SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY (WITH THESIS)
Second Cycle Programmes
(Master's Degree)

D.1. General Information about Program

The Department of Social Research Methodology was founded as a separate department within the Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies in 2013; on the basis of the experience in classes taught on social survey methods and nation-wide surveys conducted since 1968. The department aims to educate future experts on quantitative and qualitative survey techniques.

Medium of instruction of the program is English.

The Department of Social Research Methodology offers a master's degree program with thesis; a non-thesis master's degree program; and another non-thesis master's program, the classes of which are taught in the evening. All offered programs are in English. Our Master's program includes elective courses on different fields and encourages the students to specialize.

D.2 Qualification Awarded

Master's Degree

D.3. Level of Qualification

QF-EHEA: 2
EQF-LLL: 7

D.4. Provisions for Registration

The programme accepts students with Bachelor's degrees who have completed their four years of undergraduate education.

The applicants must provide the following documents:

• Their Bachelor's degree diploma or an approved temporary graduation certificate
• An academic transcript of their Bachelor's degree
• A document of their ALES score (Minimum 65, equally weighted verbal and quantitative score, international students may submit their GMAT -minimum 485- or GRE scores -minimum 151-)
• A document of their YDS/YÖKDÄ°L or another equivalent language exam score accepted by the Interuniversity Council (For YDS/YÖKDÄ°L a score of minimum 75, for TOEFL IBT a score of minimum 90 is needed)
• Two head shot photos
• A copy of their ID cards (or equivalent document)
• A letter of intent
• Two academic letters of recommendation from two instructors who are familiar the applicant's education.

International students are expected to provide additional documents such as:

• An education visa
• A passport that is valid at the application date instead of a copy of their ID cards
• A residence permit

Admission of foreign students to the program is decided after the necessary documents are received and evaluated by the Institute of Population Studies.

http://www.oid.hacettepe.edu.tr and http://www.osym.gov.tr  can be visitied for the university regulations and ÖSYM exams, respectively.

D.5. Qualification Requirements and Regulations

In order to get a master's degree in Social Research Methodology, students are expected to complete 120 ECTS (21 national credits) credits. The program consists of 4 semesters; class taking in the first two semesters; and thesis writing in the last two semesters. Before proceeding with thesis work, 60 ECTS credits worth of classes should be completed. The minimum grade to succeed in a class is C1 (2,5 in a 4-grade system, or 65-69 percent, Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations, Item 16)

Students can choose to take their elective courses from the PhD program in Social Research Methodology. Furthermore, they can choose to take a maximum of two elective courses from other graduate programs with the approval of their advisors.

Click here for Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations.

D.6. Specific Arrangements for Recognition of Prior Learning

According to the Hacettepe University Graduate Education and Exam Regulations, a student can transfer classes they have already taken if: these classes have been taken from graduate schools in Turkey or abroad within the last five years preceding the date of registration to the program - including classes taken as a special student - and their advisor, the Department and the Institute Board approves.

D.7. Goals and Objectives

The MA program in Social Research Methodology aims to educate future experts on survey design, implementation and data analysis; using quantitative and qualitative methods. Another aim of the program is to introduce wide and in-depth interpretation of quantitative and qualitative survey results; using scientific methods.

D.12. Occupational Profiles of Graduates with Examples

Our program aims to raise graduates who are willing and skilled to conduct surveys; that are open to new ideas, have a high skill of analysis and good at communication. The graduates have career opportunities in institutions that carry out surveys, especially the departments of public institutions that perfom surveys; as well as international institutions and market research companies. The fact that the program is taught in English increases the chances of graduates to persue a career abroad and work at international institutions. 

D.13. Access to Further Studies

QF-EHEA: 3
EQF-LLL: 8

D.14. Profile of the Programme

The proportion of must courses is 50% and the proportion of elective courses is 50% in the program. Students are free to take elective courses from other departments with the approval of their advisors. In order to accept a course from another program as a must course; a procedure similar to that in item f is followed, in line with the Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations (Items 16 and 21). The classes offered at the department of Social Survey Methodology are semester courses; and some of the classes have prerequisites.

a.      The number-proportion of must courses: 4 must courses, 4/8=0.50

b.      The number-proportion of elective courses: 4 elective courses, 4/8=0.50

c.      The year when elective courses will be first offered: 2014

d.      Number of non-departmental electives:  -

e.      Courses with prerequisites:  SAY612, SAY622, SAY632, SAY641

f.      The structure of the program in terms of years: Students need to complete a total of 8 courses within the first two semesters; 4 must-courses and 4 electives. Two more courses are taken in the following two semesters for thesis writing. Students begin their thesis work in the third semester under the supervision of their advisors; and complete them at the end of the fourth semester; thus gaining eligibility for the MA degree.

D.15. Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

The methods of grading and assessing differ for each class, and are defined in the syllabi prepared by faculty. As regards the exams and course success criteria, the related items of the Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations are applied. Click here for Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations.

D.16. Graduation Requirements

Students accepted to the MA program in Social Research Methodology are required to complete a total of a minimum of 24 national credits (120 ECTS) within 2 academic years. In order to graduate, they need to write their theses and successfully defend them. Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations provide detailed requirements.

D.17. Education Type

1. Full Time Education

D.18. Programme Director

Head of The Social Research Methodology Department: Prof. Dr. A. Sinan Türkyılmaz

Phone: +90 312 297 73 67-68

Intercom: +90 312 297 73 71

Fax: +90 312 297 73 70

E-mail: aturkyil@hacettepe.edu.tr