東北大学
Tohoku University
文部科学省 博士課程教育リーディングプログラム 複合領域型（物質）Program for Leading Graduate Schools, MEXT
Multidisciplinary Field of Materials
マルチディメンジョン物質理工学リーダー養成プログラム

Interdepartmental Doctoral Degree Programfor Multi-dimensional Materials Science Leaders(MD program)履 修 要 項Course Guideline
令和 2 年度
Academic Year 2020
東北大学学位プログラム推進機構
リーディングプログラム部門
マルチディメンジョン物質理工学教育研究センター
宮城県仙台市青葉区荒巻字青葉６－６－１１

Center for Education and Research on Multi-dimensional Materials Science,
Division for Leading Graduate School Programs,
Institute for Promoting Graduate Degree Programs,
Tohoku University
6-6-11 Aramaki Aza Aoba Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi
The document is originally prepared in Japanese with an English translation attached for reference.

Table of Contents
1. Educational and Diploma granting policies of the Tohoku University’s Program for Leading Graduate

2.

Schools

1

Tohoku University Mission Statement

1(1) Goals for the development of human resources in the Program for Leading Graduate Schools

1(2) Admission policies for the Program for Leading Graduate Schools

1(3) Curriculum Policies at the Program for Leading Graduate Schools

2(4) Diploma Policies at the Program for Leading Graduate Schools

2

The Interdepartmental Doctoral Degree Program for Multi-dimensional Materials Science Leaders(MD program)

3. Curriculum for the MD Program34(1) Goals for Educational Achievement

4(2) Basic Curriculum Structure5(3) Course Groups and the Credits Requirements for the Completion of Studies

6(4) Conferment of Academic Certifications

9

4. Study Categories for the Interdepartmental Doctoral Degree Program for Multi-dimensional
Materials Science Leaders

10(1) Master’s Program Course Groups

10(2) Doctoral Program Course Groups11

1. Educational and Diploma granting policies of the Tohoku University’s Programfor Leading Graduate Schools
Tohoku University Mission Statement
Since it was founded, Tohoku University has been committed to the “Research First” principle and“Open Door” policy, and produces world-class research and education. The university contributes topeace and equity for human society by conducting research that is useful in solving problems thatsociety faces, and educating human resources to be capable of leadership.

From the application guidelines for the Program for Leading Graduate Schools (2013)
The “Program for Leading Graduate Schools” supports reform in Japanese higher education
to promote the formation of a graduate school that is suitable for being the highest level of
educational institution. Its aim is to shape graduates into creative, visionary global leaders withthe capacity to play active roles in industry, government, and academic institutions. To do so, it
assembles top-level faculty and students from inside and outside of Japan, and involves external
institutions spanning industry, academia, and government in order to deliver quality-assured,
globally applicable programs that transcend the traditional boundaries between disciplines andfollow a consistent course from the Master’s program through the Doctor’s program.

(1) Goals for the development of human resources in the Program for Leading Graduate
Schools
The goal of the program is to cultivate leaders with the capacity to play active roles globally inindustry, government, and academic institutions, with (1) the ability to take bold action globally
while collaborating with others, based on a steadfast set of values, (2) the ability to take initiativein seeking out problems, constructing hypotheses, and using knowledge at hand to tackle theproblems, and (3) the vision to grasp the true nature of things based on wide-ranging expertise anddeep global perspective.
(2) Admission policies for the Program for Leading Graduate Schools
Desired participants are those who empathize with the goals of the Program for Leading Graduate
schools at Tohoku University and have the fundamental abilities and educational background toachieve those goals, in addition to having ethical standards, and strong motivation to participate in
the program.
Details of admission policies are determined by the corresponding program.

