18 Best Environmental Science Master's Degree Programs in Japan for 2024

In this era of global population explosion, climate change, destruction of both environment and diversity of species, all of which are closely related to agricultural science and technology, this program has been established to foster global leaders to contribute to bio-industry in harmony with the environment, effectively utilizing the regional characteristics of the Shikoku area as an academic research field.

This division conducts, on the basis of physics, chemistry and biology and their interdisciplinary field, cutting-edge studies on the structure and variation mechanisms of the environment and ecosystems in coastal waters and their related environmental issues, and pollution and toxic effects of hazardous chemicals on a regional and a global scale.

For the academic year of 2017, the SESAMI Master’s program starts in October and can be completed in one and a half years (i.e., in March in the year after the next). During the first 12 months of the program (i.e., two semesters from October 1 to March 30 and from April 1 to September 30), a series of intensive courses are taught all in English by professors of Kobe University and of those affiliated with universities and research organizations overseas.

In order to foster outstanding environmental management professionals, students are required to participate in lengthy internship studies. Based on practical experience gained outside of the university, the student presents an innovative master’s thesis and gains professional skills. After completing the master’s degree, the student may continue on to the doctoral program in order to obtain advanced professional skills or may choose to work for national or local government organizations, international organizations, at environment-linked departments of industries, environment-related industries, environment-related NGOs, among others.

The Course of Food Science and Nutrition is an integrative discipline, in which the principles of biological and physical science are used to study the nature of foods and the consumption and utilization aspects of food and its constituents. Students enrolled in this program are encouraged to study subjects from the molecular level to health and environmental issues relating to food. Through the programs offered in the Food Science and Nutrition course, students are expected to understand the roles of nutrients in supporting vital functions or life functions, the principles underlying the processing and preparing of food, and toxicology. They are also to gain the laboratory disciplines and application skills in biotechnology, toxicology, microbiology, biochemistry, and nutritional sciences. Such knowledge and skills prepare them to work in the food industry in research and development of food products and processes, to serve in government regulatory agencies as food specialists and health advisors, and to find positions in academic institutions as teachers and researchers. Graduates find employment in food and health-related industries and in governmental agencies and laboratories. Those who are certified as junior and senior high school teachers find positions in schools as a teacher of home economics. Some graduates enter the Ph.D. course of food science, nutritional science, and biological sciences.

The study, analysis, and research of; the relationship between humans and environmental and social factors; infection and immunity; ontogenesis, development, growth and reproduction of an individual organism

We will elucidate the functions of the mind and mind not only through the words and actions that are expressed but also through unconscious quests such as dreams and images. Practical training at hospitals, facilities, schools, etc. is substantial.

In the 21st century, it is required to build a sustainable and circulating society in which global environments such as food, water, air, forests, and energy are secured. Especially in Japan, where energy resources are scarce, experts in the field of energy are needed. This course is aimed at fostering engineers capable of analyzing and solving energy-related problems such as securing energy resources, improving energy conversion efficiency, and developing energy efficiency technologies. Courses covering 3 engineering fields - heat/fluid energy engineering, energy device system engineering, and architectural/environmental system engineering are provided with faculty from a variety of fields and business enterprise experience. Energy System Engineering is looking for the passion of youth for the future.

The Graduate School of Agriculture focuses on nurturing talented individuals who are able to adapt to the demands of a rapidly changing environment and contribute widely to society. Building upon the broad-based foundation of the faculty’s undergraduate program, the Graduate School re-organized its education programs into a systematic structure encompassing the broad areas of subtropical agriculture and began offering one integrated course in Subtropical Agriculture from 2011. The aim of this reorganization is to build professional skills in students for the development of high quality researchers and engineers capable of researching creatively into stable bio-production and sustainable uses of biomaterials, in addition to consolidating students’ knowledge concerning agriculture and honing their ability to resolve agricultural issues faced by subtropical regions such as Okinawa. The Graduate School’s curriculum consists of systematic courses of core educational subjects, specialized subjects and applied expansive subjects. Core education subjects promote advanced knowledge necessary for flexible thinking and deep insight, while specialized and expansive subjects spanning four specialized courses nurture problem-solving ability for the resolution of agricultural issues facing the region. In addition to experiential education programs that focus on education and research concerning food, agriculture, environment and resources, while developing advanced specialist knowledge and technology crucial towards the development of tropical and subtropical regions in Asia and the Pacific, the Graduate School also provides other wide-ranging education programs that equip students with sufficient knowledge to work in highly specialized and professional positions.

