Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University

Institute of Social Sciences

Public Administration Master Degree Program

1. General Information

In the master's program of public administration, academic and scientific studies are primarily conducted in the fields of political science, urban and environmental issues, governance, and law. Graduate education has been offered at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Institute of Social Sciences since 1995-1996.

In the public administration master's program, there are 1 professor, 3 associate professors, 5 doctorate-level faculty members, and 3 teaching assistants.

Graduate students are required to successfully complete a total of 120 ECTS credits, including courses, seminars, and a thesis project in order to graduate from the program. Furthermore, thanks to bilateral agreements made within the framework of the Erasmus program, some parts of their education can be continued in European Union countries.

After graduating from the public administration master's program, students can be employed in various fields, primarily in the public sector, as well as in different branches of national and international companies based on the courses they have taken and their areas of interest. Additionally, they have the opportunity to enroll in doctoral programs.

Graduates of the program can continue their education in a doctoral program if they meet the necessary conditions according to the Graduate Education and Examination Regulation. Examinations conducted at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University are carried out in accordance with the Student Workload of the Bologna Process and the Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Graduate Education, Teaching, and Examination Regulation.

2. Aims and Goals

2.1. Aims

The aim is to continuously strive for advancement in the field of Public Administration, providing postgraduate education and teaching services at the universal level, fostering interdisciplinary connections, and contributing to the national and international body of knowledge by producing researchers and experts. This contributes to the development of competent, participative, and innovative individuals in various areas of professional life.

2.2. Goals

The main goals of the Public Administration department are to lead the societal development process through innovative and creative research within the framework of postgraduate programs, aligning with the fundamental values of the university. This involves producing individuals who are preferred at the national and international levels, strengthening the university-alumni solidarity, fostering critical thinking, questioning, and upholding high human values. The ultimate aim is to train individuals who respect human rights, prioritize the public interest, and contribute to the future of the country.

3. Turkey Higher Education Qualifications Framework (THEQF), Granted Degrees, and Admission Conditions

The Public Administration Master's Program is a 2-year program consisting of 120 ECTS credits. The program complies with the ECTS credit requirements and level qualifications defined for the first level within the European Higher Education Area Qualifications Framework (QF-EHEA) of the Bologna Process and the 7th level qualifications within the Turkish Higher Education Qualifications Framework (TYYÇ). Additionally, it also meets the 7th level qualifications as defined in the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF-LLL).

3.1. Granted Degrees

               Students who successfully complete the program are awarded a master's degree in public administration-with-a-thesis.

3.2. Admission Conditions

Admission conditions are determined in accordance with the regulations set by the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK). Information about the requirements for applying to and being accepted into master's programs is announced on the university's website at the beginning of each academic year.

Turkish national students who have completed their undergraduate education in institutions in Turkey must meet the following conditions for applying to a master's program:

• They should hold a bachelor's degree.
• According to the Graduate Education and Examination Regulation, they should have scored at least 55 points in the Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Exam (ALES). (The ALES score is valid for 5 years; the minimum score requirement may be higher than what is stated in the Regulation, so applicants should refer to the master's program application announcement published in the relevant period.)
• If their bachelor's degrees were obtained from an institution abroad, they must obtain an equivalency certificate from the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK).
• They should make their applications in person. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Students in this group can find more detailed information about the application conditions in Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University's Graduate Education and Examination Regulation.

Individuals with dual citizenship, those who completed their undergraduate education in foreign institutions, and foreign nationals can apply as international students. These individuals can find more detailed information on the subject in Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University's Guidelines for Accepting International Students to Graduate Programs or contact the International Relations Office for further assistance.

4. Recognition of Prior Learnin (RPL)

Students in our institution may be exempt from certain courses in accordance with the Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Graduate Education, Teaching, and Examination Regulation. As our university adheres to the principle of lifelong learning, it recognizes courses previously taken at other educational institutions. If the learning outcomes of these courses are compatible with the program at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, students may be exempt from graduation credits.

In accordance with relevant laws and regulations, students must apply for exemptions within the specified time frames and have the exemption approved by the Institute Management Board.

5. Program Profile

The Master's Program in Public Administration, being an interdisciplinary department that emerges based on the synthesis of different disciplines in the field of social sciences, offers students a versatile educational opportunity. Students can choose courses in various areas such as political science, governance, urban and environmental issues, and law. If they wish, they can also take courses from different departments.

