1. YNU
2. Education
3. Educational Policy
4. Policy on Organizing and Implementing Curricula (Curriculum Policy)

Education System and Basic Curriculum Structure Curricula and Grading Standards Policy on Study Guidance from Entry to Course Completion

Education System and Basic Curriculum Structure

Policy for organizing curricula

YNU’s graduate schools organize their curricula in a structured way, establishing the courses necessary for each graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program to achieve its aims in terms of cultivating human resources, as well as its other educational philosophies and goals, and to impart to students the four types of practical knowledge and skills detailed in its policy on course completion approval and granting degrees (Policy 1: Diploma Policy).

For non-professional degree programs, graduate schools draw up appropriate plans for research guidance relating to the writing of a degree thesis (or writing up research findings relating to a specific issue in the case of master’s programs).

When organizing curricula, graduate schools take due care to supplement the acquisition of advanced expertise and capability relating to each graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program’s fields of specialization by cultivating a fundamental grounding in other associated fields. Particularly in the case of professional degree programs, graduate schools collaborate with others including the local community and the business sector to consider circumstances affecting the relevant professions when developing the necessary courses and to organize curricula that reflect the trends in those professions. They also respond to changes in such circumstances by constantly making updates, including revisions to course content and curriculum structure.

Methods of organizing curricula

YNU’s graduate schools organize their curricula by determining appropriate course categories, such as lectures or exercises, for courses established by each graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program. Each course is divided into required subjects, elective subjects, and optional subjects, and these different categories of subjects are apportioned appropriately for each year of study.

Courses comprise those established by each graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program, as well as graduate-level liberal education courses that span multiple graduate schools/programs. The graduate-level liberal education courses cultivate a fundamental grounding in fields associated with the relevant fields of specialization in graduate schools/programs.

YNU may offer structured graduate school education programs relating to specific fields, topics, or interdisciplinary fields that span multiple graduate schools/graduate degree programs in which students are enrolled (interdepartmental graduate school education programs). Furthermore, the university may offer structured study programs (sub-major programs) relating to specific fields, topics, or interdisciplinary fields other than those of the graduate schools/graduate degree programs in which students are enrolled.

In addition, YNU offers “Brush up Programs for professionals” certified by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to develop the practical, specialist capabilities required for professions and provide structured education in the knowledge, techniques, and skills used for practical work. The university also promotes coordinated collaboration among its organizational entities to offer post-graduate-school study opportunities, enabling students to learn both inside and outside of educational programs in order to enhance their own attributes after graduating and cultivate the skills necessary to become socially and professionally independent.

In this case, the university seeks to create a global campus where a large number of international students can come together and cooperate in their endeavors, at the same time taking care to provide graduate school education geared to external requirements including the needs of the local community and the business sector.

Curricula and Grading Standards

Policy for implementing curricula

In addition to providing graduate school education based on internationally recognized quality assurance in each graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program, YNU’s graduate schools also implement the initiatives below through their curricula according to their policies for organizing curricula.

• Promote graduate school education programs that incorporate cutting-edge research findings
• Establish graduate school education programs that promote systematic, independent learning in specialized fields building on foundations laid in undergraduate education (bachelor’s program education).
• Build on existing fields of specialization to institute sub-major programs in addition to regular majors in graduate school education programs. Sub-major programs are designed to broaden research horizons to incorporate advanced research in priority fields; practical foundational research; and interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary research, and to expand the graduate school education and research guidance conducted by multiple faculty members.
• Build the international character of graduate students to enable them to play active roles in global society by creating a global campus where large numbers of non-Japanese international students and researchers from a variety of cultural backgrounds can come together and cooperate in their endeavors. English-language provision, including graduate school education programs, is also being expanded.
• Are expanding practical graduate school education programs such as internships and fieldwork in Japan and overseas.
• Are expanding graduate school education programs to equip graduate students with high-level presentation skills so that they can present their research findings at international symposia and conferences with the aim of developing leaders who can succeed on the world stage.
• Emphasize a sense of ethics and responsibility in graduate school education programs so that graduate students can become trustworthy advanced professionals and researchers at the global level.

