Admission Policy
Our policy
The Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies seeks to secure the current and future health and sustainability of the global environment in two essential ways: first, by training future researchers and practitioners for future environmental careers in academia, management, policy-making, advocacy and project implementation; and second, by establishing sustainability as the basis of an integrated and interdisciplinary field informed by ethics, science, technology and the humanities that can address the environmental challenges confronting the 21st century.
Who are we looking for?
Our goal is to produce graduates who through their excellence and distinctive talents will have an impact in their chosen fields. We are seeking students who demonstrate high moral character and richness of spirit, including
- Future researchers from all academic fields with a keen interest in global environmental problems and their solutions;
- Future internationally-minded practitioners with a deep enthusiasm for environmental management and a sincere commitment to acquiring and implementing the knowledge and practical skills required to tackle environmental problems from the local to the global level in every walk of life;
- A diverse body of students from many different backgrounds and possessing many different perspectives. Our students enter through a variety of admission tracks, including a mid-career admissions option for students with extensive work experience in environmental issues, some of whom may choose to study while continuing their professional careers, and an international admissions program for international students.
What are we looking for?
The Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies offers master and doctoral programs in the field of environmental management, as well as a doctoral program in global environmental studies. The admission requirements for each of these programs relates to the objective of the study program provided.
Global environmental studies
Our three-year doctoral program in global environmental studies aims to foster researchers who arecapable of grasping the full complexity and reach of global environmental issues and tackling global and local environmental issues with an innovative mindset and a range of methodologies that are drawn from a wide variety of scholarly fields, as well as practitioners who have such academic quality. Applicants to this program should hold a master’s degree in their chosen field of study in addition to English language proficiency and a keen interest in global environmental issues, but exemptions may be made for those with demonstrated professional experience and expertise in a field related to their expected area of study.
Environmental management
Our two-year master’s program and three-year doctoral program in environmental management are designed to foster outstanding and internationally-minded practitionerswho are capable of applying management skills in the search for practical and sustainable solutions to local and global environmental problems, as well as researchers who have such practical capabilities. Applicants to either of these programs will need basic academic knowledge of global environmental issues and English language proficiency in addition to a keen interest in environmental management.
Basic policy on admissions
The admissions process for the master’s program will be carried out by means of a comprehensive assessment of documents, foreign language ability, and an interview. The admissions process for the doctoral program will be carried out by means of a comprehensive assessment of documents and foreign language ability as well as a research presentation and interview.
Curriculum Policy
Our educational programs provide students with basic, advanced, and applied specialist knowledge informed by diverse academic research aimed at conserving the global environment and achieving sustainable development. They also foster the ability to engage in discussions of the findings and significance of innovative global environmental research and the significance thereof, and to create collaborative networks both locally and internationally. Our education equips students with a strong sense of responsibility and high ethical standards, as well as the capacity to always understand how research findings can contribute to the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature.
The Master’s Program is designed to cultivate comprehensive problem-solving skills in relation to the global environment. It features a multi-disciplinary curriculum which, together with internships, field training, and other problem-based learning programs fosters students’ capabilities as environmental practitioners and researchers. Students’ academic performance is evaluated through regularly scheduled tests, reports, presentations, class attendance and assignments. The master’s thesis is evaluated by three examiners. In the Doctoral Program, students pursue more in-depth academic research on a variety of topics aimed at the conservation of the global environment and sustainable development, conducted with guidance from the academic supervisor, supplemented by laboratory seminars and additional study and practice. Students must produce a doctoral dissertation that will be reviewed by three examiners. This program fosters independent researchers capable of playing active roles internationally, and leading practitioners capable of mobilizing a range of advanced specialized knowledge and technical skills.
Diploma Policy
Through conducting innovative research including fieldwork in global environmental studies, students are expected to develop into individuals who seek to contribute to the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature with a strong sense of responsibility and high ethical standards.
For completion and degree conferral in the Master’s Program, students are required to be enrolled for the prescribed number of years, complete and earn the required number of course credits, and acquire broad-ranging, in-depth academic knowledge of global environmental studies and the competencies required to undertake highly specialized professional roles, and pass a Master’s thesis examination. For completion and degree conferral in the Doctoral Program, students are required to be enrolled for the prescribed number of years, complete and earn the required number of course credits, acquire the competencies and knowledge needed to undertake independent research and/or advanced specialist work, and receive research guidance and pass a Doctoral thesis examination.
Criteria for Degree Conferment
Master’s Program
Completion requirements for the Master’s Program assume that the student has been registered in the course for two years or more, earned at least 30 credits in major subjects, and passed of the examination and review of the Master’s thesis held by the graduate school. However, students who have achieved remarkable research accomplishments may be eligible for a shortening of the period above in accordance with relevant provisions.
Doctoral Program
Completion of the Doctoral program is certified based on whether or not the dissertation contributes to solve global environmental problems and the regional environmental problems in the field in question, and whether or not the applicant for an academic degree acquires the high level ability or knowledge to persue deeper and more advanced learning and independent study or advanced specialized work, and has high level communication capabilities.