FORENSÄ°C SCÄ°ENCES
Second Cycle Programmes
(Master's Degree)

D.1. General Information about Program

One of the cornerstones of social life is that justice is done in the right manner; the smallest error would be done, could lead to shakes from the basis on individual's life, outcomes which may arise could lead to deeply hurt society and cause a reaction. To decide accurrectly, the judiciary depends on the availability of a large number of correctly collected and evaluated the evidence. In addition to conventional methods known and practiced nowadays, this situation suggests a need for information come from other disciplines. Furthermore, to intervene the new crime and criminals emerging with the development of technology, is possible with the information of that branch of science directly. Both society and science and technology are dynamic, not static. To the new situations emerged, new solutions are needed. Forensic Sciences, is a newly emerged interdisciplinary field of study and practice, in order to meet these needs.

In our country, encompassing approximately the last 20 years so far, the Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Medicine were the first comes to mind, which have provided very important and valuable services with regard to criminal cases. These institutions, have evaluated events with important information which was revealed by medical science. It is seen that, these studies, still, continued with fastidiousness. In both America and Europe and in our country, its leadership of the branch of medical science in this field, the contributions of the other science branches, mostly in the last 50 years, are seen. With these contributions come to a serious dimension within time, Forensic Science concept has been developed in the world.

Forensic Sciences, in general, is a common axis bringing different disciplines together, concerned with the submission of service of the information from Science, Law, Engineering, Social Sciences and Medicine to justice. It is intended to contribute materially to the eludication of the offense, by the investigation the findings on different levels and with appropriate laboratory techniques, related to a crime. The evidences obtained from the crime scene, are analyzed in the laboratories of Forensic Medicine, Criminal Police and Gendarmerie and the relevant departments of universities according to the characteristics. Physical, chemical and biological evidence analysis, involving people who specialize in these matters, in laboratories equipped with advanced technological infrastructure by carrying out rapid and reliable could help with the legal system.

D.2 Qualification Awarded

Master's Degree

D.3. Level of Qualification

QF-EHEA: 2
EQF-LLL: 7

D.4. Provisions for Registration

Hacettepe University, Institute of Science, Department of Forensic Sciences have been created to carry out graduate-level education programs for the people who are trained in various fields of in Science, Social Sciences, Engineering and Legal Sciences, in order to raise manpower that can bring solutions to current problems, with high knowledge and skills and that have gained the ability to access, evaluate and interpret information, and has scientific research capabilities. Language of the program is Turkish.

Students who successfully complete this curriculum are eligible to receive a diploma as prescribed by the program. Academic Council of the department determines the quota of students that will be accepted for the program. Application, admission and registration procedures, education and examinations are conducted according to the relevant articles of The Regulations on Hacettepe University Graduate Education and Examination.

Bachleor's degree graduates from Science, Social Sciences, Engineering and Law faculties of universities and graduates who has at least 4 years' relevant Bachelor's degree program that academic qualifications and suitability for the program are approved by the Academic Council of the department can apply to the Masters Education Program. Candidates are required to have recieved ALES (Academic Graduate Education Entrance Examination) standart score for the applied program which will be determined by the University Senate and foreign language proficency. For the students who are accepted into the program, if necessary, Scientific Preparatory Program would be arranged for one year at most with the recommendation of the Head of Department, and the decision of the Academic Council of the department and the Institute Administrative Commission.

D.5. Qualification Requirements and Regulations

Forensic Science Master's program students are liable to succesfully complete two must courses, elective sourses and the seminar course under the supervision of the Head of the Department and and with the approval of course advisors.Depending on the decision of the Department Academic Board, candidates who apply in the situation of personal lack of infrastructure, will be required to take scientific preparatory courses at most two semesters if needed. The students can take courses in the program, as if deemed necessary by advisors, the course credits can be completed by taking Under-graduate and Graduate courses offered by the relevant departments within the university or other universities. From the courses which are approved by the Departments Head Office, a part of courses that the student will take can be chosen from undergraduate courses, in condition that they haven't been taken during undergraduate years. The program consists of courses not less than twenty-four credit, Researches M.A thesis course and thesis work. According to the European Credit Transfer System, the program consist of courses not less than sixty credits and Researches M.A thesis course together with thesis work not less than sixty credits. Students who are engaged in Master's education prepare a thesis in addition to courses, seminar and practical work.

Each semester courses to be offered will be determined by the Department of Academic Board.

