Doctoral Program

Instructional methods

Specifics of research instruction

To supplement research activities, groups of students engaged in the same fields of study strive to deepen their professional understanding by reading research papers and engaging in comparative studies of professional research literature under the tutelage of groups of faculty members specializing in those fields. In the interest of helping exercise skills in identifying and solving problems and cultivating instructional skills as senior researchers, students are given opportunities to assist in masters research seminars and are provided advice in the selection of themes for their doctoral thesis, research approaches, planning, evaluation, thesis structure and the presentation of papers at meetings of professional societies.

Methods of research instruction

After enrollment, each student is assigned a research advisor based on the field of study, research subject, and advisor desired by that student. The student is then placed in the laboratory of his or her designated research advisor. Research advisors provide advice tailored to the knowledge and scholastic abilities of each doctoral student to whom they are assigned. Students in turn maintain close contact with their advisors and pursue their research objectives in keeping with the guidance their advisors provide.

First year

Acting under the guidance of their advisors, doctoral students engage in assigned course work and research that will help them acquire the scholastic abilities essential to the pursuit of their desired research objectives. When advisors decide that they are ready to begin research for a doctoral thesis, students then consult with the advisors and decide on a theme for their doctoral thesis. Students draw up a research plan and submit that plan to the Graduate Major of Computer and Information Sciences with the consent of their advisors. Students whose research plans are approved by the Graduate Faculty Assembly are then treated as candidates for a doctoral degree and move forward with their research under the tutelage of their research advisors.

Second and third years

Students who have done enough research work for their doctoral thesis and who are expected to be nearing the completion of work on their thesis may apply for a preliminary review after obtaining the approval of their research advisors. If the preliminary review deems that their thesis is ready for submission, they may then work to put on the final touches, and when finished and having obtaining the consent of their advisors, apply to have the thesis reviewed for a degree. In the event a public review deems the thesis acceptable, the candidate shall be awarded a doctoral degree. It is customary for students to decide on a research topic for their doctoral thesis by the start of their second year. However, students who are accorded high marks for scholastic ability by their advisors may be treated as second-year students prior to the second semester of their first year. These students then decide on a theme for their doctoral thesis through consultations with their advisors, draw up a research plan and, after approval from their advisors, submit that plan to the Graduate Major of Computer and Information Sciences.

Requirements for the Completion of Doctral Program

To successfully complete a doctoral program, a student must, in principle, be enrolled in the program for at least three years, submit a doctoral thesis for review, have that thesis approved, and pass all qualifying examinations. However, with regard to the enrollment requirement, candidates recognized by the Graduate School Faculty Assembly for outstanding research accomplishments may be allowed to complete the doctoral program after enrollment of only one year (i.e., three years in total for candidates who completed the masters program requirement in less than two years).

Review of doctoral thesis

Whenever a student requests a preliminary review of his or her thesis, the Graduate School Faculty Assembly sets up a committee for that purpose and a preliminary review is then performed. Likewise, a final doctoral thesis review is also performed by a review committee set up by the Graduate School Faculty Assembly. In the event that review deems the thesis acceptable, the candidate delivers the dissertation before an open review committee. The candidate is then evaluated comprehensively based on the content of his or her thesis, the presentation, and the outcome of a question-and-answer session. The final recommendation for acceptance or rejection is submitted to the Graduate School Faculty Assembly.

Degree conferral

Candidates who complete the doctoral program are awarded a doctoral degree.