The University of Aizu

Graduation Theses

"Graduation Theses" is a required course offered for fourth-year students on a year-round basis to which eight units of academic credits are allotted. This is the only required course and offered on a year-round basis at the University. This is the most important course which integrates what students have studied at the University for four years.

Students must conduct their research on their own initiative to complete their graduation theses under thorough supervision based on individualized instruction given by relevant supervisors.

The University has obliged all students to write their graduation thesis in English since the University was established, and this is one of the reasons that individuals graduated from the University have gained a high reputation from various quarters.

Certain requirements must be fulfilled in order to initiate a graduation thesis, and due procedures must be taken for acquisition of the academic credits for this course.

1. Assignment of students to their graduation thesis supervisors

Third-year students will be assigned to their graduation thesis supervisors. Explanatory meetings are held in the second semester of their second year. After graduation theme presentations provided by faculty members, students will have interviews, etc. with their preferred faculty members and be assigned to their graduation thesis supervisors. It is important for students to be aware of what they would like to pursue from their first year and to deepen relationships with various faculty members. Students will not be assigned to their graduation thesis supervisors if they do not initiate their own activities.

2. The number of students assigned to their graduation thesis supervisors

Since supervision of graduation theses is based on individualized instruction, the maximum number of students for supervision shall be, in principle, five per supervisor.

3. Requirements for assignment to graduation thesis supervisors

Students are required to have met the following two requirements described below in order to be assigned to their graduation thesis supervisors, in principle.

• a.　Students must have been enrolled at the University for at least two years.
• b.　Credits for at least ten courses from the "Strongly Recommended Course" category have been earned.

4. Prerequisites for starting graduation theses

Students will start working on their graduation theses when they become fourth-year students as a practical matter. Prerequisites for starting graduation theses are as described below

• a.　Students must have been enrolled at the University for at least three years.
• b.　Students must be assigned to their graduation thesis supervisors.
• c.　At least one hundred academic credits for courses other than optional courses must have been earned.

If students have not fulfilled these prerequisites mentioned above, they will not be allowed to start working on their graduation theses, and graduation from the University will be postponed.

In a case where students are recognized as excellent students based on “The University of Aizu Regulation Concerning Early Graduation,” they may start their graduation theses in the second semester of their third year. (For details regarding early graduation, please refer to “11. Requirements for Graduation from the University.”)

5. Supervision of graduation theses

Third-year students will be provided with advice regarding their track registration under supervision of their supervisors, take relevant courses systematically and develop their theme of graduation thesis. They may be allowed to join fourth-year students for their instruction (seminars, etc.).

For students in their fourth year after they have fulfilled prerequisites for starting graduation theses mentioned above, supervision for their graduation theses will be officially provided. In many cases, seminars, etc. are held on a periodic basis, and interim progress report presentations will be held per laboratory in autumn. Based on a survey regarding progress of graduation theses to be conducted in October, the Academic Affairs Committee will provide warning and instructions to students who have not yet achieved desirable progress on their graduation theses.

It is advisable to register for the course, "Thesis Writing and Presentation," which is offered for the fourth-year students in the second semester, since graduation theses must be written in English.

6. Change of graduate thesis supervisors

In cases where students would like to change their graduate thesis supervisors, a designated form must be submitted to the Student Affairs Division. When new supervisors have vacancy for acceptance of more students and approval is given by both current and new supervisors, change of supervisors can be permitted upon approval of the Academic Affairs Committee.

7. Time schedule for completion of a graduation thesis

The following procedures shall be taken for completion of a graduation thesis

• Late January: Determination of a graduation thesis title and referees (other than the registered graduation thesis supervisor)
• Early February: Submission of a draft of graduation thesis by students to their supervisor
• Middle of February: Graduation thesis presentation
• Late February: Submission of a complete version of the graduation thesis (both in print and an electronic version)

8. Graduation thesis presentation

Students shall present their graduation theses on a public occasion.  Presentations of graduation theses are included in the evaluation procedures.  15 minutes is allotted per student. (10 minutes: presentation, 4 minutes: Q&A session, 1 minute: preparation, 15 minutes in total)
Presentations shall be conducted in English, in principle.
Detailed schedule regarding presentations will be notified at a later date. (Scheduled dates: February 13 and 14, 2012 for the AY 2011 Graduation Thesis Presentations)

9. Review of graduation theses

Graduation theses shall be reviewed by a relevant supervisor and one referee, two referees in total.
Ratio between weights of evaluation conducted by the supervisor and the referee is two to one.

Comprehensive evaluations will be conducted, taking into consideration the items below.

• The challenge level of a graduation thesis theme
• Quality of a thesis written in English, which is regarded as an official record, including its content and expressions.
• Student's attitude and persuasiveness during the presentation
• Precision of responses to questions
• Student' s enthusiasm and stability while they have been working on the graduation thesis

10. Submission of completed theses

A graduation thesis must be compiled in four to six pages of A4-sized paper.
It is regarded as appropriate that papers in the field of science and engineering should be briefly compiled in the volume of four to six pages like this.
Please follow the guidelines indicated in the following URL:

http://web-int.u-aizu.ac.jp/official/students/sad/stsa14_e.html

Printed theses are kept in the University Library, and electronic versions are stored in the particular directory, so that graduation theses can be read at any time.