FOREST SCIENCE TOP
Among the principal educational features of the two majors involving forest science at the Faculty of Agriculture are their emphasis on field-based experience through practical training and survey work and their interdisciplinary and multilateral approach. We are seeking motivated students who, together with their peers, will try to learn humbly from the forests and local villagers through trial and error in the field and in the laboratory.
Educational Objectives of the Majors
Major in Forest Life Science: Based on socio-economic, engineering, and biological knowledge of forest ecosystem management, the program is engaged in teaching and research on topics such as the physiological and ecological characteristics and interrelationships of the plants, animals, and microorganisms that make up forest ecosystems, as well as the uses of environmental restoration. We are training researchers and other personnel who will go on to play active roles across a wide range of careers-in both government agencies and private enterprises-as experts who will respond to academic and social requirements for enjoying the benefits of forest ecosystems in the future.
Major in Forest Environmental and Resource Science: Based on socio-economic, engineering, and biological knowledge of forest ecosystem management, the program is engaged in teaching and research on topics such as the environmental formation function of forests, the utilization of the forest environment, and the sustainable use of forest resources, as well as the design of related institutions. We are training researchers and other personnel who will go on to play active roles across a wide range of careers-in both government agencies and private enterprises-as experts who will respond to academic and social requirements for enjoying the benefits of forest ecosystems in the future.
Curriculum
Course subjects and curriculums for both majors from the A1 term in Year 2 in the College of Arts and Sciences are as shown in the table below. Students need to acquire a total of 76 credits to graduate, of which 18 or more in the A1 and A2 terms in Year 2 from the College of Arts and Sciences (Agricultural General Subjects, Agricultural Basic Subjects, and Agricultural Literacy), and 24 or more from course-specialized subjects are compulsory credits.
In undergraduate teaching, focus is placed primarily on broad-based learning about forests and forestry and the understanding of the overall picture of forest science. For this reason, a feature of learning the overall picture is that the basic lectures deemed necessary for both of the two majors are set as course-specialized subjects and the experimental and practical training that correspond to these are set as major-specialized subjects, with both types of subject set as compulsory electives.
Perhaps the most significant feature of forest science education is that it incorporates extended periods of practical training in university forests in different areas, as well as other woodlands. This allows students to deepen their understanding of lecture material and master concepts that they would not be able to learn in the classroom.
Also, in both majors, a senior thesis is incorporated as a compulsory dissertation, and from the autumn term of Year 3, students can select one research lab in the Department of Forest Science from which to receive thesis supervision. In principle, students are able to choose labs according to their interest, regardless of their chosen major.
Curriculum
Years Course and major
subject types
Forest Life Science Forest Environmental and Resource Science Credits required
2nd year:
A1 and A2

Electives

Agricultural General Subjects

Population and Food^Global Ecosystem and Human Being
Soilsphere Science^Environmental Science of Water
Environment and Landscape^Biological Diversity and Evolution
Information Technology in Biology and Environmental Science
Diversity and Biological Functions of Chemical Compounds I
Diversity and Biological Functions of Chemical Compounds II
Introduction to Biomass Utilization
Outline of Forest Resources and Wood Utilization
Food Safety Sciences^Radioecology

Between 16 and 22 (including 4 or more Agricultural General Subjects; and 6 or more Agricultural Basic Subjects including 2 compulsory electives)

Agricultural Basic Subject

Basic Organic Chemistry^Basic Analytical Chemistry
Basic Microbiology^Molecular Biology^Basic Biological Chemistry
Biostatistics^Plant Physiology^Cell Biology^Genetics
Plant Morphology and Systematics^Entomology
Animal Taxonomy
Introduction to Wood Science and Timber Engineering
Elementary Fluid Mechanics^Information Technology
Basic Polymer Chemistry^Basic Physical Chemistry
Introduction to Agricultural and Resource Economics
Introduction of Agricultural History^Microeconomics
Animal Physiology^Animal Resource Sciences

Compulsory Electives

Animal Ecology^Plant Ecology^General Forest Environmental Science

Compulsory

Agricultural Common Subject

Literacy on Agricultural Studies

3 or more including 2 compulsory credits

3rd and 4th years

Compulsory Electives

Ethics for Agricultural Sciences: Environmental Ethics
Ethics for Agricultural Sciences: Bioethics
Ethics for Agricultural Sciences: Engineering Ethics

Course-Specialized Subject

Forest Management^Silviculture^Forest Policy
Environmental Biophysics^Forest Utilization
Forest Botany^Forest Zoology^Forest Landscape Planning

