PROGRAM INTRODUCTION

The Political Studies M.A. program envisions becoming an internationally acclaimed teaching and research centre that is renowned for its commitment to inter- and multidisciplinary education, innovative scholarship, and critical focus. With its academically-competent and internationally renowned, it aims to provide an internationally well-respected program. Within its interdisciplinary framework, the Program aims to foster individual’s knowledge and ability for critical analytical thinking. It aims to equip individuals with cutting-edge scholarship and research methods. The Program seeks to develop individuals’ ability to relate different applications of politics with sensibilities to pluralism, justice and difference, and to approach contemporary problems critically. It aspires to become an independent, original and pioneering platform for engaged, creative, and socially responsible scholarship.

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Mission and Vision

The Political Studies M.A. program envisions becoming an internationally acclaimed teaching and research centre that is renowned for its commitment to interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary education, innovative scholarship, and critical focus. Within its interdisciplinary framework, the Program aims to foster individual knowledge and the ability for critical analytical thinking. It aims to equip individuals with cutting-edge scholarship and research methods. The Program seeks to develop the ability to relate different applications of politics with sensibilities to pluralism, justice and difference, and to approach contemporary problems critically. It aspires to become an independent, original and pioneering platform for engaged, creative, and socially responsible scholarship.

The Political Studies M.A. program offers an inter-disciplinary education that aims to foster cutting-edge scholarship and innovative research. One of the core missions of the Program is to provide its students with a comprehensive, up-to-date curriculum that transcends narrow disciplinary boundaries and nurtures a critical understanding of central questions pertaining to politics. It provides an intellectually stimulating environment where students can find the opportunities to develop their own potential in order to critically adjudicate and improve social relations and norms around them, take action to change them when necessary, and to achieve personal traits that harmonize democratic values with a greater sensitivity to and respect for the environment and society, be open to new developments and changes, internalize freedom and equality, and combine local values with global ones and particular values with universal values. In tandem with its commitment to excellence in education, the Political Studies M.A. program is also committed to excellence in research and encourages its faculty members to undertake pioneering scholarship. It works towards developing collaborative ties and the required academic infrastructure that will contribute to its standing as an internationally renowned platform for graduate education in political studies.

Program Information

Application Criteria
Accepted Programs: All undergraduate programs. Students who have completed their undergraduate studies outside the fields of Political Studies, Political Science and International Relations, Philosophy or Sociology are admitted to join 1 or 2 academic semesters scientific preparation program depending on the decision taken by the program acceptance commission. One academic period (except for 24 credits condition) consists of 3 courses (9 credits).

Required Documents: The documents below should be uploaded to the system (www.sis.itu.edu.tr) during the application for the assessment of department commission before the interview.
1. Transcript.
2. Record of ALES, GMAT or GRE scores. Accepted minimum scores: ALES (Equal Weight): 65, GMAT: 480, GRE (old system): 652 or GRE (new system): 151.
3. Two Letters of recommendation.
4. Statement of Purpose (1500 words).
5. Sample of research or term paper (5000-6000 words).
6. Curriculum Vitae (CV).
7. Language certificate. The result of one of the following exams with minimum scores as follows: İTÜ YDY Proficiency: 75, YDS: 75 or TOEFL (iBT): 90. Photocopies of the scores are accepted for application, but original copies should be submitted upon admission and enrolment (Applicants whose native language is English do not need to submit these results).

Erasmus+ Partnerships

Master's Degree Graduation Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the program, the students should complete;
- 60 ECTS (8 Courses -60 ECTS-+Thesis-60ECTS-=120 ECTS in total) in courses and,
- Write a thesis (60 ECTS) on one of the selected topics in "Science, Technology and Society".
- The student is required to get an acceptance from a national or international conference for a paper presentation or an article produced from his/her thesis so he/she can submit his/her Master’s thesis.
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Compulsory Courses
- POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
- GLOBALIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- FORMATION OF THE MODERN STATE
- METHODOLOGY IN SOCIAL SCIENCES
- SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
- ETHIC AND SEMINAR
MA Thesis Writing

Criteria for MA thesis for the Political Studies MA Program

The thesis is the culmination of the Political Studies MA Program.

Students should present their proposals for their thesis study prior to the pre-defense presentation, and in communication with their supervisors. The proposal should include a subject, context, research questions and/or hypothesis, methodology, a working-content, and preliminary review of literature.

Prior to the submission of the thesis, the student should give a pre-defense presentation on the topic of their thesis to the department; be in regular contact with their supervisor, with written work being submitted at regular intervals leading up to submission; and have presented a full draft of the thesis to their supervisor at least two weeks before the submission date.

At a minimum, the thesis should contain an easily identifiable research question, thesis and structure; arguments in support of the thesis; a discussion of the relevant (primary and secondary) literature that pertains to the topic of the thesis; evidence of some independent thought and evaluation; and clear and consistent referencing, including a full bibliography.
Contact

Head of the Department:
Prof. Dr. Gürcan Koçan
Email: kocan@itu.edu.tr

Program Coordinator:
Doç. Dr. Ayşe Serdar

Email: aserdar@itu.edu.tr

COUNTRY	SCHOOL	QUOTA*
Germany	Brandenburgische TU Cottbus	2 MA (18 months)
Germany	Technische Universitat Berlin	1 MA (6 months)
Germany	Technische Universitat Kaiserslautern	2Undergraduate, MA (20 months)
Germany	Ruprecht-Karls-Universitaet Heidelberg	1 MA (10 months)
Germany	Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz	2MA (20 months)
Germany	Universitat Bayreuth	5 Undergraduate, MA (25 months)
Germany	Georg-August Universitat Gottingen	2 MA (12 months)+ 2MA (12 months)sociology
Bulgaria	Angel Kanchev University of Rousse	2 Undergraduate,MA (20 months)
Estonia	Tallinn University of Technology
Finland	University of Tampere	2 MA (16 months)
Finland	University of Lapland	2MA (10 months)
Netherlands	University of Groningen	2 MA (20 months)
Italy	Universita della Calabria	3 Undergraduate (15 months) – Modern EC Lang.
Italy	Università di Pisa
Greece	University of the Aegean	3 Undergraduate, MA (18 months)