《History》

Established in 1989 with the macro vision of a Former Minister - Dr Lin Ching-Jiang, National Chung Cheng University was founded and planned to become the largest tertiary institutions in Taiwan, with the most comprehensive sports and leisure areas. After 12 years of building, repairing and active preparation of the former head of sports department and colleagues, in 2002 the graduate institute for Sport and Leisure Education was established and officially enrollment with the expectations of teachers and students throughout the school. In colleges this is the first and only research institute in sports and entertainment, it not only provides and enhances professional education and training systems for sports and leisure industries for the majority of universities nationwide, but also deserves to be a national leader in academic research for "Sport and Leisure Education" 。

With the efforts of Professor Liu Shu Yen in the process of building the institute, the Sports and Leisure Education from the nurturing to growing stage, has carried out ten of the special research projects of The National Science Council (NCS). Since then, there have been such excellent athletes as "super horse" Kevin Lin, taekwondo gold medal at the Doha Asian Games: Su Li Wen, the excellent badminton players Cheng Wen-Hsing, the mountain athlete Li Hong Ying and many other outstanding athletes as well as graduate students with notable academic performance. Up to now, there are 6 people have been accepted into doctoral courses nationwide, 10 have become teachers in primary and secondary schools, 1 person is a full-time faculty member at the university, and there are also many fitness instructors from other colleges and universities come to National Chung Cheng University to improve their knowledge. The efforts of teachers and students of all faculties have gradually brought many achievements.。

Under the direction of Principal Wu Zhi Yang, in 2010 “Department of Athletic Sports” was established, Professor Wang Shun Zheng was the first head of the department. Since 2011, the “Department of Athletic Sports” and the "Graduate Institute of Sport and Leisure Education" have been merged with the name "Department of Athletic Sports" (including the master program in Sport and Leisure Education). In the nation's general universities, this was the first Department of Athletic Sports to be established, offering a new opportunity for practitioners to enhance the athletics strength, beside the option of professional sports schools. In 2011, the Master's degree in Sport and Leisure Education received an appraisal from the Ministry of Education, which is authorized by the Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council of Taiwan to conduct the appraisal and approval process, which will be valid in 2010 – 2015. In 2015, the Department of Athletic Sports and the master program of Sport and Leisure Education continue to pass the same assessment.

 《Reason for establishment》 

The extensive sports facilities with adequate facilities are the best option in training the elite athletes for the country.

Established in 1989 with the macro vision of a Former Minister - Dr Lin Ching-Jiang, National Chung Cheng University was founded and planned to become the largest tertiary institutions in Taiwan, with the most comprehensive sports and leisure areas covering an area of about 40 hectares. In 1997 and 2005, it hosted two successful sports conferences with the participation of universities across the country. The scale and equipment system of the sports department reach the first rank in the country, this is the first choice to nurture and train the elite athlete. Establishing the Department of Athletic Sports represents the best use of national resources, and is also the best option to foster outstanding Olympic athletes. 

Advantage when the Department of Athletic Sports was established at a comprehensive university

The advantage when the Department of Athletic Sports was established at a comprehensive university is that for the sports enthusiasts of the country, in addition to sports practice, it can also attract and enrich talented people and resources in the school. Qualified athletes are trained by a university not only in sports but also in humanities, sociology, science and worldview. National Chung Cheng University with seven excellent colleges, offers a variety of exchange curricula that can be taken by double, minored, and educational programs. Prospective trainees of the Department of Athletic Sports will be easily trained in the second field of study, which will enhance their research as well as their competitiveness in job seeking. 

Promote the existing scientific research capacity of sports

In 2002 the Sport and Leisure Education Research Institute was established, becoming the first research institute in the nationwide university, not only to provide and improve professional education and training systems for the leisure sports industry, but also the long-term investment in sports science has achieved remarkable results. In the years 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008, the Institute has achieved the following achievements: the sports science award of Sports Affairs Council of the Executive Yuan, the implementation of many research projects and industry-university cooperative research projects of National Science Council for more than thirty cases, etc. These sports science research efforts are a solid foundation for the establishment of the Department of Athletic Sports. 

Elite athletes from National Chung Cheng University continue to have excellent performance in the international arena

Over the years, the research institute Sport and Leisure Education has trained and fostered a number of world-class athletes, including super horse Kevin Lin at the World Marathon 2003 – 2006, the national badminton athletes Cheng Wen-Hsing at the Olympics in 2004 – 2008, the national badminton athletes Zhan Ya-Ling at the Olympics in 1996, the taekwondo champion Lu Si Wen at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the lead climbing world championship in 2008 Li Hong Ying, and so on. These athletes not only bring glory to the home country in the international sports arena, but also enhance the reputation of the National Chung Cheng University, becoming the pride of teachers and students in the colleges. Department of Athletic Sports was established with the accession of the elite in the sport industry and leading faculty, National Chung Cheng University will certainly continue to make outstanding achievements in the international sports arena.

《Teaching objectives》

Department of Athletic Sports

Through various sports training courses, combining sports academic theory, theoretical and practical development, the teaching objectives include： 

(1) Training the elite athlete

(2) Training the coaches and the enhance the ability of sport competition

(3) Cultivating the sports talents with knowledge and morality

Master in Sport and Leisure Education

(1) Training of sports practice and professional research on sports science

(2) Training of sports practice and professional research on sports and leisure

(3) Training talents in the field of "Health and Physical Education"

(4) Cultivating talent with positive, innovative, scientific and technological integration, international outlook and lifelong self-learning ability.