Program Overview

Introduction to the Urban Design and Built Environment Graduate Major

The Urban Design and Built Environment Graduate Major is a comprehensive program designed to provide students with systematic and specialized learning in the field of urban design and built environment. The program is structured to cater to students' levels of learning and achievement, offering a broad and deep curriculum that prepares them to become international engineers or researchers.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Urban Design and Built Environment Graduate Major is divided into several categories, including:

• Theories of design and planning from the standpoint of functionality, comfort, and safety
• Methodologies for analyzing various information in the context of cities and environments
• Problem identification, analysis, application, collaboration, and presentation through transdisciplinary and comprehensive exercises and laboratory courses

Structural Courses

Students learn about the dynamic behavior and aseismic performance of building structures, as well as mechanical characteristics of materials and components. They also study static and dynamic analysis methods required for designing modern building structures, including methods of seismic response control, disaster prevention functionality, and repair design of building structures.

Urban Disaster Prevention

Students gain knowledge of natural disaster phenomena modeling and hazard assessment required for rational urban disaster preparation. They also learn about the characteristics of seismic motion and the theory of seismic waves, and utilize them for aseismic design and earthquake disaster prevention. Additionally, students learn the basics of various sensing technologies as they apply to disaster prevention.

Urban Environmental Engineering

Students study the principle of heat balance of air and ground surfaces and its relationship to comfort. They also learn about simulations to solve environmental problems, including the interior air environment, urban equipment, and the flow of wind acting on buildings and cities.

Human Environment Design

Students discuss modern topics related to the psychological interaction between humans and the environment, and learn about the practical application of human-environment research in environmental design using real-life examples.

Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, and Energy

Students learn about the urban planning systems of Japan and other countries, focusing on the formulation of regional and urban planning and transportation planning. They also study the plan formulation process, the participation of residents, and solutions to issues caused by transportation engineering in its contribution to environmental improvement, as well as energy policies.

Spatial and Planning Principles, and Theories

Students acquire a historical viewpoint of modern city planning and urban landscapes, and learn about methods of urban planning and regional planning, tourism planning, public space design, and urban development. They also consider the value of the environment through landscapes and learn about the meaning of places and life in a sustainable city.

Spatial Planning and Environmental Design

Students develop an urban design and urban development perspective, learning how to plan and design components such as architecture, cities, and landscapes, as well as methods of building consensus. They acquire the ability to plan and design based on multifaceted analyses.

Social Design and Public Systems

Students deepen their understanding of the collective action problem and various methods and approaches to overcome it, learning the paradigm for designing public systems.

Special Experiments

Students cooperate to integrate diverse knowledge in an exercise designed to cultivate problem-solving ability, and acquire investigative and analytical abilities through exercises, experiments, and field work.

Research Seminars

Research seminars and literature reviews are conducted to support students in their master's thesis research, through which students acquire skills in structuring research papers and enhance their own powers of expression.

Master's Program

The Master's Program is a 2-year program that provides students with specialized knowledge and skills in urban design and built environment. To advance to the Master's Program, applicants must pass an entrance examination.

Doctoral Program

The Doctoral Program is a 3-year program that builds on the specialized knowledge and skills acquired in the Master's Program, providing students with cutting-edge knowledge and skills related to cities and environments. To advance to the Doctoral Program, applicants must pass an advancement assessment or an entrance assessment if they are graduates from other universities.

Completion and Career Paths

Upon completion of the program, graduates can pursue various career paths, including urban design, built environment, and research positions. The program provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become international engineers or researchers in the field of urban design and built environment.