Hirosaki University
Faculty of Agricultureand Life ScienceOverview of the Faculty of Agriculture andLife Science

At the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science at Hirosaki
University, students are endowed with opportunities tostudy environmentally-conscious agriculture and biotechnologies that can facilitate the development and use of biological resources.
Our objective is to prepare students with both fundamental
and specialized life sciences academic skills, and help students acquire the interdisciplinary and comprehensive abilities necessary for understanding life systems and creatingnext-generation biology-related industries.
We also aim to develop global-minded individuals who areable to play important roles in the development of rich local
environments, and nurture the qualities and competence tosolve problems individually.

Target at Graduation
Mastery of fundamental and specialized knowledge in agricultural and life sciences
Development of problem seeking/solving skills as anexpert or researcher
Development of the rich human qualities necessary forbeing an active, creative, independent member of local
and international communities

Policies on Curriculum Organization
First-year students are expected to broadly acquire academic and cultural basics through the required educationand fundamental courses. First-year students will also takespecialized fundamental courses during their second semester in order to develop the foundation for their respective academic disciplines. Second- and third-year students
will take specialized courses, while fourth-year students,
based on their fundamental and specialized knowledge andskills acquired through previous lectures, laboratories, exercises, and fieldwork, will conduct graduation research thataddresses a specific research question.

Biology

Basic Biology
Understanding how the common and diversified rules inliving organisms evolve.
This program will help students deepen their understandingof life through the study of metabolics, environmental
responses, reproduction, heredity traits, births, behaviors,
and the evolution of living organisms. Students will research
the different phenomena that occur in animals, plants, fungi,algae, and bacteria at the cellular, individual, and collectivelevels.

Ecology, Evolution, andEnvironmental Biology
Considering biological evolution and conservation from theperspectives of ecological and environmental sciences.
Through fieldwork, students will learn how humans andother creatures live together harmoniously. Students will
also study how to preserve the environments of living creatures as well as understand the diversity of animals, theiradaptation strategies, and their evolution mechanisms.

Biochemistry andMolecular Biology

Basic Life Science
In this program, students who are curious about the biological functions of living organisms (from microbes to mammals) can learn about such functions at the cellular, genetic, molecular, and atomic levels. In general, there are various
functions of a cell (the fundamental unit of a body) andmany discoveries have been made regarding biological phenomena and mechanisms. However, we still have a limited
understanding of their processes. Therefore, this program
will provide students with the state-of-the-art knowledge
and technology necessary for revealing how the cellularmechanisms are highly regulated and properly maintained.

Applied Life Science
This program focuses on the development of new biotechnologies through the exploitation and investigation of usefulbiological functions. Natural bioprocesses have provided uswith benefits such as food, medicine, materials, and energies. In the applied life science program, students who areinterested in revealing cellular mechanisms as well as theiruses can learn about the application of biological products
and functions. In addition, they can acquire essential knowledge for understanding biochemical reactions and cellularmechanisms.

Applied Biology andFood Sciences

This department is designed to study life sciences together
with classical and innovative technologies for food production under the following three programs:

Biotechnology
Development of food resources using advanced biotechnology.
RESEARCH AREA: Plant Breeding, Plant Genomics, Environmental Plant Science, Microbial Genetics, etc.

Food Science
Research and development of foods with more safety andhealth-promoting benefits.
RESEARCH AREA: Food Science, Food Functionality andFood Safety, Functional Food Ingredient Analysis, Molecular
Nutrition, Food Safety and Preservation, Food PhysicalChemistry, etc.

Plant Protection and Environment
Research for creating an environment that sustains biological resources through cross-interactions between crops
and various insects and microorganisms.
RESEARCH AREA: Agrology, Plant Pathology, Insect Physiology, etc.

International Agriculture andHorticulture

Agriculture and Horticulture
This program focuses on creating new value for the field ofAgriculture and Horticulture.
This purpose of this program is to provide students withstrong, multifaceted, comprehensive, and practical knowledge of a wide variety of food productions, ranging fromfruits, farm-produced food, vegetables, herbs, and farm animals to farming machines and equipment.
Students also focus on both the theory and practicality ofagriculture and food, which are two aspects that are greatlyconnected to the future of our world and humanity.

Agricultural Economics
A solution to the problem of agriculture and food can moveregions and the world.
This program focuses on various issues related to the management, economics, and marketing of food and agriculture
from the viewpoints of natural science and social science.
Students also acquire theoretical and practical knowledge
about how to improve farming, agricultural, and livestock
product marketing. In addition, from the economical problems of agriculture and food, students determine the best
approach toward agricultural and regional vitalization in thefuture.

Agricultural andEnvironmental Engineering

Agricultural Civil Engineering
This program teaches students about practical, agriculturalcivil engineering. Since this program has received authorization from the Japan Accreditation Board for Engineering Education (JABEE), students will, upon successful completionof this program, receive a qualification of engineer training,which will make the process of becoming a fully qualified engineer much easier.

Rural Environment Studies
Using agricultural civil engineering as a base, this programprovides students with the skills to influence the future ofvarious areas such as the environments, societies, andeconomies of farming villages and mountainous regions.
Before participating in this program, it is advisable that students have completed a wide variety of programs such as
Agricultural Civil Engineering, Environmental Studies, andEconomics.

Contact

3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036‑8561, JAPAN
Phone: +81-172‑36‑2111 (Hirosaki University)
Fax: +81-172‑39‑3750 (Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science)
E-mail: jm3748@hirosaki-u.ac.jp
HP: http://nature.cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp/english