- Graduate School of Infectious Diseases
- Three Policies in the Graduate School of Infectious Diseases and Assessment Policy
Admission Policy in the Graduate School of Infectious Diseases
Education Aims
As was seen in the Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreak cases, the threat of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases to human society and economy has been increasing. Accordingly, the demand of the training for the specialists who deal with infectious disease research and its control is rising. To fulfil the social demand, the Graduate School of Infectious Diseases pursues the mission to develop human resources that have a wide knowledge of infectious diseases, flexible imagination and comprehensive decision-making ability to contribute to the development of infectious disease research and education fields as well as infectious disease control around the world with practical ability and leadership.
What We Expect of Our Students
- Qualities required of new students
- Knowledge, skills and understanding: Students who have sufficient basic academic knowledge and skills in the field of infectious diseases.
- Ability to think, make decisions, and express oneself: Those who have English language skills and communication skills necessary for research and academic activities.
- Interest, motivation and an inquiring mind to perform academic activities: Those who have a willingness to actively work on and solve problems during research activities, and have a keen interest in research ethics and medical and veterinary ethics.
- Independence and ability to collaborate: Students who have the ability to conduct creative research and academic activities from a broad perspective.
- What we expect applicants to have learned before entering the graduate school
- Basic knowledge on academic subjects related to infectious diseases to engage in academic and research activities at the graduate school.
Admission Policy
Applicants for admission are expected to possess the following qualities/abilities:
- A desire to contribute to scientific research associated with infectious disease and its control
- Deep understanding of the concept of One Health (human, animal and environmental health)
- Practical ability to work in fields where infection occurs in addition to research in the laboratory
- The willingness and ability to collaborate as part of an international team
Basic Policy for Selection of Applicants
- General Entrance Examination and Entrance Examination for Working People
The written examination evaluates “knowledge, skills and understanding” and “Ability to think, make decisions, and express oneself”, the oral examination evaluates “knowledge, skills and understanding”, “Ability to think, make decisions, and express oneself”, “Interest, motivation and inquiring mind to perform academic activities” and “Independence and ability to collaborate”, and the application documents are evaluated comprehensively focusing on “knowledge, skills and understanding” and “Interest, motivation and inquiring mind to perform academic activities”. - Special Selection for other university’s student (only for Japanese)
Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of “knowledge, skills and understanding”, “Ability to think, make decisions, and express oneself” and “Interest, motivation and inquiring mind to perform academic activities” in the application form, and “knowledge, skills and understanding”, “Ability to think, make decisions, and express oneself”, “Interest, motivation and inquiring mind to perform academic activities” and “Independence and ability to collaborate” in the oral examination. - Entrance examination for international students
Applicants are evaluated on the basis of their “knowledge, skills and understanding”, “Ability to think, make decisions, and express oneself” and “Interest, motivation and inquiring mind to perform academic activities” in the application documents, and “knowledge, skills and understanding”, “Ability to think, make decisions, and express oneself”, “Interest, motivation and inquiring mind to perform academic activities” and “Independence and ability to collaborate” in the oral examination.
Method of examination and evaluation factors of the entrance examination
knowledge, skills and understanding | Ability to think, make decisions, and express oneself | Interest, motivation and inquiring mind to perform academic activities | Independence and ability to collaborate | ||
General Entrance Examination and Entrance Examination for Working People | Application Documents | * | * | ||
Written Examination | * | * | |||
Oral Examination | * | * | * | * | |
Special selection for other university’s student (only for Japanese) |
Application Documents (including essay and research plan) |
* | * | * | |
Oral Examination | * | * | * | * | |
Entrance examination for international students |
Application Documents (including essay and research plan) |
* | * | * | |
Oral Examination | * | * | * | * |
Diploma Policy
In line with four philosophies of Hokkaido University (i.e., Frontier Spirit, Global Perspectives, All-round Education and Practical Learning), the Graduate School of Infectious Diseases aims to educate new generations of leaders who have broad perspectives in the field of infectious diseases, a flexible imagination and comprehensive decision-making ability as well as practical competence and leadership skills to contribute to the control of infectious diseases and the development of the study on infectious diseases in Japan and around the world.
The Graduate School has set degree conferral standards that ensure specific abilities required of such ideal leaders in the Division of Infectious Diseases (Doctoral Program), and grants a Ph.D. to students who have developed the requisite abilities, acquired the necessary credits and passed a review and examination of their doctoral dissertation. Students can choose to earn the Ph.D. either in Veterinary Medicine or Infectious Diseases based on their interest, expertise and future career paths.
