Teaching

I teach compulsory and elective courses in the department of sociology and international relations.

INTL 501 Research Methods 

This class is a graduate-level introduction to empirical research in political science. The primary
objective of graduate study is to provide students with the skills they need to critically evaluate
empirical studies produced in their respective fields and prepare them for their transition from solely being consumers of scientific knowledge to being producers of it. This transition requires a solid understanding of the methodological, practical and ethical challenges social scientists face in empirical work as well as developing new skills. Our goal in this class will be to advance ourselves on these fronts, and we will pay particular attention to core issues of causal inference, case selection, operationalization, research ethics among others.

INTL 101 Introduction to Political Science 

This course is intended to introduce students to the main issues, concepts and methods of analysis in political science. It is an introductory course that intends to familiarize students with basic concepts of politics and enable them to make intelligent inquiries into the controversies surrounding them. It does not, however, aim to provide clear-cut solutions to such controversies. Instead, it expects the students to use the tools and frameworks provided and look at such issues from multiple angles. By the end of the course you will be expected to have a working understanding of and an ability to question main concepts, topics and approaches in political science, using the analytical tools discussed throughout the course.

INTL 499 Senior Capstone 

This course is designed as case method learning. Throughout the semester, we will analyze several unique cases, which address different topics in political science and international relations. The topics may range from conflict resolution to public policy, from social inequalities to international law based on the expertise of the faculty member.

INTL 435 / SOCI 435 Advance Topics in International Migration

The course contextualizes international migration as a complex phenomenon with linkages with other global issues focusing on issues related to global governance of international migration. It provides a historical and cross-geographical perspective, problematizes the role of various institutions in the governance of international mobility, emphasizes the governance of forced migration, border controls environmental migration, migration of highly skilled. We will open up discussions on different case studies from Turkey and other countries

SOSC 105, Migration and Globalization

This course presents discussions on major concepts and issues pertaining to contemporary global migration. The course material is organized to reflect on the sociological and political science questions such as state sovereignty, borders, social mobility, gender, education, identity, citizenship, and global inequalities, as they relate to international mobility. We will explore the fundamental consequences of migration for shaping social relations at the local and global levels. Particularly, we will look at changing trends in global mobility, theories explaining international mobility, migrant integration, citizenship practices of migrant communities, the impact of migration on sending and receiving societies, and the basic methods used for analyzing migration related issues.

SOSC 102 Culture and Society

This course presents discussions pertaining to contemporary societies in relation to cultural practices, identity, and power relations they entail. Course material is organized to reflect on the sociological questions such as cultural practices, nationalism, identities, diversity, social mobilization, and inequalities as they relate to both the culture and the society in post-industrial societies. We will explore fundamental consequences of cultural practices and identities that shapes social relations at local and global levels.  Particularly, we will look at changing trends in social stratification, in theories explaining identity formation, and in politics of social mobilization. We will particularly explore the studies on Turkey by sociologists from Turkey. While approaching different topics, we will inquire the basic methods used for asking sociological questions.