Graduate Program in Spintronics, Tohoku University

Curriculum

Requirements

(1)Attainment target for GP-Spin students

The accomplishment of attainment target that has been set by each department is necessary as a fundamental knowledge to engage in research on Spintronics.
On top of that, GP-Spin has set additional goals to pursue as follows.

  1. Acquiring basic and fundamental sophistication in the field of Spintronics.
  2. Understanding how the field of Spintronics is utilized in industry and society, and acquiring the skills to make use of it.
  3. Acquiring the skills to play an International active role utilizing global wisdom and widely sending out the research results to the world.
  4. Developing an appropriate research plan by yourself, and acquiring the skills to pursue research plans.
  5. Acquiring the skills to contribute to society by responding flexibly to the demands of society with knowledge on ethics and management of organizations.

(2)Basic structure of the GP-Spin curriculum

GP-Spin clearly shows the goals to pursue [A)-E)] in order to produce the aimed Doctoral degree students. Our curriculum offers lectures to accomplish these goals, which enables each and every student to acquire knowledge ranging from basic one to advanced, and cultivate a high standard of Internationality.
Students at GP-Spin are required to complete additional credits besides their original requirements at their affiliated departments, from the course categories of four for Master’s and five for Doctoral students. Master's students need to complete at least 4 credits in addition and Doctoral students need to complete at least 6credits in addition form the course categories above.

(3)GP-Spin Course categories and the program’s additional requirements

Master's program

[1] Basic category

Consists of Basic Spintronics I&II (2 credits for each, compulsory).
These two subjects aim to accomplish basic education in the field of Spintronics.

[2] Fundamental category

Consists of Fundamental Spintronics I&II&III (2 credits for each, compulsory).
Subjects related to Spintronics in each department correspond to these 3 courses.

[3] Communication category

Consists of Global Communication   (2 credits, elective).
This course aim to gain the ability to play an active role in the global society in English.

[4] Master's research and seminar category

This is the same as the general Master's program that students are conferred the degree by passing the thesis examination after completing the seminars and research activities in their affiliated department., It is regarded as an interim assessment in GP-Spin on the point that it includes all the [A)-E)] attainment targets to pursue.
In addition to the thesis examination in Japanese (or in English), students at GP-Spin are required to take an interview conducted in English as a Qualifying Examination: QE1, with some professors from abroad. It is necessary to pass QE1 to go on to the GP-Spin Doctoral course.

Master's Program GP-Spin Courses

Exclusive courses at GP-Spin

Category Course Title at GP-Spin Credits and Types of Registration How to Register
Compulsory Compulsory Elective Elective School of Science School of Engineering
[1]Basic Basic Spintronics and Material Science I 2     Related course request* Web
Basic Spintronics and Material Science II 2     Web Related course request**
[2]Fundamental* Fundamental Spintronics I 2     Web Web
Fundamental Spintronics II 2    
Fundamental Spintronics III 2    
[3]Communication

Global Communication

    Web***** Related course request**
[4]Seminar and Research Master's Seminar and Research
GP-Spin has QE1*** as an intermediate assessment.
10-16****     Web Web

Related course request*: If you submit the form "Request for Credit Approval for Courses Other than Those from Affiliated Department" and approved, the credits will be counted as part of your degree requirements even if it is an exclusive course at GP-Spin. But make sure to check well with the academic affairs staff at your department office, for there may be a department requirement for a certain number of credits to gain from related subjects.
Fundamental**: Register 6 credits in total from the department you are affiliated, as to count as a Fundamental category.
QE1***: When you submit and pass the Master's Thesis screening, you'll be conferred a degree. In addition to that, students at GP-Spin will have an interview in English with professors from abroad. Passing this QE1 will be an eligibility to go on to GP-Spin Doctoral course.
10-16****: The number of credits may vary among the departments you belong.
Web*****: Students who entered the School of Engineering before 2014 should submit Course Registration Form.
Credits from categories Fundamental, Seminar and Research are counted as necessary credits for your degree requirements.

Doctoral program

[5] Communication category

Consists of Global Communication (2 credits, compulsory).
This course aim to gain the ability to play an active role in the global society in English.
Required to pass before completing the Doctoral program.
(This is not compulsory for those who have already registered the course during their Master's program.)

