Graduate School [Doctoral Program - Non-profit Management Course]

Course Aim

We are facing an increasing plethora of problems such as global conflicts and environmental issues, confusion over public welfare and medical services in the community, the looming aging population in developed countries, and issues that cannot be solved by market economies or government organizations. It seems that more and more problems have to be tackled by nonprofit organizations such as NGOs and NPOs run by citizens. It is in response to the needs of these nonprofit organizations in Japan that this course has been established. The aim of this course is to help you become an international leader with expert knowledge in science and technology, and a good grounding in theories in non-profit management, giving you the tools to integrate the humanities and sciences and make better decisions.

Distinctive Features of the Course

Emphasis on coursework

We think that effective coursework is necessary for gaining expert knowledge and developing superior abilities. You have to study compulsory and optional subjects.

Time required for course

You may be able to get your doctoral degree in 2 or 3 years after starting the doctoral course, depending on your qualifications and performance. If you have to work outside of the university, you will be given some flexibility as to the time limit for completing the course.

Fostering practical researchers

The course aims to foster researchers. You will write a thesis after spending time, either as an employee or intern, in a nonprofit organization such as the central government, a local authority, NPO, NGO, research institute, international organization, CRS unit in a firm or corporation, or a university that can produce social innovation.

Education in small numbers

Each year, we accept a limited number of candidates, usually less than ten, who are highly conscientious practical leaders or potential individuals to be so.

Various research activities

You will have a chance to work in NPOs all around the world, in either companies or government research institutes, and as an intern in universities, to keep in touch with the society.

Students’ Creativity and Autonomy

You will have to make you own research proposal for your doctoral thesis at the beginning of your second year in the doctoral course. Your proposal will be assessed and you planning abilities evaluated at this point.

Students’ Ability at Operational Management

Making you own research proposal will help you to develop or improve your research planning abilities, important in implementing management systems and project planning. Moreover, by performing experiments, collecting meaningful data in a carefully planned manner, and estimating costs, you will improve your abilities to make plans in a scientific and rational manner.

Connection with the Master’s and Undergraduate Education

You will also be able to take classes offered in three master’s course programs, the Economics Program, Public Policy Design Program, and Environmental Design Program, in the Department of Social Engineering, or undergraduate lectures to fill in any gaps in your knowledge.

Connection with Companies, Societies, and other Graduate Schools

Having a good connection with organizations all over the world is a unique feature of this course, and in fact we have a long excellent connection with the National Institute for Environmental Studies, studying there and conducting joint research. We hope to build such a connection with the UNEP in the near future. Moreover, we will give advice to students who want to change their career path after completing the course.

Curriculum for Working Students

We offer intensive lectures on Saturdays for students who intend to continue working after starting the course.

Collaboration among Excellent Students

Since people who join the course work in various fields, you will have the chance to share a large pool of information.

Transparent Curriculum

The requirements required to obtain the doctor degree are clear; the course structure, including the coursework, advanced candidate system, and doctoral point system are clear.

1. Course Structure

Compulsory subjects

Basic subjects

Philosophy of Law (2 credits)
Expression in Japanese (2 credits)
Public Policy and Project Valuation (2 credits)

Specialized subjects

Fundamentals in Nonprofit Sector (2 credits)
Organizations for Social Innovation (2 credits)
Management for Nonprofit Organizations (2 credits)
Social Innovation and Nonprofit Sector (2 credits)

Practical subjects

Practicum in Social Innovation (2 credits)
Planning Administration A/B (1 credit each)
Seminar in Social Engineering (2 credits)

Optional subjects

Global Environmental Issues and the Role of Nonprofit Organization (2 credits)
Public Welfare and Medical Services and the Role of Nonprofit Organization (2 credits)
Theories and Practices of Community Development by Nonprofit Sector (2 credits)
International Human Rights and NGOs (2 credits)
Special Studies in Nonprofit Management (1 credit)
Special Practicum in Nonprofit Management (1 credit)

2. Requirements to become an advanced candidates

Students including those who entered from the doctoral course cannot proceed to the next stage, “advanced candidate”, until they have passed a “research proposal examination”. The candidates will give a 30-minute presentation about their proposed research and then hold a 30-minute discussion. An examination committee which is composed of at least three members of faculty will make an assessment.

Students must finish all the compulsory subjects and 5 subjects either from optional subjects or from the following 11 subjects offered by the department (Advanced Theories and Practices of Urban and Community Design, Advanced Theories and Practice of Urban Land Use Planning, Advanced Topics of Civic Design, Advanced Theory of Socio-Space, Advanced Theory of Community Design, Organizational Design for Planning, Sociology of the Public, Frontier of Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Non-cooperative Game Theory and Decision Theory, Advanced Microeconomics, and Advanced Public Economics). Students who continue to work after enrolling in the course can also choose Special Studies in Nonprofit Management I-VI, and Special Practicum in Nonprofit Management I-VI.

3. Requirements for the completion of the doctoral course

• Must be an advance candidate
• Must have finished the following seminars

  Practicum in Social Innovation (2 credits), and Planning Administration A/B (1 credit each) for students who continue working after enrollment.

• Must have finished the midterm presentation a half year ago
• Must have at least 2 doctoral points. Doctoral points are calculated as follows:

  A peer reviewed English or Japanese journal article: 1 point

  A discussion paper (a report about social innovation achievement, policy recommendation competition that received a prize, or architecture design competition that received a prize, and at least three members of the faculty including the supervisor has approved it): 0.5 point
  In the case of a co-authored paper, 2/3 of a point for a paper by three authors, and 1/n of a point for a paper by more than four authors.
  Papers with the same contents are only calculated once. In this case, the paper with the higher point will be accepted

• Must have passed the doctoral thesis and the final examination

4. Changing course or program

To change course or program, you must obtain permission from your supervisor, and the course director.

Model Case for the students entering from the work force

First to Second year: coursework

Students will propose their plan for the doctoral thesis at the end of the first year or second year. If they have finished the required coursework, and the plan is approved, then they will become an advanced candidate.

Second to Third year: Case study at the field site (Practicum in Social Innovation). Write the doctoral thesis, and discussion with members of faculty whose major is related.

Third to Fourth year: midterm presentation (in advance of six months before graduation). Write the doctoral thesis.
Instead of the normal 3 years, we assume 4 years for the students entering from the work force, though it is possible to extend to 6 years.

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