The Department of History functions mainly as a graduate department, offering M.A. and Ph.D. programs in the areas of Ottoman, American, and European histories. At the undergraduate level, the department offers both compulsory and elective courses in History of Civilization (HCIV 101/102) for the students of other departments and faculties, and provides preparatory courses for the entering graduate students of History.

The Department of History offers graduate programs in Ottoman, European and American history, leading to Master's and Ph.D. degrees. Emphasis is placed on preparing students to be able to undertake independent research in these particular fields. The graduate program involves a preparatory year designed to give students the skills and language proficiency which will enable them ultimately to make original research with primary source materials. Since profound historical research can only be carried out through the use of primary source materials, it is necessary for students to acquire the relevant linguistic and paleographic skills.

The program is designed to concentrate on the areas of Ottoman History, European History and the History of the United States.

The preparatory year prior to the Master's program provides a background in Western and Turkish history. The first year in the Master's program features specialized courses in Ottoman History, European History, and the History of the United States. Students should by then have acquired a solid knowledge in history so as to be able to raise questions concerning more specific historical themes. During the second year the student begins to write his/her Master's thesis under the supervision of an advisor. During the Master's program the student is expected to submit papers at the end of each semester.

Admission: Graduates from the departments of social sciences and humanities may apply to this program. An undergraduate degree in History is not a prerequisite for entering the M.A. program. All students entering the graduate program in history must take one year of preparatory courses before they begin to take Master's level courses of the department. Therefore, graduates from the Faculties of Management, Engineering or Science who are interested in history are also eligible to apply for admission. Students admitted should have passed the English Language Test (level equivalent to TOEFL 213). (Also refer to the ``Graduate Admissions'' section in the introduction of this catalog for the general graduate admission requirements.)

Degree Requirements:

1. Completion of at least 33 units of credit at the Graduate Program in History at Bilkent.
2. Students of Ottoman History must demonstrate competence in Ottoman Turkish and at least in one of the elective European and in one of the Middle Eastern languages.
3. Students of European History and the History of the United States must demonstrate competence in at least two of the elective European languages.
4. A Master's thesis must be submitted and accepted.
5. A grade point average of at least 3.00 must be maintained for the totality of Master's level work.