- Guided by our founding principle, we are making ongoing efforts and a continuous commitment to delivering quality education and research. Moving towards the Okayama University of Science (OUS) Vision 2026, one of our key goals is to become the preferred university for students, communities, society and a global audience. To achieve this, we are now offering a new online degree program which is flexible in time and place for the audiences. Through this program, students can learn the up-to-date knowledge in information science completely online.
We hope this online degree program will help students pursue their dreams and aspirations – whether by serving as a liaison between their home countries and Japan after earning a bachelor’s degree online outside of Japan and joining Japanese companies, or by becoming researchers after completing the online program — regardless of geographical location, and advancing their expertise at our graduate school. We are here to support you in accomplishing your goals.HIRANO Hiroyuki
President
Okayama University of Science 
- Our new distance education program is delivered through a curriculum specialized in Information Systems, AI Technology, Business Data Science and Digital Game/Media. Catering to the needs of rapidly evolving information society, we use a Learning Management System (LMS) that enables students to learn information processing technology systematically online at the time and location of their choice. We look to cultivate ICT talents who can identify and analyze societal challenges with IT at the core, and also who can contribute to a human-friendly society with new insights.
LIU Bojiang
Dean and Professor
Faculty of Information Science and Engineering
Okayama University of Science
Goals and Policy
From Entrance to Graduation
Online Course Overview
Students in this program can complete everything online from admission, all the way to graduation. They can submit documents and assignments online with no visits to campus. It is also possible to transfer to on-campus programs at the 2nd or 3rd year level if they meet the admission requirements of the receiving departments at OUS.
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1. Online Application Registration
- Applicants register online and mail the required application documents. There is no traditional entrance exam. We holistically review submitted applications based on the selection types (school recommendation-based, general and working adults) to make admission decisions. Our program is also open to non-degree seeking students.
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2. Preparatory Courses
- We deliver preparatory courses through the LMS (Learning Management System) to support a successful learning experience for students. The courses are designed for students with diverse academic and professional backgrounds.
See the details
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3. Entrance Ceremony
- Students attend the ceremony online or in person.
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4. LMS Learning
- Students watch video lectures, take quizzes or submit reports through the LMS, to earn 124 credits in 4 years. Students earn 2 credits after completing the 15 sections of a course (One section typically lasts 90 minutes, containing six 10-minute videos and quizzes/reports) and passing the final exam.
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5. Graduation
- Students attend the ceremony online or in person and receive the diploma by mail.
Facilities and Services
Students in the online program can access some of the OUS facilities and services online.
- Library
- OUS Okayama Campus has three libraries, housing over 480,000 print books. Students can access our 13,000 digital books and digital journals online and also visit the libraries in person.
- Student Union
- Students can join the clubs and activities online and in person by becoming a member of the student union. They can even start new clubs after fulfilling the requirements.
- Career Support Center
- OUS graduates are hired nationwide upon graduation and a wide range of company information is available at the OUS Career Support Center. After learning students’ aptitude, skills and experiences through the online interview, the center provides individual, personalized career support and services.
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About OUS
What is OUS?
