B.A. in Communication and Design
Modern media is a leading force in the contemporary process of globalization. The Department of Communication and Design aims to educate media professionals, with a special emphasis on visual communication and visual technologies, specifically in the fields of filmmaking, video and TV production, journalism, visual design, interactive media, and advertising.
Students are provided with a wide range of courses in media studies, theories, and practice, like interpersonal communication and individual presentation, forms and techniques of public and mass communication, visual design and visual studies, basic computer and Internet knowledge, advertising, marketing, and public relations. The visual design and communication courses in practical fields such as photography, television, computer, and video are conducted in computer labs with the most developed visual design programs, photography studios, and a very well-equipped digital video production studio. Since the department’s philosophy is to educate both creative and responsible media professionals, it also includes several must and elective courses on the ethical, legal and social problems related to mass communication.
For detailed information, you can visit the link: https://catalog.bilkent.edu.tr/dep/d77.html
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
1. Graduates of the Department will be the next generation of knowledgeable and responsible media professionals and scholars.
2. Graduates of the Department will contribute with high quality, innovative works, creative design storytelling and leadership across a broad spectrum of areas in all production platforms to a growing, global network of media professionals.
3. Graduates of the Department are distinguished collaborators with their knowledge and appreciation of art and design of all media platforms.
CURRICULUM
| FIRST YEAR Fall Semester COMD 101 Visual Communication Design I An elementary introduction to the principles of visual design and communication. Concepts of form, pattern, color, composition, and function. Basic problem-solving strategies in two-dimensional design. Development of visual awareness and visual literacy. Theories of perception, Gestalt and design dynamics. FA 171 Introduction to Art, Design and Culture I Part of the two-semester course (FA 171 and FA 172) to develop a historical and critical sensibility about artistic and cultural production, focusing on themes like the correlation between Art and Culture, the terminology and institutions that define the arts, historical background of the arts, paintings, sculpture, architecture, design, and popular culture. At the end of these courses, a fair knowledge of and a critical perspective on concepts, values, and the relationship of art and culture. COMD 103 Integrated Visual Communication Information and ideas take on many forms in contemporary media design practices. The challenge is for designers to consistently apply the execution of ideas, form, and craft across different media platforms, from print to digital, each introducing unique properties and constraints to which to respond. The Integrated Visual Communication course exposes students to the tools and technical knowledge base required to realize design concepts at high levels of production and craft in a studio environment. MATH 103 Thinking Mathematically I Critical thinking and problem solving. Set theory. Logic; inductive and deductive reasoning. The real number system, integers, rational and irrational numbers. Exponents and scientific notation, roots. Algebraic equations and inequalities. Linear and quadratic equations. Functions and graphs; graph reading. Exponential, logarithmic, and quadratic functions. ENG 101 English and Composition I The central basis of ENG 101 is to introduce students to an academic approach to thinking, reading, speaking and writing in an integrated, meaningful manner such that they are able to apply the skills learnt to their departmental studies. In addition, the ENG 101 course aims to further develop the students’ linguistic accuracy and range in English. TURK 101 Turkish I This course is the first of a sequence of two courses designed to develop creative writing skills of the students through their own writings in Turkish. It is an active learning course. Students write their own blogs and instructors comment and send feedback about the creativity, content, composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation of the writing regularly. GE 100 Orientation Introduction to university’s academic and social environment by series of activities. Talks by university administrators and guest speakers, workshops, concerts, and tours of departments. Sports centers, computing facilities, and library also part of the orientation program. Complete set of activities and required minimum in orientation book. Mandatory for first-year students. COMD 102 Visual Communication Design II Traditional media approaches and contemporary digital applications incorporated to solve problems within the visual arts. Advanced uses of form, pattern, color, composition and function to solve both two-dimensional and three-dimensional problems. Usage of different visual forms through photography, illustration, typography and graphic design. FA 172 Introduction to Art and Culture I Part of the two-semester course (FA 171 and FA 172) to develop a historical and critical sensibility about artistic and cultural production, focusing on the social function of art, Modernism, Art and the unconscious, Pop Art, Postmodernism, photography, film and television and digital media and multimedia. Development of a keen awareness of visual environment in a theoretical and practical way by applying the concepts given in the lectures and readings to visual and symbolic environment. ECON 103 Principles of Economics Introduces the basic concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics, supply and demand analysis, and economic theories. The implications of economics in regards to social issues and the role of economics in the field of communication and advertising are discussed. ENG 102 English and Composition II The central basis of ENG 102 is to consolidate students’ academic approach to thinking, reading, speaking and writing and language usage, as initiated in ENG 101. In addition, the ENG 102 course aims