Astonishing advancements in scientific technology continue to
support the development of human civilization. Basic chemistry
has played an important role in recent technological innovations,
and new materials developed through chemistry research are now
in use as commercial applications. Scientists of chemistry study
chemical phenomena at the molecular and electron level in order
to find the universal rules of the natural world, and these basic
research activities lead to the formulation of new chemical compounds,
solutions to environmental and energy issues, and an understanding
of life phenomena at the molecular level. Chemistry will become
increasingly important in scientific developments of this century.
Many graduates of the Chemistry Major continue their research
in graduate schools, and later on at university research centers,
national institutions, and private laboratories. At the College
of Natural Sciences, Chemistry Major students are trained in
the basic knowledge and skills required to succeed as researchers
in the international community.
In Year 1, students will take the common basic subjects and
specialized basic subjects designed for all College of Natural
Science students. In Year 2, classes in Inorganic Chemistry,
Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Quantum Chemistry,
Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry will provide more specialized
teaching and experiments in basic chemistry. In Year 3, there
will be a range of specialist subjects so students can focus
on a specific field within chemistry. |
 |
In class
|
|
Students will be spending more time on experiments. Experiments
in Inorganic/Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Organic
Chemistry are compulsory, and these will take up three afternoons
per week, training students in the experimental skills required
for research. In Years 2 and 3, students read research papers
in English in courses such as Basic English in Chemistry and
Advanced Reading of Foreign Literature in Chemistry, using materials
both in basic chemistry and their selected field within chemistry.
This helps prepare the student for the final graduation research
project, which will require English academic reading.
The main focus in Year 4 is the graduation research project.
The Chemistry Major is divided into the fields of inorganic chemistry,
inorganic physical chemistry, inorganic biochemistry, coordination
chemistry, physical chemistry, organic physical chemistry, supramolecular
chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, structural organic chemistry,
bioorganic chemistry, environmental chemistry, functional organic
chemistry, and nuclear and radiochemical sciences, each conducting
basic research in material structure, properties, reactions,
and composition, as well as developing wide perspectives through
interdisciplinary research. Each student joins a research laboratory
according to the planned research topic, receiving one-to-one
tutoring to complete the graduation thesis. Undergraduates will
be encouraged by the lively research environment that involves
not only faculty but also graduate students and researchers from
Japanese and overseas institutions. By presenting their research
results at laboratory seminars, the thesis presentation, and
at the Chemical Society of Japan, you will be taking your first
steps as a chemistry scientist. |
 |
Graduation thesis research
|
|