The Public Administration Thesis-Based Master's Program (1st Level in the Bologna Process Higher Education Qualifications Framework, 7th Level in the Turkish Higher Education Qualifications Framework) is an academically focused program that provides advanced knowledge, skills, and competencies required for professional practice areas, research fields, and the transition to doctoral programs.

The classification of the program according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) 2011 and the Turkish Higher Education Qualifications Framework (TYYÇ) is as follows:

ISCED Education Field Code: 31 - Social and Behavioral Sciences

ISCED Program Qualification Level: 7, Category (Profile): 74, Sub-Category: 747 - Academic-oriented master's degree

Turkish Higher Education Qualifications Framework Basic Field Code: 31 - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Turkish Higher Education Qualifications Framework Qualification Type (Profile): Academic-oriented "7th Level" master's degree

6. Teaching Methods

Here are some of the teaching methods used in the programs at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University. Programs, based on their objectives and goals, may employ several of the methods listed below. To achieve the learning outcomes targeted by the Public Administration Thesis-Based Master's Program, the teaching methods employed across the program are outlined in the "Program Outcomes" section, and methods specific to individual courses can be found in the "Bologna Process Course Introduction" section on each course's respective page. Some of the methods employed include:

• Lectures & In-Class Activities
• Group Work
• Reading
• Assignments
• Project Preparation
• Seminars
• Internship
• Web-Based Learning
• Practical Application
• On-Site Application
• Social Activities
• Thesis Preparation
• Field Work
• Report Writing

  The Master's Degree in Public Administration with a thesis is awarded to students who have met the following criteria:

1. Attained a general academic grade point average (GANO) of at least 2.5 out of 4.0.
2. Successfully defended their thesis.
3. Obtained at least a grade of "CB" or "S" in all program courses, totaling 120 ECTS credits.

For more detailed information, please refer to the Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Graduate Education, Teaching, and Examination Regulation.

8. Academic Advancement Opportunities

   Students who successfully complete this program can apply for doctoral programs in the field of public administration and related areas, as well as for research assistant positions. This provides them with opportunities to further their education and research careers in academia and related fields.

9. Examination Regulations, Evaluation, and Grading System

The methods used to assess whether the expected program learning outcomes have been achieved in the Public Administration Thesis-Based Master's Program are as follows. The learning outcomes related to course units, along with the contribution they make to final grades, are indicated in the course description section:

• Midterm Exam
• Final Exam
• Makeup Exam
• Short Quiz
• Assignment Assessment
• Report Presentation
• Computer-Based Presentation
• Thesis Presentation
• Document Submission

These assessment methods are utilized to measure and evaluate students' progress and attainment of the program's learning objectives throughout the duration of the master's program.

9.1. Exams

Midterm and final exams are conducted on dates, locations, and times specified by the university and announced to students.

Students' end-of-semester grades are determined by instructors based on their midterm exam results, assignment assessments, final exam results, and taking into account the attendance requirement. In the calculation of the final semester grade, the contribution of in-semester activities is at most 40%, and the contribution of the final exam is 60% for all courses in all master's programs, as determined by the regulations.

9.2. Assessment

A student's performance in each course is evaluated by the instructor for each specified assessment (in-semester work and final exam) on a scale of 100 full points.

A student is considered to have passed a course if they receive one of the following grades: AA, BA, BB, or CB. The academic status of students is determined by calculating their semester and overall academic averages on a 4.00 scale, and this is announced at the end of each term.

The weighted score of a course is obtained by multiplying the credit of the course by the grade received in that course. The semester academic average is calculated by dividing the sum of the weighted scores of the courses in that semester by the total credits of the courses.

Year-long courses are included in the spring semester academic average. The overall academic average is determined by dividing the sum of the weighted scores calculated based on the grades received in all the courses a student must take during their educational period by the total credits of the courses (120 ECTS).

Course grades and their corresponding weightings are determined as follows:

For detailed information about grading, you can refer to Article 25 of the Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Graduate Education, Teaching, and Examination Regulation.

10. Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate from the Public Administration Thesis-Based Master's Program, a student must meet the following conditions:

1. Successfully complete a total of 120 ECTS credits, which include:

   - 54 ECTS credits for 7 master's courses

   - 6 ECTS credits for the Seminar Course

   - 20 ECTS credits for 2 Special Area Courses

   - 40 ECTS credits for consecutive thesis work conducted over 2 semesters.

2. Prepare and successfully defend their thesis.

Meeting these conditions is necessary for a student to be eligible for graduation from the program.

11. Mode of Study

The Niğde University Institute of Social Sciences Public Administration Thesis-Based Master's Program provides full-time and face-to-face education.

12. Directors of Program