Methods of implementing curricula

Education at YNU’s graduate schools comprises course-based classes and research guidance. If considered beneficial when drawing up a student’s research guidance plan, students may receive some of the required research guidance at a graduate school in another university, a research institute, or elsewhere (for up to a year in the case of master’s program students).

Graduate school courses offer organized education across the entire graduate school education program by coordinating and interlinking with individual courses according to the policy on organizing and implementing curricula (Policy 2: Curriculum Policy) drawn up by each individual graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program.

Graduate school education programs are accompanied by curriculum trees (curriculum or course maps) incorporating course numbering according to the policies on organizing and implementing curricula (Policy 2: Curriculum Policies). The aim is to clearly indicate what constitutes a sequential, structured curriculum so that a diverse range of university entrants can devise their own study plans and carry out independent study.

Graduate schools clearly indicate grading standards and assessment indicators (course rubrics) to be used by all class teachers with respect to learning outcome goals, operating an organized system for management of teaching and learning (a PDCA/plan-do-check-action cycle) to be used for improving and developing their curricula to ensure internationally recognized quality assurance.

Course-Based Classes

Course-based classes at YNU’s graduate schools employ one or more of the following formats: lectures, exercises, experiments, practical training, or skills practice. The university may allow students to take full advantage of a range of media or other methods to take classes in locations other than classrooms and the usual venues where classes are held, whether in Japan or overseas.

The number of credits per course is calculated according to the class formats listed below (as well as the course’s educational efficacy and the amount of study required outside of class time, etc.). One standard course credit comprises course content requiring 45 hours of study.

• Classes comprising lectures and/or exercises: One credit per 15 hours of classes
• Classes comprising experiments, practical training, and/or skills practice: One credit per 30 hours of classes
• Classes in art and similar fields comprising skills practice with individual tutoring: One credit for the number of hours of classes stipulated by the relevant graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program
• A single course that employs a combination of two or more formats from among lectures, exercises, experiments, practical training, or skills practice: One credit for the number of hours of classes stipulated by the relevant graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program according to the combination of formats used in the class in question
• Classes providing research guidance or other advice relating to the writing of a degree thesis (or writing up research findings relating to a specific issue in the case of master’s programs): The number of credits stipulated by the relevant graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program considering such factors as the amount of study necessary for the class in question

Course scheduling under a two-semester-six-term combination system

YNU’s graduate schools employ a two-semester-six-term combination system in scheduling the duration of courses. The academic year is divided into the spring semester and the fall semester with courses offered in durations of both 16 weeks (semester courses) and 8 weeks (term courses) for each semester.

For semester courses, the academic year is divided into the spring semester and the fall semester, and courses are scheduled to complete over a period of 16 weeks excluding vacations. For term courses, the academic year is divided into 6 terms; courses are offered in the spring semester (first half: Term 1; second half: Term 2) and the fall semester (first half: Term 4; second half: Term 5) and are scheduled to complete over a period of 8 weeks. When designing courses, those comprising lectures and/or exercises are scheduled once a week, accounting for one unit, and those comprising experiments, practical training, and/or skills practice are scheduled twice a week, also accounting for one unit.

YNU’s graduate schools may offer intensive term course lecture sessions during the summer vacation (Term 3) or the spring vacation (Term 6).

Two-semester-six-term combination system

Course numbering

YNU’s graduate schools make use of a course numbering system, assigning specific symbols and numbers according to course difficulty (level) and the order in which courses should be studied as a means of offering integrated two- or three-year curricula from university entry to course completion approval in each graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program. The same course numbering system is used at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; it enables the university to make clear to students the recommended year in which to study different courses and how their studies will progress.

