The head of the department, who also serves as the head of the graduate institute, is responsible for handling numerous administrative tasks such as hiring, course planning, library selections, equipment purchasing, and the solicitation of research endowments. Since 1946, there have been 19 department heads. They have been, in chronological order: Professors Shih-hong Chen, Chong-wen Wan, Shan-lin Lee, Shung-sheng Lei, Ming-ming Peng, Chu-Gui Huang, Tsai-tien Chao, Kuo-shin Chen, Chan Lien, Chieng-han Chang, Song-shih Yuan, Geng Wu, Cheng-wen Tsai, Ching-fu Hsu, Tzong-ho Bau, Chu-cheng Ming, Lang Kao, Tsai-tsu Su, Yeh-lih Wang, Szue-chin Philip Hsu and Yu-tzung Chang. The current department head is Professor Teng-chi Chang, who began his leadership tenure in 2021.