AMERICAN CULTURE and LITERATURE
Third Cycle Programmes
(Doctorate Degree/Doctor of Fine Arts)

D.1. General Information about Program

Welcome to our Department, officially recognized as Turkey's best department for research in American Culture & Literature. Alongside staff with expertise in many areas ranging from Gender Studies to Visual Arts, from Literary Theory to Film Studies, from Environmental Literature to Ethnic Studies, from Translation to Life Writing, we offer an impressive record of student achievement and a very active student life.

The Ph.D. program of the Department of American Culture and Literature of Hacettepe University is the first deparment to offer a Ph.D.  in American studies. It was established for students who want to deepen their knowledge in the field. The program has offered a higher education degree since 1982, the year it was founded, with the contribution of many Turkish and foreign scholars. The courses offered in the program examine the formation of historical, philosphical, religious, social, artistic and political traditions that shape American culture and literature. The program developes students? skills in researching, evaluating and interpreting information for the purpose of conducting scientific research. With its interdisciplinary and intercultural perspective, the department raises scholars who are also able to critically evaluate works of other cultures and literatures. The language of education in the program is English.

Prof. Dr. Ufuk Özdağ, Department Chair

D.2 Qualification Awarded

Doctorate

D.3. Level of Qualification

QF-EHEA: 3
EQF-LLL: 8

D.4. Provisions for Registration

1. Applicants must have an MA degree (with thesis) in American Culture and Literature, or an MA degree in humanities and social sciences from Turkish or international education institutions recognized by YÖK (The Council of Higher Education).
2. Applicants must have a graduate GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale (or an equivalent score).
3. Applicants must provide the following: at least 70 on a 100 scale in the national ALES exam conducted by Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) or an equivalent score from internationally recognized GRE and GMAT exams within the criteria specified by the Senate of Hacettepe University; at least 85 on a 100 scale in the national YDS English proficiency exam, or an equivalent score in the nationally and internationally recognized exams that are approved by ÖSYM.
4. International students' applications are accepted in line within “Hacettepe University Graduate Programme and Exam Regulation" in Official Gazette (29 November 2016, No:29900).
5. Provisions which have not been specified above are regulated according to related articles of Hacettepe University Graduate Study Education and Examination Regulations.

D.5. Qualification Requirements and Regulations

The requirements for the Ph.D. program in the field of American Culture and Literature are taking courses, passing the proficiency exam, writing a dissertation, and presenting a successful thesis defense. Students are required to take a minimum of 120 ECTS credits for coursework and a minimum of 120 ECTS credits for the Ph. D. dissertation (240 ECTS credits in sum) in order to graduate. Their coursework must be equivalent to 38 national credits in total. Students who pass each of their courses and have a minimum GPA of 3.00 out of 4.00 are eligible to take the Ph.D. proficiency exam. The students who successfully pass the exam are then eligible to work on their dissertations under the guidance of the dissertation committee and present it to the jury. For detailed information, consult the following website: http://www.sosyalbilimler.hacettepe.edu.tr/yonetmelikyonerge.shtml

D.6. Specific Arrangements for Recognition of Prior Learning

Students who earn the right to enroll in the Ph.D. program of the Department of American Culture and Literature can be exempt from certain courses within the scope of related rules and regulations. If the content of a course taken from another university matches a given course at Hacettepe University and is accepted by the educational board, the student can be exempt from that course.

Students who have studied at Hacettepe University, or at other institutions of higher education for at least one year, can apply for a transfer to the Ph.D. program of American Culture and Literature. For the applicants to be accepted to the program, the department has to have a quota for Ph.D. students; applicants are required to meet the terms of acceptance and to pass all of the Ph.D. courses they have taken for at least one semester. The admission and legal procedures of students who are found eligible for transfer by the department are fulfilled after the decision of the institute council.

For detailed information, consult the following website.

http://www.sosyalbilimler.hacettepe.edu.tr/yonetmelikyonerge.shtml

D.7. Goals and Objectives

The objective of the Department of American Culture and Literature is to provide the knowledge, skills and competence required in the field in order to be employed in public and private sectors. The program aims at raising literary and cultural critics who are sensitive to societal and ethical principles; respectful of themselves and of others; who aim at improving themselves constantly; who adopt scientific thinking; who can use English and their mother tongue effectively; who carry out the requirements of contemporary critical methods; who are open to different thoughts and cultures and who can think creatively and critically.

D.12. Occupational Profiles of Graduates with Examples

Career opportunities for the graduates of the Ph.D. program in the Department of American Culture and Literature are quite diverse. While some of our graduates work as research assistants in related departments of universities, others work at ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade, at organizations like State Planning and Central Intelligence, at national and international institutions and companies, at visual and print media institutions, at translation agencies and at publishing houses and news agencies. Moreover, our graduates are also employed at various institutions related to the European Union.

D.13. Access to Further Studies

D.14. Profile of the Programme

The Ph.D. program of the Department of American Culture and Literature is a 4 year program. The program consists of compulsory and elective courses equivalent to 38 national credits in total and a thesis. According to the European Credit Transfer System, the program consists of 240 ECTS credits: a minimum of 120 ECTS credits of coursework and a minimum of 120 ECTS credits for Ph.D. thesis. All Ph.D. courses are one-semester courses, which may be offered any semester. There are no courses with prerequisites in the Ph.D. program.

Students who have a minimum GPA of 3.00 out of 4.00 are eligible to take the PhD. proficiency exam. Those who pass the exam present their dissertation proposal. The proposal is prepared by the student and his/her advisor. It is evaluated in an open discussion in the department. Students whose proposals are accepted begin working on their dissertations under the guidance of their dissertation committees.

For detailed information on dissertation and the thesis defense, consult the following website: (http://www.hacettepe.edu.tr/Eklenti/1235,hulisansustuogrvesinavyonetmelik231112.pdf?0)

D.15. Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

Assessment and grading criteria (mid terms, homework, final exams, etc.) and examination regulations for each course and their percentages are defined under the title of “Assessment Methods” in the program's course information packet. Final exams are carried out on certain dates determined by the university and at certain times and places announced by the department. Students' final semester grades are determined by the instructor offering the course and are based on the students' mid-term and final grades, the students' work during the term and their attendance record.

For detailed information on examination regulations, assessment and grading, consult the following website:

http://www.sosyalbilimler.hacettepe.edu.tr/yonetmelikyonerge.shtml

D.16. Graduation Requirements

In order to successfully complete the program, students are required to take 240 ECTS credits: A minimum of 120 ECTS credits in coursework and a minimum 120 ECTS credits for the dissertation.

D.17. Education Type

1. Full Time Education

D.18. Programme Director

Prof. Dr. Ufuk Özdağ

Department Chair

Hacettepe University, Faculty of Letters

Department of American Culture and Literature

Beytepe Campus, Ankara

Phone: +90 312 297 8500

E-mail: ozdag@hacettepe.edu.tr