National Taiwan University

This course presents basic analytical methods in trade and discusses current trade issues. It starts off by closely following textbook studies of trade theory, followed by a study of trade policies. After completing the relevant part of the textbook, some articles are selected for discussion including: tariffs, nontariff barriers and arguments for protection; commercial policy; preferential trade arrangements history and practice; international trade and economic growth; imperfect competition and strategic trade policy and especially those on trade and industrial organization.

This course provides a study of the 20th-century American writer, Willa Cather, with careful investigation of her literary art and of the biographical, historical, and cultural context in which she developed that art. The course identifies, describes, and compares the literary features of a variety of fictional techniques that Cather developed. Students read, discuss, and write about a selection of Cather's short stories and three of her novels: O Pioneers!, Death Comes for the Archbishop, and My Antonia. Students will analyze the themes of these works and the literary artistry through which Cather develops these themes.

This course examines the principles and examples of visual identity design (Communication design + Experience design + Branding). Visual Design is a process of innovating and examining different possibilities to communicate an observation of daily life, and convert these experiences into graphical designs. The course covers how to use software and methods to learn about visual design and the meaning behind each graphic.

The course is designed to broaden the view of the current development and situation of agriculture in Taiwan. Faculty members from each department of the College of Bioresources and Agriculture lead the lecture at each class meeting.   

This course cultivates an understanding of food and the impact of eating habits on human health. 

The course provides students with a broad picture on the English law of contract. This course particularly focuses on leading cases of this area. However, main structure of law and major concepts are also discussed. Lecture topics include the negotiations for a contract; formation of the contract; form, consideration and intention; vitiating factors; fidning the terms of the contract; controlling the content; the doctrine of privity and the reform; change of circumstances; and remedies for breach of contract. Each student is expected to read some cases before each class begins and be ready to join the discussions.

Gender, as an institution and a social structure, influences the way we define ourselves, behave and speak and further determines our place within the family, at school, in workplaces, and in the broader society. We will use this course to explore how gender shapes our identities, opportunities, and everyday life. The course includes seven themes: (1) conceptual tool kits; (2) gender, space, and place; (3) gendering work; (4) gender and family; (5) transgender; (6) intersectionality; (7) gender in the global context. Theme One ‘Conceptual Tool Kits’ introduces main theories and key literature on gender. Theme Two discusses the relationship between gender and space by reading literature on feminist geography. Theme Three focuses on gender in labor markets, organizations, and everyday workplaces. Theme Four ‘Gender and Family,’ looks at gender relations between couples and family members. The course then briefly explores the multi-faceted connections between gender, sex, sexuality, and other social characteristics, such as class and race, in Themes Five and Six. Theme Seven looks at the differences and similarities in gender relations in various cultural and social contexts in the globalized world.  

In September 2016, Taiwan's government launched the “New Southbound Policy” initiative to enhance cooperation with eighteen countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Australasia with the aim of reducing its dependence on mainland China. In the context of the “New Southbound Policy,” it is important for Taiwan to enhance its understanding of the region, particularly beyond mainland China and East Asian neighbors such as Japan and Korea. The first part of the course focuses on the international politics of the region, exploring how the Asia-Pacific has evolved in the context of the struggle against colonialism, the Cold War, the post-Cold War period, and the rise of China. The second part of the course is based on student presentations on the domestic politics of the countries in the region. Topics are agreed between the instructor and the students.

This beginning Chinese language course is for students who have never taken Chinese courses or have taken less than 100 hours of Chinese language instruction. It teaches hanyu pinyin; the structure, stroke orders, and writing method of Chinese characters; basic Chinese sentence structure and word order; and topics such as self-introduction and carrying on basic conversation. The course develops proficient language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing to enable students to communicate effectively in their daily lives. Through the course, students further understand Taiwanese culture and language. Text: Practical Audio-Visual Chinese I” (chapters 1-6).

Oriental philosophy of life is mainly based on Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Other than those well known classics in its tradition, there are still other less well known texts. They are very popular and influential in the Chinese society. Such as: Figures in the full translation: a book talking about personnel management; The Chinese Code of Success-Maxims by Zhu Zi: a paper Zhu Zi wrote for his family as life guiding; Records of Reflections on Things at Hand: a selected works or writings from four main philosophers at North Song Dynasty by Zhu Zi; The Roots of Wisdom: an aphorism writings expressing deep understandings of life; Liao-Fan's Four Lessons: four reminders for life and fate from the point of view of life circle theory. Standards for Being a Good Student and Child: rules for kids in terms of traditional Confucianism; The Family Instructions of Zeng Guofan: letters from Zeng Guofan for family about learning and behavior. This course aims to introduce the above papers and books.