Three policies of Yokohama University of Pharmacy

Article 1 of the Yokohama University of Pharmacy Regulations stipulates that "In compliance with the Constitution of Japan, the Basic Act on Education and the School Education Act, and under the educational philosophy based on the founding motto, 'Reach your fullest potential in life through personal development,' Yokohama University of Pharmacy sets forth the following educational purposes, with the aim of fulfilling its mission to contribute to academic progress and human welfare:

  1. To confer students with a broad range of knowledge, and conduct in-depth research and education on academic topics related to pharmacy
  2. To train pharmacists with practical clinical skills and a deep sense of humanity
  3. To nurture researchers and technical experts with pharmaceutical expertise and skills and the ability to contribute to drug discovery and development"

In order to achieve these purposes and mission, the university has established the following three policies based on the educational principle.

Admission policy

Yokohama University of Pharmacy conducts in-depth research and education on academic topics related to pharmacy, focusing in particular on specialized pharmaceutical studies, under its educational philosophy based on the founding motto, "Reach your fullest potential in life through personal development," with the aim of nurturing pharmacists with the ability to contribute to "tailor-made medical care" coupled with "sokuin no kokoro," or the ability to understand the suffering of others, and of developing human resources with a deep sense of humanity and ethics, and an international mindset. Accordingly, we assess applicants' personal qualities and willingness shown below in addition to academic performance in the entrance examination.
Medical care based on "sokuin no kokoro" has three phases: First, helping people maintain good health and prevent diseases. Second, treating diseases at an early stage by making the most of natural resources. Finally, treating diseases using human innovation and cutting-edge medical technology. To cater to the respective needs of these three phases, Yokohama University of Pharmacy established three departments, the Department of Health Pharmacy, the Department of Kampo Pharmacy, and the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, and accepts students who are motivated to contribute to tailor-made medical care in various ways and have the following:

  1. An understanding of the founding motto of Yokohama University of Pharmacy, "Reach your fullest potential in life through personal development" and passion to contribute to medical care as a pharmacist in the future
  2. An interest in human health and appropriate use of drugs, and a strong desire to work in the medical and healthcare field
  3. A firm determination and desire to study pharmacy
  4. The personal qualities specified for each of the departments shown below in addition to the above

Department of
Health Pharmacy

An interest in maintaining and promoting human health based on exercise and healthy eating, and willingness to contribute to community medicine and preventive medical care

Department of
Kampo Pharmacy

An interest in learning kampo pharmacy and willingness to practice kampo medication to contribute to medical care

Department of
Clinical Pharmacy

An interest in working as a team to apply specialized drug therapy and meet the specific needs of individual patients

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences aims to nurture researchers and technical experts with pharmaceutical expertise and skills, and thus seeks students with a desire to contribute to society by protecting human health. In line with the educational philosophy and goals based on the founding motto, we assess applicants' personal qualities and willingness shown below in addition to academic performance in the entrance examination:

  1. An understanding of the founding motto of Yokohama University of Pharmacy, "Reach your fullest potential in life through personal development" and a desire to play an active role globally in pharmaceutical research
  2. A desire to contribute to protecting human health and willingness to acquire specialized knowledge
  3. A strong sense of independence, strong motivation toward study and research, and a desire to play an active role in cutting-edge medical care both domestically and globally as a pharmaceutical researcher
  4. An interest in developing new methodologies by identifying and solving problems through logical thinking on one's own

Curriculum policy

Yokohama University of Pharmacy conducts in-depth research and education on academic topics related to pharmacy, focusing in particular on specialized pharmaceutical studies, under its educational philosophy based on the founding motto, "Reach your fullest potential in life through personal development" with the aim of developing human resources (pharmacists, researchers and technical experts) with the ability to contribute to "tailor-made medical care" coupled with "sokuin no kokoro," or the ability to understand the suffering of others, as well as a deep sense of humanity and ethics, and an international mindset. Accordingly, students of each department are educated under a curriculum designed specific to the departments shown below, while studying subjects common to all the departments.

In our six-year consecutive education program, which is designed according to the Model Core Curriculum for Pharmacy Education, students study fundamental subjects including introductory subjects, liberal arts subjects and hands-on subjects in their earlier years at the university and then advance to a higher level of pharmaceutical study as the year progresses. Each of the departments educates students under its own specialized curriculum in pharmacy, in addition to offering practical training at hospitals and pharmacies, graduation research guidance, and project-based learning subjects to help students develop the ability to identify and solve problems on their own and improve themselves, as well as communication skills. Academic performance of students is fairly evaluated using diverse methods according to the nature of each subject. The objective of the curriculum of each department is outlined below.

Department of
Health Pharmacy

To confer students with advanced knowledge and skills in preventive medical care, food science, health science and environmental science, and train them as pharmacists with an understanding of the importance of maintaining and promoting human health based on exercise and healthy eating, and the ability to contribute to community medicine and preventive medical care, thereby meeting the demands of society faced with aging of the population and an increase in chronic and intractable diseases.

