The Department of Turkish Literature, which offers graduate degrees, has admitted its first students to the M.A. program in the 1998-1999 academic year. The Ph.D. program for the graduates of the M.A. program and other qualified candidates started in 2001.

The graduate programs are designed to encompass all periods and genres of oral and written Turkish literature from its beginnings until the present day. Present fields of concentration are: Ottoman Literature, 19th Century Literature and 20th Century Literature.

Unlike many of the traditional departments in this field, the Department of Turkish Literature encourages free and creative thinking, emphasizing research, analysis, interpretation, and criticism. Aiming at enhancing the standards of Turkish literary studies and universalizing the field, the Department underscores proficiency in several languages and encourages theoretical, interdisciplinary, and comparative approaches.

The language of instruction for courses in the Department is Turkish, except in instances where a non-Turkish visiting professor might prefer to teach in English.

The duration of the M.A. program is three years, including a prep year, during which students take courses designed to introduce them to various aspects of literature and to strengthen their proficiency in Ottoman Turkish and foreign languages.

Admission

For entering the M.A. program applicants must be graduates of four-year undergraduate programs, preferably in literature. Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the applicant's scholastic record, LES results, level of proficiency in Turkish and English, a composition designed to assess his/her ability to critically analyze literary texts, and an interview.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the M.A. degree are required to complete at least 33 units of credit beyond the preparatory year and to prove their competence in Turkish, Ottoman, and English. Some students may be exempted from English and/or Ottoman depending on their proficiency levels. The candidates may be required to learn additional languages according to their fields of concentration: Persian and/or Arabic for Ottoman Literature; French and/or German for 19th Century Literature and 20th Century Literature. Candidates should prepare and defend a Master's thesis. They should maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 throughout their studies. Language courses and thesis writing are without credit.

(All prep year courses are mandatory.)