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History
of OUS 
1964
OUS Started with Two Departments in a Single Faculty
Okayama University of Science (OUS) opened with two departments in one faculty, guided by its founding principle, “To draw out each and every youth’s ability to their maximum potential, and to educate individuals to contribute to society as skilled professionals and as members of their communities.” OUS is founded on Mt Handayama overlooking the city of Okayama in Japan. Since the foundation, at the Department of Applied Mathematics and the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Science, we have educated a great number of professionals including engineers working in companies and public organizations, teachers for elementary and junior high schools, and researchers in the educational and research sectors.1974
Meet the Challenge: Launching Graduate Programs at a Local Private University
The Graduate School of Science was established. It was a significant challenge for a private university to launch graduate degree programs, especially when there was a single doctoral program available at an area university. We undertook this step based on the belief that graduate programs were essential to developing a full-fledged research environment, which would strengthen university’s identity as a private university.1976
Two Departments Established: The Origin of Our Information Dept
The Departments of Applied Mathematics and the Departments of Information in the Faculty of Science were launched. Our information science program traces its roots to these two departments.1986
New Faculty of Engineering: Fostering Future Talent
The Faculty of Engineering was established. We place emphasis on collaborative and commissioned research. Graduates gain active roles in various sectors nationwide after acquiring practical skills through collaboration with professional engineers and hands-on learning.1990
Supporting Future Engineers/Researchers
The Graduate School of Engineering was established. In our doctorate programs, we train students to become engineers/researchers through experiences such as attending national and international academic conferences and publishing research papers in academic journals.1997
New Depts Specialized in Informatics Open: Contributing to a Prosperous Society
The Department of Mathematics and Information, Department of Simulation Physics, Department of Biosphere-Geosphere System and Department of Socio Information were launched. With the rapid advancements of computers and the widespread expansion of networks, information technology ― data science, AI technology, VR/AR ― has become the backbone of information society. We added the new departments to support education and research that would contribute to a prosperous society where human activities and IT work in harmony.2001
Training Advanced IT Engineers and Researchers
The Graduate School of Informatics was established to foster software engineers and researchers capable of developing information processing systems and to train individuals capable of applying the IT knowledge in practical use.2012
Reorganizing Departments to Enhance Fieldwork Education
The Department of Biosphere and Geosphere Science was launched to promote cross-disciplinary learning and proactive research in natural environmental fields and to cultivate talents capable of addressing environmental challenges.2015
Learning Natural Science Through the Lens of Field Science
The Graduate School of Biosphere and Geosphere Science was established to educate students in Biology, Astronomy/Earth Science and Geography/Archaeology with a practical approach and to develop individuals with expertise for fields including education and research, environmental assessment and architectural consulting.2016
Over 6,000 OUS Graduates Have Served as Educators
Guided by the founding principle that nurturing well-rounded educators would contribute to society, we launched the Department of Elementary Education and the Department of Secondary Education in the Faculty of Education. We align with international educational programs and also offer a program training future volunteer leaders in science.2017
Students Can Learn Both Marketing and Data Science in a Single Faculty
The Faculty of Management was established to offer programs enabling students to learn both marketing and data science. Students receive hands-on training called “Innovation Lab,” work collaboratively with on-site professionals from local businesses and communities, and acquire applied and problem-solving skills.2018
Cultivating Future Veterinarians in Imabari, Ehime, Japan
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was established on Imabari Campus in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The areas of animal husbandry and public health have seen severe personnel shortages while veterinarians bear a wide range of responsibilities including surveillance of human-animal infections. This department is tasked to train specialists to address the challenges in the field. This new department is also expected to respond to the decline in the 18-year-old population in the city of Imabari.2021
Education Open to Future Entrepreneurs
A master’s degree program in Management was launched in the Graduate School of Management to nurture future business leaders who can integrate practical methods in marketing, business strategy and data science, eventually contributing to the communities and society. This program welcomes applicants of diverse educational and professional backgrounds including recent graduates and adults aspiring to entrepreneurship or business development.2022
Education and Professional Development for the Future
The Department of Information Science and Engineering in the Faculty of Information Science and Engineering was launched. Aiming for the integration of information technology and mechanical control technology, we look to foster a learning environment which encourages students to explore their interests while gaining hands-on, practical skills. We eventually seek to develop talents that will contribute to a new human-centered society known as ‘Society 5.0’ in Japan.The Department of Biological Science in the Faculty of Life Science was also launched. This department is a hub of faculty and labs in the fields of biotechnology, delivering education and research in bioscience. We look to use science to promote harmony between human and nature, and to enhance both sustainability and the well-beingness of society.
2023
Fostering Future Professionals for a Globalized Society
The Graduate School of Science and Engineering was established after merging the Graduate Schools of Science, Engineering, Comprehensive Information and Biosphere-Geosphere Science. We strive to nurture individuals capable of responding to modern challenges with expertise and problem solving skills.2024
Supporting the Well-Being of Humans and Animals
The Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine was established to nurture professionals capable of caring properly for animals and responding efficiently to challenges with an awareness of zoonotic disease risks.2025
