POLITICAL SCIENCE

Metin Heper, Ph.D., Chair

Academic Staff
Part-time Academic Staff
Courses

Political science is one of the oldest social science disciplines. It examines how people in one society and in societies organized into states live together and resolve or fail to resolve their conflicts. Politics is the art of influencing others as well as arriving at consensus. It is a widespread phenomenon that one encounters at all levels of society (family, school, government, and the like) as well as between states.

The discipline of political science which studies systematically (that is, shows and accounts for) the recurring patterns of events in politics, is divided into five subdisciplines: political theory, comparative politics, international relations, national politics and public administration. The undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the Department aim to provide a balanced education and training in these five subdisciplines. Through elective courses students can, to a certain degree, specialize in certain areas.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

The Department offers an education in political science with opportunities for a broad and balanced undergraduate study. Students pursue programs which, in addition to providing a firm grounding in the core subjects of the discipline, allow students to take courses in economics, management, and international relations as well as in computer sciences and humanities. Departmental courses are divided in a balanced fashion between the fields of public law, political theory, comparative politics, and Turkish government and politics.

The Department aims at providing the students with an education that would enhance their understanding of social artifacts. In addition to giving the basic requirements of a degree in political science, the program emphasizes the utility of learning social and political roles. The goal for a study in the Political Science major is to maximize students' capacity to analyze and interpret the significance and dynamics of political events and governmental processes. The purpose is not simply to reveal the significance of political events and issues. It is to equip the students with the knowledge in coping with political phenomena and problems. The aim is political education ``in depth'' for those students who have an interest in politics whatever their professional goals and eventual occupations are.

UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM

FIRST YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Prac. Lab
ECON 101  Introduction to Economics I  4      3  6
ENG 101  English and Composition I  5      3  6
GE 100  Orientation  1      1  1
HCIV 101  History of Civilization I  3      3  6
POLS 101  Introduction to Political Science I  3      3  6
SOC 101  Introduction to Sociology  3      3  5
TURK 101  Turkish I  2      2  1

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Prac. Lab
ECON 102  Introduction to Economics II  4      3  6
ENG 102  English and Composition II  5      3  6
HCIV 102  History of Civilization II  3      3  6
POLS 104  Introduction to Political Science II  3      3  6
PSYC 102  Introduction to Social Psychology  3      3  5
TURK 102  Turkish II  2      2  1

SECOND YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Prac. Lab
ENG 241  Sophomore Academic English I  3      3  5
HISTR 201  History of Turkish Republic I  2      2  1
PHIL 241  Social and Political Philosophy I  3      3  6
POLS 201  Fundamentals of Social Research  3      3  6
POLS 231  Introduction to Law  3      3  6
  Elective (1)        3  6

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Prac. Lab
ENG 242  Sophomore Academic English II  3      3  5
HISTR 202  History of Turkish Republic II  2      2  1
MATH 264  Statistics for Social Sciences  3      3  6
PHIL 242  Social and Political Philosophy II  3      3  6
POLS 232  Turkish Public Law  3      3  6
  Elective (1)        3  6

Elective courses must be taken from the departmental offerings. A sophomore is allowed to choose an elective course only at the 200 level.

THIRD YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Prac. Lab
CS 121  Introduction to Computing for Social Sciences  3      3  6
POLS 303  Comparative Politics I  3      3  6
POLS 305  Turkish Political Development  3      3  6
  Electives (2)        6  12

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Prac. Lab
POLS 304  Comparative Politics II  3      3  6
POLS 306  Contemporary Turkish Politics  3      3  6
POLS 324  Research Methods  3      3  6
  Electives (2)        6  12

At least two of the elective courses must be chosen from amongst the departmental offerings. All other elective courses must be chosen either from amongst the departmental offerings or from amongst the courses that are offered and open to POLS students by the Departments of International Relations, Economics, History, and Management. A junior is allowed to choose an elective course only at the 300 level.

FOURTH YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Prac. Lab
POLS 455  World Politics I  3      3  6
  Electives (4)        12  24

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Prac. Lab
POLS 476  World Politics II  3      3  6
  Electives (4)        12  24

At least four of the elective courses must be chosen from amongst the departmental offerings. Other elective courses must be chosen from amongst the courses that are offered and open to POLS students by the Departments of International Relations, Economics, History, and Management. A senior is allowed to choose an elective course only at the 400 level.

Language courses satisfy elective requirements for the third and fourth year electives, but only one language course per semester is allowed.

GRADUATE PROGRAM

Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science

The Doctor of Philosophy Program in Political Science is designed to provide candidates with a depth of knowledge in their respective areas of study and help them to gain a high level conceptual and analytical capability in their subject. The candidate is expected to write a dissertation which would be a contribution to theory in Political Science. Refer to the ``Graduate Admissions'' section in the introduction of this catalog for the general graduate admission requirements.

The candidates must complete no fewer than 24 credit hours. All courses need to be approved by the Department.

CURRICULUM

FIRST YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Prac. Lab
POLS 601  Seminar in Turkish Politics  3      3  6
POLS 603  Advanced Academic English  3      3  6
POLS 605  The Public Sphere  3      3  6
POLS 607  Configuration of Political Theory Today  3      3  6
POLS 629  Turkey in Its Muslim Environment  3      3  6

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Prac. Lab
POLS 602  Seminar in Comparative Politics  3      3  6
POLS 604  Democratization Process in Turkey  3      3  6
POLS 606  Seminar in Political Theory  3      3  6
POLS 608  Politics, Culture, Nation and Gender  3      3  6
POLS 610  Research Methods  3      3  6

SECOND YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Prac. Lab
POLS 611  Political Theory :An Overview  3      3  8
POLS 613  Seminar in Turkish Politics  3      3  8
POLS 615  Comparative Democratization  3      3  7
POLS 627  Cultural Diversity Cosmopolitanism and Europe  3      3  7

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Prac. Lab
POLS 602  Seminar in Comparative Politics  3      3  6
POLS 604  Democratization Process in Turkey  3      3  6
POLS 606  Seminar in Political Theory  3      3  6
POLS 608  Politics, Culture, Nation and Gender  3      3  6
POLS 610  Research Methods  3      3  6

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