HISTORY
The Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences was established in 1975 by the name of Muğla School of Business, under the administration of Ankara Academy of Economics and Commerce. In 1982, the School started to pursue its higher education activities under the administrative authority of Dokuz Eylül University. In 1992, after the establishment of Muğla University, the School was altered to a Faculty and became the core establishment of the University. The Department of Political Science and International Relations was founded in 1992 under the name of International Relations and has been admitting students since the 2012-2013 academic year. The students of Political Science and International Relations are required to pass a one-year English preparatory class and obliged to take at least %30 of their total credits in English.
QUALIFICATION AWARDED
Bachelor of Arts
MODE OF STUDY
Full-time
RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING
The students registered to the program for the first time should apply to their departments within the first week of the academic year with related documents showing the credits and the grades of the courses they have achieved in their previous higher education programs. The credits and courses that are approved by the board will be transferred to the program they are currently enrolled. The number of semesters corresponding to these courses is calculated by taking into consideration the total credits of the courses in the previous education program and the semester credits in the curriculum of the program in which the student is enrolled. This period will be deducted from the maximum period of education specified in Article 44 of the Law and the student will be placed to the semester that is determined by the relevant board decision.
SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
For Turkish citizens, access to undergraduate programs in Turkey is only possible through the Higher Education Institutions Exam. Certain number of foreign students are also accepted based on their score in a central examination called Foreign Student Examination (YÖS).
Documents required for registration;
1-High school diploma or equivalent,
2-Placement result certificate issued by ÖSYM (Assessment, Selection and Placement Center)
PROGRAM PROFILE
Political Science and International Relations undergraduate program aims its students to acquire the ability to analyze economic, political and social issues with their international dimensions and to evaluate their reflections on foreign policy. Surrounded by the Caucasus in the East, The Balkans in the West and the Middle East in the South, Turkey, the only country which is member of NATO, European Council, OECD and Organization of the Islamic Conference simultaneously, is an economic and cultural bridge located in the intersection point of East and West, North and South. Moreover, Turkey has never been colonized and thus established its political system not by the imposition of colonial powers as been the case in most of the world but with its own willpower and by mobilizing its own resources. Turkey has never taken part in an international war since the establishment of the Republic, including World War II, and has been successful in maintaining the political balance both in its internal and external affairs, despite some occasional disruptions. However, due to its geopolitical position, Turkey remains at the center of international conflict areas. Thus, it is essential for Turkey to train professionals who are well informed in the fields of politics and political institutions and familiar to the basic principles, processes, theoretical basis and historical development of international relations. In this context department of Political Science and International Relations aims to educate the much needed human resource for the country's domestic and foreign policy institutions and for other national and international private or non-governmental organizations. In line with this vision, the program includes a wide range of lessons. It also aims to educate people who can speak at least one foreign language fluently, has the general culture and representation talent, successful at human relations, translate and write his/her thoughts effectively by giving academic and diplomatic writing courses in addition to basic courses.
OBJECTIVES
1-To graduate individuals who are equipped to take competent positions in other public and private sector organizations, especially in the foreign relations units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministries; national and international civil society, think tanks, research centers and similar units.
2-To graduate individuals who adopt a scientific perspective and universal values as a guide and prioritize social sensitivity.
3-To ensure the development of the field of Political Science and International Relations by raising individuals who can make academic contributions to the field with the production of scientific knowledge.
4-To graduate individuals who have a scientific approach to social and political issues, who can evaluate political issues with an impartial, rational and critical approach and who use their expertise in a prudent manner.
5-To graduate individuals with high self-confidence and awareness, who can produce solutions to national and international problems with a scientific approach, who can work individually and are also prone to group work.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
1-To have advanced theoretical and practical knowledge and equipment in the field of Political Science and International Relations.
2-To be able to benefit from other disciplines (law, economics, sociology, psychology, history, etc.) that form the basis of Political Science and International Relations and to develop the ability to work interdisciplinary.
3-Gaining the ability to make critical analysis based on observation, documents, evidence and research by comprehending scientific logic, methodology and ethics; following scientific studies in the field and having a lifelong learning perspective.
4- To have the ability to interpret the relationships between factors such as structures, actors, institutions and culture in local, regional and international politics from an analytical and critical perspective and to produce solutions to problems.
5- Acquiring the competencies required for employment in public, private sector, national and international organizations/NGOs; having work ethics and responsibility.
6-To be able to make career planning according to personal characteristics, abilities and tendencies and to determine the specialized knowledge and skills to be acquired within this framework and to gain the responsibility and awareness of acquiring them.
7-To have the competence to convey his/her thoughts, research results, comments and observations and suggestions for solutions to problems on issues related to local, regional and international politics in written and oral form to experts and non-experts by supporting them with research data and academic arguments.
8-To be able to follow the information about Political Science and International Relations by using at least one foreign language and to be able to communicate with colleagues by using this language at least at the European Language Portfolio B2 General level.
9-To acquire the ability to use basic computer programs and the internet, and to use this equipment in the field of information production and development.
10-To have social sensitivity; to have sensitivity about human rights, universal values and heritage, environmental protection and to reflect this to professional activities and decisions.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Students who successfully complete all the courses (corresponding to a total of 240 ECTS) in the program and who achieve a 2.0 Grade Point Average out of 4.00 will be granted a Bachelor's diploma in the field of Political Science and International Relations.
Occupational Profiles of Graduates
Graduates of Political Science and International Relations can work both in governmental and private institutions. They are usually expected to serve in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or in international units of other ministries. Yet, since political science is closely interlinked with other disciplines such as economy, finance, business, communication, media, law, and public administration, it is ideal for students who maintain a general interest in political and social issues but have not decided on their specific professions. After receiving a basic education, students then can decide on the field or sector they would like to specialize in, and through taking departmental and non-departmental elective courses they can elaborate their knowledge within this specific field. Moreover, acquiring advanced verbal and written communication skills in English upon graduation, makes them also eligible for employment in the private sector (press, finance companies, national/international companies, non-governmental organizations).
Access to Further Studies
Upon successful completion of the undergraduate program, the candidates might apply to postgraduate (master) programs provided that they have a valid grade from ALES and have sufficient knowledge of English language.
Exam Regulations & Assesment & Grading
Exams consist of midterm exams, final exams, make-up exams, resit exams, exemption exams, and single-course exams.
Midterm Exams: One midterm exam is held for courses offered within each semester. The midterm exam evaluation constitutes 40% of the grade received.
Final Exams: These are held at the end of the semester to determine the student's success in the courses that have been completed. Final exam evaluation constitutes 60% of the grade received.
Make-up Exams: Students who are unable to take the midterm exam due to a valid and justifiable excuse are granted the right to take a make-up exam by the relevant administrative board. For a student to be admitted to a make-up exam, they must have applied to the dean's office/directorate within 3 days of the occurrence of the excuse with a petition substantiating their excuse with documents, and their excuse must have been accepted by the relevant administrative board.
Resit Exams: Students can take resit exams for courses they failed with a grade of FD or FF at the end of the final exams, as well as for courses they passed with a grade of DD or DC. The grade received in the resit exam replaces the final exam grade for that course. The weighted contributions of the midterm exam and the resit exam grade are calculated as they are for the final exams. For courses in which a resit exam is taken, the final success grade is taken as the basis, regardless of the previous success grade.
Exemption Exams: These are held for courses determined by the Senate on the dates specified in the academic calendar.
Single-Course Exam: Students who have fulfilled course requirements for graduation but have a single unsuccessful course remaining may take the single-course exam for that failed course. Furthermore, students who have successfully passed all courses in their registered curriculum but cannot graduate because their cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is below 2.00 may, in order to raise their CGPA, take a single-course exam in a course they have already passed, upon applying to the department chair with a petition and with the decision of the relevant board. The right to take a single-course exam can be used only once.
For each course taken, one of the following letter grades is given as the semester success grade by the instructor responsible for conducting the course.
| Score Range |
Semester-Year-End Success Grade |
Coefficent |
90-100
85-89
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
50-59
49 ve altı |
AA
BA
BB
CB
CC
DC
DD
FD
FF |
4
3,5
3
2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
0 |
Evaluations other than those specified above are: TT – Course failed due to absenteeism, MM – Exempted course, GG – Successful (Pass), KK – Unsuccessful (Fail), VV – Course Withdrawn. "TT" is given to students who have not fulfilled the attendance requirement for courses and/or practical studies. Students who are successful in the Foreign Language Preparatory Program Proficiency Exam are exempted from the common compulsory foreign language (English) courses and are evaluated with "MM". "GG" is given to students who are successful in the Foreign Language Preparatory Program and the internship activities included in the curriculum. "KK" is given to students who are unsuccessful in the Foreign Language Preparatory Program and the internship activities included in the curriculum. "VV" is given for courses that have been removed from the curriculum, replaced with another course, or for which the obligation to pass no longer exists, upon the proposal of the department chair and the decision of the relevant administrative board.
For each course, the semester-end success grade is evaluated by the instructor on a scale of 100 points, taking into account the midterm exam and semester-end exam results, as well as in-semester activities and attendance. A student who receives a grade of DD or higher in a course is considered to have successfully passed that course.
The procedures and principles to be applied in enrollment, education, training, and exams conducted at the undergraduate and associate degree level are determined by the Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Associate Degree and Undergraduate Education and Training Regulation.
DEPARTMENT FACILITIES
The educational activities of the Department of Political Science and International Relations are carried out with 2 full-time professors, 3 associate professors, 2 assistant professors (PhD), 1 lecturer, and 2 research assistants. Our faculty has one computer laboratory with a capacity of 50 computers and enough classrooms equipped with presentation facilities to conduct the program.