Bilkent University Quality Management in Education

Master of Arts in International Relations (Before 2022)

Foundation

1989

Qualification Awarded

Master of Arts in International Relations

Level of Qualification

Second Cycle Degree

Mode of Study

Full Time

Admission & Registration Requirements

Prospective students must have completed the Bilkent University requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations or equivalent training.

Assessment of Student Performance

Apart from work conducted throughout the semester, students are usually asked to take a final examination and at least one midterm examination for a course. If a staff member considers it appropriate, practical laboratory work or other such assignments may be assessed as midterm examinations or as a final examination.

Grades are finalized when they are announced via the internet on the date specified in the Academic Calendar. Semester grades for practical studies and other non-lecture courses are determined by an evaluation of the student's overall work and performance throughout the semester.

The University grading system uses letter grades with pluses and minuses. Letter grades and their grade point equivalents are: A+ to D; F, FX is failing. The quality-point equivalents of the grades are:

  A+   4.00   B+   3.30   C+   2.30   D+   1.30   F   0.00
  A   4.00   B   3.00   C   2.00   D   1.00   FX   0.00
  A-   3.70   B-   2.70   C-   1.70           FZ   0.00

Other grades used are S (Satisfactory), U (Unsatisfactory), I (Incomplete), P (In Progress), T (Transfer), and W (Withdraw). These grades do not have grade point equivalents.

S : accorded to students who are successful in non-credit courses.
     
U : accorded to students who are unsuccessful in non-credit courses.
     
I : accorded to students who, although otherwise successful, have failed to complete the required assignments for a course due to illness or some other valid reason. Proof of illness or other reason for non-completion must be submitted within two days of the date of the final exam. A student receiving an incomplete grade for any course must make up for the deficiencies within 14 days after the final exam in order to obtain a grade. Otherwise, the grade I automatically becomes FX. At the discretion of the department chair, the period specified above may be extended until the beginning of the following semester. P : progress, used for multi-semester courses.
     
P : progress, used for multi-semester courses.
     
T : reflects approved transferred courses from other universities or from an exchange program. A student with a grade of T is exempted from an equivalent number of credits on the condition that the courses are accepted by the department on the recommendation of the department chair and with the approval of the board of the faculty/school. This grade may provide an exemption for a particular course at the program.
     
W : student has withdrawn from the course before the withdrawal deadline of the respective semester.

A student with extraordinary performance in a course may be granted an A+ grade. However, the number of A+ grades in a given course is limited based on class size: If the class size is less than 25 students, no A+ grades may be given; if the class size is between 25 and 74 students, only one A+ grade may be given; if the class size is between 75 and 124 students, two A+ grades may be given; if the class size is between 125 and 174 students, three A+ grades may be given; if the class size is between 175 and 225 students, four A+ grades may be given; if the class size is more than 225 students, five A+ grades may be given. (The letter grade A+ was instituted beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year.)

Students who have not met the minimum performance and/or attendance requirements to qualify to take the final exam receive an FZ grade before the final exams begin. Failing students who have not shown up at the final exam receive an FX grade instead of an F.

In graduate programs, in addition to grade S, a grade of C or higher is a passing grade in masters programs and a grade of B or higher is a passing grade in Ph.D. programs. Letter grades lower than C and grade U are failing grades in masters programs and grades lower than B and grade U are failing grades in Ph.D. programs.

A student's academic performance is determined at the end of each semester by computing an average of the letter grades he/she has received during that semester. For each course, the grade point equivalent of the letter grade received by the student is multiplied by the credit units for that course; the sum of these products is then divided by the total credit units taken in that semester to yield the Grade Point Average (GPA) for that semester. The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is calculated by multiplying the grade point equivalent of the letter grade by the credit units for each course and then dividing the total sum by the total credit units taken in the program.

National Degree Qualifications

Basic Field Qualifications for Social and Behavioural Science (Academic - Weighted) - 7th Level - Master
NQF-HETR
LEVEL
KNOWLEDGE
- Theoretical
- Conceptual
SKILLS
- Cognitive
- Practical
COMPETENCES
Competence to Work
Independently and
Take Responsibility
Learning Competence Communication and Social
Competence
Field Specific Competence
7th Level Master's

