Introduction
中文- Publish Date：2025-05-19
- Update Date：2025-05-19
- Units：Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology
Department Introduction
Our department is the first to integrate physical therapy with assistive technology in Taiwan. In 2015, we pioneered the transition to a six-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) undergraduate program, leading the way in cultivating professionals with expertise in both physical therapy and innovative assistive technologies.
Faculty
Our full-time faculty includes 8 professors, 7 associate professors, and 3 assistant professors. The faculty members are dedicated to research across a wide range of fields and maintain diverse collaborative partnerships. Each faculty member’s academic expertise aligns with the department’s educational goals and meets the learning needs of our students.
Teaching Features
The six-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) undergraduate program deepens clinical training and strengthens comprehensive healthcare education. The curriculum emphasizes physical therapy differential diagnosis, evidence-based analysis, clinical reasoning, and decision-making skills. It also expands into emerging fields, geriatric medicine, and physical therapy administration and management, fostering students’ professional independence and competitiveness.
The master's program is divided into two tracks: Physical Therapy (Track A) focuses on clinical application research, while Assistive Technology (Track B) emphasizes the application and development of assistive devices. Both tracks offer opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and interaction within the department.
The doctoral program requires not only advanced theoretical study but also the ability to conduct independent research and participate in international academic exchanges. Students are expected to publish internationally and many incorporate assistive technology development into their research, leading to innovative product designs and patents.
International exchange opportunities are available for both undergraduate and graduate students, allowing them to study required or elective courses or participate in clinical internships at partner institutions abroad, with funding support. Each year, many international students also come to the department or university to study related courses.
Research Features
The research interests of our full-time faculty span a wide range of areas, including neurological physical therapy, applied neurophysiology, motion analysis, musculoskeletal and sports science, cardiopulmonary physical therapy, health promotion, exercise physiology, pediatric and geriatric physical therapy, healthcare policy, intelligent mechatronic assistive devices, computational biomechanics, sports and rehabilitation technology, information and electrical engineering applications, as well as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and assistive technology services and policy.
Each year, our faculty actively secures numerous research projects funded by the National Science and Technology Council, other government agencies, healthcare institutions, and industry partners. These research achievements closely align with the evolving needs of society, the economy, culture, and technological development.
Campus Life
In addition to the academic pursuits, students in our department actively participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including academic lectures, career development seminars, and departmental events. These activities not only strengthen a sense of community but also help students develop organizational and event planning skills.
Career Prospects for Graduates
To date, more than 800 students have graduated from our undergraduate program, and over 350 have completed master's or doctoral degrees. The pass rate for our undergraduate graduates taking the physical therapist licensure exam consistently exceeds 80%, which is significantly higher than the national average.
Our graduates pursue a wide range of career paths. Some continue their studies in graduate programs both domestically and abroad, while others enter clinical practice. Employment opportunities include hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, assistive device centers, and companies specializing in assistive technology research and development. Graduates of our master's and doctoral programs have additional opportunities to teach at colleges and universities or to take on roles in clinical education and research.
