About the College of Chemistry
Greeting from the dean
Professor
Welcome to our website.
Chemistry is the study of the structures, properties, and reactivity of substances at the atomic and molecular level. While expanding our understanding of nature, we chemists create new materials, explore unknown phenomena, and elucidate biological functions and molecular mechanisms. High school chemistry introduces various types of chemical phenomena and reactions, yet does not fully explain how they occur. At university, students will be able to profoundly understand how those chemical phenomena occur, thinking through logical implications.
The College of Chemistry at University of Tsukuba provides the ideal environment for students to apply their education through research. What we are pursuing at our College of Chemistry is science, which is the source of new technology. We invite you to explore the world of science from a chemical perspective with us. Through your learning and research experiences at our College of Chemistry, we hope that you will take the first step toward becoming a chemist, while discovering beauty of chemistry.
I look forward to conducting cutting-edge research with you at Tsukuba Science City.
Code of Ethics on Education
Curriculum
In the College of Chemistry, faculty members put great effort into leading and educating students to improve their fundamental academic achievement and become international researchers. We train our students to acquire the broad and fundamental knowledge of chemistry—which is necessary to explore the universal laws of nature and unknown substances and phenomena—to create functional materials and develop new materials, solve environmental and energy problems, and elucidate biological phenomena at the molecular level. The program also aims to develop individuals with flexible thinking skills and the ability to work on a global scale, backed by this knowledge and understanding.
To cultivate a professional and working knowledge of chemistry over four years, we organize and implement a curriculum that builds upon the basics. The curriculum includes the core courses of lectures and experiments along with practical training courses and graduation theses for students to actively engage in learning and develop comprehensive skills in chemistry. In experiment classes, students are comprehensively evaluated for their achievements through reports, attitudes towards experiments, and performance in question-and-answer sessions.
- In the College of Chemistry, first-year students study common courses designed for all students at the University of Tsukuba and required basic courses designed for students of science majors. Second-year students study specialized courses, such as Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Quantum Chemistry, and Biological Chemistry, together with the Basic Experiments of Chemistry. Third-year students study specialized subjects for a deeper understanding of the chemical fields in which they are interested.
- In their third year, students spend more time on experiments. Experiments in Inorganic/Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry are compulsory subjects, and these will take up three afternoons per week, training students in the experimental skills required for research. Second- and third-year students read technical books on basic and specialized chemistry written in English in the courses of Basic English in Chemistry and English in Chemistry, respectively. This helps prepare them for graduate research, which will require English academic reading.
- Fourth-year students mainly concentrate on their graduate research. The students are assigned to the laboratory and carry out their graduate research in an active atmosphere under a professor's leadership while maintaining close contact with faculty staff, graduate students, and researchers from Japanese and overseas institutions.
- Most graduates from the College of Chemistry go on to graduate school to enhance their research capability. After that, they work for universities, national research institutes, or the chemical industry, engaging in basic research and the development of advanced technology.
In addition, one of the distinctive features of the College of Chemistry is that we have plenty of time for experiments in the third year. Three afternoons a week are devoted to specialized experimental training in chemistry that allows students to acquire a broad range of laboratory techniques in various fields of chemistry, including organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, and analytical chemistry.
- Each year, students voluntarily complete a class evaluation survey. We also conduct a university-sponsored survey. The results of these surveys and various issues related to the management of the school are discussed at the "Student-Faculty Roundtable," where students and faculty members meet. The results are made available to the public in the form of a report every year.
- The faculty members in charge of each course individually conduct questionnaires to help improve the effectiveness of education.
- Based on the questionnaires, we review the educational content and course linkages in each of the chemistry fields from time to time. In addition, we discuss in the Curriculum Committee to strengthen the linkages between each field.
- The results of the final exams and reports are comprehensively evaluated, and rigorous credit approval is carried out.
If you meet the requirements, you will be able to join the College of Chemistry from your second year.
For more information, please see the website of the School of Comprehensive Studies.
Degree Conferral Policy
The College of Chemistry confers the degree of Bachelor of Science on students who have acquired the knowledge and abilities required for achieving the educational goals of the University of Tsukuba’s Bachelor’s program and those who have attained the following goals, in accordance with the human resource development objectives of the University of Tsukuba.
- The acquisition of basic knowledge of the natural sciences and scientific ways of thinking.
- Understanding materials at the molecular, atomic, electronic, and chemical bonding levels.
- The acquisition of basic chemical knowledge on universal laws of nature, unknown substances and phenomena, creation of functional materials and development of materials, finding solutions to environmental and energy problems, and clarification of biological phenomena.
- Acquisition of flexible thinking skills and the ability to work internationally based on this knowledge and understanding.
- Ability to work cooperatively with others to solve chemistry-related problems.
Information materials of the College of Chemistry
Introduction by current students
Message
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We can learn chemistry from the basic to an advanced level.Daiki Ito (Enrollment for 2017)
In addition to chemistry classes in the first year, first-year students are encouraged to take classes in mathematics, physics, English, and other academic subjects to acquire a broad knowledge of the subject, while second-year students begin specialized chemistry classes. In the fourth year, students are assigned to a laboratory and start preparing for their graduation thesis. In this way, students at the College of Chemistry can learn everything from the basics to applications, and they can also learn about their other interest areas besides chemistry. It can be hard work at times, but it is very challenging and rewarding.
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An Encounter with ChemistryRuna Kasahara (Enrollment for 2017)
When I was in high school, I loved chemistry and decided to enter the College of Chemistry. When I first enrolled in the college, I remember being puzzled by the differences between the chemistry in a university and that which I had studied until then. However, to my surprise, the variety of classes, professors, and students I encountered broadened my interest in chemistry. In addition, I feel that I am very fortunate to be in a good environment to study chemistry because of the excellent research facilities. This is a very stimulating environment for me to learn chemistry and expand my horizons. I hope you will enjoy your new encounters at the University of Tsukuba!