Degree Conferral Standards
Based on the educational aims of the Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, the Division of Infectious Diseases aspires to educate new generations of experts equipped with well-rounded perspectives, practical ability and comprehensive decision-making ability who 1) have acquired the level of expertise required for tackling issues concerning infectious diseases to promote the health and well-being of both animals and humans and to take initiatives for global infectious disease control and 2) can exercise leadership in the international arena to help achieve the One Health concept. To earn a Ph.D., students must possess the qualities and skills outlined below.
- Broad perspectives and an academic foundation in the field of infectious diseases and related sciences
- Highly specialized expertise in the field of infectious diseases and related sciences, and the ability to apply it to research and other practical situations
- The ability to see issues from broad, multidisciplinary perspectives, and the insight and flexible imagination necessary to solve challenging issues
- The ability to exercise leadership in the international arena to achieve the One Health concept
Curriculum Policy
To foster the experts described in the Diploma Policy, the Graduate School of Infectious Diseases formulates and implements curricula for the Division of Infectious Diseases.
Curriculum Policy of Division of Infectious Diseases
The Division of Infectious Diseases formulates and implements curricula with characteristics outlined below to foster the development of experts with the abilities described in the degree conferral standards.
Development of a broad academic foundation for research on infectious diseases
- To help students develop interdisciplinary perspectives and an academic foundation in the study of infectious diseases and related sciences, the Division offers Subjects on Fundamental Veterinary Science and Infectious Diseases.
- Credits earned for Inter-Graduate School Classes offered at Hokkaido University are counted toward degree completion to help students cultivate comprehensive, interdisciplinary knowledge, not just expertise in veterinary science or the field of infectious diseases. Among the Inter-Graduate School Classes, students are strongly recommended to take Basic Medical Biology I and Basic Clinical Medicine I.
- The Division offers Research Ethics Seminar to cultivate a sense of ethics and awareness of research standards needed for researchers who play an active role in the international arena.
Improvement of English proficiency
- To help students acquire the level of English proficiency necessary to play an active role in the international arena, the Division offers Academic English. This course is aimed at improving English conversation and presentation skills of students through small classes.
- All lectures are given in English, and English seminars featuring researchers invited from abroad who are at the forefront of their fields are also planned to help improve English proficiency of students.
Acquisition of advanced specialist expertise in infectious diseases
- The Division offers Core Subjects on Infectious Diseases I, IIA and IIB, which are aimed at providing advanced specialist expertise in infectious diseases based on an academic foundation in the study of infectious diseases and related sciences. To acquire specialized knowledge and skills in related fields, students are also strongly recommended to take Medical Ethics (Subject of the Graduate School of Medicine) and Practice on Epidemiology I (Inter-Graduate School Class).
- The Division offers compulsory subjects aimed at producing specialists in zoonosis control. Advanced and Comprehensive Studies on Zoonosis Control is offered to help students acquire the knowledge and skills required of such specialists.
Development of the practical ability to play an active role in the international arena
- To help students develop the practical ability needed in the international arena, the Division offers Internship Abroad A and B, providing opportunities to get real-world experience directly related to their field of study and explore career paths in an international context.
Development of comprehensive research skills through individually tailored advice and guidance on writing a doctoral dissertation
- The Division supports doctoral dissertation research by offering Research on Infectious Diseases I, IIA and IIB, in this order, to help students cultivate the abilities to identify and solve problems and gain expertise in the writing of academic papers, both of which are prerequisites for independent-minded researchers.
- The Division supports doctoral dissertation research based on a research advisor system, under which students are offered individually tailored advice and guidance by advisors from their own laboratories and elsewhere.
- At the end of each academic year, the Division holds an open research presentation event where students can receive advice from faculty members of other laboratories than their own. The requirement to make presentations and answer questions in English allows students to develop the ability to play active roles on the international stage.
- To ensure the quality of degrees, the Division performs three reviews for Quality Evaluation. The first review is aimed at offering evaluation and advice about the validity, novelty and other aspects of research done by students, whereas the second review is intended to check the progress of the research and provide advice and guidance on the acquisition of degrees in general, including the specific degree students are endeavoring to obtain (in infectious diseases or veterinary medicine). The third review is an eligibility review for the submission of a dissertation.
Development of broad-ranging abilities that Ph.D. holders need
- The Division provides students with communication skills and training in the planning and organization of academic events by offering them the opportunity to plan and organize such events as research discussion forums, lecture meetings and international academic conferences.
- Students are offered the opportunity to prepare for their future as outstanding researchers/educators through work as Teaching Assistants (TAs), Research Assistants (RAs) and Teaching Fellows (TFs).
Policy for the assessment of learning outcomes
The Guidelines for Grading Standards stipulate that grading is to be carried out in a manner appropriate to the nature of the course.
Assessment Policy and Assessment Checklist
The Graduate school of Infectious Diseases established an assessment policy that defines the overall purpose, qualitative level to be achieved, and specific implementation methods for the assessment of student learning outcomes in December 2018.