Shimane University


Shimane University — colloquially known as Shima-dai — is a national university in Japan. Although formally established as a university in 1949, Shima-dai's origins date back to the late 19th century. In 2003 it merged with the Shimane Medical University. It is a multi-disciplinary university, with faculties in law and literature, education, medicine, science and engineering, and life and environmental science. The university has graduate schools in humanities and social sciences, education, medical research, science and engineering, life and environmental science, and law. Shima-dai has approximately 6,000 students, more than 750 academic staff and over 400 support staff. It was the first public university in Japan to establish an interdisciplinary department integrating natural sciences and engineering. The motto is 'Shimane University — growing with people and with the region'.

Location/campuses

Located in Shimane Prefecture in western Honshu, the university has campuses in Matsue City and Izumo City. The Matsue campus is home to the university's Law & Literature, Education, Science & Engineering, and Life & Environmental Science faculties, as well as the university's central administration. The Izumo campus is home to the university's Medical Faculty comprising the Medical School, Nursing School and University Hospital.

Academics

Faculties and departments

Shimane University comprises the following faculties, departments and schools:
  • Faculty of Law & Literature - Department of Law & Economics; Department of Socio-cultural Studies, Department of Language and Culture
  • Faculty of Education - School Teacher Training Course; affiliated kindergarten; affiliated elementary school; affiliated junior high school
  • Faculty of Medicine - School of Medicine; School of Nursing; University Hospital
  • Interdisciplinary Faculty of Science & Engineering - Department of Material Science; Department of Geoscience; Department of Information Systems Design and Data Science; Department of Electronic & Control Systems Engineering; Department of Natural Resources Process Engineering
  • Faculty of Life & Environmental Science - Department of Biological Science; Department of Life Science & Biotechnology; Department of Agricultural & Forest Sciences; Department of Regional Environmental Sciences; Education & Research Center for Biological Resources

    Graduate schools

Shimane University also has the following graduate schools:

Faculty of Law & Literature: Department of Law & Economics

Courses and programs of study offered by Shimane University include the following:
  • Japanese and East Asian Languages and Cultures
  • English and European Languages and Cultures
  • Creation and Understanding of Culture
  • Law and Politics
  • Regional Economics
  • Language and Culture
  • Social-Cultural Studies

    Faculty of Education

  • Education
  • MA in Pedagogical Development
  • MA in Curriculum Development

    Faculty of Medicine

  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Master's courses in Medical Research, Oncology Pharmacy, Coordinator Course for Rural Medicine and Medical Simulation Instructor Course
  • Doctorate in Medical Research
  • Medical Oncology Training
  • Medical Specialist Training

    Interdisciplinary Faculty of Science & Engineering

  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Geoscience
  • Environmental Geology
  • Natural Hazard Engineering
  • Pure Mathematics
  • Mathematical Analysis
  • Applied Informatics
  • Computer Science
  • Control Systems Engineering
  • Instrumentation Systems Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering
  • Electronic Devices Engineering
  • Material Science
  • Architecture
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Graduate Course in Earth Science and Geo-environmental Science
  • Collaborative Educational Course in Science, Engineering and Medicine
  • Doctorate in Materials Creation and Circulation Technology
  • Doctorate in Electronic Functions and System Engineering

    Faculty of Life & Environmental Science

  • Agriculture
  • Forestry
  • Environmental Biology
  • Rural Economics
  • Ecology and Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Resources Engineering
  • Rural Engineering
  • Life Science and Biotechnology
  • Biological Science
  • Forest Science
  • Agricultural Science
  • Marine Biological Science
  • Master's degree in Biological Science and Biotechnology
  • Master's degree in Agriculture and Forest Science
  • Master's degree in Environmental Science and Technology

    Graduate School of Law

  • Juris Doctor

    Degrees offered

Shimane University offers undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and specialist degrees such as the Graduate School of Law's Juris Doctor degree.

Affiliated institutions

Shimane University incorporates or is affiliated with the following institutions :
  • Shimane University Hospital
  • Shimane University Elementary School
  • Shimane University Middle School
  • San-in Region Research Center
  • Center for Integrated Research in Science
  • Research Center for Coastal Lagoon Environments
  • International Joint Research Institute of Shimane University and Ningxia University
  • University Museum

    Shimane University Hospital

The University Hospital, on the Izumo campus, was established in 1979 and extensively renovated in 2011. It is one of the largest hospitals — and the only teaching hospital — in Shimane Prefecture. The hospital covers all major specialties. It is home to Shimane Prefecture's Cancer Center and has a palliative care center, pediatric center and advanced ER, ICU and operating facilities. The hospital also specializes in rural medicine. It has nearly 1,168 medical and support staff and 606 beds.

International programs

The university has an active and growing international program. Shima-dai has official ties with 38 universities around the world and each year hosts approximately 200 students from countries such as China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Germany, France, the UK and the US.

United States

Shimane University has the following facilities:
  • Gymnasiums
  • Martial arts budo-kan
  • Athletics track
  • Soccer & baseball fields
  • Swimming pool
  • Archery range
  • Student Club Building
  • Student Center
  • Cooperative
  • Information Technology Center
  • Central library
  • Health Center

    Alumni

The following individuals studied at Shimane University:
  • Takashi Nagai, author of The bell of Nagasaki, 1908-1951
  • Hajime Shinoda, literacy critic, 1927-1989
  • Yasuji Hanamori, founding editor of Notebook of life, 1911-1978
  • Den Fujita, founder of McDonald's Holdings Japan, 1926-2004

    Transport/access

Both the Matsue and Izumo campuses of Shimane University are easily accessible by rail, road and air. The Matsue campus is 2 kilometres from Matsue station and 30 minutes from Izumo and Yonago airports. The Izumo campus is a few minutes from Izumo station and 30 minutes to Izumo airport.