First Semester

GTSS 501 - Joint Seminar I: Turkey and Germany

Lecturer: Fatma Umut Beşpınar; Claudia Matthes

Turkey and Germany, just as it is the case with other societies globally, face similar social, political, cultural, and economic problems and challenges. This course aims to approach these problems and challenges from a comparative perspective to highlight differences and similarities of the making of modernity in both countries. Particular attention will be paid to respective social, economic and political transformations in each country. The students are expected to prepare and present a proposal within the above framework based on Turkey or Germany or any other country of that peaks their interest, which they will finally write a paper by the end of the semester.

GTSS 503 - Modern Turkey: Social Transformations, Economic Development and Governance Structures

Lecturer: Ayça Ergun Özbolat

This course aims to introduce students to the social transformation experience, economic development and governance structures in modern Turkey. Students will be offered both the historical context and a critical review of contemporary developments. The continuities and discontinuities of the transformation process will be discussed in an attempt to provide students with the toolkit to study and make sense of future challenges and prospects.

GTSS 551 - Seminar: Social Science Readings in German I

This course introduces students to classical and contemporary social science texts in German. Though a critical reading and discussion of the texts, the students will have a chance to develop intermediate reading and writing skills in the German language in the area of social sciences.

GTSS 555 - Seminar: Social Science Readings in Turkish I

This course introduces students to classical and contemporary social science texts in Turkish. Through a critical reading and discussion of the texts, the students will have a chance to develop advanced reading and writing skills in Turkish language in the area of social sciences.

GTSS 591 - Research Methods and Ethics

Lecturer: Ayşe İdil Aybars

The aim of this course is to familiarize students from diverse academic backgrounds with the standards of academic work so as to equip them with the necessary writing, research and presentation skills for their work in their education and beyond. The course aims to develop a critical interdisciplinary research and writing toolkit for the students' independent work both as part of the requirements of the graduate courses that they take during the programme, and the theses, dissertations and other research work that they will complete in their academic careers, as well as reporting and presentation tasks that they will undertake as part of a professional career. Ethical and methodological issues in social sciences are also addressed.

Second Semester

GTSS 502 - Joint Seminar II: Turkey and Germany

Lecturer: Helga Rittersberger Tılıç; Gökhan Tuncer

Turkey and Germany, just as it is the case with other societies globally, face similar social, political, cultural and economic problems, challenges and transformations. This course aims to approach these problems and challenges from a comparative perspective to highlight differences and similarities. Particular attention will be paid to future challenges and transnational/global linkages in fields such as welfare/poverty, migration, and citizenship/democracy.

GTSS 504 - Turkey, Middle East and Eurasia

Lecturer: Özlem Tür Küçükkaya

The purpose of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive analysis of Turkish foreign policy. It aims to discuss the major characteristics, actors and processes of foreign policy making in Turkey as well as major historical developments and turning points. It covers the period from the demise of the Ottoman Empire to 2016, with special emphasis on the post-Cold War period.

GTSS 552 - Seminar: Social Science Readings in German II

This course introduces students to classical and contemporary social science texts in German. Though a critical reading and discussion of the texts, the students will have a chance to develop intermediate reading and writing skills in the German language in the area of social sciences.

GTSS 556 - Seminar: Social Science Readings in Turkish II

This course introduces students to classical and contemporary social science texts in Turkish. Through a critical reading and discussion of the texts, the students will have a chance to develop advanced reading and writing skills in Turkish language in the area of social sciences.

GTSS 592 - Graduate Seminar

Lecturer: Özlem Tür Küçükkaya

This course introduces students to classical and contemporary social science texts in Turkish. Through a critical reading and discussion of the texts, the students will have a chance to develop advanced reading and writing skills in Turkish language in the area of social sciences.