Independent research project(MAT)

Academic unit or major

Undergraduate major in Materials Science and Engineering

Instructor(s)

Teaching Staffs

Class Format

Experiment

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

Seminar

Class

-

Course Code

MAT.Z389

Number of credits

006

Course offered

2025

Offered quarter

1-2Q

Syllabus updated

Feb 5, 2026

Language

Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

Students will conduct research on a topic determined in consultation with their academic supervisor. Through literature surveys and related investigations, they will deepen their understanding of matters relevant to the research topic. By engaging in research activities and discussions, students will clarify research problems and work toward their resolution. In the process of conducting research, they will acquire methods for solving problems by applying specialized and fundamental knowledge gained through lectures and coursework. Students will learn the fundamentals of research, including data acquisition, data analysis, and interpretation, while also developing the ability to view matters from multiple perspectives. They will summarize the results obtained, present and discuss them at a presentation session, and prepare a bachelor’s thesis. Students will develop fundamental research skills that can be extended to research at the graduate level and beyond. It is also assumed that students may conduct experiments in another laboratory, or participate in study abroad programs or internships, for the purpose of further improving their research skills.

Course description and aims

By taking the Independent Research Project, students will acquire the following abilities:
The ability to apply specialized knowledge in the field of materials science to problem solving.
The ability to independently learn the fundamentals of disciplines outside materials science and apply them to problem solving.
The ability to understand the societal context of unresolved issues in materials science, assess the potential social impact of solving such issues, and work toward their resolution.
The ability to develop logical explanations, conduct discussions, and summarize outcomes in written form.
The mindset of an independent researcher, as well as the knowledge and communication skills necessary to achieve effective mutual understanding through discussions with others.

Keywords

Presentation skills; Research topic formulation; Problem-solving ability; Literature review; Logical explanation skills

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

The course will be conducted in the supervisor’s laboratory, and the implementation plan will be determined through consultation between the faculty member and the student.

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

Textbook(s)

Not specifically specified.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Not specifically specified.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Assessment will be conducted through the research presentation and Q&A session at the presentation meeting, as well as the bachelor’s thesis, based on the degree of achievement of the learning objectives (1)–(5).

Related courses

• MAT.Z381 ： Research opportunity in Laboratories (MAT)

Prerequisites

Students must satisfy the eligibility requirements for enrolling in the Independent Research Project (Dep. of Materials Science).