to develop the students’ abilities to synthesize and evaluate information and conduct basic, independent research. PSYC 102 Introduction to Social Psychology This course is designed to acquaint the student with the nature and causes of individual behavior in social situations; to identify the factors that shape feelings, behavior and thought. The topics to be covered include: the research methods of social psychology, social perception, social cognition, attitudes, prejudice/discrimination, interpersonal attraction, social influence, aggression, individual behavior in groups, and applications of social psychology in health, the legal system and the work setting (organizations). TURK 102 Turkish II This course is the second of a sequence of two courses designed to develop creative writing skills of the students through their own writings in Turkish. It is an active learning course. Students write their own blogs and instructors comment and send feedback about the creativity, content, composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation of the writing regularly. |
SECOND YEAR Fall Semester COMD 281 Media and Design Studio I Emphasizing design and visual thinking in combination with digital storytelling in a studio and project-based learning environment. The course involves conceptualization and problem-solving strategies using a variety of media and materials. Students expand their digital studio skill set as they further develop their own visual language. COMD 203 Media Studies I Communication as a process: Code, massage, sign, medium and context. Theories and models of communication: Linguistics, semiotics, and engineering models. Encoding and decoding, analog and digital codes. Convention and use. Lateral, symbolic and metaphorical communication; visual metaphors. COMD 207 History of Film and Media History of cinema from its invention to the digital era. Major breakthroughs, significant movements and genres in cinema, as well as style and meaning, elements of film narrative, and filmmaking techniques. The historical, political, and cultural context of the movies. Computational Core Elective The students should take one computational core elective this term. HUM 111 Cultures Civilizations and Ideas I This half of the year-long course “Cultures, Civilizations, and Ideas” introduces students to the study of culture and civilization through a close reading of primary texts in the ancient traditions of the Near East and the Mediterranean. It also introduces students to more modern critical readings and discussion of the value and weight of this tradition. The course aims to provide students with an understanding of the ancient roots of literary craft and philosophical thought and to enhance the student’s ability in interpretative and critical reasoning. Successful completion of the course requires careful and timely reading of assigned texts, essay writing, and active participation in class discussion. Grading is based on a course project, a mid-term examination or term paper, a comprehensive final examination, reading quizzes, and class participation. Required texts include Epic of Gilgamesh; Freud: Civilization and Its Discontents; Homer: Iliad; Sophocles: Theban Plays; Plato: Republic; and a course reader of other shorter works and critical essays. GE 250 Collegiate Activities Program I Ground for students to engage in diversity, creativity and commitment outside coursework. Participation in various activities provided mainly by student clubs. Student activity in designing and shaping courses as well as monitoring and grading performance. Grading based on points accumulated by participation in activities. Mandatory for four-year students and to be taken in the third semester. Prerequisite of GE 251, non-credit, pass/fail course. COMD 282 Media and Design Studio II A continuation of COMD 281 with a concentration on the cinematographic image in various media and digital environments integrating concepts of digital photography and moving image production in project-based learning. COMD 204 Media Studies II Introduces major critical theories in media and cultural studies. Social, technological and aesthetic contexts of visual and mass media. Surveillance, mediated environments, media technologies, media industries, audiences and spectatorship, media professions. COMD 210 Introduction to Screenwriting History of cinema from its invention to the digital era. Major breakthroughs, significant movements and genres in cinema, as well as style and meaning, elements of film narrative, and filmmaking techniques. The historical, political, and cultural context of the movies. HUM 112 Cultures Civilizations and Ideas II The second half of the year-long course “Cultures, Civilizations and Ideas”, continues the study of culture through an examination of texts through the periods of the Late Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Enlightenment, and up to modern times. The course focuses on several themes, most importantly, the concepts of Modernity and Knowledge, Individualism, Cross-Cultural Contact, Social Order, and Disorder. As in HUM 111, close reading and discussion of primary texts is the vehicle for the course. Grading is based on a course project, a mid-term examination or term paper, a comprehensive final examination, reading quizzes, and class participation. Required authors include, among others: Machiavelli, Shakespeare, Descartes, Rousseau, Hegel, Marx, Kafka. Science Core Elective The students should take one science core elective this term. GE 251 Collegiate Activities Program II Second part of GE 250/251 sequence. Total points accumulated during GE 250 and GE 251 converted to a letter grade. |
