Introduction:

　　東海大學國際貿易學系〈簡稱國貿系〉創立於民國六十二年，成立之初隸屬於文學院；在民國六十五年為因應國家經濟建設發展之需要，本校新增商學院，本系跟著改隸屬於商學院；民國七十二年商學院再規劃成管理學院，國貿系跟著隸屬於管理學院。

　　成立之初由陳勝年教授擔任系主任，其後陸續由馬凱、劉璧章、趙經羲教授擔任系主任；民國六十八年郭永助教授接任系主任後，開始由單班轉為雙班，並增設夜間部國貿系〈雙班制〉；民國八十年由蕭欽篤教授續任主任，同年，夜國貿增加一班；民國八十三年李明煌教授接任主任，民國八十六年由謝登隆教授接任主任，夜間部轉型為正規學制教育，改稱為第二部，且在民國八十八年招收進修部；民國八十九年由張國雄教授接任主任，民國九十一年設立研究所碩士班，以培養「具有國際觀」及「具備跨國經營專長」之人才為目的；民國九十二年由陳慧聰教授接任主任；民國九十五年由林灼榮教授接任主任，希冀採「穩健中求成長」步調，全方位提升國貿系教學、研究與服務之質與量。

　　目前每學年度學生班級，包括大學部三班、進修部一班，及研究所一班，學生總數約九百人；為提昇教學品質與研究質量，在學生總數方面，本系已在94學年度停止招收第二部學生，將第一部及第二部學生合併成「大學部」，並於96學度停止招收進修部學生；另外，擬於98學年度擴增研究所名額，並分組招收理工背景之研究生；在師資陣容方面，於98學年度已延聘具有財務金融領域之博士與國際經貿與財金法規專長之博士人才各乙名，目前已具備跨領域與前瞻性之師資結構。本系現有專任教師十七位，教授三位，副教授及助理教授共十二位〈含具MBA與J.D.法律學博士之外籍老師二名〉，講師兩位，助教四位。助理教授以上之師資，皆具有博士學位，並符合本系課程多元化發展之需求。

The International Trade Department of Tunghai University was established in 1973 as a part of the Arts College. In 1976, because of the changing nature of Taiwan’s economic development, the University founded the Business College, and the Department became part of this new academic unit. In 1983, the Business College name was changed to the Management College.

Early Chairs of the Department included Chen Sheng-Nien, Mai Kai, Liu Bi-Chang, and Jiao Jing-Hsi. In 1979, Professor Kuo Yung-Chu took over as Chair. The Department initiated some changes such as doubling the number of student classes from one to two, and beginning a two-class Night Division.

Beginning in 1991, a succession of Chairs continued reorganizing the Department. Under Shiau Chin-Duu, two additional classes were added at night. Reform continued in 1994, with Li Ming-Huang as Chair. In 1997, Hsieh Teng-Lung instituted a name change of the Night Division to the Second Division, and set up the Extension Program in 1999. Chang Kuo-Hsiung, in 2000, began establishment of the Graduate Masters Program. The goal of the program is to have students acquire an international perspective and to have a global management specialty. Chen Hwei-Chung was named Chair starting in 2003, and in that year, the name of the Department was changed from International Trade to International Business. In 2006, Lin Jwu-Rong as Chair sought to promote a stable momentum to upgrade the quality and amount of teaching, research, and service. As a result of their work, and in an effort to achieve the Departmental goals, the Second Division was discontinued and combined with the First Division in 2005.

In 2008, the number of Graduate Students entering into the program was increased, and at the same time more emphasis was placed on recruiting students with applied technical backgrounds.

At present, each entering undergraduate level/year of the Department has three classes. There is also an Extension Program comprised of one class and a Graduate Program of one class. The total number of students in the respective units is approximately 1,100.

Our Department now has 15 full-time faculty members. There are three Professors, seven Associate Professors (including one expatriate teacher), three Assistant Professors (including one expatriate teacher), two Lecturers, four Teaching Assistants and a group of highly qualified part-time teachers are also available to help students enjoy learning. In the future, there are plans to recruit and hire additional faculty in other important areas of expertise to enhance the subject matter coverage of the Department.

During the 2008-2009 academic year, the Department had a total enrollment of more than 1,100. Undergraduate students are expected to successfully complete a minimum of 128 credit hours of course work and receive a Bachelor of Business Administration degree upon successful completion of all coursework. Graduate students engage in a 2-year, 44-credit curriculum structured to explore and enhance student capabilities.