Organization
The director is in-charge of the center’s promotion and administration. There are five divisions and a core facility (data processing) at the center. Every team has its own leader to assist with administration work and to employ research fellows and administration personnel. Other personnel are employed by the directors of the individual research projects.
Curriculum & Program
The curriculum designed in accordance with the concept of 3D matrix cover of area-specific training (longitude), issues relating to health and welfare policies (latitude), and issues relating to the health and welfare policies of the target populations. The training includes both quantitative and qualitative studies. The quantitative studies cover epidemiology and statistics and allow the students to conduct empirical investigations of related problems and review hypotheses systematically. The qualitative study allows students to observe and understand various policies and issues in detail, to apply them to studies on socially weaker groups, to reflect the real needs of the target population from their viewpoint, and to make constructive recommendations and introspections on health and welfare policies.
Curriculum design:
- Required courses: Public Policy, Methodology (I) and Biostatistics (I), each for 2 credits, are fundamental required courses at the institute and are designed to develop the basic research skills of students. In consideration of the different academic background of students the Introduction to Social Welfare is a required option for medical & health students, while the Introduction to Public Health is a required option for welfare students. Both the Biostatistics and Qualitative Study courses are divided into (I) and (II) sections to equip students with complete background in these areas.
- Electives: All electives are operated according to the areas of specialization of Faculty members and a need to provide students with greatest flexibility. If a course is needed but unavailable at the institute, students may elect to take the course at another institute, college or even school.
- The graduation requirement of the Master’s program is 30 credits, the minimum is 24 credits, including credits obtained through the institute’s required courses, 6 credits from the thesis, 6 credits from the required courses and 2 credits from the required options, as well as electives selected by students according to their area of specialization, study and personal interest.