THIRD YEAR Fall Semester COMD 381 Media and Design Studio III This is a studio course, which introduces a film & video production model and workflow in a digital environment. Students will explore various cinematic forms; develop visual narratives and artistic practices through collaborative projects. COMD 321 Analysis of Moving Image Cinematic language, which has extended into a variety of visual media, including television. Mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, sound-image relationships, narrative and non-narrative forms, with attention to both dominant practices (Hollywood) and alternatives. Use of these concepts in conjunction with critical writing skills to analyze moving image texts. COMD 341 Media and Society The media as a major social institution, the relationship between media and society. The production and reception of media content, the impact of media over other institutions, society, and culture as well as the effects over individual behavior. Questions of control and ownership, public and private media. Mass culture and popular culture. Different forms and genres of media, fictional and news material. Propaganda and ideological influence. The impact of new technologies of communication. Humanities Core Elective The students should take one social science core elective this term. COMD 290 Summer Practice I Summer internship to give students an experience in the organization, structure and working of the creative industries over a minimum of 4 weeks. Restricted Elective The students should take one restricted elective this term. COMD 382 Media and Design Studio IV A continuation of COMD 381 as a combined studio and production environment from classic to innovative creative forms, advancing film and video production skill sets through increasingly complex narrative and non-narrative projects. COMD 356 Digital Culture The rapid development of information and communication technologies has introduced new structures of thinking to reflect on political, social, economic, and cultural realms of the globe. New communication media as the initiator of media revolutions accelerate social change. Information monopoles breaks and differences of knowledge decrease. But at the same time the amounts of information and the risk of disinformation increase. This course will introduce and discuss selected media theories in the context of the societal change to a media culture. ENG 312 Introduction to Creative Writing Based on students’ accumulated knowledge of elements and technical underpinnings of literary genres, this course aims to help students gain a deeper practical and theoretical understanding of their own values and aspirations as writers of English. Students are expected to improve their written expression in terms of style, language, vocabulary, and creativity with a specific focus on metaphorical and figurative aspects of language. Taught in a workshop-based environment the course emphasizes how the process of pre-writing, writing, and revision can lead to fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction. Assignments will encourage the creation and revision of drafts and will give students the opportunity to experiment, practice, edit/improve their work, and discuss one another’s work in the course forums. COMD 358 Professional Communication The goal of the Professional Communication course is to help students from all kinds of academic disciplines to learn about, effectively practice, and ultimately develop professional communication skills and experience that will be useful in both their professional careers and social interactions in interpersonal situations. It will also expand their ability to engage in team work and design professional presentations, better preparing them for their future careers. Students will learn and practice written, oral and visual communication skills to help them expand their ability to communicate and interact more professionally, with improved writing, editing, listening, speaking and presentation skills. HIST 200 History of Turkey This course focuses on aspects of Turkey’s history with an emphasis on research. It is designed as an interactive course with the objective to investigate events, chronologically short historical periods, as well as historic representations. |
FOURTH YEAR Fall Semester COMD 481 Visual Communication Project The first phase of the fourth-year capstone project required of all COMD majors. Project relying on students’ skills in project planning, media integration, and production and/or research techniques. Evaluation of plan as part of the course performance assessment. Through practical exercises and applications to major component media including computer text, graphics, photography, animation, speech, sound, and video. Technical and human interface issues COMD 471 Media Ethics A survey of the current ethical problems and issues in reporting, editing and broadcasting moral principles, legal regulations and their application to these problems. Examination of case studies with special emphasis on questions of privacy and freedom of information. COMD 390 Summer Practice II Summer internship in which students participate actively in professional audiovisual media productions and make detailed observations of these productions’ planning as well as their media integration strategies, techniques, and tools. Improvement of skills in teamwork and production/client relations. Minimum time commitment of 4 weeks. Restricted Elective (2) The students should take two restricted electives this term. Social Science Core Elective The students should take one social science core elective this term. COMD 482 Visual Communication Project II Introduction to planning, media integration, and production techniques and tools of interactive multimedia. Through practical exercises exposition to major component media including computer text, graphic, photography, animation, speech, sound, and video. Technical and human interface issues. COMD 422 Advanced Issues in Comm. Studies This course is designed to introduce students to advanced issues in communication studies and recent research. Topics to be covered may include: revisiting the communication process; audience groups and different interpretations of media messages; ratings system; media practice and democracy; issues of identification, image and visuality; internet, cyberspace and the impact of recent technologies; digital cinema and digital television; interactive media and media art. Unrestricted Elective (2) The students should take two unrestricted electives this term. Restricted Elective The students should take one restricted elective this term. |
Restricted Electives