When offering study guidance, the university prepares curriculum trees (curriculum or course maps) incorporating course numbering as a means of clearly indicating to students in advance the basic configuration of a sequential, structured curriculum so that a diverse range of university entrants can devise their own study plans and carry out independent study.

Grading standards

A range of factors are taken into account in determining grades for YNU courses using the grading methods stated in the Web Syllabus. University-wide grading standards apply based on the university’s course designing and grading guideline. Grades are expressed in terms of five levels— S, A, B, C, and F—and grade points (GP) are awarded for grades achieved in each course. However, where it is difficult to express grades in terms of five levels, course grades are expressed as Pass or Fail and GP are not awarded.

The Web Syllabus gives students clear advance notification of such details as the aims of classes in each course, class plans, content to be studied outside class hours, standard goals, advanced goals, grading methods, grading standards, class teaching methods, textbooks, and references.

As part of its grading standards YNU prepares course rubrics as indicators for assessing learning outcomes; these clearly indicate in matrix format the content to be studied and the levels to be attained by students.

1. The advanced goal indicates all content covered in the course (the aims of the course). Mastering more advanced content requires independent study; if the advanced goal is exceeded, an S grade is awarded.
2. The standard goal indicates the minimum content to be mastered by students taking a course; if the standard goal is attained, a C grade is awarded, indicating a level of attainment requiring further study.

YNU’s graduate schools’ requirements for course completion are that a student completes the courses and number of credits stipulated by the relevant graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program and achieves a GPA of 2.0 or higher in courses required for course completion. GPA are calculated by multiplying the grade points awarded for courses completed by the student with the relevant number of course credits and dividing the result by the total number of credits for courses on which the student is registered.

Formula for calculating GPA

Awarding of credits

The prescribed number of credits are awarded by YNU’s graduate schools to students who complete courses and, following determination of their results, have obtained grades of S, A, B, C, or Pass. However, for courses providing research guidance or other advice relating to the writing of a degree thesis (or writing up research findings relating to a specific issue in the case of master’s programs), credits are awarded based on assessment of learning outcomes using an appropriate method stipulated by the relevant graduate school.

Course results are determined by means of a written examination for students who have taken courses, to be administered in principle at the end of the semester or term. Other factors to be considered when determining results include oral examinations, practical examinations, and reports of research.

Policy on Study Guidance from Entry to Course Completion

Policy on study guidance

YNU’s graduate schools provide appropriate study guidance in each graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program according to students’ diverse needs and the benefits of the learning support provided.

To ensure that students take courses properly throughout each year and that they have adequate time to study, graduate schools/graduate degree programs determine the formats and content of classes and research guidance, and draw up annual plans for classes and research guidance, which they clearly indicate to students in advance.

Students register the courses they intend to take at the beginning of each academic session (each semester or Terms 1 and 4) as stipulated by the relevant graduate school/ department/ graduate degree program.

Special educational provisions

If special educational measures are required due to circumstances such as a student having a professional occupation, YNU’s graduate schools may provide education at night or at other specified times of the day or year using appropriate methods including classes or research guidance.

Extended degree program completion

If a student informs a YNU graduate school that, due to circumstances such as having a professional occupation, he/she wishes to complete a degree program over a pre-planned period exceeding the standard term of study, the graduate school may permit such pre-planned completion of the degree program.

Study guidance and reasonable measures for students with disabilities

YNU takes all reasonable educational measures necessary to ensure that students with disabilities can receive satisfactory education according to the nature of their disabilities. In so doing, one aim of study guidance for students with disabilities is to ensure a university in which all students can learn together, respecting each other’s characters and personalities, without segregation on the basis of disability. Another aim is to support students with disabilities in maintaining their independence and participating socially. Furthermore, the university takes steps to improve and extend educational content and methods, taking care that students with disabilities receive their education alongside students without disabilities whenever possible so that students with disabilities can receive satisfactory education given their own personal attributes, according to their age and abilities. In such cases, the university provides adequate information to students with disabilities and their parents or guardians, and respects their wishes as far as possible.

(Educational Affairs Division)