A Doctoral Degree shall be conferred upon students who complete the Doctoral Program. Also, students who withdraw from the Doctoral Program without submitting a Doctoral Dissertation but who completed at least three years of the Doctoral Program, who received the requisite research guidance, who have been withdraw from the program for no more than three years since the date of their withdrawal and who have received the permission of the Graduate School of Political Science Steering Committee, shall be allowed to submit a Doctoral Dissertation and undergo examination.
Even in cases where the above conditions are not met, a Doctoral Dissertation application can be submitted. If, after consultation with the Graduate School of Political Science Steering Committee, the application is accepted, the applicant will be able to have their dissertation examined and undergo testing or have their scholarly attainment reviewed.
The Graduate School of Political Science has established a “Dissertation Submission Entitlement System” with the aim of promoting the conferral of Curriculum Doctorates; this new research guidance system seeks to actively encourage students to complete their Doctoral Dissertation within their term of enrollment by requiring them to report on their dissertation at a “Joint Dissertation Guidance Workshop” (held once during the Master’s Program and once during the Doctoral Program).
The following three methods have been established, with each allowing student to apply to have their qualifications screened. For details, please contact the Graduate School Office.
(1) Standard (Cumulative Method)
As a general rule, this method involves the creation of a dissertation in both your first and second year according to your research plan which is screened by your Research Supervisor and included in academic journals, etc. The dissertation which you create in your third year you report at the “Joint Dissertation Guidance Workshop” (under guidance from your Research Supervisor), and this dissertation is then subject to screening by the Graduate School of Political Science Steering Committee.
(2) Special (All-in-One Method)
This method involves the creation of a dissertation based on your research plan and the reporting of this dissertation at the “Joint Dissertation Guidance Workshop” (under guidance from your Research Supervisor) upon its completion; this dissertation is then subject to screening by the Graduate School of Political Science Steering Committee.
This dissertation must be equivalent in size and quality to that required of the three dissertations submitted according to the Standard (Cumulative) Method above.
Students enrolled in the Doctoral Program are asked to create/update a research plan within the prescribed timeframe each academic year using the prescribed form, to get it approved by their Research Supervisor and Sub-advisor and to submit it to the Graduate School Office.
| Guidelines to create a research plan | A prescribed form is available here. |
|---|---|
| Approval by a research supervisor | Signatures from your research supervisor and sub-research supervisor on your research plan are required. |
| Update period | A research plan must be updated at the end of the Spring semester |
| Place to submit | Graduate School of Political Science Office |
Please apply for the establishment of a “Dissertation Guidance Committee” during the prescribed period after consulting fully with your main advisor from about 1 year after the “Qualifying Examination” or “Basic Knowledge Examination” (refer to “6. Dissertation Submission Entitlement System”) (at the earliest, an application can be made in the 1st semester of the 2nd year of the doctoral program). The “Dissertation Guidance Committee” is composed of the judges of the “Dissertation Concept Examination”, which is explained below, and provides ongoing guidance on the preparation of the doctoral dissertation after the passing of the exam. The “Dissertation Guidance Committee” is composed of a main advisor and two sub-advisors. The main advisor of the “Dissertation Guidance Committee” is the main advisor at the time of the application for the establishment of a “Dissertation Guidance Committee.” One of the sub-advisors must be a faculty member of the course (cases of the Journalism course or Global Political Economy course) or research area (case of the Political Science course). However, this shall not apply if the main advisor has judged that the selection of a sub-advisor from another course or research area is necessary due to the content of research. The other sub-advisor must be selected from outside of this Graduate School (not including faculty members of this Graduate School who have taken mandatory retirement). However, the appointment of a faculty member of this Graduate School who has taken mandatory retirement as a sub-advisor will be recognized if the Dissertation Guidance Committee has judged that it is necessary from a specialized knowledge perspective.
Typical composition of a Dissertation Guidance Committee
Main advisor 1 person (the main advisor up to the application for the establishment of a Dissertation Guidance Committee
Sub-advisor 1 person (main area or course of affiliation) *A faculty member from another area or course is also possible depending on the case
Sub-advisor 1 person (outside the Graduate School) * A faculty member of this Graduate School who has taken mandatory retirement is also possible depending on the case
In order to complete the doctoral program, a student must be enrolled in the doctoral program for at least 3 years, submit a doctoral dissertation after receiving the prescribed research guidance and the dissertation must pass a dissertation review. However, enrollment for longer than 6 years is not possible. On the Political Science course, in principle, in addition to the requirements above, the taking of specialist research subjects is also required in accordance with the policy below.
Taking of specialist research subjects (only Political Science course)
Students must take the specialist research subjects required in accordance with the guidance of the main advisor for the knowledge, etc., that the student lacks in light of the student’s research theme and the content of prior studies as compulsory elective subjects and must obtain at least 6 credits. When selecting the courses, we advise taking them as follows matched to the history of the doctoral program student at this Graduate School.
1) Students who have progressed from the master’s program of this Graduate School without changing area
Acquire at least 6 credits in the subjects that the main advisor has judged to be necessary for each student and provided guidance on, such as specialist research subjects, etc., in another area that the student wants to make a sub-area of the “Qualifying Examination.”
* If the subjects have already been taken on the master’s program, the student will be exempted.
2) Students who have changed areas when progressing from the master’s program of this Graduate School
Acquire at least 6 credits in combination with the subjects that the main advisor has judged to be necessary for each student and provided guidance on, such as specialist research subjects in the area that the student wants to make their main area or specialist research subjects, etc., in another area that the student wants to make a sub-area of the “Qualifying Examination.”
* If the subjects have already been taken on the master’s program, the student will be exempted.
3) Students who have progressed from courses other than the courses of the master’s program of this Graduate School
Acquire at least 6 credits in combination with the subjects that the main advisor has judged to be necessary for each student and provided guidance on, such as specialist research subjects in the main area and / or specialist research subjects, etc., in another area that the student wants to make a sub-area of the “Qualifying Examination.”
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