• 一、Purpose
• The purpose of the TKU Honors Program (herein referred to as “this program”) is to integrate professional studies, general education, and extracurricular activities (the “Three Circles” of education) into one program to train and nurture outstanding students from TKU’s regular degree programs. In doing so, its objective is to help students become gifted scholars with the skill set required for professional innovation and independent research, to groom talented and aware professionals with global perspectives and the ability to thoughtfully examine and care for the broader community, and produce skillful leaders with innovative ideas and the aptitude to guide others – in the hope of enhancing the competitiveness of TKU graduates.

• 二、Eligible Applicants and Other Regulations
• a)Applicants who apply via interview and whose overall entrance score places them in the top 10% of applicants in the department (or division) for which they applied.
• b)The weighted total score of the applicants entering the university will be distributed within the top 10% of applicants in the department (or division) for which they applied.
• c)From the second semester of the freshman year to the second semester of the junior year (the second semester of the senior year of the Department of Architecture), students who have taken more than 12 credits in the previous semester and whose academic average is within the top 10% of the class.
• d)Those who fulfill these criteria may apply at the beginning of the semester. After their application is reviewed and approved by the Office of Academic Affairs, such students will be accepted into this program.
• e)Students who take this program should have an average grade in the top 15% of the class of the department (division) each semester. Those who fail to meet the standards will have their program eligibility canceled by the Office of Academic Affairs. However, circumstances such as studying abroad for credits or suspension may retain the qualification for the honors program; students who meet the standards but have no intention to continue the program may apply in writing to waive their qualifications, and only those who meet the requirements in the future may apply to take this program again.

• 三、Course Design and Arrangement of Instructors
• a)Each college and department:
• 1. Each college must set up a promotional group for advanced specialized curriculums. The dean of the college must serve as the group convener. The advanced specialized courses, established to nurture students’ professional innovation and independent research ability, are provided for the students studying these courses to take.
  2. Each of these advanced professional courses takes the form of small-sized tutorials and should be administered in a discussion or investigation-style format.
  3. Each department must appoint each student with an academic supervisor; each academic supervisor should supervise up to five students; they should offer academic counseling, help students identify academic interests, and suggest suitable areas for professional research to assist students in developing assertiveness and creativity in the context of learning and in research activities.
  4. Academic departments should provide students of this program with advice and guidance in various areas, including academic studies, lifestyle, further studies, and potential options for future employment.
• b)The Center for General Education and Core Curriculum:
  The Center for General Education and Core Curriculum must set up a promotional group for general education curriculums. The panel convener will be filled by the Chair of the General Education Committee. The general education curriculums, established to nurture students’ global vision, reflection on the status quo, and ability to care for social groups, are provided for the students studying these courses to take.
• c)The Extracurricular Activities Guidance Section:
  The Extracurricular Activities Guidance Section must set up a promotional group for extracurricular curriculums. The group convener will be filled by the Dean of Student Affairs. These extracurricular activities courses, established to nurture students’ ability to innovate and communicate, and to lead and serve the community, are provided for the students studying these courses to take.
• The courses from the preceding section may be scheduled for evenings or weekends to avoid conflicts with class schedules.

• 四、Required Courses for Students of Honors Program
• a)Starting from the second year, students must take four advanced specialized courses, with a maximum enrollment of one course per semester. The students must complete a minimum of eight credits.
• b)Starting from the first-year studies, students are required to take three general education curriculums (two credits each), but may only take one such course per semester.
• c)Starting from the first-year studies, students are required to take two extra-curricular curriculums, with one credit for each subject, or one subject for two credits taught in English, with a maximum of one subject per semester.

• 五、Rules on Selecting Courses
• a)Eligibility for course selection: courses offered as part of this program are only available for selection by students who gain approval from the Office of Academic Affairs.
• b)Extra credits: the credits taken by students of these courses are included in the student’s overall tally of credits obtained in the semester, but are not subject to restrictions on course selection outlined in the TKU Regulations on Student Course Selection: Article 7 (restrictions on extra credits) and Article 8 (restrictions on credits from other sources).
• c)Time limit on graduation: Students are not allowed to extend their time limit for graduation due to taking this program.

• 六、Student grade assessment, credit recognition and transfer of credits
• a)Calculation of grades: The grades of each subject in this course are included in the academic grade average of the semester.
• b)Grade Assessment: The grade assessment of the advanced specialized curriculums, general education curriculums, and extracurricular curriculums all are given number grades according to the regular percentile standard.
• c)Validation of Credits: The subjects that student has taken and passed in this program may be counted towards graduation credits. However, only all-English-taught courses can be counted towards graduation credits of English-Taught Bachelor's Program and the Division of Global Commerce (English-Taught) of the Department of International Business. Advanced specialized curriculums may be validated as elective credits of the department in which they are enrolled; general education curriculums may be validated as compulsory credits of the department. Students must apply for credit validation to the Office of Academic Affairs before the graduation examination week for the next semester of the senior (the next semester of the fifth year of the Department of Architecture).
• d)Recognition of Credits: Those who have implemented and completed the " National Science and Technology Council College Student Research Program" may apply for the maximum of recognition of two credits for the advanced professional course " National Science and Technology Council Research Program" before March 31th in the next semester of the senior year (the next semester of the fifth year in the Department of Architecture). Applicants may apply for two credits of the advanced specialized curriculums only once, and the scoring method is "pass" or "fail". Students who have completed this program, if they are admitted to the master's program of TKU, a maximum of 20 credits may be credited for those who take master's courses and advanced professional courses during their study and are not included in the graduation credits.

• 七、Completion of Study
• Students who are enrolled in this program must meet the graduation requirements of their major department and complete the required courses and credits of this program within the prescribed study period of their major department (excluding extended study period) to qualify for completion. Those who complete the program can obtain a certificate of this program, and the words "Honors Student" will be noted on the degree certificate, and "Honors Program" will be noted on the transcript.

• 八、Rewards
• a)When taking part in the selection process for admissions into TKU master’s programs, graduating students from this program or graduates (already graduated) with an Honors Program Certificate may affix the certificate to other documents submitted for review and gain beneficial consideration upon assessment of their application.
• b)Students with an Honors Program Certificate (certificate of completion) from this program who are accepted into a TKU master’s program will receive a subsidy of NT $30,000 for both semesters of the first academic year.
• c)Students enrolled in this program who participate in on-campus internship courses may apply for scholarships in accordance with these guidelines, with a maximum amount of six thousand NT dollars; the application period shall be in accordance with the announced schedule.

• 九、The amount of each award listed in these Guidelines may be adjusted according to the approved budget for the current academic year.

• 十、These guidelines shall be implemented from the date of announcement after being passed by the Academic Affairs Meeting; the same applies when amendments are made.