The Department of Political Science and Diplomacy was established at the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1948. The department was transferred to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1952, and adopted into the College of Social Sciences in 1982. The department aims to encourage students to develop a broad knowledge base and a progressive outlook in response to the globalized era; to develop political leadership for the democratization and the advancement of politics through participatory politics; and to refine their ability to provide practical and reasonable alternatives based on a thorough understanding of various political phenomena. The curriculum of the department covers political theory, international politics, and political history. The courses on political history include Eastern and Western Political History, Diplomatic History, and Modern and Contemporary History of Korea and Korean Diplomatic History. The courses on political theory include Political Thought, Civil Society, Theory of the State, Theory of Political Process, Comparative Politics, Globalization and Governance, and Public Opinion and Propaganda. The courses on international politics include International Politics, International Political Economy, International Relations in the Asia-Pacific Region, and Various Issues of International Relations, and were designed to enable students to develop accurate analytical skills based on a broad perspective and critical thinking in response to the rapidly changing environment of international politics. The faculty of the department consists of eight professors who hold Ph.D.s from renowned universities in Korea and abroad. These faculty members are undertaking diverse research activities for the development of local communities and politics, while aggressively pursuing academic exchanges with researchers from across the globe. As of 2008, the department has 210 undergraduate students and about 20 graduate students, and its student community has many international members, including Chinese students and exchange students from Japan. As a department with a long history and tradition, the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Pusan National University has produced many talented graduates who are playing leading roles in diverse sectors of society. Graduates of the department are working in politics, government, academia, and journalism.