Center for General Education

 

The year 2025 marked a milestone in National Taiwan University as the University officially launched its General Education 5.0. To align with the global educational trends and to engage in social dialogues with the world, the University has updated several areas in the curriculum and realigned core course objectives. “A3 World Civilization” has been renamed “A3 World Civilization and Globalization,” while “A6 Mathematics, Digital Competence, and Quantitative Analysis” has been renamed “A6 Mathematics and Computer Science.”

 

(1) Why promote General Education 5.0?

In 1981, former NTU president Professor Chao-chung Yu proposed the idea of “well-rounded education,” laying the foundation for the University’s General Education. Since then, the General Education curriculum has undergone several systematic modifications across four successful phases. The curriculum expanded into eight main areas in phase 2, incorporated teaching assistants (TAs) and specialized courses in phase 3, and further integrated interdisciplinary and EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction) courses in phase 4.

Figure: Development of the General Education curriculum.

 

In an ever-changing and highly digitalized world, interdisciplinary knowledge, digital literacy, and communication and collaboration skills [1] are more critical than ever. Acknowledging these shifts, the University officially launched General Education 5.0 in 2025. Retaining the existing framework of eight main areas, the updated curriculum strengthens its focus on interdisciplinary integration, contemporary issues, in-depth dialogues, and prospective sustainability. Ultimately, it aims to foster students' I²C (Interdisciplinary & Intercultural Collaboration) competencies, cultivating interdisciplinary, sustainable thinking, and collaborative leadership.

 

(2) Core Elements of General Education 5.0：

To achieve the I²C goal and foster well-rounded talents, the Center for General Education engaged in extensive deliberations before finalizing the core elements of General Education 5.0. Within this updated curriculum, General Education courses are expected to incorporate the following core elements:

 

A. Core Content Elements:

• Interdisciplinary：Fosters cross-disciplinary learning and knowledge integration, preparing students to tackle complex, multifaceted challenges.

• Prospective：Navigates future challenges and trends, engaging with emerging technological, social, and cultural shifts.

• Sustainable：Addresses environmental, ecological, social, and ethical issues, instilling in students a sense of responsibility to drive sustainable actions.

B. Practical Application Elements:

• Reflective：Emphasizes critical thinking and self-reflection, empowering students to engage in meaningful dialogues and form independent viewpoints.

• Collaborative：Promotes cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural teamwork, enhancing students’ capabilities in communication, coordination, and co-creation.

 

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[1] According to the University's 2023 post-graduate survey, alumni ranked collaboration, information literacy, and communication as the three most indispensable competencies in both the workplace and academia.

 

(3) Curricular Evolution:

Figure: Curricular Restructuring Details

 

To equip students with the knowledge needed in today's rapidly changing world, the subareas in the General Education curriculum underwent restructuring. The streamlined structure and updated categorization allow the curriculum to introduce urgent contemporary issues to students, helping them build a well-rounded perspective to navigate the future. The University remains committed to providing a diverse array of courses that cultivate deep insights and holistic understanding, encouraging students to pursue self-discovery across disciplines.

 

The General Education curriculum is structured around eight main areas, each comprising subareas that have been updated in General Education 5.0 to integrate the core elements.

📌Subareas and Curriculum Maps:

 A1 Literature and Arts 

Description

A1 courses are structured around two subareas, literature and arts, with the goal of cultivating students' humanistic values. As two of the most critical fields in the humanities, literature and arts are both creative and imaginative in using symbols to express human emotions and thoughts, reflecting the humanistic spirit and cultural characteristics of individuals and of the time. Through close reading, active discussion, critical analysis of literary and artistic works, and the exploration of relevant theories, these courses foster students' aesthetic appreciation, critical thinking, and creative expression, empowering them to engage in self-discovery, deepen empathy, and embrace inclusivity.

View the Restructured A1 Curriculum Map

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A2 Historical Thinking

Description

A2 courses introduce major historical events, figures, and innovations through historical methods and perspectives. Students learn to untangle the development of human civilization and knowledge within specific contexts, identifying similarities and differences in human thought and behavior across diverse spatial and temporal settings to analyze cultural shifts over the long term. Ultimately, these courses aim to raise students’ historical awareness, empowering them to analyze contemporary phenomena and challenges from multi-temporal perspectives while reflecting on their own agency as active actors in history.