AMER 303 Film Studies in Amer. Culture to 1960 AMER 303 Film Studies in Amer. Culture to 1960 AMER 304 Film Stud. in Amer. Culture Since 1960 This course is designed to introduce students to American film history and culture, including issues pertaining to aesthetic analysis, film genres, and issues of representation from 1960 to the present. COMD 212 Principles of Visual Comm. Design Exploration of visual design together with typography used as an effective key element of communication-based on theoretical and practical knowledge. Visual communication design and typographic principles, layout, and expressive typography are covered by implementing the design thinking process. Awareness of visual identification is explored through lectures, discussions, screenings, critiques, and presentations. COMD 305 Intermediate Film Production I Through various kinds of digital video projects, development of teamwork skills and learning the professional production process including pre-production, cinematography, and post-production, as well as production planning, shooting and editing, basic sound recording and design. Preparation of a digital portfolio for final evaluation. COMD 306 Intermediate Film Production II A continuation of COMD 305, advancing video production and directing skills. The emphasizing time management and project design. Improvement of skills in digital video post-production through increasingly complex projects. COMD 308 Multi-camera Prod. & Live-Recording An introduction course to multi-camera operation and TV production techniques for live performance recordings. Various kinds of practical exercises, demonstrations, shootings and real-live situations for live music and performance video. Proficiency in pre-production and production activities, recorded and live performance, technical execution, written and practical examinations, as well as submitted written documents and additional assignments. COMD 310 Advanced Screenwriting Art of story-telling, increasing awareness of memory, observation, and interpersonal relationships through the construction of narrative form for the screen. The ways in which an audience can be manipulated through the use of language. Themes with stories drawn from experience and conventions, problems, and possibilities of screenwriting. COMD 322 Film Theory and Criticism Key debates in film theory, covering concepts such as genre, auteurism, ideology, psychoanalysis, subjectivity, national and transnational cinemas, spectatorship and reception discussed in relation to film language, including narrative, mise-en-scene, cinematography, sound, and editing. COMD 331 News Reporting and Writing News reporting and production techniques of radio and television. Gathering information, editing and writing under strict deadlines in order to prepare the student for a professional position. News values, and responsibilities. Basic news writing and style principles, interviewing techniques. COMD 335 Science Writing and Journalism Improvement of communication skills to cover science news and reach general public. Analysis of scientific journal findings, reporting and writing science/technology news stories to inform the lay audience. COMD 342 Popular Culture An awareness of how popular culture operates in specific ways. Popular narrative and entertainment forms in contrast with “high culture.” Impact of cultural forms on audiences and a critical study of theories of popular culture. Significant cases from literature, press, film, television, and new media. COMD 344 Experimental Film and Media – Theory and Practice This course aims to give students the creative insight to practice, theorize, and analyze various avant-garde techniques within different media forms and different creators whose work is pivotal within this field. By studying a wide variety of directors and artists, and experimental practice in a studio environment, students will better understand how working outside of cinematic or narrative conventions can proactively engage with the filmic medium and media art. |
COMD 346 Introduction to Advertising Basics of advertising: its functions, and how to plan and produce advertisements. Role of advertising in marketing communications, advertising institutions and media, and its retail aspects, with a theoretical foundation in economics, ethics, and social aspects. COMD 350 Radio Programming and Production This course aims to acquaint the student with the techniques and aesthetics of audio production including radio broadcasting, audio for television, and multimedia production such as podcasts. Emphasis will be placed on scripting, editing, and production of several program forms. Introducing the concepts, technology, and skills behind audio production, the course will give a firm foundation in broadcasting and multi-media production. COMD 354 Game Design and Research Introduction to games as a cultural phenomenon and a media form in a historical context. An analytical approach to game mechanics and dynamics. Fundamentals of game development with the implementation of iterative design methodologies. COMD 355 Social Media Marketing Social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest that drive contemporary marketing practices. Use of social media as a marketing tool with case studies, best-practice methodology, and current news items. A digital strategy combined with traditional media to influence purchasing decisions, and to develop comprehensive digital and social media marketing plans COMD 357 Multimedia Journalism An understanding of digital journalism by introducing current discussions in online media, emerging digital technologies, data visualization. Development of online and multimedia reporting skills by actively contributing to the class website, writing beat blogs, taking photographs, and creating short video and audio components for reports. Access to a smartphone or audio and video equipment is required. COMD 361 Sound Design I Audio in relation to visual media through basic audio production and post-production techniques for video and film. Skill development in sound recording both in-studio and on location, covering signal processing, digital audio editing, and mixing. COMD 362 Sound Design II Continuation of Sound Design I. Advanced audio post-production techniques for video and film. Components and creative potential of sound design in order to enhance communication through artistic and expressive uses of sound. COMD 363 Music and Media Media shapes the production, distribution, and consumption of music. Theories and practices of music and related technologies in media. A variety of perspectives including artistic, industrial, and cultural dimensions. COMD 365 Character Anim. & Seq. Storytelling