About the Department

The department was founded in 1989 as the Department of Arts and Crafts Education; in 1997 the Graduate Institute of Visual Arts was founded; in 1999 the Master’s Degree in Visual Arts Education was established; in 2005 the Department of Arts and Crafts Education was combined with the Graduate Institute of Visual Arts to form the Department of Arts and Crafts Education (including the Master’s Degree Program);  the Master’s program was further separated into the studio group and the theory group in 2006; the department’s name was changed again in 2007 to become the Department of Visual Arts (including the Master’s Degree Program). In August 2005 the university was changed to Taipei Municipal University of Education, and then in 2008 the undergraduate section of the department was given a new curriculum. The new course structure was made in response to changes in educational policy, and it is meant to train exceptional workers in the visual arts; to train professionals for visual arts applications and promotion by bridging the culture and creative industries; and to train educators in the visual arts by incorporating teacher education.
A.Department History

        1988—The Arts and Crafts section of the former Taipei Municipal Teachers Junior College

         1989—Founding of Department of Arts and Crafts Education

         1997—Founding of Graduate Institute of Visual Arts

         1999—Founding of Master’s Degree Program in Visual Arts

         2005—The Department of Arts and Crafts Education was combined with the Graduate Institute of Visual Arts to form the Department of Arts and Crafts Education (including the Master’s Degree Program)

         2006—Master’s program was further separated into the studio group and the theory group

         2007—Name changed to Department of Visual Arts (including the Master’s Degree Program)

         2011—Master’s Degree in Visual Arts Education was changed to the Department of Visual Arts Master's Degree Program for Working Professionals

         2013—The Master’s Degree Program canceled the former group division. Students have since been able to graduate from the studio category or the theory category.
B.Our Aims

The department (including the master’s program) is dedicated to the development of professional visual artists, including workers in the creation and theory of art, as well as in its application and promotion. Our students' work in the theory and creation of art spurs the broadening of their perspectives and the diversification of their studies, and it is our hope that we can thus engender in our students both local and international perspectives in the arts. By having our students make necessary connections among various disciplines, we can help society to achieve its goals for development in the visual arts
C.Educational Vision and Goals
1.We motivate our students’ ability to create and think in the visual arts at various stages in the program, while not failing to inspire their faculties of visual thinking and creativity. We work with our students’ interests and careers plans to bring them together, as they advance through the program, within a major field of theory and practice, thereby giving them a broad yet specialized background in art.
 
2.We have established a rigorous program in art history and theory to support our central curriculum in artistic creation. These courses are meant to be an aid to cultivating students’ thinking in the visual arts, their appreciation of beauty, and their capacity to be creative.
3.We provide creative design programs and promote better rapport between the academic and industrial worlds which gives our graduates the ability to practice and apply their know-how in the professional world.
4.We encourage students to grow in their cultural abilities, and help them to prepare for post-graduation employment.
5.Our courses give students the opportunity to study theoretical and practical knowledge in the visual arts which helps them to plan and improve their competence in their future careers.
D.Core Abilities
1.To train in our students the ability to  create and perform in the visual arts
2.To give our students a background in the theory and history of the visual arts
3.To instill in our students the ability to design and apply their knowledge in the visual arts
4.To train in our students the ability to use the visual arts in the real world and their professional career development

II.Faculty

Our department currently has 11 full-time faculty members (4 professors, 3 associate professors, 4 Assistant Professor), who are all academic professionals and are enthusiastic about teaching.

III.Core courses
1.Undergraduate1.Exhibition for Graduation I
2.Exhibition for Graduation II
3.General Knowledge
4.Basic Theory
5.Applied Arts
6.Art Education
7.Professional Preparation
8.Media Integration
9.Art Studio
10.Advanced Applications

2.Master’s, Master's Degree Program for Working Professionals
1.Lectures on Humanities and Arts I, II
2.Research Methods in Visual Arts
3.Master’s Thesis (1) , (2)
4.Field Courses
5.Specialized Courses
6.Specialized Courses (Art Studio)
7.Specialized Courses (Art Study)
8.Specialized Courses (Art Therapy)

IV.Prospective Students

Please go to our admissions webpage for further information: http://recruit.utaipei.edu.tw/index.php