Seminar Courses of the Graduate Department of Computer and Information Systems

1. Research Seminar I/II

• Period: Throughout the year
• Standard academic year: Research Seminar I - 1st year, Research Seminar II - 2nd year
• Required or elective: Required
• Number of credits: 2 for each course

Student Affairs Division register for Research Seminar I or II corresponding to their grade in the beginning of each Academic Year and the evaluation will be given at the end of the grade.
Students will be required to report what they did in Research Seminar I and II to the Dean of the Graduate School at the end of their grade along with the predetermined report form.
Students will be evaluated at the end of the grade by their research advisor based on research activities throughout a year, seminar activities and presentations made in their laboratory, and result of Research Plan Presentation (see below), etc.
【1-3-m08】 Report for Research Seminar I/II
PDF (*internal access only) | Word (*internal access only)

Implementation of "Research Plan Presentation"
Students are required to implement Research Plan Presentation in their 1st year and pass it. Spring enrolled students must make their presentation in the designated schedule in Q2, and fall enrolled students must make their presentation in the designated schedule in Q3.
Students will prepare a research plan for two years, make presentation on the plan, and prepare a report following the presentation. They will also participate in presentation meetings for colleague students and research progress reports by senior students as audience and ask questions regarding research plans and/or research progress reports presented. Presentations, questions and answers will be conducted in English, in principle.
Research advisors, in principle, will be at presentations made by their students and evaluate these presentations together with two other faculty members appointed as instructors for the Research Seminar.
→ Guideline for Procedure and Evaluation Method of Research Plan Presentation (*internal access only)
【1-3-m09】 Master's Thesis Research Plan
PDF (*internal access only) | Word (*internal access only)
【1-3-m10】 Report of Master's Thesis Research Plan Presentation
PDF (*internal access only) | Word (*internal access only)
【Reference】 Evaluation Form for Research Plan Presentation (*internal access only)
* Students are strongly recommended to take Effective Academic Research Presentation Seminar. It helps students to improve presentation skills, and prepare to make effective presentation in English.

Those who have been authorized for early completion of the Master's Program, or whose standard enrollment period in the Master's Program is less than two years based on inter-university agreements, are eligible to register for Special Research Seminars I and II in stead of Research Seminars I and II which are full-year courses. Students of Dual Degree Program are required to earn total of 4 credits from Special Research Seminar I (4 credits) even they are affiliated to the second year of the Master's Program. However, should those students be unable to complete the Master's Program in a period of time shorter than the academic residence requirement period, registration for special research seminars I and II shall be nullified, and registration shall be reverted to research seminars I and II. Applicants for early completion of the Master's Program upon their first-year enrollment of the Master's Program need to submit documents verifying their "outstanding achievements" by the relevant designated date. Otherwise reapplication for early completion of the Program is required for requesting early completion a half year later than the original request. Other than those mentioned above shall register for Research Seminar II, a full-year course.

2. Research Progress Report Seminar

• Period: 2nd / 3rd Quarter
• Standard academic year: 2nd year
• Required or elective: Elective
• Number of credits: 2

Students who select Research Progress Report Seminar, will register the course in the 2nd or 3rd Quarter through their Research Advisors.
Based on the research progress so far and future plans, students prepare a synopsis of the Master's Thesis and presentation materials, and make presentations after Research Advisors' check and approval of the contents in advance. Students should participate in presentation meetings of other students as audience and ask questions regarding research plans and/or progress reports presented. Presentations, questions and answers will be conducted in English. Research advisors will be at presentations made by their students and evaluate these presentations together with two other faculty members.
→ Guideline for Procedure and Evaluation Method of Research Progress Report Seminar (*internal access only) [Sample] Synopsis of the Master's Thesis
PDF (*internal access only) | Word (*internal access only)
【1-3-m12】 Report of Master's Research Progress Report Presentation
PDF (*internal access only) | Word (*internal access only) | Latex (*internal access only)
【Reference】 Evaluation Form for Research Progress Report Seminar (*internal access only)
* Students are strongly recommended to take Effective Academic Research Presentation Seminar in advance. It helps students to improve presentation skills, and prepare to make effective presentation in English.

3. Creative Factory Seminar

• Period: 2nd Quarter
• Standard academic year: 1st year and 2nd year
• Required or elective: Elective
• Number of credits: 2

Themes will be proposed from faculty members each Academic Year and factory will be held accordingly.
Students, if they select Creative Factory Seminar, will select one from the list of factories and register the course in the 2nd Quarter, following the designated procedures.
Poster Session of Creative Factory Seminar by the registered students will be held in late September and the evaluation of each factory will be made.
Students can earn academic credits of this seminar just once during their enrolement in the Master's Program.

