Advanced independent research project(MAT)

Academic unit or major

Undergraduate major in Materials Science and Engineering

Instructor(s)

Teaching Staffs

Class Format

Experiment (Face-to-face)

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

Seminar (各研究室)

Class

-

Course Code

MAT.Z399

Number of credits

006

Course offered

2025

Offered quarter

3-4Q

Syllabus updated

Feb 5, 2026

Language

Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

The results obtained in the Independent Research Project will be carefully examined, and a research topic will be determined in consultation with the academic supervisor in order to further deepen the research. Students will summarize the outcomes, present and discuss them at a presentation session, and prepare a bachelor’s thesis. Through this process, 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.
The Advanced Independent Research Project, together with the Independent Research Project, constitutes the core of laboratory-based education and complements the coursework provided under a structured curriculum. By conducting research, students are expected to develop fundamental research skills that can be extended to graduate-level research and beyond, while also acquiring comprehensive abilities required in society, such as the ability to identify and define new issues and problems, and the ability to lead unresolved problems toward solutions.

Course description and aims

By taking the Advanced 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, as well as to deliver clear and effective presentations.
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.Z388 ： Independent research project(MAT)

Prerequisites

Students must be enrolled in the Independent Research Project (Dep. of Materials Science).