EQF-LLL:
7th Level

QF-EHEA:
2nd Cycle
Qualifications that signify completion of the sixth cycle are awarded to students who
K1. Have advanced level of fundamental conceptual knowledge so as to comprehend the relations between theoretical knowledge and practice in the field.
K2. Understands the interdisciplinary interaction related to the field.
K3. Have command of fundamental concepts in social and behavioral sciences and of relationships between concepts.
K4. Have basic knowledge on the operation of relations between people and societies.
K5. Have basic knowledge on causes and consequences of transformations of societies.
K6. Have ability to perform research, information to plan research, and skills to conduct research that are required by Social and Behavioural Sciences.
K7. Have necessary conceptual and practical knowledge that is required by Social and Behavioural Sciences in order to obtain information by processing data at advanced level.
S1. Analyse theoretical knowledge and evaluate its reflections in practice in the field.
S2. Have command of theories of Social and Behavioural Sciences, have the ability to convert these theories into a report in business life, and the knowledge to prepare works compatible with academic rules.
S3. Use field-related knowledge while making a decision, implementing it and converting the decision into a behaviour.
S4. Have the ability to transfer the field-related accumulated knowledge with its theoretical and practical principles to those who are concerned.
S5. Create new knowledge and interpretations by combining the field-related knowledge with knowledge from other disciplines.
S6. Give original, written and oral, presentations in national and/or international conventions.
S7. Identify the problematiques encountered in the field and develop solutions for them or solve them by using research methods.
W1. Solve a field-related problem both as a team member and as an individual independently.
W2. Take responsibility both individually and as a team member in order to address an obstacle and a problem faced-encountered in practice within the field, and take initiative, if necessary.
W3. Plan and govern all kinds of field-related objectives or projects in the field.
W4. Have the awareness of the need to take leadership responsibility in a process of teamwork when it is necessary.
W5. Determine a vision, goal, and objective in the field.
W6. Expend the boundaries of field-related knowledge by preparing and publishing at least one article individually or with a team.
L1. Evaluate the knowledge acquired in the field with a critical approach by investigating casual relationships.
L2. Identify deficiencies in knowledge and practice related to the field.
L3. Show capacity to keep interest and motivation in the field continuous and alive.
L4. Evaluate basic knowledge and skills in the field constructively, critically, and productively; identify the learning requirements and address them.
L5. Follow national and international publications regarding the field.
L6. Directs his / her education in a way to contribute to an advanced level of education or a profession at the same level.
L7. Have raised awareness for lifelong learning and questioning.
C1. Communicate field related knowledge and skills in writing and speaking.
C2. Share field-related solutions supported by scientific data with competent peers.
C3. Have command of sharing information and team work; evaluate critical perspectives and integrate them into the work in an academic professional environment.
C4. Transform field-related knowledge and applications to projects and activities within a frame of social responsibility.
C5. Reflect the difference originating from own theoretical foundations and conceptual substance to individual career development when joining the professional life.
C6. Have a critical perspective for investigating social relations and norms shaping these relations, improve these norms, and act to change them, if necessary.
C7. Monitor the developments in the field and communicate with peers by using a foreign language at least at a level of European Language Portfolio B2.
C8. Use computer software in addition to information and communication technologies as required by the field.
F1. Act according to social, cultural, scientific, and ethical values during the process associated with the accumulation of field-related knowledge and expertise (gathering and analysis of data, interpretation and dissemination of results).
F2. Make predictions for the future.
F3. Have sufficient awareness about the issues of universality of social rights, social justice, quality and cultural values, together with environmental protection, occupational health and safety.
F4. Have an open attitude towards change and innovation.
F5. Have the capacity to interpret events and improve views about social and behavioural facts by using the body of methodologies and information provided within the field.
F6. Use the field-related knowledge, problem-solving and/or operational skills in interdisciplinary works at national as well as international levels.

Program Outcomes

  1. a. a) Demonstrate conceptual, theoretical and empirical knowledge in International Relations
  2. b. b) Demonstrate knowledge of how to plan, design and conduct social science research, including the application of relevant methodologies and analysis of data
  3. c. c) Able to analyse conceptual and theoretical knowledge in the field of International Relations and evaluate its reflections in practice
  4. d. d) Able to utilize existing knowledge and interpretations in the field of International Relations
  5. e. e) Able to work independently when attending to specific tasks/problems and conducting research
  6. f. f) Able to critically and constructively evaluate knowledge and skills in the field of International Relations
  7. g. g) Able to follow and motivated to stay updated with regard to developments in the field of International Relations
  8. h. h) Able to communicate effectively, share knowledge, and give written and oral presentations in an academically professional environment
  9. i. i) Able to reflect knowledge, skills and competences into personal career development
  10. j. j) Able to act in accordance with professional and social values/norms when conducting research in the field of International Relations

Program Outcomes/Degree Qualification Matrix

 Program Outcomes
Qualification(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)(i)(j)
K1
K2
K3
K4
K5
K6
K7
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
W6
L1
L2
L3
L4
L5
L6
L7
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6
C7
C8
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6

Program Curriculum

Course Code Course Name Hours Credits Prerequisite Options
Lecture Lab/Studio
/Others
Bilkent ECTS
GE 500 Research Methods and Academic Publication Ethics 0 0 0 1
GE 510 Fundamentals of Social Research Design 3 0 3 5
GE 590 Academic Practices 0 0 0 12
IR 501 International Relations Theory 3 0 3 5
IR 509 Pre-thesis Seminar 0 0 0 1
IR 599 Master's Thesis 0 0 0 66
IR 5104 Issues in Turkish Foreign Policy 3 0 3 5
Elective 3
Restricted Elective-I 9
Restricted Elective-II 3


Elective Courses in the Curriculum

Elective Count Program Outcomes Options
Elective 1  
Restricted Elective-I 3  
Restricted Elective-II 1