Highlighting concept development and storytelling methods in a studio and project-based learning environment. The course involves exploring animation as a limitless storytelling medium through considering both traditional and non-traditional narrative storytelling. Developing projects using pre-production methods including; character design, storyboarding techniques, color scripting, and advancing to experimentations in various animation styles and technique combinations. Students acquire both digital and manual tools to create effective sequential visual stories. COMD 409 Advanced Broadcast Studio Expands on the skills developed in the design and production-related courses of the curriculum including multi-camera and live streaming. Building on the camera work, editing, writing, and producing, work to create and produce original online programming and production including live streaming. COMD 424 Media Theory and Methods Various advanced methods of studying media: semiology, content analysis, theories of identification, audience studies and ethnographies, and economics of media. Design and conduct of an independent research project in a specific area of media studies. COMD 433 Gender and Media Every digital interface/interaction (e.g. web and mobile application, car dashboard, smart appliance) was designed to solve a problem or to make our lives better, easier, more successful. User Interface (UI) design refers to the way the interface looks (the actual layout of its elements). User Experience (UX) design tackles how it feels to use the product (what do we do? how do we feel?). This course teaches the principles and practice of UI/UX design through exercises and homework (group and individual), student blogs and toolkits, class discussions, presentations, and projects. COMD 434 Special Topics in Journalism Advanced topics in journalism to deepen students’ critical understanding of the field. The complicated nature of fact, truth and evidence; journalism contexts; privacy and publicity; ethics; news agendas; technological change; and journalism applied to specific areas like science, culture, business, and politics. COMD 435 Documentary Basic knowledge of the history and forms of documentary cinema. Sub-genres and modes of documentary from its emergence to the digital era, with particular attention to newly emerging digital modes of documentary. |
COMD 436 Television Genres Television’s role as a cultural, social, political, and industrial force. Evolution of television and strategies for critical inquiry into its nature as a medium, exploring the uses and limitations of genre theory as applied to television, format adaptations, and interactive television. COMD 437 Post-production Techniques A variety of film and media post-production techniques, including 3D integrations, animation, and green-box installations. Completion of a group project that puts these techniques into practice. COMD 438 Adaptation in Media This course focuses on adaptation of content across media: film, literature, television, theater, games, comics, graphic novels. Explores how adaptation has helped build media franchises with global influence. Issues in cross-cultural adaptation, developments in adaptation theory, and critical approaches to adapted texts. COMD 439 International Public Relations The impact of public relations in an international context, including community and nation-building, relationship management, and multi-national entities. Case studies and examples from different countries to gain an in-depth understanding about how cultural context might influence public relations practices. COMD 442 Special Topics in Visual Studies Directing Actors course offers instruction and practice in the basics of directing actors for the camera and will guide the students to understand the actor’s creative process of building the character. It will introduce students to on-camera performance in various genres and will address the technical requirements of directing the TV and film actor such as blocking, playing to the camera, shooting out of sequence, and other production considerations. The course includes significant on-camera scene-work, character development, script analysis; breaking down the screenplay into a lined script, a storyboard and a shot list. Casting, rehearsal technique, and blocking issues will be explored in depth. Readings, exercises, screenings, and other assignments are designed to sharpen the director’s narrative and visual awareness. Through observations and reviewing of the video recordings of exercises following scene study practices, this course will familiarize students with the collaborative and creative director/crew/actor relationship on set. COMD 451 Creative Project Design & Development Exploration of basic creative project design and development techniques in terms of process efficiency and the role of creativity when working with specific limitations and restrictions of time and budget. Consideration of the drastic change currently taking place in the methods of funding, marketing, and distribution due to the effects of a new generation of media. Completion of a research project on various aspects of creative project design and also working on the development of a visual project, from the conception of an idea or acquisition of the rights to a text, to correctly identifying the target audience and outlet in order to create the marketing/distribution strategy for the project. Presentation of final projects in the form of complete project proposals. COMD 461 Public Rel. & Comm. Campaigns Theory and practice of public relations and public communication. PR and opinion research, communication process and building effective campaign strategy. Case studies in PR and public communication, commercial and political advertising, humanitarian campaigns. Ethical considerations and impact on society. COMD 462 Special Topics in Advertising Study of selected advanced topics in advertisement production and research focusing on various media application and future developments. Creativity and diversity, advertising research and planning of campaigns, generating ideas and strategy, copywriting for television, radio and direct marketing. CS 155 Interactive Media Design and Development Practical and theoretical fundamentals of design and the implementation of interactive multimedia systems. Basic