General Instructions for Registration

A. Program

Our doctoral program can be divided into the M.A. Program (Master's Course), normally the first two years, and the Ph.D. Program (Doctoral Course), normally the last three years. Either program specializes in "Commerce" and "Business Administration & Accounting." These two majors are furthermore divided into ten fields in the M.A. program. These ten fields will be shown in the course guide section.

B. The Outline of the Graduate School Curriculum

The outline of the graduate school curriculum is as follows:

1. A school year begins in April and ends in March, which consists of the spring and fall semesters. All but several courses continue during one semester. Hence, at the end of each semester, you will receive four credits for completion of each intensive course which meets two times a week, and two credits for each regular course which meets once a week. This two-semester system enables you to take courses effectively, in accordance with your academic needs and interests.

2. The M.A. program consists of three subject groups; "Common," "Basic," and "Specialized" Subjects. Common Subjects are designed to help broaden your academic vision and build your basis for research. Basic Subjects generally treat basic issues of each major. Specialized Subjects consist of "Seminars" and the other group of subjects analyzing highly specialized topics in each major. Because both Common and Basic Subjects are designed to enhance your basic ability as an independent researcher, you can take whichever courses between the two groups, even though they do not belong to your major; for example, a student specializing in business administration can take "Micro Marketing," and a student specializing in commerce can take "Basic Statistics."

3. "Joint Seminars" are newly added to Specialized Subjects, besides "Seminars". They are organized in various ways; such as (1) a joint conference attended by all researchers who belong to the same major or work with the same theme, including graduate students and the staff of the relevant courses, (2) a joint workshop, or (3) a joint-research project with domestic and foreign universities. Especially, (3) is aimed to encourage graduate students to experience a research work in other countries; therefore, current student exchange programs with overseas universities will be extended shortly. Establishing Joint Seminars means to offer a variety of research environments, besides the way of the private assistance in which Seminars have been normally organized.

4. We have recently revised the requirement of credits in each program as follows:
For completing the M.A. program, you must receive 30 credits, including at least 20 credits of "Basic" or "Specialized" subjects, also including 8 credits of "Seminars" or "Joint Seminars" of your major. Rest of the 30 credits do not have to belong to your major. The Ph.D. program requires to receive 12 credits of your major, including 8 of "Seminars" or "Joint Seminars."
This revision is aimed that you will be able to approach to your research theme with broader vision, while receiving the merits of your advisor's individual assistance.

C. Instructions

Common instructions

1. Regarding "Specialized Subjects," belonging to the M.A. program and all subjects belonging to the Ph.D. program, a main theme of each course will be indicated in Italics right under the name of each course in the "Course Guide".

2. If subject matters are different, you can simultaneously register the courses with the same name lectured by the same staff.

3. In most "Joint Seminars" you may be required voluntary participation in research works and paper writings with other students, besides regular attendance. For your successful completion, we recommend making sure the requirements of each joint seminar in which you are interested, in advance.

4. Before registration, you should consult with your advisor. You can register a course belonging to other departments with your advisor's approval. In this case, the credits will be treated as the required credits for completing your degree program: In the M.A. program, they will be treated as Basic or Specialized Subjects.
On the other hand, your advisor can ask you to register a specific course belonging to the undergraduate program (if you are in the M.A. program) or the M.A. program (if you are in the Ph.D. program). In these cases, however, such courses will be treated as non-credit.

5. The credits you receive from foreign universities can be counted as the required credits with some restrictions. Please ask Course Tutor for details.

Special instructions for the M.A. program

1. The principle of the graduate school does not mention which courses you should take first among Common, Basic, and Specialized Subjects. However, as they are designed, we recommend first completing fundamental ones belonging to Common or Basic Subjects, and then Specialized Subjects. Although the M.A. program does not require a specific number of credits for Common or Basic Subjects, we also recommend your voluntary registration of these courses that will firm up the basis for your research and broaden your vision. Please consult with your advisor enough to find out the best menu of your registration.

2. You must receive 30 credits, including at least 20 of Basic or Specialized Subjects, for completion of the program. However, all of them does not have to belong to your major, only if 8 credits of Seminars or Joint Seminars in your major are included among them.

3. Besides the minimum credit requirements as mentioned in 2., the M.A. program requires receiving final approval of your written thesis and passing the General Examination for completion. You must submit your written thesis by the date determined by the department committee.

4. We recommend registering as many courses as possible during the first year, because normally most of the second year will be devoted to writing a thesis. Based on the purpose of the M.A. program which consists of the three subject groups, we also expect that you will register fundamental subjects first.

5. Completing "Academic Reading and Writing in Foreign Languages" would be helpful for graduate students in the M.A. program who are also interested in the Ph.D. program.

Special instructions for the Ph.D. program

1. For completing the Ph.D. program, you must receive 12 credits belonging to your major, including 8 credits of "Seminars" or "Joint Seminars."

2. Besides the minimum credit requirements as mentioned in 1., the Ph.D. program requires receiving final approval of your written dissertation and passing the General Examination.

3. There is a special system to encourage your dissertation work and to maintain the standard of the research. Please consult with Course Tutor or your advisor for details.

Please ask any question you have about the program or registration to Course Tutor, your academic advisor, or staff of the Academic Registrar's Office.