Master’s Degree Programs

Courses Overview

• Having adopted the philosophy of human resources development in specialized areas, we offer two master’s degree programs, Master’s in Health Sciences and Master’s in Nursing. Respective curricula are designed with common foundation courses which are instrumental to the development of human resources in either discipline. Also, the students will benefit from the systematically designed curriculum with course groups specialized for their major through all semesters/year levels.
• “Advanced Lectures” (primarily in a lecture format) are offered in semester 1 or 2 of the first year to learn basic theories.
• “Seminars” can be taken in semester 2 of the first year where students study methodologies and technology developed from theoretical foundations acquired from “Advanced Lectures” through experience and practical training. They also study and analyze the latest scientific literature.
• “Practicum/Clinical Practice” courses in semester 1 of the second year engage students in practical exercises at medical education facilities to develop advanced practical and applied skills in specialized nursing.
• In the full-year “Supervised Individual Study: Health Sciences” and “Supervised Individual Study: Nursing Science” courses offered in the second year, each Student will have research supervision from his/her supervising faculty to compile data and write a master’s thesis on the topic of individual choice. Meanwhile, “Supervised Individual Study: Nursing Practice” provides an option of a “research paper” alternative to a master’s thesis, compiled with data from case studies or investigative research under the supervision of supervising faculty.

Program Requirements

1. To complete a master’s degree program, you will have:
   – A duration of your graduate school attendance for 2 years or longer;
   – Completed the number of credits provided in 2;
   – Received necessary research supervision and passed master’s thesis/research paper evaluation; and
   – Passed a thesis defense with an open oral presentation followed by a questions and answers session.
   The examination board will assess questions and answers content and delivery.
2. Minimum credit requirement
   Health Sciences (applies to all): 30 units of credit
   Nursing (Nursing Science): 30 units of credit
   Nursing (Advanced Public Health Nursing and Advanced Midwifery): 36 units of credit
   Nursing (Advanced Practice Nursing): 36 units of credit
3. Students who have demonstrated outstanding achievements may be approved to complete a master’s degree program with a minimum one-year duration of graduate school attendance by the Faculty Council.

Degree Conferment

The programs confer a master’s degree in health sciences/nursing on individual students upon completion of program requirements as provided by Hokkaido University Academic Degree Rules.

Doctoral Degree Programs

Program Requirements

To complete a doctoral degree program, you will have:

• Completed 12 units of credits or more from 1 Common course, 2 courses from respective Major Field of Study and 1 respective Supervised Individual Study course;
• Passed doctoral dissertation evaluation; and
• Passed a dissertation defense.

Degree Conferment

The programs confer a doctoral degree in health sciences/nursing on individual students upon completion of program requirements as provided by Hokkaido University Academic Degree Rules.