As the Department of Political Science and International Relations, our primary aim is to equip our students with the ability to understand, interpret, and critically analyze modern political trends and the international system. We strive to ensure that they are familiar with the foundational texts and up-to-date research and investigation results in the field and that they internalize this knowledge.
To achieve our goal, we place special emphasis on enhancing our students’ critical and analytical thinking skills, promoting interdisciplinary knowledge, and fostering intellectual competence, which will enable them to graduate as experts in political science and international relations. We attach great importance to preparing them for successful professional careers.
In the Department of Political Science and International Relations, all courses are conducted entirely in English. This ensures that students are expected to have a fluent command of English in terms of writing, speaking, and comprehension by the time they graduate. Among the core courses of the department, one can mention Introduction to Political Science, Communication and Computer Skills, Introduction to International Relations, Current Topics in Turkish Politics, Turkish Foreign Policy, and Global Relations.
In addition to these, starting from the second year, students have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skills in the field they wish to specialize in through elective courses offered each semester. Among the elective courses, the study of Chinese is particularly encouraged. Instead of taking courses in the 8th semester, students can participate in Vocational Training in Business, which allows them to spend their final semester within the professional environment.
Graduates of the department have employment opportunities in public institutions, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, media and financial institutions, as well as national and international companies.
Mission:
The fundamental mission of our department is to advance the critical and analytical thinking skills of our students, ensure they graduate with interdisciplinary knowledge and intellectual competence, and embark on their professional careers as experts in political science and international relations.
Vision:
Our vision is to become a department which is highly preferred for its quality in education, teaching, research, and collaborations; actively engaged in shaping and implementing policies in the field of political science and international relations for both public and private organizations; aspiring to enrich the global community, the environment, public institutions, and the private sector while embracing universal values and being open to innovation; and being a department that is honored to be a member of.
Programme Learning Targets:
Educate and train students who can:
- Recognize and internalize the core texts of the field and current research,
- Understand and analyze modern political trends and the international system with a critical perspective,
are the main learning targets of the department.
Programme Learning Outcomes:
- Developing awareness of classic documents and contemporary literature in the field of Political Science and International Relations;
- Explaining the historical development of theories and engaging in discussions on major theoretical debates;
- Demonstrating an understanding of fundamental concepts, theories, and ideologies in the discipline, and articulating personal viewpoints on these topics;
- Explaining political science and international relations theories individually and in relation to one another;
- Possessing knowledge of key historical events that shape politics and international relations, and analyzing their interconnectedness;
- Recognizing and establishing connections between the philosophical thoughts of ancient and modern thinkers;
- Correlating international relations events with domestic political events and generating new insights;
- Interpreting current events in law, economics, politics, and sociology within theoretical frameworks relevant to Political Science and International Relations;
- Developing a foundational understanding of world cultural heritage as well as Turkish and global science, arts, and culture;
- Conducting research on a topic related to Political Science and International Relations, grounded in scientific principles, and effectively presenting the findings.