In June 1998, Mr. Yang Mu, the first Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at National Dong Hwa University, believed that Chinese, Foreign Languages, and History were the three fundamental disciplines of a traditional liberal arts college. At that time, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences had already established the Department of Chinese Literature and the Department of English and American Literature. Therefore, Dean Yang intended to establish the Department of History. Furthermore, no higher education institutions in Eastern Taiwan had any history-related departments at that time, making this plan of significant pioneering value. To this end, Dean Yang sought assistance from Dr. Hsieh Kuo-hsing, a researcher at the Institute of Modern History of Academia Sinica, and Associate Researcher Zhang Li, to carry out initial planning. In March 1999, the Ministry of Education approved the establishment of the department, and student enrollment began in July of the same year. In August 1999, the Department of History officially opened its office on the 3rd floor of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (currently Humanities and Social Sciences Building 1), Room B305. In 2009, the department established a Master's program, further enhancing its academic structure and training. In July 2017, the department office moved to the newly completed Humanities and Social Sciences Building 3, 2nd floor, Room B227, marking the department's entry into a period of crisis, transformation, and new development since the 106th academic year.
Since its establishment, the Department of History has focused on three key development goals: "The History of Eastern Taiwan," "Pacific Rim Regional History," and "Social and Cultural History." In terms of The History of Eastern Taiwan, the department aims to promote local historical research with a focus on community, natural, and cultural resources. This approach seeks to enhance the study of Eastern Taiwan's history and offer a unique perspective on Taiwan's broader historical context. For Pacific Rim Regional History, the department aims to understand the historical political, economic, and cultural interactions among the countries surrounding the Pacific Rim. By connecting with international academic trends, the department explores the region's interactions with other parts of the world and examines the historical development trajectories and characteristics of East Asia, China, and Taiwan from a global history perspective, with the goal of cultivating a broader international outlook. Finally, in the field of Social and Cultural History, the department seeks to observe social change and cultural development across different periods and regions. This approach aims to understand how these shifts relate to political and economic development, and to compare the similarities and differences between various societies. By thinking about history in a broader context, the department also engages in public history writing and translation, further contributing to the dissemination and interpretation of historical knowledge.
In 2009, the department established a Master's program, completing its academic structure. The Master's program focuses on three main areas: Taiwan's historical and cultural development, modern Chinese history, and the Pacific Rim region. It aims to cultivate graduate students through these areas of study and further enhance research in the humanities and social sciences in Eastern Taiwan. The program is designed with three educational goals: to promote regional humanistic spirit, integrate academic resources in Eastern Taiwan, and open up research resources on regional historical and cultural studies. Additionally, it aims to foster innovative talent in historical research and connect with international academic trends. Under this framework, the curriculum is structured around three key training areas: the study of modern Chinese historical development, Pacific Rim regional studies, and the integration of environmental and public history. The program seeks to equip Master's students with six core competencies: Professional historical knowledge and cultivation of humanistic spirit Ability to conduct historical research, including presentation and writing skills Proficiency in both the native language and foreign languages for academic purposes An international perspective on regional studies and a sense of cultural engagement Development of professional ethics in historical scholarship and critical thinking Skills in planning and executing the practical application of history and humanities in real-world contexts.
The development and teaching goals of the Department have not been adjusted to date, but the curriculum system has undergone structural adjustments in the form of program-based courses. Beginning in 2007 (academic year 96), in line with university policy, the department’s undergraduate program began implementing a structured curriculum and making adjustments to its course offerings. In addition to the mandatory "Core Program in Eastern and Western Civilizations," three professional elective programs were introduced: "Environmental and Public Social History," "Historiographical Analysis and Applications," and "Pacific Rim Regional History" (students must choose one). Furthermore, the department, in collaboration with the Department of Chinese Literature and the Department of Arts and Creative Industries, jointly planned an interdisciplinary "Taiwanese Literature, History, and Arts Program." In 2013 (academic year 102), the department reviewed the effectiveness of its program-based curriculum and, in line with the university’s curriculum reform, made further adjustments to the professional elective programs. The three initial professional electives were consolidated into two: "Pacific Rim Regional History" and "Public and Social Cultural History" (students must choose one). Simultaneously, the interdisciplinary "Taiwanese Literature, History, and Arts Program" was restructured into the "Cultural and Creative Industries Program" to better align with contemporary educational and industrial development needs. Starting in 2016 (academic year 105), the "Public and Social History Program" was renamed the "Public History and Applications Program." Since then, the overall course structure has remained largely unchanged, with no further structural adjustments. Aside from introducing new courses such as documentary production, history and fiction, historical game design, and app applications to align with the university’s innovative teaching policies and to meet the demand for distinctive courses, the department has also incorporated history-related courses from other departments into its professional electives to maintain students’ course selection and learning rights, in response to a reduction in department faculty.