-1-(3) Curriculum Policies at the Program for Leading Graduate Schools
The program formulates and implements world-class curriculum that uses access to participating
industry, academic, and governmental institutions, and developmental self-instruction throughconversations with multiple instructors and leaders from inside and outside of Japan to foster theabilities necessary to follow through on research plans, present explanations to society, and look out
over a wide variety of disciplines to organize a research team, lead global efforts to pioneer new
fields of research, and find creative solutions to problems.
The curriculum policy is to formulate and implement curriculum that produces comprehensive
understanding of disciplines through research guidance by multiple instructors, while students also
master the wide-range of knowledge related to the program through diverse quality-assured
professional education during the term of study leading up to the doctoral dissertation defense. The
policy also aims to lead students toward acquiring communication skills, planning skills, the ability
to mobilize research and development, and the skills to discover problems on their own, throughpractical education involving collaboration with industry, government, and academic institutions,among other activities.
Details of curriculum policies are determined by the corresponding program.
(4) Diploma Policies at the Program for Leading Graduate Schools
The standards for completion of the Master’s program are whether the student has gained deep
and wide-ranging knowledge that transcends the boundaries of separate disciplines, and has
acquired the superior knowledge, abilities, and global communication skills to be a Materials
Science leader that must be able to see the future from a broad perspective. The requirements to beawarded a degree for completion of the Doctoral program are that students must be in school forthe duration of the program, and that they undergo research training in accordance with theprinciples and goals of the program for developing Materials Science leaders of the future, in
addition to passing a test and a specialized dissertation examination at the research laboratory towhich they belong within the predetermined number of years, and also passing the QE2 (Qualifying
Examination 2 for doctoral course students) conducted by the MD program.
MD program is a five-year integrated Master’s and Doctoral program, and it is ultimately mostimportant to complete all scholastic achievement goals A) through H) indicated in section 4, item(1). That is to say, the criteria for completion of the program are whether the student has acquired
the scholastic acumen that forms the basis for being able to work as a future Materials Science
leader in a wide range of global endeavors, and whether they also have the skills necessary to act
creatively as an independent researcher and technician that engages in work involving advanced
specialized expertise. Another important point to consider for completion of graduate studies iswhether the student shows high levels of ethics and strong sense of responsibility in conducting-2-research and other such activities, and whether they are inclined towards the coexistence of humansociety and nature.

2. The Interdepartmental Doctoral Degree Program for Multi-dimensional
Materials Science Leaders (MD program)
The Interdepartmental Doctoral Degree Program for Multi-dimensional Materials Science Leaders(MD program) has brought together the best of the Materials Science wisdom that Tohoku University
proudly possesses, to cultivate Materials Science leaders with strong foundations and broad
perspectives to dynamically deal with issues in the materials field. The program aims to develop
Materials Science leaders who can envision multi-dimensional materials design concepts, and havethe extensive fundamental knowledge and wide-ranging research experience to help bring thoseconcepts to life. In the context of this program, “multi-dimensional” means using multiple perspectives
and dimensions to gain a broader, more elevated view on the following attributes:
・Functions (light generating, catalytic, conduction, magnetism, etc.)
・Characteristics (intensity, efficiency, threshold limit value, etc.)
・Processes (raw materials, production processes, device integration, etc.)
・Environmental compatibility (low carbon, high recyclability, etc.)
・Economic aspect (cost, balance between supply and demand, etc.)
・Safety, evaluations, etc.
Figure 1-3-

Figure 1 shows the layout of the comprehensive education designed to cultivate human resources withthese abilities. The components include two cores in physical sciences and engineering which form
the basis and application. “Materials Science” is inserted horizontally connecting the basic foundationof mathematics, chemistry, and physics, while humanities and social sciences such as pharmaceutics,
environmental science, economics, and philosophy are also aligned as educational components.

3.

Curriculum for the MD program(1)

Goals for Educational Achievement

The educational achievement goals for this program are as follows.
A) To attain a high level of basic fundamental knowledge in Materials Science.
B) To possess broad vision and thinking skills that can be applied to other fields, while also gaining
sophisticated capabilities as a specialist.
C) To learn the newest scientific and technical information and methods for experiments andresearch pertaining to multiple specific fields in Materials Science.
D) To understand information about the forms in which society applies production processes formaterials, and gain the skills to be able to utilize them.
E) To search for appropriate research topics independently, and acquire the skills to implement
research plans.
F) To acquire the communication skills to be able to sufficiently assert an opinion, engage in debates,and exchange views in a global setting, as well as the ability to widely transmit the findings fromresearch.
G) To acquire basic knowledge of ethics, management, and operational methods for organizations,and also attain the ability to proactively spur collaborations with other organizations.
H) To apply the skills described above, respond to requests from society, and acquire practicalleadership skills.

