Welcome to the Department of Political Science and International Relations, which is a relatively young department among its peers with an already proven success.
In the challenging and complex world of politics which has become even more so on many fronts due to the Covid-19 pandemic, nowadays the need to provide a well-rounded Political Science and International Relations education has become more obvious than ever since today’s young people will shape the future in all walks of life, including the future government structures which outweigh in terms of shaping both private and public domains in our lives.
With that in mind, our department offers curricula with a rich and diverse course content that is seen best fit in terms of helping our majors graduate as well-informed, open- and analytical-minded, self-conscious, and egalitarian citizens in all walks of life. Both legs of the Political Science and International Relations department curricula provide theoretical/conceptual, issue-based, practical, and policy-oriented courses as well as history, law, and a variety of others, ranging from compulsory to elective courses that cover different areas of interest such as sports, arts, foreign languages, etc. Our students enroll in elective courses depending on their areas of interest, after the fourth semester. Successful students are further encouraged to enroll in double-major and minor programs in other social sciences disciplines and to make their academic journey more interesting and exciting in different academic settings with Erasmus exchange programs. I believe this provides an opportunity for them to invest further in their future careers.
The department faculty is known for their high academic and teaching merits. Areas of research and specialization of our distinguished faculty include -among several others- area studies (Russia, Balkans, Caucasus, Middle East, Western Europe, North America), conflict resolution, foreign policy analysis, International Relations theories, international law, civil-military relations, violence, gender, environment, Ottoman and Turkish bureaucracy, history, politics, comparative politics, etc.
Our graduates have gone on to become high-level state officials in such state institutions as the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Customs and Trade, Directorate General of Migration Management, and others; deputy advisors at TGNA; experts/specialists, auditors, inspectors, district governors. Academia, finance sector, NGOs, business world, and branches of international organizations at home and abroad have also been their choices for their future careers.
If you are interested in the theory, practice, and structures of politics, and in gaining a thorough understanding of decision-making and implementation processes in these spheres, as well as all related issues, I invite you to explore the opportunities, possibilities and learning environment that our department has to offer.
Chair, Political Science and International Relations
Professor of International Relations
Didem Ekinci, Ph.D.