The undergraduate program in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration (Bilkent POLS) covers the areas of Turkish politics, comparative politics, political theory, social and cultural studies, and public administration.
The program focuses on state-society and state-economy relations, forms of state, systems of government, interlinkages between domestic structures and the international level, societal challenges, and public policy-making and implementation in Turkey and beyond in a comparative perspective. The program also centers on questions of governance that allow ever significant roles for societal actors. Among the fields of specialization are politics of multiculturalism, state-society relations in Turkey and beyond, political psychology, negotiation and conflict resolution, civil society, human rights, urbanization, political theory, film, literature and politics, politics of security, political parties, and electoral systems.
Graduates of Bilkent POLS take up careers in key sectors such as consulting, manufacturing, banking and finance, media and communications, public relations, and research in ministries, independent regulatory agencies, private firms, multinational companies, civil society organizations, international organizations, and research institutions.
Curriculum
First Year
Fall Semester
Course Code
Course Name
Hours
Credit
ECTS Credit
CS 121
Introduction to Computer Applications and Programming
4*
3
5
ECON 107
Principles of Microeconomics
3
3
5
ENG 101
English and Composition I
5
3
5
GE 100
Orientation
1
2
HCIV 101
History of Civilization I
3
3
5
POLS 101
Politics I: What is it?
3
3
5
TURK 101
Turkish I
2
3.5
* 2 hours are spared for laboratory work.
Spring Semester
Course Code
Course Name
Hours
Credit
ECTS Credit
ECON 108
Principles of Macroeconomics
3
3
5
ENG 102
English and Composition II
5
3
5
HCIV 102
History of Civilization II
3
3
5
POLS 104
Politics II: How Does It Work?
3
3
5
PSYC 102
Introduction to Social Psychology
3
3
5
TURK 102
Turkish II
2
3.5
Second Year
Fall Semester
Course Code
Course Name
Hours
Credit
ECTS Credit
GE 250
Collegiate Activities Program I
–
1
IR 101
Introduction to World Politics
3
3
5
LAW 103
Constitutional Law (in Turkish)
3
3
5
MATH 103
Thinking Mathematically I
3
3
5
PHIL 243
Social and Political Philosophy I
3
6
8.5
SOC 101
Introduction to Sociology
3
3
5
Basic Law Elective
3
–
Spring Semester
Course Code
Course Name
Hours
Credit
ECTS Credit
GE 251
Collegiate Activities Program II
1
2
HIST 200
History of Turkey
3
4
6.5
LAW 104
Turkish Constitutional Law (in Turkish)
3
3
5
MATH 104
Thinking Mathematically II
3
3
5
PHIL 244
Social and Political Philosophy II
3
6
8.5
POLS 201
Fundamentals of Social Research
3
3
5
Third Year
Fall Semester
Course Code
Course Name
Hours
Credit
ECTS Credit
LAW 315
Administrative Law (in Turkish)
3
3
5
POLS 303
Comparative Politics of Advanced Industrialized Countries