- AY2023 Poster Session -
[Schedule] September 15 (Fri)
[Venue] Atrium, Research Quadrangles
[Abstract] AY2023Creative Factory Seminar, Abstract of each factory.pdf
[Guideline] Guideline for Poster Session2023
[Evaluation Form] Evaluation Form for the Creative Factory Seminar (*internal access only)
[Poster Format] Poster Format (*internal access only) Sample (*internal access only)
[Report] Achievement Report(word) Achievement Report(pdf)(*internal access only)
[Poster] Factory 1 - 7 (pdf)(2022) (*internal access only)
[Scenes from the AY2020 Poster Sessions] Movies (*internal access only)

4. External Presentation/Publication Seminar

• Period: Throughout the year
• Standard academic year: 1st year and 2nd year
• Required or elective: Elective
• Number of credits: 2

Achievement of students may be recognized as having earned the academic credits for this seminar by reporting following cases to the Dean of the Graduate School.

1. A submitted paper as the first author which was accepted for publication in a scientific journal.
2. A presentation of research results which was made as an oral presenter or presenter at a poster in an academic conference, a symposium, or a work shop, etc. (excluding those organized solely by the UoA)
   They do not necessarily need to be the first author of a relevant paper in this case.

In case of publication in a scientific journal or presentation at a refereed academic conference, at least one presentation, and in case of publication in a non-refereed journal or presentation at a non-refereed conference, at least two presentations will be required. In case of publications in non-refereed journals or presentations at non-refereed conferences, the substantive contents shall be different. Similar presentations/publications may be counted as one.
Students may apply for credits of this seminar based on the paper written under the supervision of faculty member of the University of Aizu and submitted before the admission to the University of Aizu Graduate School. In this case, though, the publication or oral/poster presentation must be made after the admission to the Graduate School.

In principle, multiple use of the same achievement is not permitted. Therefore, it is not possible to use the same achievement for this seminar and for the application for early completion of Master's Program and apply for both. However, the students in Honors Program Type A (4+1) is excluded.
*In the case of other courses that students are required to present and publish their work as part of the course, credit for the course and for the external presentation seminar will not be granted in duplicate.

When reporting, students will first prepare the "Report for External Presentation/Publication Seminar" and submit this form together with information of relevant journals or conferences (a title page of the journal, a "Call-for-Paper" announcement and a conference/meeting program, etc.), a letter of acceptance (for refereed papers), a copy of the paper published, materials used for presentation (slides, etc.). Limited to refereed journal papers, students can apply for the academic credits prior to publication of relevant papers if they submit a letter of acceptance of the paper.
Application for recognition of academic credits for the above mentioned publication/presentation will be accepted at any time. Earning of these academic credits will become official as of the date of finalization of academic grades for the quarter when these academic credits were authorized by the Graduate School Academic Affairs Committee. The academic grade for all applicants recognized as having earned academic credits in this manner will be "A." Students are not required to register for the course by themselves.
Students can earn academic credits in this manner just once during their enrollment in the Master's Program.
【1-3-m14】 Report for External Presentation/Publication Seminar PDF (*internal access only) | Word (*internal access only)

Advance application for recognition of academic credits for external presentations will be accepted only if the applicant satisfies the following conditions:
- Acquisition of academic credits from this seminar course is critical for the applicant to undergo the judgment regarding authorization for completion of the Master's Program;
- The said external presentation will actually take place before the judgment regarding authorization for completion of the Master's Program is conducted; and
- The applicant can prepare the above-mentioned form, "Report for External Presentation/Publication Seminar" (1-3-m14), after his/her presentation. Applicants are required to prepare "Advance Application for External Presentation/Publication Seminar" (1-3-m13) and submit this form along with other evidence for the date and contents of their presentations, for example, a presentation program or a certificate of registration. In addition, these applicants, immediately following completion of their presentations, must submit the "Report for External Presentation/Publication Seminar" (1-3-m14).
【1-3-m13】 Advance Application for External Presentation/Publication Seminar PDF (*internal access only) | Word (*internal access only)

5. Research Paper Writing

• Period: Q3-Q4
• Standard academic year: 1st and 2nd year
• Required or elective: Elective
• Number of credits: 2

This provides general ways and skills of writing research papers to be accepted from the major journals.
Students, if they select Research Paper Writing, will register the course during the registration period for Quarter 3.
This will be held once a month and be arranged based upon coordination of instructors' and students' schedules.
Students will be evaluated at the end of Quarter 4. Please refer the syllabus for the details.

6. ICT Global Venture Laboratory

• Period: Throughout the year
• Standard academic year: 1st and 2nd year
• Required or elective: Elective
• Number of credits: 2

This seminar provides opportunities to learn about global business from CEOs and engineers of the Silicon Valley, and students can gain the basic knowledge necessary for starting up global ventures in advanced ICT field.
This seminar is also collaborating with the Silicon Valley Internship Program. Registered students are strongly recommended to participate in this program for two weeks in conjunction with the seminar.
Students will be evaluated at the end of Quarter 4. Please refer the syllabus for the details.

7. Effective Academic Research Presentation Seminar

• Period: 4th Quarter
• Standard academic year: 1st and 2nd year
• Required or elective: Elective
• Number of credits: 2

Students will learn how to prepare effective presentation materials and deliver speeches. This course will help students to improve their skills in making presentation in English. Just as other regular courses in Quarter 4, students register this seminar during the designated registration period through the administration system. Please check the time schedule and the class room for Q4 on the web below. Students will be evaluated at the end of Quarter 4. Please refer the syllabus for the details.