[6] Overseas research training category

Consists of Spintronics Overseas Training (4 credits, compulsory).
Students at GP-Spin are required to take overseas research training on topics related to Spintronics for more than 6 months. This is to develop their international vision before completing the doctoral program.
This training activity is recognized as credits for Doctoral program, but it is acceptable to start the training in their Master's or continuously in Master's and Doctoral program.
In case the student need go to repeat the short-term training several times, GP-Spin will approve its credits according to the total period.

[7] Advanced category

Consists of Applied SpintronicsI (1 credit, compulsory) and Applied Spintronics II(1 credit, compulsory elective).
Mainly composed of various seminars given by foreign professors, and the students learn leading-edge research in English.

[8] Practical category

Consists of Practical Spintronics I&II. (1 credit for each, compulsory elective).
These two courses aim to develop the student’s planning ability and ability to convey opinions by taking part in International conferences, organizing various seminars that are on Spintronics.

[9] Doctoral Research and Seminars

Same as the general Doctoral program that the students are conferred the degree by passing the dissertation defense after completing the seminars and research activities in their affiliated department. In addition, GP-Spin students need to accomplish all the attainment targets [A-E)] indicated above.
Students at GP-Spin are required to submit their PhD dissertation in English and pass its defense in English conducted with some professors from abroad. This defense is also considered as QE2.

Doctoral Program GP-Spin Courses (Exclusive courses at GP-Spin)

Exclusive courses at GP-Spin

Category Course Title at GP-Spin Credits and Types of Registration How to Register
Compulsory Compulsory elective Elective School of Science School of Engineering
[5]Communication

Global Communication

    Web Related course request*
[6]Overseas research training Spintronics Overseas Training 4     Course Registration Form Course Registration Form
[7]Advanced Applied Spintronics I 1     Submit your report to GP-Spin office as an attendance to appointed seminars.
Applied Spintronics II   1  
[8]Practical Practical Spintronics **I   1   Report your attendance at International conferences or organizing national seminars related to Spintronics.
Practical Spintronics II   1  
[9]Seminar and Research Doctoral Seminar and Research GP-Spin has QE2*** as an additional requirement. 10-16*     Web Web

Related course request*: If you submit the form "Request for Credit Approval for Courses Other than Those from Affiliated Department" and approved, the credits will be counted as part of your degree requirements even if it is an exclusive course at GP-Spin. But make sure to check well with the academic affairs staff at your department office, for there may be a department requirement for a certain number of credits to gain from related subjects.
Practical Spintronics I**: Students recruited after Spring 2017 has been decided that it is mandatory to gain more than three points from organizing some kind of workshops or seminars, so those who are applicable, please be well prepared.
QE2***: When you submit and pass the Doctoral dissertation screening, you'll be conferred a degree. In addition to that, students at GP-Spin will have to complete the dissertation in English as well as to have an interview in English with professors from abroad. Passing this QE2 will lead you to the GP-Spin Doctoral course completion.
10-16***: The number of credits may vary among the departments you belong.
Credits from category Seminar and Research are counted as necessary credits for your degree requirements.

Students who have joined GP-Spin from their Doctoral program should also need to register Basic Spintronics I and II (total of four credits, scheduled as compulsory in GP-Spin Master’s program) in addition to the requirements of GP-Spin Doctoral program.

(4) Conferment of Degree

GP-Spin confers a Doctoral degree from the school the student is affiliated.
The criteria for the screening depends on that of each school, with an absolute academic performance. GP-Spin differs in a large scale from the current existing graduate level education, that the doctoral students will master in Spintronics from the basic to the advanced, and will also receive education to be equipped with an abundant internationality. Based upon these differences, the students will go through a degree examination at Tohoku University Advanced Graduate School, and for those who have successfully passed the examination will receive their diplomas with the proof of completing the "Graduate Program in Spintronics". On top of that, students who have received the jointly-supervised education with the counterpart universities with its memorandum of understanding will also receive a certificate attached to their diplomas.

Revised on March 14, 2024

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