Department of
Kampo Pharmacy

To teach students specialized subjects in drug discovery and kampo pharmacy in addition to conventionally-taught fundamental and advanced subjects in pharmacy, in line with the progress of drug discovery science and technology, and train them as pharmacists with: the eagerness to conduct drug discovery research necessary for disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment; expertise in kampo pharmacy; and the ability to practice kampo medication to contribute to medical care, thereby meeting the demands of society.

Department of
Clinical Pharmacy

To educate students on the appropriate use of drugs and drug therapy, as well as a broad range of knowledge, information, medical ethics, and teamwork skills necessary for clinical workers, while making them aware of the importance of their study and making them recognize the responsibilities and attitudes required for medical professionals, thereby nurturing pharmacists with the ability to work as a team, meet the specific needs of individual patients, and adequately address clinical requirements.

In the four-year Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, students study fundamental subjects including introductory subjects, liberal arts subjects, and hands-on subjects in their earlier years at the university and then advance to a higher level of pharmaceutical study as the year progresses. The four-year course offers practical training to train students as researchers or technical experts, along with graduation research guidance and project-based learning subjects, thereby helping them develop the ability to identify and solve problems on their own and improve themselves, as well as communication skills. In doing so, the course aims to develop high-caliber professionals.
Academic performance of students is fairly evaluated using diverse methods according to the nature of each subject.
With its curriculum, the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences offers specialized pharmacy education to nurture researchers and technical experts with the ability to conduct drug discovery research necessary to ensure the efficacy and safety of pharmaceutical products, and develop innovative medical technologies in the fields of regenerative medicine and gene therapy in line with the progress of medical and pharmaceutical science and technology, thereby meeting the demands of society.

Diploma policy

Yokohama University of Pharmacy conducts in-depth research and education on academic topics related to pharmacy, focusing in particular on specialized pharmaceutical studies, under its educational philosophy based on the founding motto, "Reach your fullest potential in life through personal development," with the aim of developing human resources (pharmacists, researchers and technical experts) with the ability to contribute to "tailor-made medical care" coupled with "sokuin no kokoro," or the ability to understand the suffering of others, as well as a deep sense of humanity and ethics, and an international mindset. According to the diploma policy of each department, we authorize graduation to and confer a degree on students who have met the following requirements.

We authorize graduation to and confer a bachelor's degree in pharmacy on students who have: enrolled in the Department of Health Pharmacy, the Department of Kampo Pharmacy, or the Department of Clinical Pharmacy for at least six years; studied the subjects offered to attain the educational goals of the department; acquired the abilities and attitudes to meet the following requirements; and earned the stipulated number of credits:

  1. To acquire fundamental academic skills, a deep understanding of humans, society and nature, and the attitude to explore issues beyond the specialized field of pharmacy by studying a diverse range of subjects offered under the curriculum common to all the departments
  2. To acquire the ability to identify, analyze and solve diverse problems of today's society stemming from the declining birthrate and population aging, through systematic study at one's department and in the field of one's major, and practical training and graduation thesis/research guidance offered across the boundaries of disciplines and departments
  3. To acquire the integrated ability to use knowledge, think logically, delve into problems, express one's ideas, and communicate compassionately with the weak by completing the six-year study through lectures, seminars and writing a graduation thesis, thus achieving "personal development"
  4. To acquire the ability specified for each department shown below in addition to developing the fundamental qualities required for a pharmacist shown in 1 to 3 above

Department of
Health Pharmacy

The ability to contribute to community medicine and preventive medical care with an understanding of the importance of maintaining and promoting human health based on exercise and healthy eating

Department of
Kampo Pharmacy

The ability to practice kampo medication with expertise in kampo pharmacy and contribute to medical care

Department of
Clinical Pharmacy

The ability to work as a team, apply specialized drug therapy and meet the specific needs of individual patients

In the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the diploma policy is to certify the graduation of students who have been enrolled in the department for at least four years, studied a program of lecture courses that complies with our educational goal of "Training researchers and technical experts who possess the high-level knowledge and skills required to contribute to the health and welfare of humanity and support advanced medical care," and who not only possess the abilities and attitudes described below but have also completed the set number of credits, and award them the degree of Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences (B.Pharm.Sc.).

  1. Have received a broad medical-related education and developed a good sense of morality and vocation.
  2. Have learned the basic knowledge and skills necessary for pharmaceutical development and other research.
  3. Have acquired the communications and presentation skills required of researchers.
  4. Possess the independence, ambition, inquiring mind, and motivation to make a broad contribution to society as researchers and technical experts engaged in drug discovery and human health.
  5. Have learned methods for solving problems by incorporating the latest medical and scientific knowledge and choosing appropriate methods to address research topics they set themselves.