Policy

Student Admissions Policy

For the master's programs, we admit both persons aspiring to conduct research and put into practice the design and engineering of innovative technological systems that will contribute to resolving many of the large-scale and complex issues of the modern day, and those aspiring to research on and implement the leadership and management required to propose solutions to issues in the diverse social systems of today and guide these projects to success. In order to foster personnel befitting of these degrees, we admit people from many walks of life, including persons advancing to graduate school directly after completing their bachelor degrees and those with hands-on experience (early career/seasoned professionals) at organizations in the public, private, and other sectors. Screenings are conducted to comprehensively assess whether candidates have sufficient aptitude, skillsets, and desire to actively study alongside students from diverse backgrounds and put what they learn to practical use in the real world.

For the doctoral programs, we admit both persons aspiring to support various fields as researchers and social practitioners through advanced academic research on the design and engineering of innovative technological systems that will contribute to resolving many of the large-scale and complex issues of the modern day, and those aspiring to contribute to various fields as researchers and social practitioners through proposing solutions to issues in the diverse social systems of today and advanced academic research on the leadership and management to guide these projects to success. In order to foster personnel befitting of these degrees, we admit people from a wide range of spheres across generations, including persons with hands-on experience in the public and private sectors (early career/seasoned professionals) as well as students who have completed a master's degree program. Screenings are conducted to comprehensively assess whether candidates possess academic and research capabilities equivalent to those required for the master's program, the initiative to plan and conduct research, and sufficient aptitude, skillsets, and desire to put what they learn to practical use in society as specialists, in addition to whether they have made the preparations necessary to pursue their research after admission.

Curriculum Policy

On the master's program, students will master comprehensive management skills including strategic system engineering methods and communication skills in core subjects, and work on a "design project" course embracing jitsugaku or practical learning. In addition, we offer a variety of courses for students to acquire a broader global perspective.

For the master's program in System Engineering, students primarily engage in research over a two-year period (standard) in fields related to the design of technological systems, presenting their findings, etc., in Japan and internationally and compiling these into a master's thesis. For the master's program in System Design and Management, students primarily engage in research over a two-year period (standard) in fields related to addressing issues in social systems, which they then compile as a master's thesis.

On the doctoral programs, it is possible for students to take courses taught as part of the master's programs in order to study required subjects (especially core subjects, etc.). For the doctoral program in System Engineering, students primarily engage in research over a three-year period (standard) in fields related to the design of technological systems, on which they compile a doctoral dissertation while being positively evaluated by external specialists through presenting their findings in Japan and internationally. For the doctoral program in System Design and Management, students primarily engage in research over a three-year period (standard) in fields related to solving problems in social systems, on which they compile a doctoral dissertation while being positively evaluated by external specialists through presenting their findings in Japan and internationally.

In all of the degree programs, students can take lectures given by renowned professors from overseas while still in Japan through SDM's collaborations with MIT, Montclair State University, TU Delft, INSA, Politecnico di Milano, and others. In addition, we actively implement student exchange programs with all these universities. Due to the wide range of issues tackled by SDM, students conduct research while eliciting guidance from various related parties, which they compile into a thesis or dissertation.

Diploma Policy

Both the master's and doctorate programs have degrees in "System Engineering" and "System Design and Management."

Completion of studies for the Master of System Engineering means that students learn the core subjects and project subjects, and after studying other courses to acquire a broader global perspective, compile their research in fields primarily related to the design of technological systems into a master's thesis. Completion of studies for the Master of System Design and Management means that students learn the core subjects and project subjects, and after studying other courses to acquire a broader global perspective, compile their research in fields primarily related to solving problems in social systems into a master's thesis.

Completion of studies for the Doctor of System Engineering means that students have academic papers in fields primarily related to the design of technological systems positively evaluated by specialists, or have a system they created positively evaluated by specialists, compiling the outcomes of which into a doctoral dissertation. Completion of studies for the Doctor of System Design and Management means that students have academic papers in fields primarily related to solving problems in social systems positively evaluated by specialists, or have a system they created positively evaluated by specialists, compiling the outcomes of which into a doctoral dissertation.