National Taiwan University

This new course in the Exploring Taiwan series introduces agriculture and food biotechnology. The course begins with Taiwanese traditional products and methods, such as salt production in salterns and its transformation; rice, a staple food; tea, and exotic fruit crops grown by cultivation technology. Then, the course introduces fermented foods and how microbial fermentation is utilized in food technology, and orients on food safety monitoring and the use of plants metabolites for pharmaceutical purposes. To gain insight on how to develop business ideas and products, the course features a guest speaker CEO from a renowned food company. Students also participate in a factory tour to experience modern plant operation and maintenance, as well as their research and development. 

This course provides insight into corporate financial management and capital markets. Emphasis is on the financial aspects of managerial decisions and topics covered include all areas of finance, including the valuation of real and financial assets, risk management and financial derivatives, the trade-off between risk and expected return, corporate financing and payout policy. Text: Richard A. Brealey, Stewart C. Myers and Alan J. Marcus, FUNDAMENTALS OF CORPORATE FINANCE; Case: Square, Inc., Financing a Unicorn. Assessment: case (10%), quiz (20%), final exam (35%), midterm (35%).

This course covers the basic theories of material science. Topics include atomic structure and interatomic bonding, structures of metals and ceramics, imperfections in solids, mechanical properties, deformation and strengthening mechanisms, failure, structures and properties of metals and alloys, applications and processing of metal and alloys, structures and properties of ceramics, and applications and processing of ceramics.

This course aims to understand the fundamentals of environmental physics, micrometeorology and relating disciplines so as to develop the ability to conduct a research on forest meteorology, forest hydrology, or related fields. This course also aims to develop critical thinking by providing the mathematical explanations of the theories. 

This course is divided into two parts—engineering development and social changes. Engineering development responds to the needs of human life, satisfies and promotes increasingly diverse lifestyles, and at the same time profoundly affects the beautiful society of human beings in our social lifestyles, psychological states, ethical issues, and environmental resources. Topics include automobiles and assistive devices, media development, sexual harassment and bullying, creativity and intellectual property rights, surface engineering and human interactions, stress adjustment, crime prevention, integrated circuit development, environmental change and water resources, laws of thermodynamics and ways to mature, information technology. All topics are discussed under the context of engineering development and social trends.

The curriculum of this course includes: interdisciplinary understanding of fundamental issues in climate change and sustainable development, professional skills and knowledge in climate change and sustainable development from a global perspective, oral and written presentation and communication skill. Some sample discussion topics are climate change, nuclear energy, and microplastics. Students are graded on leading the seminar about a specific environmental topic and a final paper.

The course introduces the main concepts of human resource management, practical use, and research discoveries. Topics include recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management and evaluation, compensation management, and workplace health management, lending understanding to the role and function of human resource management, as well as how the field of psychology is involved within the organizations. Text: G. Dessler, HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT; and various references. Assessment: group project (40%), participation (20%), final exam (40%).

This course provides a basic understanding of how health communication can be used in the field of health promotion, including strategic planning for integrated mass media campaigns and the development of health communication messages that are consistent with principles of behavioral sciences. This course reviews the role of health communication as a means of promoting public health and also stimulates thinking about how the power of health communication can be harnessed to advance a public health agenda. Topics include the history of health communication and its underpinning theories; key elements of developing evidence-based health communication strategies; and major steps involved in the health communication process. Text: National Cancer Institute, MAKING HEALTH COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS WORK. Assessment: attendance and participation (10%), class discussions (20%), concept papers (35%), oral presentations (35%).

The course provides knowledge of non-agricultural animals, their diet, management, conservation, and uses. It provides a comparative study of animal physiology and introduces the anatomy, physiology, behavior, and management of rare birds, mammals, reptiles, and aquatic animals. Assessment: attendance (20%), midterm paper (30%), final exam (50%).

Theatrical performance is not a mere imitation, but a very imaginative and creative art. This course focuses on improvisation to inspire the imagination of actors and the expressiveness of body voices. In addition, through the analysis and interpretation of drama texts, and through the discussion of characters, relationships, emotional motivations, and presentation of short scenes in the classroom, students are guided how to discover, construct, and enter their characters in the text. This course is not only an introduction to various performing arts (such as mime, dance, opera, musical, etc.), but also one of the best ways to appreciate dramatic literature.