FORENSÄ°C SCÄ°ENCES
Third Cycle Programmes
(Doctorate Degree/Doctor of Fine Arts)

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

Doctorate

D.3. Level of Qualification

QF-EHEA: 3
EQF-LLL: 8

D.4. Provisions for Registration

Candidates who are Graduates of Master's Program of Department of Forensic Sciences or who completed an equivalent program to this program, graduates of Master's Programs of relevant departments in Science, Social Sciences, Engineering and Legal Sciences Institutes and that can bring solutions to current problems, with high knowledge and skills, in purpose of educating manpower who gained the ability to access, evaluate, interprate information and to do research, and who wish to study at the doctoral level may apply. Apart from these, academic qualifications of applicants will be determined by the Department of Academic Council. Candidates must have provided the standard score that will be determined by the University Senate which is in the condition that not less than 55 in ALES (Academic Graduate Education Entrance Examination) appropriate program and the minimum base score from YDS and nationally or internationally recognized ÃœDS, TOEFL and IELTS language proficency exams, in which the base score is determined by the Senate.

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

D.5. Qualification Requirements and Regulations

To the Ph.D. program, students who are accepted with a Master's degree must complete at least 21 credits course load successfully. According to European Credit Transfer System, students must complete at least 120 credits of course load and 120 credits of thesis work successfully.

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

After completing the courses as mentioned above, students registered to the Ph. Dprogram of Department of Forensic Sciences, will be examined according to the rules determined in the relevant regulations by the Ph. D

Proficency jury which is formed by the department according to the relevant articles of “Hacettepe University Graduate Education and Examination Regulations” and approved by the Institute Administrative Commission of Institute of Sciences. Students who successfully complete the Ph. D Proficency exam, has to prepare a thesis under the management of a advisor by encoding ADB 700 Research PhD Thesis. 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 follow-up of the thesis, 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 PhD" 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

D.14. Profile of the Programme

PhD program of the Department of Forensic Sciences consists of courses, proficency examination, thesis proposal, thesis work and dissertation defense.

To the Ph.D. program, students who are accepted with a Master's degree must complete at least 21 credits course load successfully. According to European Credit Transfer System, students must complete at least 120 credits of course load and 120 credits of thesis work successfully.

(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