principles of human-computer interaction and interaction design, including gaming, live audio and video processing, motion detection, gesture recognition, tangible media, and interactive spaces. CS 156 User Interface/User Experience Design Every digital interface/interaction (e.g. web and mobile application, car dashboard, smart appliance) was designed to solve a problem or to make our lives better, easier, more successful. User Interface (UI) design refers to the way the interface looks (the actual layout of its elements). User Experience (UX) design tackles how it feels to use the product (what do we do? how do we feel?). This course teaches the principles and practice of UI/UX design through exercises and homework (group and individual), student blogs and toolkits, class discussions, presentations, and projects. ELIT 164 Concepts in Literary Studies This course introduces students to a number of key concepts and theoretical issues in literary studies. As well as encountering the work of various literary critics and theorists, students also explore wider intellectual developments and their relationship with literature and literary studies. Topics covered may include the following: representation, narrative, voice, genre, the author, gender, ideology, culture, and race. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to demonstrate an understanding of, and an ability to think critically about, the concepts covered. Students are also expected to be able to reflect critically on their own approaches to literary texts. ELIT 230 Fiction and Narrative In this course students encounter works of literary fiction of varying kinds and from a wide range of periods and contexts. Students explore both the beginnings of, and key developments in, narrative prose. Building on issues explored in Concepts in Literary Studies, the course aims to enhance students’ abilities to think critically about stories and storytelling and to analyze works of fiction in terms of (for example) language, themes, structure, characters, plot, setting, and narrative technique. ELIT 246 Drama and Performance This course introduces students to a number of key concepts and theoretical issues in literary studies. As well as encountering the work of various literary critics and theorists, students also explore wider intellectual developments and their relationship with literature and literary studies. Topics covered may include the following: representation, narrative, voice, genre, the author, gender, ideology, culture, and race. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to demonstrate an understanding of, and an ability to think critically about, the concepts covered. Students are also expected to be able to reflect critically on their own approaches to literary texts. |
GE 401 Innovative Design and Entrepreneurship I The first one of a sequence of two courses – namely GE 401 and GE 402. Fundamentals of design – from the conception of an idea to a marketable end product within the framework of a simulated start-up company. Inception of a start-up company. Business plan preparation; fundamentals of project management; product design stages; incorporation of standards, quality directives, social and environmental factors. Seminars by experts in the field. Concept demonstration of the end-product. GE 402 Innovative Design and Entrepreneurship II The second one of a sequence of two courses – namely GE 401 and GE 402. Presentation of the simulated companies to potential investors of a virtual stock market at a “Traders’ Conference”. The simulated start-up companies listed in a virtual stock market immediately after the “Traders’ Conference”. Simulation of marketing of products; simulation of investor relations and company publicity to investors; modification and finalization of initial business plans; simulation of quality certification processes. Completion and presentation of working prototypes of the end products. Planning and design of the associated production plant. Seminars from experts related to start-up company management issues. GRA 207 Conceptual Design An investigation of the application of abstract concepts to concrete design products, i.e., packaging, advertising and printed material, as a vehicle to create specific moods and associations in design. GRA 215 Computer Graphics for Film and TV I This course promises to face students with real-life graphic problems & solutions of TV and theatrical movie world, from commercial graphics to main title design for movies. The exploration will not only stay in theoretical terms but also challenge technical aspects of the process, expecting students to utilize their former learned skills on typography, lettering, drawing, and their sense of time. The idea of what is “vendible” and “rich” in the entertainment graphics world will be infused to the students. GRA 217 Motion Graphics Introduction to motion graphics, including history, categories, techniques, and applications of motion graphics and animation basics as well as design and composition, storyboarding, sound and music adjustment on time-based media. GRA 218 Essentials of Photography Introduction to basic principles and techniques of photography covering darkroom techniques and processes. GRA 315 Info. Design and Data Visualization Studio course focusing on expanding students’ understanding of how graphic design can become an effective tool for organizing and presenting complex data and information. GRA 324 Photographic Practice Course for non-majors introducing basic principles and techniques of photography, darkroom techniques and processes. GRA 335 Computational Design Methods This course focuses on the concepts of procedural 3D CAD tools that enable the creation of non-destructive and adaptive design systems to empower designers to create procedural and generative systems that let experimentation with complex systems and compositions. MAN 333 Marketing Principles An analytical study of marketing as a major business function. Topics include an overview of the marketing system, the marketing concept, market research, market analysis, marketing strategies (segmentation, targeting, positioning), and marketing programs. An examination of how effective marketing strategy and program decisions is based on an analysis of buyer behavior, market structure, and competition. MAN 432 Consumer Behavior A study