Q1: What is the educational philosophy of the Department of Political Economy?

A1: For a long time, learning in academic institutions has divided knowledge into disciplines such as politics and economics in order to facilitate training and teaching. Yet many issues in the real world cannot be understood in this way. For example, is a trade-in-services agreement a political issue or an economic issue?

The Department’s “interdisciplinary” education allows knowledge rigidly separated by academic categories to return to its original form, so that learners can rebuild the complete perspective, knowledge, and thinking that are needed.

Q2: How do the Department’s courses differ from those of economics, political science, or a double major in politics and economics? A2: (1) In required courses:

During the first and second years, courses are organized by discipline and cover foundational courses in politics and economics as well as foundational methodological courses in the social sciences (political science, macroeconomics, microeconomics, statistics, and so on).

During the third and fourth years, courses are organized around “interdisciplinary” and “special-topic” work rather than disciplines (political-economic management, political economy, international political economy, policy analysis, and a graduation project). Social science research methods are also a key course at this stage.

(2) Electives include many topic-based courses. In addition to Department courses, courses offered by other colleges, departments, and institutes, National University of Kaohsiung, National Cheng Kung University, National Chung Cheng University, and the Taiwan Comprehensive University System inter-university cooperation program are within the range available for enrollment.

Q3: Does the Department have student exchanges or dual-degree programs with related overseas departments? A3: The Department currently has no dual-degree program, but encourages exchange study in Taiwan and abroad.

There are two exchange channels. One is the University exchange channel, which provides places and is also the channel used by most students. Each semester, the Department has many bilateral exchange students. The Department consistently encourages and supports students who meet the exchange requirements.

Q4: What fields do Department graduates enter for employment? A4: Since the Department began, it has a 13-year history, including one preparatory year, with eight graduating cohorts and four cohorts currently enrolled.

About two-thirds of alumni who work or pursue further study are in business management, enterprises, and finance. The remaining one-third work in public service or academic fields such as political science and economics (for example, master’s programs at European and U.S. universities, National Taiwan University Graduate Institute of National Development, National Taiwan University journalism, National Chengchi University national development; bank specialist, airline ground staff, broadcasting company, project manager, accounting company, and so on).

The Department is planning a series of career-guidance courses from the first through fourth year to help students connect their studies with employment. The guidance program is expected to begin in the new academic year.

Q5: Does the Department’s emphasis on interdisciplinary teaching mean that study of politics, economics, and related fields may lack depth? A5: The Department’s advantage over other departments lies in its broad coverage without diminished depth, because its curriculum already includes the foundational courses of the separate disciplines.

The main differences from ordinary political-science and economics curricula are not only the many integrative topic-based courses but also the elective offerings. For example, a political-science department may offer highly specific electives such as “History of U.S. Foreign Policy”; this Department does not offer electives divided into such fine categories, although related topics may be addressed in different classes.

Q6: Is there an audiovisual introduction?

A6: Please watch on YouTube.「Department of Political Economy Introduction—Official」