribute to the advancement of society by constructing new theories and translating them into impactful science and technology.

(6) Demonstrate a mastery of communication skills required to articulate research outcomes using scientifically grounded language, ensuring clarity for both specialists and non-specialists alike.

(7) Demonstrate a deep understanding of natural sciences—including their foundational knowledge, theories, and observed phenomena—and the ability to apply and extrapolate their various laws.

Degrees will be comprehensively evaluated and awarded in accordance with the human resource development goals and other educational and research objectives of the Graduate School of Science and Technology. This evaluation is based on the student earning the prescribed credits in their respective school, alongside an examination of their master’s thesis or specific research project outcomes against the following criteria.

Courses consist of general courses, major field courses, and research courses. To achieve the completion requirements outlined in the School of Chemistry, Life Science, and Informatics’ Degree Conferral Policy, a curriculum has been established that enables student-centered learning while leveraging the unique characteristics of each school. This program delivers instruction on defining research questions, methodologies for arriving at solutions, research execution, achieving convergence, and thesis preparation to develop and refine research skills.

Students engage in research under the guidance of an academic advisor, consolidating their achievements into a master’s thesis or a research project report; a structured system is in place to ensure they will receive step-by-step feedback and support from several faculty members during this process.

Furthermore, a core guiding principle is the focus on a diverse curriculum that transcends lecture-focused courses. This framework enables students to contextualize their research themes and the unique characteristics of each school, while acquiring solid knowledge and methodologies within their specialized fields. By incorporating subject categories dedicated to specialized professional development, global talent development, and experiential learning, the curriculum empowers learners to reflect on what they want to study and how they want to learn. In addition to major subjects, students are required to take a specified number of credits in courses aimed at cultivating societal leaders capable of proposing and realizing better interrelationships between cutting-edge science and technology and society, as well as courses designed to broaden their global and interdisciplinary horizons.

Through cutting-edge research in chemistry, life sciences, and related fields of informatics, this program aims to nurture individuals who will deepen their foundational scientific expertise while acquiring the ability to create new, interdisciplinary academic domains where existing fields converge while leveraging their exceptional communication skills to lead society and the world. In principle, research and educational support tailored to the curriculum will be offered by creating subject categories focused on research skill development, professional growth, hands-on learning, classroom instruction, and interdisciplinary studies.

The criteria for evaluating students’ learning outcomes in relation to the competency objectives of this program shall be carried out in accordance with the grading rubrics for each course. Specific evaluation criteria such as final examinations, reports, in-class quizzes, and presentations are outlined in course syllabi.

Additionally, with the Assessment Plan in mind, the university promotes institution-wide efforts to improve teaching methods based on student feedback from course questionnaires, while encouraging students’ independent and self-directed learning.

The following competency objectives will be cultivated through lecture and research courses.

(1) Demonstrate a strong determination to contribute to society, utilizing one's unique talents to proactively identify problems. (General Courses, Major Field Courses)

(2) Demonstrate the ability to break down complex problems into manageable elements and tackle them using advanced academic and technological expertise. (General Courses, Research Courses)

(3) Demonstrate the ability to generate world-leading, creative research outcomes across a broad spectrum of science and technology, from basic to applied fields. (Major Field Courses, Research Courses)

(4) Demonstrate the ability to effectively leverage one's foundational academic abilities within cutting-edge research across chemistry, life sciences, and related fields of informatics. (Major Field Courses)

(5) Demonstrate the ability to contribute to the advancement of society by constructing new theories and translating them into impactful science and technology. (General Courses, Major Field Courses)

(6) Demonstrate a mastery of the communication skills required to articulate research outcomes using scientifically grounded language, ensuring clarity for both specialists and non-specialists alike. (General Courses, Major Field Courses)

(7) Demonstrate a deep understanding of natural sciences—including their foundational knowledge, theories, and observed phenomena—and the ability to apply and extrapolate their various laws. (Major Field Courses)

General courses, major field courses, and research courses are systematically structured to ensure successful acquisition of the above-mentioned competency objectives.

The School of Chemistry, Life Science, and Informatics seeks students with the following qualities, motivation, and interests.

(1) Students who strongly resonate with the Graduate School of Science and Technology’s human resource development goals and education/research objectives who possess a desire to enhance their knowledge of science and technology, acquire communication skills that emphasize diversity, and attain the capabilities to venture into uncharted territories based on science and technology, driven by their own independent thought and action.

(2) Students who possess a solid foundation in fields grounded in chemistry, life sciences, and related fields of physics and informatics and have a strong desire to contribute to the development of basic science or cutting-edge advancements in science and technology built upon those foundational sciences.

To admit a wide range of candidates who embody these qualities, selection will be conducted through entrance examinations in June and August. A separate entrance examination will be conducted for students from overseas universities applying for admission to the International Graduate Programs on Advanced Science and Technology. Through this selection process, we strive to create an educational and research environment that drives intellectual synergy by bringing together students with diverse skills and backgrounds to inspire and challenge one another. 

(1) June Examinations: Selection is based on document screening and an oral examination.

(2) August Examinations: Applicants will be evaluated comprehensively through written and oral examinations designed to assess their academic proficiency across foundational and specialized fields.

(3) International Graduate Programs on Advanced Science and Technology Examinations: With multiple application periods per year, selection is primarily based on document screening and an oral examination.