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(2)

Basic Curriculum Structure
Figure 2

Figure 2 illustrates the basic curriculum structure designed for the educational achievement goalsof this program.
This curriculum for this program consists of six course groups (program equivalent) in the Master’s
program, and five course groups in the Doctoral program. Completion of studies in the Master’s
program requires a minimum total of 38 credits, and the Doctoral program requires a minimum of 22
credits.
The educational achievement goals that specifically indicate the ideal personnel for this program
are clarified in A) through H) as previously mentioned. The curriculum aligns course groups tofacilitate the achievement of each educational achievement goal, and is designed so that all students
completing studies will have achieved every one of the educational achievement goals.
The Center for Education and Research on Multi-dimensional Materials Science courteously
provides each individual student with updates and guidance pertaining to their study progress, inaccordance with the relationship between educational achievement goals and course groups as
indicated in Figure 2.

-5-

(3)

Course Groups and the Credits Requirements for the Completion of Studies

First and second year (equivalent to the Master’s degree program)Group 1: Basic Subjects for MD Materials Science and Engineering*Required credits: 6 or more (2 out of 6 are compulsory)
This group consists of fundamental courses for thorough basic education that transcends barriers
between traditional disciplines, including courses such as “Introduction to MD Material Science andEngineering” (1credit, compulsory), “Ethics for Scientists” (1credit, compulsory), “MD Fundamental
Material Physics” (2credits, elective), “MD Fundamental Material Chemistry” (2credits, elective),“MD Fundamental Material Mathematics” (2credits, elective), etc.
Group 2: Major Basic Subjects and Major General Subjects* Required credits: 10 or more
Courses for the core area of specialization that the student belongs to. Fundamentally, students must
thoroughly study their respective areas of specialization, but based on their interests pertaining to theprogram, the courses that they select shall be decided through detailed consultation with an academic
adviser.
Group 3: Expansion Subjects for MD Material Science and Engineering* Required credits: 10 or more
The course group made up of “Practical Materials Science and Engineering I through X” (2credits,elective). Based on fundamental principles and following the perspective of the lifecycles of materials,
learn about what kinds of processes and device integration methods raw materials are put through to
be made ready for practical use, and what types of equipment and systems they are combined with.
Group 4: Applied Subjects for MD Material Science and Engineering* Required credits: 4, compulsory
Important courses for developing international leadership, including “MD Training for Global
Communication Skill I” and “II”. Additionally, company representatives who participate in industryuniversity collaborative platforms teach “Lecture for Safety Management and Control of Organization
Ⅰ”and “Lecture for Leadership EducationⅠ”as guest speakers. These courses are uniquely plannedin the program to expose students to the management and operational expertise required of someone
who leads a department of a company.
Group 5: Internships I* Required credits: 2 or more (during the Master’s program)This course group consists of “Internship in Industries”, “Internship in Overseas”, and “Internship in
MD program”.
The basis of “Internship in Industries” is on-site training at the production site of the company thatthe student is matched with, as it is considered important for the student to experience a production
site related to their doctoral dissertation research.
For overseas internships, each area of specialization makes effective use of our ever-growing
overseas networks. For example, the three areas of specialization in the School of Engineering
Materials Science Department have close associations with the following universities: University of
Science and Technology Beijing and Tsinghua University in China, Pohang University of Science and-6-Technology in South Korea, Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, and University of Washington
and Yale University in the United States. There are no difficulties whatsoever in sending students tostudy abroad at these universities.
For“Internship in MD program”, students stay at laboratories outside of their areas of specialization
for at least 3 months, and pursue a research topic other than the topic of their doctoral dissertation
research. During the five-year course of study, students must complete a“Internship in Industries”, a“Internship in Overseas”, and a“Internship in MD program”. Students that come from foreigncountries, however, can be excused from the overseas internship requirement if they participate incollaborative research with other universities within Japan. Furthermore, at least one of these threeinternships must be completed during the two years of the Master’s program.
Group 6: Master Course Seminar* Required credits: 6
These are the seminars conducted within departments that students belong to, and are similar tonormal courses in that a master’s thesis must be submitted and an evaluation must be passed in order
to be awarded a Master’s degree.
However, training in this program includes all components A) through H) of the Goals for Educational
Achievement, and this is positioned as a mid-term evaluation of the level to which the student has
incorporated the skills related to each goal. It is extremely important for both adcademic advisors andstudents to strongly aware of how this is positioned when working on these goals, and this information
is made known during entrance orientations.
Students undergo the doctoral skills assessment (Qualifying Examination 1; QE1) before completingthe second year of the Master’s program. While a written examination is conducted based on academic
performance, credits earned, English language skills (TOEFL, etc.) and training project report scores
up to that point, interview examinations are also conducted to assess skills at setting up research topics
and English communication ability. Only students who pass this assessment are allowed to proceed tothe third year (Doctoral program) of the program.