The oceans play an important role in global environmental change, therefore, in order to understand and predict such change, the maintenance of global-scale observation systems is needed. Also, while considering the preservation of the entire ecosystem and prevention of environmental pollution, and in order to also ensure the continuous usage of marine resources, the investigation of the oceans' biotic resources is indispensable. In this pioneering marine field, it is imperative to train and secure human resources that can actively play an international role in both science and technology.

Department of Occupational Hygiene gives students the specialized knowledge that is required to maintain workers’ health and create a safe and comfortable working environment, by improving the basic academic abilities that the students learned in high school. At the same time, it provides students with science-based skills and technological skills to assess and improve the working environment and trains professionals who can maintain workers’ health and create safe and comfortable environments from an engineering perspective.

Based on the necessity of building a symbiotic society, we will discover and analyze unique problems related to the area from the viewpoint of environment, life, welfare, etc. based on the idea of ​​symbiosis.

Health and food are important topics and are of the greatest concern for humans to live a healthy life, but these topics change with the times. The diet of Japanese people has become richer and Japan now has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. However, meals have become more convenient, and this has brought with it an unmistakable increase in various problems related to diet, such as the imbalance in the intake of nutrients, excessive consumption of certain nutrients, and food safety. To solve these problems, it is necessary to have people with a broad range of specialist knowledge and ability. In the Food Science & Nutrition Program, we aim to nurture talented students who acquire the latest, high level of specialist knowledge in the fields of nutrition and food science, and deepen their knowledge by carrying out their own research, so that they can make a contribution to society by working as specialists and advising people how to maintain their health through eating healthily. Food and health are subjects that we should study for the whole of our life. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of people who have already been active in society, and have come back to university to deepen their knowledge and skills. After completing their graduate studies, they are playing an active part in society as researchers, specialists, or teachers. How about becoming a part of this circle of your seniors?

By providing a specialized grounding in mathematics, physics, and informatics, this division seeks to develop professionals with high-level expertise capable of working in diverse fields in a highly information-based society and researchers with a fundamental grounding in interdisciplinary areas of research. Earning a degree from this division requires being enrolled in the program for the prescribed number of years, earning the prescribed number of credits, and acquiring the knowledge and abilities below in accordance with the personal development goals of the division, followed by undergoing a thesis examination and passing a final exam. Students completing this division's program will receive a Master of Science degree.

The five graduate schools were reorganized in the 2014 academic year in order to establish the new Graduate School of Agriculture (comprising six courses). The objectives of the Graduate School of Agriculture are to enhance the specialized nature of the faculty's education; resolve domestic and international issues related to food, the environment, resources, and life; and contribute to the creation of a sustainable and productive society that exists in harmony with the natural environment. It also aims to develop professional technicians and researchers from many different countries who possess sophisticated knowledge in the field of agriculture and the ability to put this expertise to practical use.

Food Science and Nutrition Course Nurturing researchers with advanced knowledge who share the viewpoint of consumers We cultivate researchers with advanced expertise in food and diet, and the ability to think from the standpoint of actual consumers of food. Students choose their research theme from one of three areas—food science, nutrition, and cookery science—and undertake research centering on experiments. The research experience and the sense of professionalism gained in this course will open up the possibility of working in a teaching position at a university or college or as a researcher at a business enterprise.

The Master of Science in Sustainability programme is a two-year programme, which provides students with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to contribute to solving challenges of sustainability. Drawing on an innovative, interdisciplinary approach, the programme integrates methods and resources from the natural and social sciences, as well as the humanities. The programme is intended for recent graduates, professionals and practitioners who seek to meaningfully contribute to the work of governments, civil society, the private sector, and/or the UN and other international organizations in the area of sustainability. The programme builds on UNU’s strong record in research and capacity development, as well as the extensive network of scholars and academic institutions participating in UNU research. The programme is practice-oriented, user-focused, and of the highest academic quality. It provides students with unique opportunities to interact with leading scholars and policymakers through lectures, international conferences, and workshops.

The master’s program consists of five courses: “Biology”, “Biochemistry & Molecular Biology”, “Applied Biosciences”, “Agriculture & Horticulture”, and “Agricultural & Environmental Engineering”.