View the Restructured A2 Curriculum Map

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A3 World Civilization and Globalization

Description

A3 courses are defined by the following core characteristics:

1. The course contents are worldly and global in terms of space and scale involved.
2. The courses exert a profound influence on contemporary world civilization and global issues. Course objectives and core concepts: By exploring the trajectories of past civilizations and understanding the past, A3 courses equip students with the essential critical thinking skills required to tackle contemporary issues. Students will learn to observe and analyze today’s interconnected, diverse world through cross-temporal and global perspectives, reflecting on the evolution of global development and issues. Aligning with these objectives, the A3 curriculum is divided into two subareas based on diachrony and synchrony:
   • (1). Fundamental Topics in History and Civilization.
   • (2). Topics in World History and Globalization. While the curriculum is divided into two subareas, individual courses may bridge both diachronic and synchronic perspectives to foster comprehensive critical discussions.

View the Restructured A3 Curriculum Map

 

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A4 Philosophy and Moral Thinking

Description

Philosophy is the fundamental pursuit of wisdom, reflecting on what truth, virtue, ideals, and divinity are in life, society, the world, and the cosmos. Moral thinking focuses on how we act and practice our beliefs in life, starting with self-exploration and contemplating our relationships with others. To promote public philosophy and moral education, A4 courses are structured around four subareas: (1) Introduction to Philosophy, (2) Moral Judgment, (3) Character and Spirituality, and (4) Ultimate Concern.

View the Restructured A4 Curriculum Map

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A5 Citizenship and Social Analysis

Description

A5 courses aim to foster democratic citizenship through promoting legal literacy, democratic principles, and social science. Students will be equipped with the analytical methods and tools in the social sciences to engage with pressing local and global issues. Ultimately, the courses cultivate social awareness and a strong sense of civic responsibility, guiding students to become informed global citizens. The curriculum offers introductory courses to democratic principles, the rule of law, and the social sciences.

View the Restructured A5 Curriculum Map

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A6 Mathematics and Computer Science

Description

Mathematics and Computer Science is the study of patterns—patterns in quantity, relations, forms, variations, arbitrariness, information, and algorithms. As a fundamental pillar of human knowledge, the A6 area centers on abstract reasoning characterized by clarity and precision. Throughout history, mathematics has served as an abstract language and tool across the natural, social, and human sciences. Computer science, meanwhile, has advanced rapidly since the last century. Thanks to leaps in computer engineering and algorithmic design, computer science is now woven into the fabric of daily life and exerts a profound impact on our future. The A6 curriculum offers general courses across mathematics and computer science, enabling students from other fields to pursue interdisciplinary learning.

View the Restructured A6 Curriculum Map

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A7 Physical Science

Description

Physical Sciences investigate the structure, properties, composition, and applications of matter. Spanning foundational fields such as chemistry, physics, earth science, and space science, this domain has expanded into areas like energy, environmental technology, and other applications in our daily lives. Physical Science strives to design and control macroscopic properties of materials by unlocking an understanding of them at atomic and molecular levels, leveraging these insights to address complex challenges in the world. Far from a detached discipline, Physical Science serves as a crossroad where the natural sciences meet the humanities. Structured around Foundations of Physical Science and Applied Physical Sciences, the curriculum bridges core theories with real-world applications, offering students extensive opportunities to explore the physical universe and understand its profound contributions to mankind and the world.

View the Restructured A7 Curriculum Map

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A8 Life Science

Description

Life Science courses aim to foster students' scientific literacy and cultivate an understanding of critical fields within the life sciences, including biology, genetics, ecology, evolutionary theory, biotechnology, and medicine. Through interdisciplinary exposure, students will explore properties of life, scientific research methodologies, and their impacts on social, ethical, and technological advancements. Beyond knowledge acquisition, the courses sharpen students' critical thinking and scientific spirit, empowering them to apply the knowledge. Ultimately, these courses equip students to rationally navigate complex life science issues and make informed, wise decisions in both their professional careers and daily lives.

View the Restructured A8 Curriculum Map