-7-

Third, Fourth and fifth year (equivalent to the Doctoral course)Group 7: Expansion Subjects for MD Materials Science and Engineering*Required credits: 4 or more
This is a course group consisting of “Special Lecture for Practical Science and Engineering I throughIV”, where students can learn in greater depth and detail about principles and practical application ofevaluations and analysis methods when manufacturing devices and materials for actual use.
Group 8: Practical Application Subjects for MD Materials Science and Engineering*Required credits: 2 or more
This course group consists of “Seminar and Practice for Industry-Academia Cooperation”, and othersuch events. It allows students the chance to learn about basic principles and processes for thetechnology surrounding the topic of their doctoral dissertation research.
Group 9: Internships II*Required credits: 6
This is the next stage after “Internships I” from the Master’s program. Students must experience all
three of the “Internship in MD program”, “Internship in Industries”, and “Internship in Overseas” overthe course of five years.
Group 10: Overviews* Required credits: 2 (compulsory)
Students must compile literature, make classifications, and cover the points that were clarified while
discussing what future topics can be derived in regards to the research that they have conducted forboth the topic of the doctoral dissertation research in their specialized area, and the topic of theresearch conducted at the laboratory of their“Internship in MD program”. As such, they must undergoassessment through discussion with the person in charge of the collaboration at the company they arematched with for their company internship, as well as the person in charge of their intra-programinternship research at the laboratory where it is conducted (sub-adviser). It is recommended to post
the overview report to international academic journals.
Group 11: Doctoral training* Required credits: 8 (compulsory)
These are the training courses that MD students undergo in the area of specialization that they belong
to. They are the same as normal courses in that students are awarded their doctoral degree when theysubmit a doctoral dissertation and pass an examination. In addition, they are more than just doctoral
training courses for MD students. That is to say, similar to course group (6), the courses also evaluate
the level to which students have incorporated skills related to each of the educational goals. It isextremely important for both educators and students in the program to strongly aware of how thiscourse group is positioned when working on these goals, and this information is made known during
entrance orientations.
In addition to the examination in the department where MD students belongs to, MD program andthe Degree Reviewing Committee conducts overall assessments including QE2 (Qualifying
Examination 2). This overall assessments involve a special examiner such as, researchers from-8-

foreign countries as well as from the business sector. Students receive final recognition of having
completed MD program by passing both the specialized examination and the overall assessment. The
quality of the student’s specialized expertise and broad vision and knowledge are both assured bysatisfying these completion requirements.
The university supports the careers of students who have completed the program throughcollaboration with its existing organizations, the Program in Emergent Innovation, and ILPInnovative Leaders Platform. Lectures at the Program in Emergent Innovation are focused onbuilding practical application abilities and people skills, and aim to help attendees attain practicalexpertise and ways of thinking. These lectures help broaden the realm of future career possibilities
for attendees.
Figure 3 illustrates the basic structure of the program.
Figure 3(4) Conferment of Academic Certifications
This program bestows the academic certification of doctor for the department to which thestudent belongs. Evaluation criteria are based on the assessments of departments for solid academic
performance. Also, this program differs from traditional graduate school education, aiming todevelop vision and comprehensive knowledge pertaining to materials in addition to extensive
knowledge and experience in one particular field. As such, assessments are conducted by the
Degree Reviewing Committee within the Division for Leading Graduate School Programs, Tohoku
University Institute for Promoting Graduate Degree Programs. “Completed Interdepartmental
Doctoral Degree Program for Multi-dimensional Materials Science Leaders in the Program for
Leading Graduate Schools” is inscribed on the doctoral course diploma.
-9-4. Study Categories for the Interdepartmental Doctoral Degree Program for Multidimensional Materials Science Leaders(1) Master’s Program Course Groups
Category

Group 1
Basic Subjects
for MD
Material
Science andEngineeringGroup 3
Expansion
Subjects for
MD Material
Science andEngineeringGroup 4Compulsory