of the nature and determinants of consumer behavior. Examines how individuals and groups acquire, consume and dispose of goods, and explores the influence of various psycho-sociological factors, such as personality, cognitive characteristics, beliefs, social class and culture on the formation of consumers’ attitudes and purchasing behavior. To enhance understanding and prediction of marketplace behavior; and emphasizes the applications to the development, evaluation and implementation of marketing strategies. THR 333 On Camera Acting This course offers instruction and practice in the basics of acting for the camera and will assist students in making the transition from the theatre to the screen. It will introduce students to on-camera performance in various genres, and will address the technical requirements of TV and film acting such as playing to the camera, shooting out of sequence, blocking, and other production considerations. The course includes significant on-camera scene-work, character development, and script analysis. The assignments will include live tapings of selected materials. Through exercises and scene study, this course will familiarize students with on-camera acting techniques and expand each performer’s range of emotional, intellectual, physical, and vocal expressiveness for the camera. |
Core Electives
| Social Science Core Electives ECON 107 Principles of Microeconomics Introduction of core microeconomic concepts, focusing on application of these principles in current events. Main topics include demand and supply analysis, firm behavior and the studying of market structures and their welfare analysis. ECON 108 Principles of Macroeconomics Introduction to core macroeconomic concepts, focusing on their application to current economic events. Main topics include determination of output, inflation, interest rates, employment and unemployment. HCIV 101 History of Civilization I Provides background to the origins of early Western civilizations: deals with the nature and spread of the earliest civilizations in the Ancient Near East and the development of civilization in classical and medieval Europe, concerning their political, social, economic and religious life; focuses on the globalization process of the civilization to be culminated in Western Europe. HCIV 102 History of Civilization II Provides background to the origins of modern Western civilization: deals with the development of European society from around AD 1500 until the present, concerning the political, social economic and religious life of the West during that period. HIST 205 An Introduction to the History of the Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire, from its emergence in the early 14th century as a frontier principality in the northwest Anatolia until its dissolution after WWI, was one of the longest-lasting empires in the history of the world. Assessing its place in Turkic, Islamic and world history, this course aims to provide students with an understanding of what history is, why we study Ottoman history and the legacies of the past in the present. Topics include pre-Ottoman Anatolia, emergence of the Ottomans, institutionalization of power, land regime, slave system, Ottoman law, Ottoman economic mind and trade and intercommunal relations. IR 101 Introduction to World Politics This course introduces students to international relations by presenting the basic concepts, approaches and major contemporary currents in world politics. The purpose of the course is to provide students with a framework for analysis whereby they can understand and evaluate international phenomena. It covers a wide range of topics including security issues such as war, terrorism, diplomacy and arms control; ecological issues such as climate change and resource depletion, and economic issues such as development, world trade and globalization. IR 214 Global Environmental Issues The combination of world population growth and technological developments in the 20th century has placed increasing strains on the earth’s delicate life-support system and has created an array of interrelated environmental problems that confront the global community. In this course, students will acquire an understanding of how the “environmental crisis” has grown. They will study ways of and problems encountered in protecting the environment. LAW 211 Basic Concepts of Law Sources of law. Social life and the law. Definitions and concepts. Division of public and private law. POLS 101 Introduction to Political Science I This course explains the nature of political science and its basic concepts including power, legitimacy, authority and choice. The development of modern nation-state; fundamental of the classical and contemporary ideologies; policy-making role of the state; relationship between the state and the citizen; democratic and non-democratic governments and constitutional design of government are also covered. SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology Introduces students to the subject matter, major concepts, and theoretical approaches of sociology. Includes readings in the works of both classical and modern theorists. Emphasis is on social organization and stratification, community, power, social change. |
Humanities Core Electives EDEB 201 Introduction to Turkish Fiction This survey course will provide students with an introduction to influential novels in the Turkish literary canon. Each week we will read a classic works of Turkish literature and discuss the texts in relation to their socio-political context, as well as the changing structures and forms of the Turkish novel. The course will likely include writings and novels by authors such as Peyami Safa, Halide Edip Adıvar, Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu, Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, Oğuz Atay, Kemal Tahir, Yaşar Kemal, Sevgi Soysal, Yusuf Atılgan, Leyla Erbil, Adalet Ağaoğlu and Orhan Pamuk. HART 120 Human Evolution and World Prehistory This course is a survey of the human prehistory of Africa, Europe and Asia from the first hominids to the Mesolithic period, with particular emphasis on morphological evolution, environment and cultural developments. HART 221 Great Discoveries from the Ancient World Archaeology can be defined as the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture, the things people living