12 or more

Major-Specialized Subject

Training for Forest Science Basics I
Training for Forest Science Basics II
Training for Forest Science Basics III
Training for Forest Science Basics IV

6 or more

Electives

Course-Specialized Subject

Forest Soil Science^Forest Genetic Breeding^Forest Ecology
Forest Hydrology^Dendrology^Nature Conservation
Asian Natural Environmental Science
Forest Ecosystem Science and Management
An introduction to Natural Environmental Studies

24 or more in combination with compulsory electives

Forest Ecophysiology
Forest Health
Population Genetics
Wild-life Management

Forest Remote Sensing
Forest Mensuration
Forest Valuation
Forest Environmental Economics
Forest Resources Economics
Forest Sociology
International Forestry
Erosion Control Engineering
Forest Civil Engineering
Forest Engineering
Landscape Analysis
Recreation Planning

Major-Specialized Subject

Practice in Forest Management^Experiments in Forest Soil Science
Seminar in Forest Policy^Practice in Forest Utilization
Practice in Forest Landscape Planning
Experiments in Forest Life Science
General Practice in Forest Science

10 or more in combination with compulsory electives

Agricultural Development Subject

Food and Human Health Sciences
Seminar on Food and Health Industries and Sciences
Topics in Biomass Utilization Research
Introduction to Biological Sequence Analysis^Introduction to Genome Informatics
Introduction to Biostatistics^Introduction to Structural Bioinformatics
Food Creation Sciences^Frontier Life Science^Statistics for Ecology
Science Communication^Seminar in Science Communication
Training in Nature Restoration Operation Monitoring
Mathematical Sciences in Agriculture
One Earthology I^One Earthology II^One Earthology III

 

4th year

Compulsory

Major-Specialized Subject

Graduation Thesis

8

NB) Subjects other than the Graduation Thesis may correspond to either 1 or 2 credits

Learning:
Once students have chosen their majors, they will begin taking specialized subjects in the Faculty of Agriculture from the A1 term of the 2nd year of the College of Arts and Sciences. Full-scale lectures and training exercises begin in the 3rd year. In particular, the many field training exercises conducted in the University of Tokyo Forests are a curriculum aspect that can only be enjoyed in the Forest Science Program. Practical training involves a substantial range of activities, including the perspiration-inducing work of collecting specimens. Once the work is over, evenings turn spontaneously to convivial gatherings where fellow students and members of the faculty can engage in pleasant discussion. Furthermore, in the case of practical training in the summer program, many students incorporate their own travel plans either before or afterwards, so that these experiences in the field become cherished memories after graduation.
Deciding on a Laboratory:
By the autumn term of the 3rd year, after selecting a laboratory from which to receive supervision for their senior thesis, students will begin carrying out more specialized research in line with their personal interests. The laboratories offer opportunities not only for surveys and experiments but also for learning about a variety of subjects, including society and life, in discussions with senior peers and faculty members.
Extracurricular Activities:
Events held by the University of Tokyo Forest Science Association (an organization made up of students and faculty members associated with the Forest Science Program) include a softball tournament organized every autumn. Also, a ski instruction course is offered over the winter during which participants can build camaraderie with fellow students while working to improve their skiing techniques. Other events include the University of Tokyo May Festival and a garden-plant market.
Event calendar
Years Month Event Practical training
2nd year

9

Choice of major
Orientation

 

3rd year

4
5
6
7
8

9

11

 

2

Welcome party, Orientation
May festival
Research exchange meeting

 

Softball tournament

Deciding on a laboratory

 

Ski instruction course

 

Training for Forest Science Basics I (Chiba)
Training for Forest Science Basics III (Chichibu)
Training for Forest Science Basics IV (Aichi, Fuji, Gunma Pref.)
Practice in Forest Utilization (Gunma Pref.)
Experiments in Forest Soil Science (Chichibu)
General Practice in Forest Science (Hokkaido)
Practice in Forest Landscape Planning (national park)
Seminar in Forest Policy (Fuji)

4th year

5
6
8
9
2

3

May festival
Student application guidance of graduate school
Research exchange meeting
Entrance exam of graduate school
Softball tournament
Submission and presentation ofsenior theses
Ski instruction course
Graduation ceremony

Practice in Forest Management (Chiba)

¨About Graduate Program

¨Graduation and Graduate Career Options

@Department of Forest Science, The University of Tokyo