Introduction to MD
Material Science andEngineering

1

Ethics for Scientist

1

MD Fundamental Material
Physics
MD Fundamental Material
ChemistryMD Fundamental Material
Mathematics
Introduction to Frontier
Sciences for Advanced
Environment
Special Lecture for Social
Science
Economics for MultiDimensional Material
ScienceGame Theory for Multi –Dimensional Material
ScienceElective

Basic Schedule
MC1

MC2

2
2
2
2

6 or morecredits(include 2
compulsory
credits)2
2
2
10 or morecredits

Those approved by thedepartment you belong.
Practical Material Scienceand EngineeringⅠ
Practical Material Scienceand EngineeringⅡ
Practical Material Scienceand EngineeringⅢ
Practical Material Scienceand EngineeringⅣ
Practical Material Scienceand EngineeringⅤ
Practical Material Scienceand EngineeringⅥ
Practical Material Scienceand EngineeringⅦ
Practical Material Scienceand EngineeringⅧ
Practical Material Scienceand EngineeringⅨ
Practical Material Scienceand EngineeringⅩ
MD Training for Global
Communication Skill Ⅰ

Requiredcredits

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
- 10 -

10 or morecredits

Qualifying Examination 1; QE1

Group 2
Major
Basic/General
Subjects

CourseCreditApplied
Subjects for
MD Material
Science andEngineeringGroup 5Internships Ⅰ*2Group 6Master Course
Seminar
RelatedCourses

MD Training for Global
Communication Skill Ⅱ
Lecture for Safety
Management and Controlof OrganizationⅠ
Lecture for Leadership
EducationⅠ

4

1

compulsory
credits

1
1

Internship in Industries

1～2

Internship in Overseas

1～2Internship in MD program

1～4

2 or morecredits
6

Master Course Seminarcompulsory

6

credits
Those approved by the Center for Education and Research on Multidimensional Materials Science Basic Education Committee.

Students are required to earn 38 or more credits of the subjects mentioned above.

(2) Doctoral Program Course Groups
Category

Group 8Practical
Application
Subjects for
MD Materials
Science andEngineeringGroup 9InternshipsⅡ

CreditCompulsory

Special Lecture for
Practical Science andEngineering Ⅰ
Special Lecture for
Practical Science andEngineeringⅡ
Special Lecture for
Practical Science andEngineeringⅢ
Special Lecture for
Practical Science andEngineeringⅣ
Seminar and Practice forIndustry-Academia
CooperationⅠ
Seminar and Practice forIndustry-Academia
CooperationⅡSpecial Lecture for MD
Materials Science andEngineering
MD Training for Global
Communication Skill Ⅲ

Elective

Requiredcredits

Basic Schedule
DC1

DC2

DC3

2
2
2

4 or
more
credits

2
1
1
1

2 or
more
credits

1

MD Training for Global
Communication Skill Ⅳ

1

Internship in Industries

1～2

6Internship in Overseas

1～2

credits- 11 -

Qualifying Examination 2; QE2Group 7
Expansion
Subjects for
MD Materials
Science andEngineering*1

Course*2Internship in MD programGroup 10
Overviews

OverviewⅠ(Research focus ofDoctoral Dissertation)
OverviewⅡ(Research
focus
ofInternship in MD Program)Group 11
DoctoralCourseSeminar

1～4

1
1

2
compul-sory
credits

8
compulDoctoral Course Seminar8-sorycredits
Those approved by the Center for Education and Research on MultiRelated
dimensional Materials Science Basic Education Committee as Related
Courses
Subjects.
Students are required to earn 22 or more credits of the subjects mentioned above.
*1: “Special Lecture for Practical Science and Engineering I” through “Special Lecture for Practical
Science and Engineering III” categorized in the “Expansion Subjects for MD Materials Scienceand Engineering” shall be able to be applied in place of the corresponding courses in thestudent’s field of specialization.
*2: For “Internships I” and“Internships II”, any course credits in excess of 2 that are earned for“Internships I” shall be able to be applied as credits for “Internships II”.
Provided, however, that students earn a total from “Internships I” and “II” of 2 credits each for the“Internship in Industries” and “Internship in overseas”, and 4 credits for the “Internship in MD
program”.
“Internship in Industries” is considered to be one part of collaborative research with companies,
and it is advised to do it during the Doctoral program.

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