The curriculum structure of this department has undergone changes over time, but from its inception, the focus of teaching methods has been on strengthening the use of archival materials, reading foreign classics, and applying practical courses. After two decades of long-term development, the department has gradually established a curriculum that balances both historical expertise and practical application. The core areas of the curriculum now include oral history, historic sites and cultural heritage, film history, documentary production, historical fiction writing, archaeology, museology, historical drama performance, and historical game design. These subjects emphasize public history and creative cultural industries, aiming to cultivate students' diverse abilities in historical writing and interpretation for the new era.
本系成立之後，先後經歷七位系主任，根據本系發展與教育目標推動系所教研事務，才有今日之格局與特色。本系成立之初，原規畫系主任人選為張力研究員，然因借調程序延誤，校方因而委由當時的圖書館館長李美月副教授任代理系主任，實際工作則仍由張力教授負責。2000年2月起，張力教授自中央研究院近代史研究所正式借調本系，為本系創系以來第一位系主任，至2003年7月借調期滿，返中研院本職，轉為合聘教授；2007年8月張力研究員再度借調本系，並兼任人文社會科學院院長，並於2009年2月歸建中央研究院近代史研究所，但仍被本校聘為榮譽教授。在創系主任張力研究員之後，本系先後由五位專任教師兼任系主任：2003年8月至2006年7月間，由李道緝副教授兼任系主任；2006年8月至2011年7月間，由許育銘副教授兼任系主任；2011年8月至2014年7月間，由陳進金副教授(現為教授)兼任系主任；2014年8月至2017年7月間由陳鴻圖副教授(現為教授)兼任系主任；2017年8月至2020年7月間由潘宗億副教授(現為教授)兼任系主任，2020年8月至2023年7月由李道緝副教授兼任系主任；2023年8月由陳元朋教授接任系主任迄今...
本系專任師資乃本系得以順利推動教學與輔導事務之發展的重要人力資源，而自創系以來的專任教師熱情與和諧關係持續至今，乃本系重要傳統。自張力系主任以來，本系持續不遺餘力於爭取優秀人才至本系任教，但由於本校地理位置等交通因素，且又無利多之條件，徵聘專任教師之事亦備嘗艱辛。創系時之師資有張力、李美月、左光煊、許育銘等4名教師。2000年8月，延攬林美玫副教授、張璉助理教授。2001年8月，延攬李道緝副教授、陳鴻圖助理教授。2002年8月延攬陳進金助理教授。2003年2月延攬陳彥良、陳秀鳳助理教授。2006年2月延攬陳元朋助理教授。2006年8月延攬貝克定（Timothy Danforth Baker, Jr）、蔣竹山兩位助理教授。2008年本校與國立花蓮教育大學合併，因應系所調整和師資整合，原花教大鄉土教育系吳翎君、黃熾霖、王崇峻、陳文松等4位教授轉任本系服務。2011年8月延攬潘宗億助理教授。2019年2月延攬劉慧專案助理教授，並於2020年8月聘任為專任助理教授。2023年2月延攬金蕙涵助理教授。2024年2月延攬劉芳瑜助理教授。就本系專任教師之專長與教學領域而言，目前中國史、臺灣史、世界史師資結構比例略顯不平衡。目前本系中國史領域之師資計有黃熾霖、許育銘、陳元朋、金蕙涵、劉芳瑜等5名專任教師，臺灣史領域之師資計有陳鴻圖與陳進金等2名，世界史領域之師資計有潘宗億與劉慧等2名。