Educational objectives

The Graduate Program in Applied Bioscience aims to cultivate highly qualified professionals needed in biotechnology-related research institutes and industries by developing new career paths and technologies in biotechnology, with a focus on Plant Biotechnology, Applied Biological Science, and Food Biotechnology.

Curriculum

• Master Plant Biotechnology, Applied Biological Science, Food Biotechnology
• Ph. D. Plant Biotechnology, Applied Biological Science, Food Biotechnology

Faculty

Departmental regulations

A. Departmental regulations

• Purpose These regulations are established in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Graduate School Regulations and the related internal rules on graduate admissions procedures, with the aim of stipulating matters concerning the admissions process. Unless otherwise specified, all matters shall be governed by the Graduate School Regulations and relevant internal rules.
• Admissions Types The admissions process is conducted through two categories: the general admissions and the special admissions. Additionally, rolling admissions may be conducted upon special request by the department.
  • The selection ratio shall be determined annually by the departmental faculty meeting.
  • For the special admissions, priority is given to applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree and have work experience in a related field for the master’s program, and to those who hold a master’s degree and have work experience in a related field for the doctoral program.
  • Rolling admissions are open only to students in their fourth year of a related undergraduate program and are subject to approval by the departmental faculty meeting.
  • A related department shall be recognized as one that offers ten or more major courses related to each field of study. In the case of a doctoral program, a person who has completed a master's program in a department that has offered and in which the student has completed eight or more related graduate-level major courses shall be considered to have equivalent qualifications. If these conditions are not met, the equivalence of qualifications shall be determined through a meeting of the department’s major faculty members.
• It shall be governed by Article 9, Paragraph 3, Chapter 2 of the Graduate School Regulations on the 5-year Integrated Bachelor's and Master's Degree Program.

B. Departmental regulations

• Purpose The purpose of these regulations is to establish provisions regarding credit acquisition based on Chapter 3 of the Graduate School Regulations and the related rules on graduate curricula and course registration. Unless otherwise specified, these regulations shall follow the Graduate School Regulations and related bylaws.
• Credit Acquisition Credits must be acquired as follows: at least 26 credits for the master's program (including 2 credits for thesis research) and at least 40 credits for the doctoral program (including 4 credits for thesis research), according to the table below. Department elective credits that have not been acquired may be substituted with excess credits earned from required or advanced courses.
  • Master’s Program

    Category	Master’s Program	Credits
    Common Required	Department-wide common required courses	3
    Major Subjects	Departmental major courses	21
    Thesis Research	Thesis Research	2
    		26

  • Ph.D. Program

    Category	Master’s Program	Credits
    Common Required	Department-wide common required courses	3
    Major Subjects	Departmental major courses	33
    Thesis Research	Thesis Research	4
    		40

• Supplementary courses for master's and doctoral students from other academic disciplines shall be determined by the departmental faculty council. Completion of equivalent or similar courses may be approved as substitutes, subject to the decision of the faculty council.
• For early admission students only, up to 9 credits from previously completed graduate-level core or advanced courses may be recognized upon review and approval by the departmental faculty meeting.

C. Provisions Regarding Foreign Language Examinations

Both the master's and doctoral programs require an English examination. However, a second foreign language examination is not required for the doctoral program. Those who possess certified foreign language proficiency from an authorized institution may be exempt from the English examination in accordance with the graduate school's regulations on foreign language and comprehensive examinations.

D. Regulations Regarding the Comprehensive Examination

In accordance with Article 26 of the Graduate School Regulations and the Graduate School Guidelines on Foreign Language and Comprehensive Examinations, the comprehensive examination consists of two major subjects for the master's program and three major subjects for the doctoral program.

• Purpose The purpose of these regulations is to establish guidelines for thesis/dissertation supervision and the submission of degree theses/dissertations in accordance with Article 26 of the Graduate School Regulations and the related internal regulations on degree theses/dissertations. Unless otherwise specified, matters shall be governed by the Graduate School Regulations and its related internal rules.
• Research Advisory Committee For the Department of Applied Life Science, the academic advisor shall recommend two full-time faculty members for the master’s program and three for the doctoral program. These recommendations must be approved by the Education and Research Committee of the project group. Upon approval, a Research Advisory Committee shall be formed, consisting of three members (including the advisor) for the master’s program, and four members (including the advisor) for the doctoral and integrated master’s-doctoral programs.
  • The advisor may designate courses that are appropriate to the student’s major and area of research.
  • The committee shall hold at least one meeting each semester to review and guide the student’s academic progress and research performance.
  • Committee members may serve as members of the thesis/dissertation evaluation committee.
• Dissertation Advisory Committee
  • Master’s Program The student shall form a Thesis Advisory Committee consisting of three experts in the relevant major field, in consultation with the academic advisor.
  • Ph.D. Program In consultation with the academic advisor, the student shall form a Thesis Advisory Committee composed of five experts in the relevant field, including at least one member appointed from a domestic or international university or research institution.
• Thesis Evaluation Oversight Committee To ensure the fairness of the thesis evaluation process, the department chair shall appoint a Thesis Evaluation Oversight Committee member. The oversight member shall attend the thesis evaluation as an observer to ensure the appropriateness of the evaluation process and to monitor research ethics.
• Research Proposal and Progress Report
  • Research Proposal Master’s or doctoral students must obtain approval from their academic advisor and present their thesis proposal within six months of enrollment during the Applied Life Science Seminar course.
  • Progress Report The academic advisor and the Research Advisory Committee shall prepare a research supervision plan based on the discussions, and the student shall submit a research plan to the department chair.
  • For the doctoral program, students must prepare an annual progress plan and submit it to the Research Advisory Committee or the Thesis Advisory Committee.
• Degree Thesis In accordance with Article 26 of the Graduate School Regulations and the internal regulations on degree theses, doctoral candidates are required to publish at least one research paper in an international academic journal based on their studies conducted after enrollment.

F. Others

• Matters not specified in these departmental regulations shall be handled in accordance with the Graduate School Regulations.
• Doctoral students and students in the integrated Master’s and Doctoral program shall take an oral examination on specialized knowledge related to their dissertation topics, in addition to the comprehensive examination. The questions will be prepared by the dissertation advisory committee, and a score of 70 or higher per question is required to pass.