Master of Art (M.A.) in International Relations program responds to a growing need for focused graduate programs in International Relations, offering students thorough training for careers in research, politics, foreign policy and business. The program serves students in two general directions: The first is preparing students for future careers in governmental and non-governmental organizations, both in Turkey and abroad, as well as careers in the private sector, public institutions including foreign service, international organizations and NGOs. The second is preparing students for PhD programs in Europe and North America. In addition, the MA program makes a valuable contribution to the Department’s and the university’s research environment and academic reputation.
The composition of the program reflects the strength of the faculty in a variety of areas such as European Integration, International Political Economy, and Conflict Studies. Individual faculty research also allows students to pursue studies in areas such as Citizenship, Civil Society and Democracy, Development, Globalization, International Relations Theory, Middle East Politics, Migration, Religion and Secularism, and Turkish Politics. The members of the International Relations Department at Koç University are recognized as contributors to the frontiers of knowledge in Turkey and abroad. Our graduate students are exposed to the latest theoretical debates and methodological techniques. They also have the opportunity to participate in the research programs of the faculty members.
The program offers with-thesis and non-thesis degree programs reflecting the Department's emerging strength in the areas of European Integration, International Political Economy, and Conflict Studies. Below you will find information on research areas, faculty members, curriculum, application process, and scholarships.
Research Areas
Citizenship
Civil Society and Democracy
Conflict Studies
Development
European Union
Foreign Policy
Globalization
International Political Economy
International Relations Theory
Middle East Politics
Migration
Regulation and Governance
Religion and Secularism
Turkish Politics
Faculty
Prof. Ahmet İÇDUYGU
Prof. Fuat KEYMAN
Prof. Ziya ÖNİŞ
Assoc. Prof. Michael MOUSSEAU
Assoc. Prof. Murat SOMER
Assoc. Prof. Şuhnaz YILMAZ
Asst. Prof. Şener AKTÜRK
Asst. Prof. Özlem ALTAN OLCAY
Asst. Prof. Caner BAKIR
Asst. Prof. Reşat BAYER
Asst. Prof. Bahar RUMELİLİ
Asst. Prof. Belgin SAN AKÇA
Asst. Prof. Demet YALÇIN MOUSSEAU
Affiliated Faculty from Economics, History, and Sociology:
Assoc. Prof. Dilek BARLAS
Assoc. Prof. Bruce RANKIN
Assoc. Prof. Kamil YILMAZ
Asst. Prof. Fatoş GÖKSEN
Asst. Prof. Yonca KÖKSAL
Asst. Prof. Deniz YÜKSEKER
Curriculum Two-year Program with the Thesis Option
The students are required to complete 21 credits in order to qualify for the writing of the thesis. All courses are three credits except INTL 590 Pre-Thesis Seminar course (0 credit), INTL 595 Thesis (0 credit) and INTL 594-Project (0 credit). In addition to the 21 credits, All MA students must take ENGL 500: Graduate Writing (3 credits) course.
Required Courses Intl 501 Research Methods
Intl 503 Globalization and International Relations Theory
Intl 504 Comparative Politics
Intl 590 Pre-thesis Seminar
2 Area Electives
2 Free Electives
Area Elective Courses offered on a regular basis:
Intl 509 Political Economy of Contemporary Turkey
Intl 521 Issues in Turkish Politics
Intl 531 International Political Economy
Intl 533 Politics of European Integration
Intl 532 Political Economy of Globalization and Development
Intl 534 Europe in a Global Context
Intl 570 International Conflict and Security
Turkish Politics
Total Credits: Twenty-one
Program Outline for the One-year Non-Thesis Option
Students take all three required courses. In addition to the required courses they complete 21 credits (7 courses) in area electives (4) and free electives (3).
Recent MA thesis projects supervised in the department
Students have written their theses on a variety of topics. For a list of the projects, click here.
A selection of universities where our students have gone on to pursue Ph.D. degrees
University of Biefeld, Central European University, University of Cincinnati, Cornell University, University of Essex, University of Florida, Florida International University, Macquarie University, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, McMaster University, University of Minnesota, Oxford University, State University of New York-Binghamton, University of Texas at Austin, Yale University
Intl 590 Pre-Thesis Seminar (0 Credits)
Prepares students for a successful start on their theses, helping them to choose their thesis topics and supervisor, and to formulate their question and methodology, through faculty guidance, and faculty and fellow-student feedback.
Intl 594 Project (0 Credits)
An Extended Research Project under the supervision of an advisor.
Intl 595 MA Thesis (0 Credits)
Research thesis work under the supervision of an advisor