Courses in the Institute are planned as a combination of theory and practice to give students an in-depth and critical knowledge of the theory and related literature of cultural theory, ethnic relations, cultural consulting and other fields. It will also train students to do independent research on related topics. In order to achieve those goals, regular students are required to take at least 30 credits, and working students 36 credits. They are also required to complete a Master's thesis to get an M.A. degree.

On one hand, the emphases developed in the Institute stress basic research on ethnic relations and culture. On the other hand, they stress cultural consulting and applied application of social science. In applied practice, an emphasis is laid on cooperating with local communities and getting involved with community planning and construction. The Institute combines the methods and knowledge of cultural anthropology, psychology, sociology and other fields. It attempts to research topics related to ethnic cultures and ethnic relations from the perspectives of both theory and practice. In the short term, emphasis is placed on the mutual relations between the various ethnic groups of Eastern Taiwan. In the long run, emphasis will be placed on the accumulation of research on local ethnic groups as well as global comparative cross-cultural studies, in order to help Taiwan establish a foundation of systematic research on multi-ethnic societies.

1. Basic research: Extensive and intensive research on the theory and practice of ethnic relations, starting from conditions in China. An emphasis will be placed on the essence of Taiwanese ethnic relations, Taiwanese aboriginal history, and the status of Austronesian peoples and their cultures.
2. Cultural consulting: In addition to basic research, the Institute also strongly emphasizes the application of social sciences on Chinese society. It is hoped that graduating students, in addition to being able to do basic research in the long run, will all study useful skills. The Institute actively pursues effective ways of analyzing and resolving the diverse problems of complex ethnic relations, rapid cultural change, social anomie, etc., posed to individuals, families and communities. Its core concept is thus "cultural consulting."
3. Ethnic culture documentaries: The Institute has established a "Workshop in Ethnographic Film" to provide graduate students with work in documentary film-making and production. The Institute has full-time instructors in documentary film-making, and is fully committed to the filming and production of documentaries on Taiwanese aborigines.
4. Aboriginal social subjects: Aboriginal education, languages, social policy and welfare and other questions are all subjects of discussion in the Institute.

M.A. for Working Students
The Ethnic Relations and Culture M.A. for Working Students Program utilizes a combination of diverse disciplines to develop a concrete training in relations between ethnic cultures. With Han-Aboriginal communities as its main subject, it uses contact and understanding between communities to deepen the mutual comprehension of culture between Han and aboriginal group, as well as to propose policies to address their differences. Training for working students is a combination of research and pedagogy, as well as theory and practice. Its core curriculum includes: basic research, research on aboriginal cultures, and community development research. Practical research dimensions are cultural consulting and community construction.

	Admission Process I, Regular Students
	(A) Written exam   1. Language: Mandarin Chinese and English (total of 60 points) 2. Specialized knowledge:   a. Social Science Methodologies (especially filed work and survey methods, 100 points) b. Cultural Anthropology (100 points) c. Introduction to Psychology and Sociology (100 points) (B) Oral test:   Students who pass the written exam will be invited to take an oral exam. Final results for admission will consist 70% of the written exam and 30% of the oral exam. As the oral exam will discuss topics related to "ethnic relations and culture," students are requested to prepare written materials such as papers presented, scholarly articles, and study plans in order to permit the oral examining committee to better understand the candidates.
	Admission Process II, Working Students
	(A) Evaluation of written materials (c.v., publications, study plan) (40%) (B) Written exam (30%)   1. Social Science Theory (including basic knowledge of psychology and sociology) 2. Theory of Ethnic Relations (C) Oral exam (30%)
	Admission Process III, Selected admission exam
	Every November, the Institute has a selected admission exam open to graduating students, graduates, and working professionals. Those who are not students of sociology, psychology or anthropology, however, are required to have already passed at least five courses in those three disciplines. Time and location of the selected admission exam is available on the home page of the Institute. In principle, the selected admission exam consists of 50% evaluation of written materials (resume, research plan, study plan, past achievements, teacher recommendations, etc.) and 50% oral exam.