Curriculum

Educational Programs of the Faculty of Engineering

In the first and second years students focus largely on common subjects

Over the first and second years students primarily study subjects covering the liberal arts and the fundamentals of the natural sciences.

These subjects are provided to all Kyoto University students by the various faculties, laboratories, and research centers of the university, under the direction of the Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies and the Graduate School of Science. These subjects are referred to as "common subjects." In addition to lectures, subjects are taught using a variety of other learning formats, including exercises, seminars, readings, experiments, and practical training. Through these subjects, students develop not only the basic abilities needed to pursue the study of different fields of specialization, but also an excellent grounding in the liberal arts, through contact with a wide variety of academic disciplines. In this way, students are able to broaden their outlook as human beings.

As shown in the table, these common subjects are broadly divided into 4 categories, A to D, and combinations of these.

A Category
(Humanities and Social Sciences)
 Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Logic, Introduction to the Science of Religion, Introduction to Psychology; Introduction to Theory of Art; Social Anthropology; Introduction to Regional Geography; Theory of International Politics; Introduction to Economics; The Constitution of Japan; Prejudice, Discrimination, and Human Rights, etc.
B Category
(Natural Sciences)
 Calculus, Linear Algebra, Mathematical Logic, Mathematical Statistics, Fundamental Physics, Statistical Physics, Quantum Physics, Basic Organic Chemistry, Basic Physical Chemistry, Graphic Science, etc.
C Category
(Foreign Languages)
 English, German, French, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Arabic
D Category
(Health and Physical Education)
 Sports, etc.
  • A-B Category
    Introduction to Philosophy and History of Science, Elements of Psychoanalysis, Intellectual Property Theory, etc.
  • A-C Category
    Comparative Sociology Seminar, etc.
  • B-D Category
    Health Science, Sports Science, etc.

Higher grade students are offered more specialized subjects

Although there are slight differences between the various undergraduate schools of the Faculty of Engineering, specialized basic subjects are offered by each school even in the first year of the undergraduate program. More specialized basic subjects are offered to second-year students. The number of specialized basic subjects offered to students increases substantially in the second semester of the second year. Thus, students begin studying specialized subjects from the second or third year.

In the fourth year students undertake a special research project (graduation research)

In the fourth year students undertake a special research project (graduation research). Under the guidance and advice of an academic supervisor, each student independently undertakes a research project on a new theme in their field of specialization, and summarizes the results for their bachelor's thesis. This special research project represents a valuable process in which students engage in exhaustive discussion about their work with academic staff and graduate students, and perform creative research activities for the first time. This project is compulsory in all departments of the faculty.

Once students earn the prescribed number of credits and complete their bachelor's thesis, they are awarded a bachelor's degree (in engineering) and can graduate.

Understanding the characteristics of the curriculum

In addition to providing students with knowledge in their chosen fields of specialization, the Kyoto University Faculty of Engineering also reviews scientific and technological developments from the broadest possible perspective, and seeks to foster individuals who are capable of creatively blazing new trails in the world. For this purpose, each department emphasizes fundamental subjects in order to cultivate students' ability to think expansively and put ideas into practice. In addition, curricula have been designed to take full advantage of the characteristics of each department, and the curricula of similar fields of specialization are designed to have common elements and to allow mutual interchangeability in order to enable broad and flexible learning.

As necessary, students are able to take subjects in other departments or faculties.

Career path after graduation

More than four out of five Faculty of Engineering graduates (87% in 2006) proceed to a master's program at a graduate school. In addition to students who desire careers as university researchers, interest in graduate studies is growing, as companies are seeking to employ more engineers with advanced research abilities in response to the increasing sophistication of science and technology. In view of this trend, the number of students wishing to pursue post-graduate studies is increasing.

Admission to the graduate school from the third year of the undergraduate program

The Graduate School of Engineering, the Graduate School of Energy Science, the Graduate School of Informatics, and the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies accept applications for their master's programs from students who are currently in the third or later years of an undergraduate program and have been recognized by the applicable Graduate schools to display outstanding academic ability by scoring a minimum number of credits.

The purpose of this facility is to give academically outstanding students who wish to enter a graduate school master's program the opportunity to receive graduate-level educational and research guidance and to cultivate research skills in their field of specialization as early as possible.

In addition, students who perform exceptionally well in research are allowed to earn a master's or doctoral degree in as little as one year. (However, a doctoral degree cannot be earned in a total of less than three years of study including master's degree.)

Faculty of Engineering-related professional qualifications (summary of main qualifications)

Registered Surveyor (Surveying Law)

Graduates of the Undergraduate School of Global Engineering who have taken subjects relating to surveying and who have at least one year of experience in surveying-related work since graduation can obtain the professional qualification of registered surveyor upon request. Graduates of the Undergraduate School of Global Engineering who have taken surveying-related subjects can obtain the professional qualification of assistant surveyor upon request.

For further details please contact the administrative office of the Undergraduate School of Global Engineering.

Related organizations : Geographical Survey Institute (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism)

Registered Architect (Architect Law)

Graduates of the Undergraduate School of Architecture or Undergraduate School of Global Engineering who have completed prescribed subjects and have at least two years of experience in architecture-related work since graduation can sit for exams to earn the professional qualification of First Class Registered Architect. In addition, for students who have taken courses in the Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering or the Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering (Architecture Course) in the Graduate School of Engineering, the period of study in these courses can be counted towards the required architecture-related work experience.

Graduates of the Undergraduate School of Architecture or Undergraduate School of Global Engineering who have completed prescribed subjects can sit for exams to earn the professional qualification of Second Class Registered Architect or Wooden Building Architect. (Note, however, that graduates of the Undergraduate School of Global Engineering must have at least one year of practical experience in architecture-related work since graduation.)

For further details please contact the administrative office of the Undergraduate School of Architecture or Undergraduate School of Global Engineering.

Related organizations : prefecture-level governments

Chief Electrical Engineer (Electricity Enterprises Law)

Graduates of the Undergraduate School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering who have taken subjects prescribed by ministerial ordinance relating to the qualification of chief engineer, based on the regulations of the Electricity Enterprises Law, can obtain the professional qualification of Chief Electrical Engineer, provided they are exempted from written examinations and have a prescribed minimum amount of work experience.

For further details please contact the administrative office of the Undergraduate School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Related organization: Bureaus of Economy, Trade and Industry

Radio Engineer and Radio Operator by national examinations (Radio Workers Regulations)

Graduates of the Undergraduate School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering who have earned the prescribed number of credits during their course can apply for an exemption from some of the examination subjects for the professional qualification of First Class Land Radio Engineer. Note that such persons can apply to obtain licenses as First Class Special Land Radio Operator and Third Class Marine Special Radio Operator.

For further details please contact the administrative office of the Undergraduate School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Related organization : Bureaus of Telecommunications

Chief Electrical and Communications Engineer by examination (Regulations for Chief Electrical and Communications Engineers)

Graduates of the Undergraduate School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, or Undergraduate School of Informatics and Mathematical Science, who have earned the prescribed number of credits during their course can receive an exemption from some of the test subjects when sitting for the examinations for the professional qualification of Chief Electrical and Communications Engineer.

For further details please contact the administrative office of the Undergraduate School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Related organization: Bureaus of Telecommunications

 

* For more information about the above-mentioned qualifications please refer to the related organizations. (Apart from those specifically outlined above, other qualifications that may be obtained include Hazardous Materials Officer and Chief Boiler Handling Operator. For further details please refer to the relevant government organization.