The professional degree program offered under the School of Public Health is designed to develop multifaceted professionals who will pursue a career in public health, medicine or welfare. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to detect, evaluate, analyze and problem-solve the many public health issues that threaten the health of society’s key component—the individual. To develop fully capable professionals, we offer a curriculum based on comprehensive instruction in the fundamental subjects, training to apply acquired knowledge to real-world situations, and hands-on training. Instruction in the “fundamental subjects” implies the core principles (epidemiology, medical statistics, environmental science, administration/management, and social science) of science that all experts hold as common ground in the field of Public Health. For graduates with no background in medicine, we provide extensive training in subjects covering basic and clinical medical subjects. In addition to providing instruction on the fundamental principles of medicine, we offer “applied learning” which comes in the form of diverse electives and includes everything from courses in the frontier medical sciences to human social sciences. In terms of “practical training,” every student is assigned a topic for a subjective study. Under this segment of training, students will plan a project, evaluate the ethical considerations, conduct experiments and present their findings in the same fashion as professional researchers.

To augment the traditional, systematic coursework and curricula, the School of Public Health established three special training courses to develop professionals in highly technical fields.

This is a combined program composed by the Genetic Counseling and Clinical Research Units. In either unit, the mission is to train genetic counselors and clinical research coordinators who are intellectually capable, well-versed, and can lead future initiatives in frontier medicine. Graduates will serve as an interface between novel medical/therapeutic techniques, and their beneficiaries (patients, families, and research subjects). Through a combination of traditional classroom instruction and practical training, graduates of the Genetic Counseling and Clinical Research Units will have acquired the knowledge and skills required to successfully negotiate the Certified Genetic Counselor examination and Clinical Coordinator certification examination (administered by the Japan Clinical Pharmacology Association), respectively.

The doctoral (PhD) degree program offered under the School of Public Health is designed to provide training in all essential subject areas and technical skills, and strengthens the mental fortitude of degree candidates who seek a future in Public Health. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to detect, evaluate, analyze and problem-solve the many public health issues that threaten the health of society’s key component—the individual. The expectations that society has of Public Health professionals are high. Therefore, the PhD curriculum is content in offering advanced education and training initiatives in public health that will make its graduates competitive on the global arena. PhD candidates who did not complete the professional degree program offered at the Kyoto University School of Public Health, are obligated to complete coursework in the core subject areas (epidemiology, medical statistics, environmental science, administration/management, and social science). PhD candidates with no background in medicine will also be required to complete courses in basic medicine and clinical medicine in order to ensure the high standard of quality that graduates of Kyoto University are synonymous for.

Candidates applying for a professional degree under the Public Health program must receive 2+ years of training, and complete at least 30 units in subject courses (in addition to completing subjective studies). Those enrolled under the “special course” must meet additional requirements regarding compulsory courses. The topic of the subjective study shall be determined by—and executed at—the laboratory in which the candidate resides. Subjective studies will mold a solid concept of research in degree candidates via intensive first-hand training in establishing research protocols, data acquisition and analysis, and interpreting the results of a study. In addition to completing the required coursework and subjective study, candidates must pass an oral thesis defense in order to be conferred upon the professional degree in Public Health.

Candidates under the Public Health PhD program must be enrolled and receive training for a period of 3+ years, in which time candidates will be responsible for completing required coursework. The minimum amount of coursework units required for graduation depends upon a candidate’s academic background. Holders of professional degrees awarded in Public Health by Kyoto University need only complete 6 units of coursework. For graduates of institutions other than Kyoto University: those awarded degrees in subjects related to Medicine must complete 13 or more units, and those awarded degrees in non-medical subject areas must complete 19 or more units. Additionally, PhD candidates must have a manuscript published (as the first author) in a peer-reviewed international scientific journal of prominent standing and are required to undergo an oral thesis defense on the candidate’s published work prior to being awarded the PhD degree.