Master of Arts (MA) in Humanities and Social Sciences
The MA in Humanities and Social Sciences is an interdisciplinary program offered by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) at Yıldız Technical University. The program aims to attract students with degrees from a variety of fields, including sociology, anthropology, political science, international relations, psychology, history, art history, human geography, philosophy, gender and women’s studies, cultural studies, English literature, American literature, Turkish literature, law, and multicultural education. The program welcomes international students.
Language of Instruction
The language of instruction is English. All writing and speaking activities in the program—including courses, theses, assignments, exams, and comprehensive exams—are conducted in English. The program has its own English language proficiency requirement. Students must have a score from the YDS (the Turkish national examination for English language proficiency) or an equivalent score from international tests (such as TOEFL and IELTS) recognized by the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK). For the current, updated score requirements, please visit the Graduate Institute of Social Sciences website.
ALES Requirement
Applicants must submit a score from the ALES exam for admission. An equivalent score from the GRE is also accepted. For the most current score requirements, please visit the Graduate Institute of Social Sciences website.
Coursework and Credit Requirements
Please review the rules and regulations of the Graduate School of Social Sciences (YTÜ Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü) and the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK) regarding minimum credit requirements and other graduation procedures.
According to the program requirements, students must complete 21 credit hours (7 courses). Of these 7 courses, 2 must be core courses, and the remaining 5 are electives. In addition to these 7 departmental courses, students are required to complete 2 non-credit (pass/fail) courses: Seminar (Spring) and Ethics & Research Methods (Fall). The Seminar course must be taken no earlier than the second semester and may only be taken once the student has been officially assigned a thesis advisor. Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.5/4.0 (CB) in their coursework, with no grade lower than a CB, to meet the program’s minimum requirements.
Students are expected to organize their own schedules and are responsible for their own course selections. MA students should complete their coursework within 4 semesters (2 years). Under normal circumstances, one core course is offered each semester. The Theory core course will be offered in the fall, and the Methods core course in the spring. Non-credit courses may not be offered every semester. The Seminar can be taken in the Spring semester, and Ethics & Research Methods will be offered in the Fall semester.
Students should take the core courses as soon as they become available. Delaying these core courses may put them at risk of not completing the required coursework on time.
Core Courses (Required)
HSS requires all students to take core courses that are fundamental to understanding theoretical debates within the social sciences, humanities, and particularly cultural studies, and to developing research and academic skills.
· ITB 5101 Major Theories in the Social Sciences (Fall)
· ITB 5110 Introduction to Methodology in the Social Sciences
Elective Courses
HSS offers a wide range of elective courses each semester. These courses can be divided into three groups. The first group of courses covers theoretical issues in the social sciences and cultural studies, while the second group of courses aims to prepare students for research skills such as research design, literature review, data collection, data analysis, and writing skills. The remaining courses reflect the diversity of faculty expertise and student interests. Students are advised to consult with faculty members to select the courses that best align with their needs and interests.
The elective courses are designed to help students tailor their own program. See the list of all approved courses below. Please note that some courses may not be offered every semester, as the faculty will decide to offer only a limited number of courses from the available pool. Additionally, the faculty may approve and offer new courses not listed here. Please review the elective options offered by the department at the beginning of each semester. Students are permitted to take up to two courses from the PhD program in Cultural Studies. However, these courses must not be identical to any course selected from the MA list. Please consult the department or your advisor if you have any questions.
· ITB 5100 Methodological Discussions in the Social Sciences
· ITB 5197 Contemporary Movements in Social Theory
· ITB 5103 Development in Turkey: A Theoretical Approach
· ITB 5104 Cultural Theory and Analysis
· ITB 5105 Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences
· ITB 5106 Intellectual History: Conceptual Framework
· ITB 5107 New Approaches to History
· ITB 5108 Development of the Modern World System: Transformations in Society, Politics, and the Economy
· ITB 5192 Social and Political Movements
· ITB 5111 Ottoman Cultural History
· ITB 5012 Nationalism: Origins, Ideologies, Forms
· ITB 5113 Space, Place, and Identity
· ITB 5114 Ethnic and Cultural Diversity
· ITB 5199 Modern World History
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· ITB 5001 Seminar (Spring)
· ITB 5004 Ethics & Research Methods (Fall)
Thesis Requirements
Students must decide on a thesis topic and be assigned a supervisor by the end of the first semester in order to select courses for the following semester. It is the student’s responsibility to contact and find a supervisor and formally agree on a thesis topic. Once the thesis supervisor is formally identified, students must add the following two courses from GSIS during the registration period of each semester: Master’s Thesis and Specialization Course. Each candidate must prepare a thesis under the guidance of his or her supervisor, which will ultimately be defended in an oral examination. The thesis must be completed in accordance with the deadlines and guidelines of the Graduate School of Social Sciences.
Thesis Defense (Oral Examination)
A complete draft of the thesis must be submitted to the Graduate School of Social Sciences, and preliminary approval must be obtained to schedule the oral examination date. The supervisor selects two other jury members, one of whom must be an external examiner. All oral examinations are open to the public. Students should consult their supervisors for details regarding the oral examination.
Graduation
To graduate from the program, a student must fulfill the departmental requirements listed above, as well as the requirements of the Graduate School of Social Sciences (SBE) and the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK). Students must publish an article co-authored with their advisor in an international or Turkish peer-reviewed academic journal or present a paper at an international or Turkish academic conference with the proceedings published in the conference proceedings book. Please consult your advisor and visit the Graduate School of Social Sciences website for the formal graduation requirements. The maximum duration of the program, including courses and the thesis, is 6 semesters (3 years).
For more information on the program and admission requirements, please visit the Graduate School of Social Sciences website: