Getting degrees in the Department of Policy and Planning Sciences

In the U.S. and Europe, "policy and planning" schools and departments are designed to train executives, mostly of government departments, but also NGOs and businesses. The focus is on strategy and negotiation.

However, the University of Tsukuba's DPPS is better characterized by the literal translation of the Japanese name, "social engineering". The skills we teach and emphasize are

  1. Statistical analysis of data about groups.
  2. Optimization of plans.
  3. Simulation of social interactions.

In graduate school, most of your effort goes to writing a thesis. In order to be admitted by the faculty, your thesis needs to exhibit at least one of these skills, and advance the practice of that skill in an original way.

Master's Degrees in Policy and Planning Science and in Service Engineering

The master's degree requires

  1. 24 credits of lecture/laboratory class work.

  2. 8 credits evaluated on zemi attendance and presentations.

  3. A thesis approved by a committee of three DPPS faculty (usually), who are (normally) the same as the AG.

    1. The degree in policy and planning science is generally on a theme related to analysis.
    2. The degree in service engineering generally requires cooperation with an external entity, a firm or government office, in a consulting-like relationship.

    Neither degree requires publication of papers in professional journals.

Doctoral Degree in Policy and Planning Science

The doctoral degree requires

  1. 8 credits evaluated on zemi attendance and presentations

  2. A thesis approved by a committee of at least five faculty, including at least one non-DPPS faculty and one DPPS faculty not in the AG.

    The thesis must generate papers published (official letter of acceptance, not necessarily actually appeared) in refereed professional journals.