Dates
June 3 - July 1, 2026Subjects
Business, Sports Management, Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport, Film Studies, Chinese Language & CultureDeadlines
Dec. 1: Apply Early & Save $100Feb. 5: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
The KIIS Taiwan month-long program will be based in Taipei, the political and economic center of Taiwan, and an international hub that embodies both traditional Chinese and Taiwanese cultures, as well as modern development. The program offers formal classes, frequent short excursions, as well as long-distance travels to other beautiful parts of this tropical island. Students will discover ancient temples, world-class museums, visit lively beach towns, and famed cultural villages. It is noteworthy that Taiwan is a paradise for tropical fruits and boasts highly diverse, local, and international cuisines. The program has a week-long excursion to visit six cities along the west coast of Taiwan, which includes “Sun Moon Lake”, the Thao aboriginal village in Nantou, “Pier 2 Art District” and “Love River” in Kaohsiung, “National Marine Life Museum and Aquarium” in Taichung, as well as Cape Maobitou, and South Bay in Kenting, the southern-most coastal town, which is still as picturesque as the day when the film “Life of Pi” was filmed.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in heat and humidity, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
Program Director
Dr. Qian Gao is a Professor of Chinese language, culture, and film studies at Transylvania University, who is also the director of the Asian Studies Program, and a Bingham Chair at Transy. Dr. Gao has led the KIIS China program for four years in the past and is currently the director of the KIIS Taiwan Program.Dr. Qian Gao
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Courses
Courses are 3 credit hours. FILM, ARC, PE, and SPM courses are taught in English. CHIN 306 and CHIN 333 are taught in Chinese. You may enroll in 2 courses. Courses are divided into 3 time-blocks. You cannot select 2 courses in the same time block.
In this course students will learn and improve their Chinese language proficiency in four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Studying and living in Taiwan provide students full cultural and linguistic advantages and allow them to use the language to communicate with the local people and navigate daily life on National Chengchi University campus as well as in the city. Student will learn Chinese / Taiwanese life, society, and culture during the program.
The course helps the students to understand how sports have become a global business that shapes the economics and development of our society, and to understand the economic theory’s applications in American amateur and professional sport, and how Taiwan utilizes sports to strengthen its international image and economic development.
This course is an introduction to Asian cinemas that will include representations from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, as well as ones from Japan and South Korea. With a focus on how social, political and cultural changes find their expressions in films, this course will guide students to master basic skills for interpreting cinematic language, gain an overall view of the development of films in East Asia, and develop a critical understanding of the history and cultures of East Asian societie
This is an intermediate to advanced Chinese language and culture course. The main purposes of this course includes expanding students’ vocabulary, improving students’ reading comprehension, and advancing students’ conversation skills, at advanced-level. In addition to language training, this course is specially designed to integrate cultural learning into language training by turning cultural context into text.
Examines the economic, cultural, sociological, and political role that sport plays within the broad process of globalization and provides theoretical and practical insights to promote intercultural competence needed to function in any organization. This course will offer a critical overview of the role sport, activity, and competition plays in our individual and societal value formation in a global society.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in mid-August after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
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Kenting National Park
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Jiufen Village
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Taijiang National Park
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Gu Gong National Palace Museum
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Taipei 101
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Shilin Night Market
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Love River in Kaohsiung
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Sun Moon Lake
Group Flight
ESTIMATED COST $1,800 - $1,900
The Taiwan program offers a group flight option where you can travel to/from Taipei, Taiwan with other students and faculty. If you choose this option, KIIS will purchase a round-trip flight ticket on your behalf. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on April 1. The group flight will depart from Chicago (ORD). Visit flights for more information.
If not selecting the group flight, you are responsible to purchase your own roundtrip airfare.
The flight to Taiwan is overnight arriving the following day. On the return, the flight from Taiwan to the USA departs and arrives on the same day. Visit Flights and Passports & Visas for more information.