Graduate School of Sustainability Science, Tottori University

Master's programDepartment of Dryland Science

Department of Dryland Science

Educational and Research Purpose

The Department of Dryland Science in the Graduate School of Sustainability Science provides advance education and research related to the climate, ecosystem, food, agriculture, human development, and problems that occur in drylands, and aims to develop advanced professionals or researchers who can internationally contribute to the creation of a recycling-oriented society that lives in harmony with nature.

Diploma Policy

The Department of Dryland Science of the Graduate School of Sustainability Science at Tottori University, based on the educational purpose of this department, awards the master’s degree (agriculture or science) to its graduate students when they have completed the educational program specified by this department, have passed the thesis review and final examinations after acquiring the predetermined number of credits, and have the acquired skills stated in the following:

  • With deep academic knowledge of the community, climate, water resources, ecosystem and agriculture in dryland which are the most fragile regions on Earth, have acquired the research competencies leading to identifying and solving problems on the global issues humankind is facing such as desertification, food shortages, and poverty or the capability to engage in an occupation that requires a high level of expertise
  • Can contribute to the development of dryland science with high ethical standards
  • Have acquired the capabilities to be pragmatic and take an active part in the global community with communication skills that allow graduate students to collaborate with other fields, while gathering information related to issues to create a sustainable society, as well as taking advantage of the expertise in dryland science

Although the university awards the Master of Agriculture degree to its graduate students, this department assumes that the study may include other fields. In such cases, it awards the Master of Science degree after examining the academic history and thesis.

Curriculum Policy

The Department of Dryland Science of the Graduate School of Sustainability Science at Tottori University, to enable its graduate students to acquire the skills shown in the policy for awarding degrees, organizes and implements a systematic educational program under the policies stated in the following:

  • Educational program and contents
    • *This department organizes a systematic educational program with specialized subjects composed of basic and advanced courses to acquire deep academic knowledge, as well as general subjects composed of foundational and transdisciplinary courses to obtain a broader perspective;
    • *It provides such advanced subjects as not only deepening expertise but learning the quality of life of the people living on dryland, to systematically acquire knowledge and techniques in various fields on dryland science that include climate and ecosystems, as well as foods and agriculture on dryland.
    • *It provides its graduate students with practical training in basic subjects incorporated in training in thesis writing in English and practical activities overseas, in order to acquire knowledge on advanced dryland science aiming to obtain knowledge and a grounding needed to be an international player.
    • *It provides its graduate students with a subject on researcher’s ethics as a compulsory subject to acquire the high ethical standards required to carry out research.
  • Method of education
    • *This department develops the high-level communication skills of its graduate students in the way that graduate students whose areas of expertise are different study together in an interdisciplinary manner.
    • *It provides education to improve its graduate students’ overall capabilities to identify, analyze, solve, and explain issues through practical exercises and research activities.
  • Evaluation of learning achievements
    • *This department evaluates the learning achievements of its graduate students according to the assessment criteria for academic performance defined in advance, and it also strictly evaluates the novelty and originality of the thesis in the thesis committee.
    • *It verifies its educational program based on the learning achievements of graduate students and the questionnaire.

Admission Policy

The Department of Dryland Science of the Graduate School of Sustainability Science at Tottori University widely accepts graduate students stated in the following by conducting various entrance examinations in this department:

  • Those who have achieved expertise and skills equivalent to those in the undergraduate course on dryland science
  • Those who aim to obtain a broad perspective and deep knowledge of global and local issues in the creation of a sustainable society
  • Those who aim to contribute to the creation and development of a sustainable society by acquiring high ethical standards
  • Those who aspire to acquire communication skills to collaborate with other fields in order to create a sustainable society, taking advantage of their respective expertise in dryland science
  • Those who desire to contribute by themselves to solution of issues that minority group and people under severe environment are facing, understanding diversified natural environment, culture, and values

According to this admission policy, the Department of Dryland Science selects graduate students multi-directionally and quantitatively with the evaluation method shown in the annexed table.

Annexed Table

Character Size

  • Small
  • Regular
  • Large

Color

  • Regular
  • W / B
  • Y / B