Curriculum Overview
履修概要
Curriculum Overview
01Academic SupervisorShow less
OSIPP students select a supervisor based on their research interests to receive guidance and advice on their thesis preparation, daily learning, and research activities. Students may choose a supervisor from the entire OSIPP full-time faculty, regardless of their specific major (International Public Policy or Comparative Public Policy). (Please note that specially appointed faculty, visiting faculty, guest faculty, and part-time lecturers cannot serve as supervisors.)
To enhance research guidance, a dual-supervisor system—including a sub-supervisor—is implemented for Doctoral students and second-year Master’s students working seriously on their Master’s theses. Sub-supervisors are assigned starting from the second year for both the Master’s and Doctoral programs. In principle, the sub-supervisor serves as a sub-examiner on the thesis committee and acts as a proxy in the event the primary supervisor is unavailable.
02Degree RequirementsShow less
Master’s Program (Master of International Public Policy) To be awarded the Master of International Public Policy degree, students must generally complete at least 30 credits from lectures, seminars, and project seminars. In addition to fulfilling the credit requirements and receiving the necessary research guidance, students must submit a Master’s thesis. The degree is conferred upon those who pass the thesis review and a final oral examination covering the thesis and related academic fields.
While the standard duration for the Doctoral program is three years, students who demonstrate exceptional research achievements may be eligible to earn their degree in as little as one year or more through our Early Completion Program. OSIPP has a proven track record of ambitious students successfully obtaining their doctorates in just one or two years.o earn a doctoral degree, students must generally earn at least 8 credits from advanced research and project seminars, receive required research guidance, and submit a Doctoral dissertation. After passing the dissertation review and an oral examination, students are awarded one of the following degrees based on their research focus:Doctor of International Public Policy,Doctor of Laws,Doctor of Economics
While the standard duration for the Doctoral program is three years, students who demonstrate exceptional research achievements may be eligible to earn their degree in as little as one year or more through our Early Completion Program. OSIPP has a proven track record of ambitious students successfully obtaining their doctorates in just one or two years.
03Course OfferingShow less
Courses at OSIPP are generally conducted on a semester-based system, though some are offered as intensive sessions during long vacations or on a bi-weekly, year-round basis. The curriculum includes traditional lectures, discussion-oriented seminars, and project seminars designed to advance specific research initiatives. While most subjects consist of 2 credits, some 1-credit or 4-credit courses are also available.
To accommodate the needs of working professionals, OSIPP provides various flexible learning options, including online classes, weekend sessions, and intensive courses during academic breaks. However, it is important to note that students in the Master’s program must typically attend daytime classes on weekdays to fulfill their credit requirements within the standard two-year period.
Course Registration
- Online Registration: Each semester, after consulting with your main and sub-advisors, please complete your course registration online via KOAN (Academic Affairs Information System).
- Document Submission: You must submit a Registration Check Sheet to the Educational Affairs Section through your advisor by the specified deadline.
- Required Forms: When submitting the Check Sheet, you must also include the Registration Confirmation Sheet. For details, please refer to page 7 of the “KOAN User Manual.”
- Mandatory Reporting: Even if you do not plan to register for any courses this semester, you are still required to submit the Registration Check Sheet.
- Notifications: Registration periods and submission deadlines will be announced via email.
- Instructions: For specific system operations, please consult the KOAN User Manual.
- Credit Limits: The annual registration limit is 32 credits (including intensive courses). To ensure effective learning without an excessive workload, it is recommended to register for no more than 16 credits per term (Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter).
Important Notices for Course Registration
- Strict Deadlines: No additions or deletions can be made once the registration period has ended. Please strictly adhere to the designated dates. To avoid potential server delays due to high traffic across the University of Osaka toward the end of the period, please complete your registration well in advance.
- Graduation Requirements: Please check the “Precautions for Course Registration” in the Course Handbook for the number of credits required to complete each program. For the Master’s program, also refer to “Requirements for Completion and Coursework for the OSIPP Master’s Program.”
- Courses Offered by Other Faculties: Registration for courses at other departments follows a university-wide schedule regardless of OSIPP’s specific deadlines. Please note that these are often processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Courses at Other Universities (Kobe University and Kyoto University): To register for these, you must submit an “Application for Courses at Other Graduate Schools.” Please be aware that the registration period for these courses differs from the standard KOAN registration period (Deadline: as mentioned above).
- Transfer of Credits from Other Graduate Schools: Credits earned from other research schools can be counted toward OSIPP graduation requirements. For details, please review the “Course Registration Form” section below and complete the necessary procedures.
- Exceptions for Credit Limits: If you are a Leading Program student exceeding the credit limit or encounter other issues preventing registration via KOAN, please submit a “Course Registration Form” to the Educational Affairs Section and your academic advisor.
- Concurrent Courses (*): Since undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctoral programs use different timetable codes for the same courses, ensure you register using the code assigned to your specific program.
- Research Seminars I & II: These courses are available only to 2nd-year Master’s students. You must register for the seminar led by your own academic advisor. While Research Seminars are not compulsory, you cannot receive credit unless you register through KOAN.
AY Course Timetable
Master’s Program
Doctoral Program
※Please be sure to check the KOAN bulletin board and other official notices, as lecture rooms and class times are subject to change.
List of Course Offerings for AY 2025
Master’s Program
Doctoral Program
Announcements regarding new courses offered after April 1st and the finalized schedules for courses with previously undetermined dates will be posted on the KOAN bulletin board.
※Information regarding KOAN will be updated as needed. Please check regularly for the latest details.
Long-term Completion System
The Graduate School of International Public Policy (OSIPP) introduced a “Long-term Completion System” in Academic Year 2011. This system allows graduate students who have professional or other commitments to systematically complete their curriculum over a fixed period exceeding the standard term of study. For further details, please refer to the information below and contact the Educational Affairs Section.