Doctoral degree program
Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences

The Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences covers broad research areas related to life and environment. Various types of applied and advanced research areas are proceeding. Conservation of bio-resources and their sustainable use is studied from the viewpoints of both natural and social sciences. Coexistence of human beings, other life and the global environment are an important target of life and environmental sciences, and we are earnestly dealing with these problems. In addition to more than 240 university staffs about 60 researchers are invited as guest professors and associate professors from various national and corporations' research institutes. They also take part in all educational programs.

We have three attached field research centers in addition to national joint usage/research centers indispensable for the education and research for life and environmental studies. Using these centers, graduate students are expected to refine their sense and spirit of field science. Moreover we have a high priority to English education for graduate students to have internationally capable talents. The goal of our programs is to grow up those competent scientists who are highly talented in relevant professions and can see both “the forest and the trees”, having good knowledge and talent of skills in life and environmental sciences.

Educational programs are composed of several different types. One is a five-year consecutive doctoral program in Integrative Environmental Sciences. The Master's Program in Earth Sciences is designated to lead to the Doctoral Programs in Geo-environmental Sciences and Earth Evolution Sciences. The Master's Program in Biological Sciences is designated to lead to the Doctoral Programs in Biological Sciences(the name of which is the same as Master’s program). The Master's Program in Agro-bio-resources Science and Technology is designated to lead to three Doctoral Programs of Appropriate Technology and Sciences for Sustainable Development, Biosphere Resources and Technology, and in Life Sciences and Bioengineering. Students of these Master programs might alternatively go on to the Doctoral Program in Bioindustrial Sciences and in Advance Agricultural Technology and Sciences. The Master's Program in Environmental Sciences is designated to lead not only to the Doctoral Programs in Sustainable Environmental Studies, but also to other doctoral programs. Moreover, from 2010, three global 30 programs taught totally in English (Professional Training program in International Agricultural Research, International Bio-industrial Science Course, Waste management Expert Course), Environmental Diplomatic Leader Education Program and new inter-graduate school program, Future Life Science, have been established. And one more new program named as Arid Land Resources Science Course for Doctoral Program is opened at April 2011.

To comply with public requirements, daytime and evening graduate programs are provided some programs for those people who have job experience but wish to learn in graduate program Especially an "Early Completion Program" for working people was introduced and accepted in the existing four doctoral programs of Earth Evolution Sciences, Biological Sciences, Biosphere Resources and Technology, and Bioindustrial Sciences.