Education
Undergraduate students
Proficiency in the Japanese competence is a critical prerequisite for enrollment and the admission test and classes are provided in Japanese. For information about our education, see Japanese pages.
Diploma Policy and Curriculum Organization and Implementation Policies
Physics Laboratories Pamphlet (7.7 MB)
Courses in the Department of Physics
<Courses>
- 1st year:
Mechanics I and II, Introduction to Physics and Mathematics, Introduction to Physics Experiments - 2nd year:
Electromagnetism I and II, Analytical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics I, Physical Mathematics I and II, Thermal Physics - 3rd year:
Quantum Mechanics II and III, Introduction to Continuum Mechanics, Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics I and II, Physical Information Processing, Optics, Introduction to Modern Physics, Statistical Mechanics I and II, Special Theory of Relativity, Astrophysics, Computational Physics, Nuclear and Elementary Particles - 4th year:
General Relativity, Atomic Physics, Nuclear Physics, Condensed Matter Physics I and II, Particle Physics
<Exercises, experiments, and seminars>
Physics Exercises I to V, Physics and Mathematics Exercises, Thermal Physics Exercises, Physics Experiments I to III, Physics Seminar, External Experience in Physics
<Courses outside of the Department of Physics>
- Liberal arts courses (1st and 2nd year), language, general education, basic natural science courses
- Courses and exercises required for teaching and curatorial qualifications (1st to 3rd year)
<Graduation research (4th year)>
Selected Research in Physics I and II
Distinctive coursework
In the 1st-year Physics Seminar and 3rd-year Introduction to Modern Physics course, instructors take turns lecturing on a variety of topics, allowing students to experience physics in their “freshest” form. Another feature of the Department of Physics is that 3rd- or 4th-year students take some graduate school courses and earn credits accordingly.
English education
The Department of Physics also stresses scientific English education to produce human resources capable of succeeding on the global stage. Courses on elementary mechanics are provided in English, with the aim being to stress learning of practical scientific English.
Deciding on a career path
Students entering the fourth year must decide on what they will do next. Depending on their desired career paths, some students may take TMU’s graduate school entrance exam (students who perform well the first three years are exempted from the written exam) while others may seek to enter the workforce or choose to receive educational training or museum training.
Acquiring qualifications upon graduation
Students in the Department of Physics can obtain a curator’s qualification, a Type 1 Junior High School Teacher’s Certificate (elementary science), or a Type 1 High School Teacher’s Certificate (elementary science) by earning the required credits. Until recently, the atmosphere surrounding teacher employment examinations had been gloomy, but there are now signs of a gradual recovery. The Department of Physics has been supplying society with newly minted junior high and high school teachers every year since 2004.
After graduation
Modern natural science is advancing at a remarkable pace, and the amount of knowledge that must be acquired to keep up is rapidly increasing. This leads many graduates to choose to go on to graduate school. Of the 43 students who graduated from the Department of Physics in March 2019, 33 went on to graduate school (including 26 who did so at Tokyo Metropolitan University), while 10 are employed by private companies or government agencies
Graduate school students
Classes and seminars will be conducted in English upon request, thereby helping students who do not speak Japanese to complete the course. Additionally, various support programs are offered to foreign students, and student exchange programs are available to international and Japanese students.
Diploma Policy and Curriculum Organization and Implementation Policies
Courses in the Department of Physics
The Department of Physics cultivates strong research skills through advanced, cutting-edge research. It provides 40 courses on a variety of subjects, eleven of which are shared with the Department of Chemistry. On top of these are research and seminars conducted within the laboratories. Students must acquire the necessary credits and submit a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation to graduate.
English education
The Department of Physics also stresses scientific English education to produce human resources capable of succeeding on the global stage. Among its courses is “English for Science” (1 credit), which presents general points on reading and writing English, rules specific to scientific English, and other matters that students should remember. It also provides time for actual English writing exercises.
In addition, the department provides general English courses as well as courses on communication, presentation, and paper writing to science students through a project called the English Laboratory. In addition, it actively supports students who are looking overseas. It offers a program designed to give students experience with overseas internships as well as a financial support system for students sent abroad.
Cross-Disciplinary Graduate School Program
The Cross-Disciplinary Graduate School Program was launched in the 2018 academic year for Master’s Program students engaged in advanced, cutting-edge research. Students take courses in this program while remaining based in the courses in their majors. In doing so, they aim to broaden their research perspectives and strengthen their application skills while also enhancing their research skills in their majors. Click here for more information.
Education Reform Promotion Project
The Department of Physics is implementing its own graduate school education program titled “Globalizing Graduate School Education in Physics” as an undertaking to promote science education reform in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering. Its aims are to educate graduate students with a broad perspective who can succeed on the global stage, to encourage students to continue to doctoral programs, and to develop graduate students’ planning skills. Click here for more information.
Acquiring qualifications upon graduation
Students who acquire the necessary undergraduate credits while enrolled as graduate students can obtain a curator’s qualification, a Type 1 Junior High School Teacher’s Certificate (elementary science), or a Type 1 High School Teacher’s Certificate (elementary science) by earning the required credits. Until recently, the atmosphere surrounding teacher employment examinations had been gloomy, but there are now signs of a gradual recovery. The Department of Physics has been supplying society with newly minted junior high and high school teachers every year since 2004.
After graduation
Physics plays an important role in all areas of society, and therefore Master’s Program graduates are applying their expertise in a variety of occupations. Those who completed the Doctoral Program are active as research leaders in universities and other public institutions as well as the private sector. Of the 34 students who graduated from the Master’s Program in March 2019, 12 went on to enter a doctoral program while 22 are employed by private companies or government agencies.