Students who successfully complete courses with credits and seminar course, has to prepare a thesis under the management of a advisor by encoding ADB 600 Researches M.A thesis course. Thesis advisor (if there any co-advisor) is recommended by the Department and appointed by the Institute Administrative Commission Institute of Sciences. Thesis topic suggestions will be finalized upon the approval of the Academic Council of the Department. Thesis topic deemed appropriate by the Department is notified to the Institute of Science. All program including the writing and defense must be completed within the specified time indicated by Hacettepe University Graduate Education and Examination Regulations. Students who have completed the program will receive their "Forensic Sciences MSc" diploma and the name of completed science field are written in parentheses in the diploma.

D.6. Specific Arrangements for Recognition of Prior Learning

With the inclusion of graduate courses, which were taken as a special student of a student, graduate courses, which were taken before the enrollment in the institute in the last five years, from domestic/international higher education institutions can be transferred to program, the student is enrolled, according the advisor opinion, recommendation of the board of the department and decision of board of institute. However, more than 2/3 of the total credit a student enrollment of program is not considered to transfer of credits of graduates courses as special student.

(http://www.fenbilimleri.hacettepe.edu.tr/file/yonetmelik/hulisansustuogrvesinavyonetmelik.pdf )

D.7. Goals and Objectives

Main objectives of this program (masters and doctorate) can be summerized under several items.

1. To contribute our country's scientific development and strengthening of judicial cooperation by educating young and experienced individuals in the area of Forensic Sciences.

2. To make scientific researches and publications in the area of Forensic Sciences.

3. To generate projects on the subject of Forensic Sciences.

4. To provide the solution or contribute to the solution of the cases which will be demanded by Gendarmerie, police or judiciary.

5. To ensure the dissemination of knowledge on national and international levels.

6. To create national and international networks (meetings, collaborative research, communication, information exchange, etc..) in the area of Forensic Sciences.

To increase the research collaboration, capacity and diversity in our university in various fields of Forensic Sciences.

D.12. Occupational Profiles of Graduates with Examples

The Department of Forensic Sciences, which accepted the first students on 2013/2014 academic year's fall semester and therefore do not have any graduates yet, aimed to raise young and experienced individuals in the field of forensic sciences by graduate-level education programs, and to contribute our safety-law enforcement and the judiciary in a systematic way, while on the other hand, maintaining scientific researches to have a voice in the field of “Forensic Sciences” in Turkey and in the World.

People who graduate from this program, will have the ability to understand, analyze and solve the problems with thier infrastructure in line with the area they want to specialize in and through the experience of application, will find jobs in private and state-owned institutions in the field of judicial operating. In addition, they will be able to work by performing scientific research at universities in Turkey and abroad in accordance with specific issues they want to specialize in the Forensic Science Program.

D.13. Access to Further Studies

QF-EHEA: 3
EQF-LLL: 8

D.14. Profile of the Programme

Master's degree program, not less than 24 credits, consists of special topics course and the study of thesis. According to the European Credit Transfer System, not less than a total of 60 ECTS of the courses and not less than 60 ECTS credits for thesis study, by completing the special topics course, which includes thesis study and successfully complete thesis study. (http://www.fenbilimleri.hacettepe.edu.tr/file/yonetmelik/hulisansustuogrvesinavyonetmelik.pdf)

D.15. Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

The evaluation and assessment methods for each course prepared by the faculty member(s) and the relevant information are included in the package called "Course Teaching Plan". Exams and grades/success evaluations of courses are applied according to the HU Postgraduate Degree Education and Examination Regulations.

(http://www.fenbilimleri.hacettepe.edu.tr/file/yonetmelik/hulisansustuogrvesinavyonetmelik.pdf )

D.16. Graduation Requirements

For a student who successfully completed all the requirements for the Forensic science Ph. D program to graduate;

a) Six copies of printed and bound thesis or artwork reports prepared in accordance with the Institute's rules of thesis writing,

b) Electronically recorded copy of thesis report and other documents required by the Institute,

c) Requested documents by the Council of Higher Education must be submitted completely to the Institute.

Upon reaching of all document and information, student's file is examined by Institute Administrative Commission and student's graduation is decided who fulfill all requirements for graduation.

(http://www.fenbilimleri.hacettepe.edu.tr/file/yonetmelik/hulisansustuogrvesinavyonetmelik.pdf )

D.17. Education Type

1. Full Time Education

D.18. Programme Director

Prof. Dr. Tülin İçli