Department of Design, School of Design Acoustic Design Course

音響設計コース写真
音響設計コース写真

A course that trains acoustic design engineers and researchers with a keen sound aesthetic and advanced knowledge of sound

In modern society, there is a need for experts who have a deep understanding of sound culture and can promote the correct evaluation of sound, the creation of human-friendly sound environments, and the enhancement of the quality of acoustic information at a high level. The Acoustic Design Course aims to nurture human resources who can create human-friendly sound environments, improve the quality of acoustic information, and realize the creation of sound-related art and culture based on the viewpoint of sound-related design. To this end, the program provides a place for students to acquire advanced, cutting-edge knowledge of the art, science, and technology related to acoustic design, and to conduct basic and applied research, content creation, and practice based on this knowledge.

Curriculum

Fields of Study

  • Sound Culture

    An in-depth study of cultural and artistic activities related to music and sound.

  • Acoustic Environmental Engineering

    An in-depth study of the human and physical aspects of the sound environment.

  • Acoustic Information Science

    Acquire the first steps of acoustic design along with basic science or design literacy classes.

  • 1 st year

    Acquire the first steps of acoustic design along with basic science or design literacy classes.

    Students will cultivate independent learning and teamwork through KIKAN Education Subjects that emphasize active learning, which aim to improve the abilities necessary for an ICT international society, to acquire language proficiency skills and cross-cultural understanding, to study the basic knowledge which will lead to specialized education, to learn various methods of thinking from different fields, and to improve life skills. Students will also learn the fundamentals of design through the Design Literacy Subjects and take their first steps in acoustic design through the Course Exercises Subjects.

  • 2 nd year

    Acquire diversified knowledge, applicable skills, and basic subjects in three areas of acoustic design.

    Students will acquire the basic knowledge necessary for an acoustic design expert by studying the "Course Basic Subjects" intensively in all fields of Sound Culture Studies, Acoustic Environment Engineering, and Acoustic Information Science, as well as subjects aimed at acquiring diversified knowledge and deepening learning (KIKAN Education Subjects for students in year 2 and above), Academic English, Design Literacy Subjects, and others. In addition, students will develop the ability to apply their knowledge to solve problems in a comprehensive manner through taking Course Exercises Subjects and interdisciplinary subjects. 

  • 3 rd year

    Deepening specialized knowledge along with acquiring problem-solving skills through interdisciplinary subjects.

    Students deepen their expertise as acoustic design experts through specialized subjects in the fields of Acoustic Culture Studies, Acoustic Environment Engineering, and Acoustic Information Science. In addition, through a series of interdisciplinary subjects spanning the three fields, interdisciplinary subjects spanning courses other than the Acoustic Design Course and acoustic experiments, where students will integrate their expertise in sound and develop the ability to verify original hypotheses, generate sound, and solve complex social problems in collaboration with others.

  • 4 th year

    Conduct graduation research to solve social issues based on specialized knowledge and comprehensive design skills.

    Through graduation research and internships, students will cultivate comprehensive design skills that combine a keen sensitivity to sound and advanced specialized knowledge that includes fusion with other fields. Students will submit a graduation thesis or graduation work based on their understanding of sound-related artistic, scientific, and technological aspects and their relationships with humans or society, applying specialized knowledge, and acquiring the ability to solve real-world problems comprehensively and practically.

Faculty Members

Faculty members in
Name Position Field of Specialization
KABURAGI Tokihiko Professor Speech Information Processing
OMOTO Akira Professor Applied Acoustical Engineering
SAMEJIMA Toshiya Professor Acoustic Engineering
TAKADA Masayuki Professor Psychoacoustics, Environmental Acoustics
JO Kazuhiro Associate Professor Media Arts
KAWAHARA Kazuhiko Associate Professor Performance Evaluation of Acoustic Engineering System
NISHIDA Hiroko Associate Professor Musicology, Music Theory & Analysis, Music Culture
REMIJN, Gerard Bastiaan Associate Professor Perceptual Psychology
UEDA Kazuo Associate Professor Psychology of Hearing
YAMAUCHI Katsuya Associate Professor Psychoacoustics, Noise Control Engineering
YOSHINAGA Yukiyasu Associate Professor Signal Processing, Image Processing
HASUO Emi Assistant Professor Cognitive science, Psychology of music
INOUE Naohisa Assistant Professor Architectural Acoustics, Computational Acoustics
JAMIESON, Daryl Assistant Professor Composition, Aesthetics of Music
MURAKAMI Yasuki Assistant Professor Auditory Information Processing
WAKAMIYA Kohei Assistant Professor Speech Science

Prospective Career

More than half of our graduates go on to graduate school to deepen their expertise and further their research. After graduation from the undergraduate program or completion of graduate school, many students go on to successful careers in a variety of roles related to sound, including the manufacturing of audio communication equipment, electrical equipment, musical instruments; architectural acoustics and noise control; software production; communications; or as in-house researchers at corporate research institutes.

Prospective Profession
Research and development into audio equipment, architecture, information and communications
Acoustics consultants
Sound engineers for broadcasting stations
Sound designers
Media artists

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