Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Cultural Studies
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Cultural Studies program is administered by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) at Yıldız Technical University. It is the first PhD program in cultural studies established in Turkey. Students from around the world are welcome to apply. Holders of a Master’s degree in cultural studies or equivalent degrees are invited to apply, including those with majors in sociology, anthropology, political science, international relations, psychology, history, art history, human geography, philosophy, gender and women’s studies, world literature, Turkish literature, law, and multicultural education.
Language of the Program
The language of instruction is English. All writing and speaking activities in the program—such as courses, theses, assignments, exams, and comprehensive exams—are conducted in English. The program has its own English language 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.
Preparatory Courses
After enrollment, students must take three preparatory courses from the MA in Humanities and Social Sciences program during their first semester (Fall) before beginning their regular coursework. These three courses are Modern World History (ITB 5199), Major Theories in Social Sciences (ITB 5101), and another course to be assigned before the semester begins. Students must earn a grade of at least CB (2.5/4.0) in each preparatory course. These courses are not included in the cumulative GPA.
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. As per course requirements, students will have a course load of 21 hours (7 courses), excluding the preparatory 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 pass 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.
Students are expected to organize their own schedules and are responsible for their own course selections. PhD students must complete all coursework within 4 semesters (2 years), excluding the one-semester preparatory courses. Under normal circumstances, one core course is offered each semester. The non-credit courses may not be offered every semester. The Seminar course can be taken in the spring semester, and Ethics & Research Methods will be offered in the fall semester. The Seminar course can only be taken once the student has been officially assigned to a thesis advisor.
Students should take the core courses as soon as they become available. Delaying these core courses may put the student at risk of not completing the required coursework on time.
Core Courses (Required)
HSS requires all students to take two core courses that are fundamental to understanding theoretical and methodological debates within the field of cultural studies. The core courses will also constitute an important part of the qualifying examinations.
· ITB 6100 Theories in Cultural Studies
· ITB 6101 Qualitative Research Methods
Elective Courses
The Cultural Studies program offers a wide range of elective courses each semester. These courses can be divided into three groups. The first group covers theoretical issues in the social sciences and cultural studies, while the second group focuses on developing 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 MA program in Humanities and Social Sciences. However, the MA course must not be identical to any course selected from the PhD list. Please consult the department or your advisor if you have any questions.
· ITB 6102 Heritage Studies
· ITB 6103 Contemporary Approaches to Urban Studies
· ITB 6104 Culture, Power, and Inequality
· ITB 6105 Political Economy and Cultural Studies
· ITB 6106 Ottoman Ceremonies and Manners
· ITB 6107 Space and Identity
· ITB 6108 Minorities in the Middle East
· ITB 6109 Media and Cultural Representation
· ITB 6110 Cultural Diversity
· ITB 6111 Cultural Politics of “Race” and Ethnicity
· ITB 6112 History of Everyday Life
· ITB 6113 Cultural History
· ITB 6114 Cultures of Conspiracy
· ITB 6115 Materialism and Positivism in Turkish Intellectual History
· ITB 6116 Bergsonianism in Turkish Intellectual History
· ITB 6117 Popular Culture in Turkey
· ITB 6118 Gender, Culture, and Representation
· ITB 6119 History of Perception
· ITB 6120 History, Narratives, and Discourse
· ITB 6121 History of Material Culture
· ITB 6122 Philosophy of Film
· ITB 6123 Language and Power in Political Thought
. ITB 6124 The Sociocultural Context of Aging and Poverty
· ITB 6125 Music in Ottoman Society During the Nineteenth Century: Cultural Processes
. ITB 6126 Oral History and Memory
· ITB 6001 Seminar
· ITB 6004 Ethics & Research Methods
Comprehensive Examinations
To be eligible to take the PhD comprehensive examination, students must have a GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 (BB) in their coursework, with no grade lower than a BB. Comprehensive examinations are held twice a year. Students taking the exam must work closely with their advisor throughout the process. In the comprehensive examinations, students are expected to demonstrate competence in two areas: (1) theory and practice in cultural studies and (2) an area of specialization. Students are examined in each of these areas. A written examination is followed by an oral examination.
Once they have completed all required coursework, students are required to register online at the beginning of the semester in which they plan to take the comprehensive examination. Students will receive a reading list 6 months prior to the exam. Students must take the comprehensive examination no later than the end of the 5th semester (2.5 years). If a student fails the comprehensive examination, they will be given another opportunity in 6 months. A third attempt will not be permitted.
Dissertation Requirements
Students must select a dissertation topic and be assigned an advisor by the end of the first year in order to be able to choose courses for the following year. It is the student’s responsibility to contact and find a supervisor and formally agree on a dissertation topic. Once the dissertation supervisor is formally identified, students must add the following two courses from GSIS during the registration period of each semester: Doctoral Dissertation and Specialization Course. Each candidate must prepare a dissertation under the guidance of his or her supervisor, which will ultimately be defended in an oral examination. The dissertation must be completed in accordance with the deadlines and guidelines of the Graduate Institute of Social Sciences.
Dissertation and the Monitoring Process
Students work with their supervisors to prepare their dissertations. A Dissertation Committee monitors the student’s progress. This Committee ideally consists of three members recommended by the student’s supervisor and approved by both the department chair and the Graduate School of Social Sciences. At their first meeting, the Committee approves the student’s dissertation outline. The Dissertation Committee meets twice a year to assist the student and review the student’s progress.
Dissertation Defense (Oral Examination)
A complete draft of the dissertation must be submitted to the Graduate School of Social Sciences, and preliminary approval must be obtained to schedule the oral examination date. The advisor selects four additional jury members, two of whom are external examiners and two are internal examiners. All oral examinations are open to the public. Students should consult their advisors 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 and present a paper at an international or Turkish academic conference. Please consult your advisor and visit the Graduate School of Social Sciences website for the formal procedures required for graduation. The maximum duration of the program, including courses, comprehensive exams, and the dissertation, is 12 semesters (6 years).
For more information on the program and admission requirements, please visit the Graduate School of Social Sciences website:
http://www.sbe.yildiz.edu.tr/images/files/Kulturel Calısmalar Doktora Programı v1.pdf