Overview
Offers both a thesis and a non-thesis option.

Thesis program:
5-Semester program
3 Semesters courses; 2 Semesters Thesis Writing
Number of Courses (minimum): 8

Non-thesis program:
3-Semester program
No thesis requirement
Number of Courses (minimum): 11

Program
The graduate program in Urban Policy Planning and Local Governments is designed to specialize students in the fields of urban management, urban law, urban public economy, urban policy analysis and urban project production.

The dimensions of urbanization in Turkey represent a sophisticated and comprehensive structure that cannot be covered by the program of only one discipline. Thus, it seems to be inevitable that a multi-disciplinary approach is required, so as to educate students to synthesize the knowledge being gathered from different disciplines. The comprehension of the city to be a social, economic, political and culturall mosaic can be possible only via a new education process.

Depending on this information, it is clear that specialized people are needed that are aware of the political processes of urban planning; and that can be capable of controlling project implementation; designing and directing urban processes with their legal, financial and administrative dimensions.

There are common grounds in Turkey in which various disciplines meet. However, people involving in these fields mostly specialize in a practical and random manner, instead of having an academic education. So, the practical applications not only lack the contributions of a scientific and academic frame, but also lose the opportunity of feeding the academic atmosphere, as well. Constitution of such an interdisciplinary program is supposed to allow the practical field being supported by an academic frame; and the academic field interacting with the practical one. Nevertheless, people involving in practical field would hardly attend the Program of Urban Policy Planning and Local Governments, whether the program were designed to be a "thesis-program", since this would mean intensity of the studies. Therefore, a "non-thesis" option is considered to take place within the program: Through this way, the interaction of the practical and academical processes can be realized.

The graduate program of Urban Policy Planning and Local Governments is a program administered by The Graduate School of Social Sciences with the academic contribution of the departments of City and Regional Planning and Political Science and Public Administration. The rationale laying behind the development of a multi-disciplinary program between these two departments is the provision of the "transfer and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge". This program is designed for people having been educated in the fields of urban planning, political science, public administration, law, economics, finance, sociology, philosophy etc.

Curriculum

Description of Courses