in past times have left behind them which we use to better understand earlier times. These “things” range from the objects they used in everyday life to their monuments and even their preserved bodies. This course examines how the method of archaeology originated and how it has developed up to the present day by analysing a series of “Great Discoveries” from the well-known, such as the discovery of Troy or of Tutanhkamun’s grave, to less well-known examples, as with the finding of the Hoxne hand-axes and the grave of Richard III of England. In doing so the course will present the wide range of scientific methods used in archaeology today HUM 111 Cultures Civilizations and Ideas I This half of the year-long course “Cultures, Civilizations, and Ideas” introduces students to the study of culture and civilization through close reading of primary texts in the ancient traditions of the Near East and the Mediterranean. It also introduces students to more modern critical readings and discussion of the value and weight of this tradition. The course aims to provide students with an understanding of the ancient roots of literary craft and philosophical thought, and to enhance the student’s ability in interpretative and critical reasoning. Successful completion of the course requires careful and timely reading of assigned texts, essay writing, and active participation in class discussion. Grading is based on a course project, a mid-term examination or term-paper, comprehensive final examination, reading quizzes and class participation. Required texts include: Epic of Gilgamesh; Freud: Civilization and Its Discontents; Homer: Iliad; Sophocles: Theban Plays; Plato: Republic; and a course reader of other shorter works and critical essays. PHIL 101 Introduction to Logic A self-contained introduction to the basic notions of logic, including language, truth, argument, consequence, proof, and counter example. Both propositional logic and predicate logic are studied (their syntax plus semantics), with an emphasis on translating English sentences into logical symbols. A contemporary software package such as Tarski’s World may be used to construct derivations of valid arguments. PHIL 304 History and Philosophy of Science This course offers an introduction to some of the key conceptual developments in the history and philosophy of science, from ancient Greece through to the present day. Topics covered include the logic of scientific discovery, Scientific Revolutions, pseudo-science, philosophical problems of modern physics and biology, laws and explanation. PHIL 308 Philosophy of Mind This course introduces students to key issues in contemporary philosophy of mind. We start by looking at dualist, materialist and functionalist responses to the mind/body problem, and consider a range of further issues about personal identity, consciousness and intentionality. A key guiding issue is, `To what extent, and in what ways can the human mind be compared to a computer?’ |
Computational Core Electives CS 125 Introduction to Data Analysis for Social Sciences Introduction to programming and Python. Creating programs with IDLE, IPython and Jupyter notebooks. Programming basics – variables, data types and expressions. Python objects and built-in methods. Conditional statements and iteration. Data structures: tuples, lists and dictionaries. Analysis of data using a variety of open source tools, including importing, exploring, analyzing, and visualizing data. Modules such as numpy, pandas and matplotlib. CS 154 Introduction to Webdesign Basics of web sites with digital text, image, video and links. Basics of Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript (JS). Basics of web browsers. Basics of web page design and interaction principles. CTIS 151 Introduction to Programming An introduction to programming from both design and programming standpoints. Syntax and semantics of programming languages, programming style, program debugging and testing, data representation, simple arithmetic expressions, decision and control statements, using arrays, introduction to standard libraries, structured and modular programming techniques will be covered using C language. CTIS 165 Fundamentals of Information Systems The fundamental concepts of information systems with historical and evolutionary perspectives. Systems, organizational and strategic role and added value of information systems, decision support systems, data mining, Management information systems (MIS), information systems planning, data management, computer networking, internet, analysis, design, development, and maintenance of information systems, competitive edge of information systems. CHEM 111 Chemistry for the Society and Planet A Chemistry course connecting global issues of technology, society, and environment such as the climate change, water management, energy, air quality, plastics, and electronics to the fundamental aspects of chemistry. These concepts and topics will be covered in a non-technical manner in an attempt to offer fundamental chemical literacy for undergraduate students. Course contents will be tuned in such a way that the general context will be relevant for the contemporary individual and the current social challenges and will be readily followed by all Bilkent undergraduate students coming from any kind of academic background or discipline. MBG 110 Introduction to Modern Biology This course introduces students to important topics of biology such as molecules of life, organization of the cell, chromosomes and cell division, genetics, molecular genetics, recombinant DNA technology, genetic diseases, evolution, animal development, biotechnology and recent scientific advancements. PHYS 180 Conceptual Physics This course is an overview of conceptual physics for non-science majors with very little background in mathematics and physics. The objective of this physics course is to provide students with an introduction to the world of physics on a conceptual level. Physics is happening all around us, even if you do not expect to work as a scientist or engineer, you will find out that physics applies directly to many diverse fields from driving your car to sports or even cooking. The main topics will be studied include: concepts from mechanics, relativity, electricity and magnetism, light, waves, matter waves, concepts from quantum physics, the atom. |