OFFERED COURSES FOR THE M.S. PROGRAM IN MEDIA AND CULTURAL STUDIES

In order to complete the thesis program, students have to succeed in seven courses (21 credits total) and Prothesis Seminar (NC). They have to take at least two of the core courses, and at least two of the elective courses from the lists below. Thus completing at least four courses, students are free to take remaining three courses as free electives provided that they are approved by the Department. During thesis work, they also have to take Master's Thesis (NC) and Special Studies (NC)*.

Required Non-Credit Courses:

MCS-500-Prothesis Seminar (thesis)

MCS-599-Master's Thesis (thesis)

MCS-589-Term Project (non-thesis)

Core Courses:

MCS-501-Introduction to Media and Communication Theory – Prof. Dr. Raşit Kaya (3-0)3

ADM-5117-Turkish Cultural History – Prof. Dr. Necmi Erdoğan (3-0)3

ADM-5134-Media and Society – Prof. Dr. Raşit Kaya (3-0)3

ADM-5170-Political Economy of Communication – Dr. Barış Çakmur (3-0)3

ADM-5196-Cultural Politics – Prof. Dr. Necmi Erdoğan (3-0)3

Departmental- Elective Courses:

MCS-503-Sociology of Journalism – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doğan Tılıç (3-0)3

MCS-504-Texts, Contexts and Readers – Staff (3-0)3

MCS-506-Ethical Issues In Journalism – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doğan Tılıç (3-0)3

MCS-509-Cinema Studies – Dr. Özgür Avcı (3-0)3

MCS-512- Media and Politics – Dr. Uluç Gürkan (3-0)3

MCS-501-Introduction to Media and Communication Theory – Prof. Dr. Raşit Kaya (3-0)3

ADM-5117-Turkish Cultural History – Prof. Dr. Necmi Erdoğan (3-0)3

ADM-5134-Media and Society – Prof. Dr. Raşit Kaya (3-0)3

ADM-5170-Political Economy of Communication – Dr. Barış Çakmur (3-0)3

ADM-5196-Cultural Politics – Prof. Dr. Necmi Erdoğan (3-0)3

Non-Departmental Elective Courses (Offered)

SOC-516-Gender, Media and Cultural Representation – Prof. Dr. Ayşe Saktanber (3-0)3

THEA-351/451-Cinema and Reality – Thomas Balkenhol (3-0)3

THEA-351/451-Introduction to Video Production – Thomas Balkenhol (3-0)3

ELIT- 607- Non-Western Contemporary Literatures- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hülya Yıldız Bağçe (3-0)3

*Students have to register in their supervisor's section in MCS 599 Master's Thesis; and they have to register in their supervisor's Special Studies course opened by the related department.

DESCRIPTION OF COURSES *

MCS 501 Introduction to Media and Communications Theory(3-0)3

As an introduction to theories of media and communications this course aims to offer to students a critical exposition of the explanatory frameworks provided by a range of different perspective. On the basis of an historical introduction it focuses on the theoretical contributions of major schools (namely, political economy, critical theory, structural and post structural approaches and cultural studies). The course aims a systematic expositions of the key concepts of each approach placed in its historical context and offers a critical and comparative perspective to assess the strengths and weakness of each theoretical framework.

MCS 503 Sociology of Journalism(3-0)3

The object of this course is to examine the profession of journalism in its relations to other socio-economic and political actors. The birth of journalism in an historical context and the relationship between the grand sociological theories and media theories will be studied. The relationship between media atmosphere (which consists of the level of democratic development, characteristics of state and government in a given country), nature of the media ownership and civil society, and the practice of journalism will be discussed. It will be argued that media are a constitutive element in the power structure of societies. Professional unions and existence of a professional ideology among journalists will be two major topics. Journalists' role in reproducing the dominant ideas and values will be discussed. The course also aims to develop a sociological model to understand the functioning of the media.

MCS 504 Texts, Contexts and Readers(3-0)3

The aim of this course is to construct a theoretical perspective for the analysis of media texts. For this purpose, theoretical approaches of Barthes, Bakhtin, Volosinov, Hodge, Kress, Fowler, van Dijk will be read and their methodologies will be disscussed. The course will focus on language and representation, social construction of media narratives, semiotic structure of different media, reading and signification, with a special emphasis on culture and power. Different media genres including news, TV series, serials, continuous serials, talk shows, reality shows, advertisements etc. will be analysed focusing on their narrative and semiotic characteristics.

MCS 506 Ethical Issues in Journalism(3-0)3

The course examines the key ethical issues confronting media professionals, journalists. 'What are the critical ethical considerations to which journalists need to be sensitive during the practice of reporting?' is the major question of the course. Topics to be covered include: What is ethics and professional ethics? Is there an ethics for journalists? Are un-ethical practices due to personal or structural reasons? What is the relationship between media and democracy? Ethical dimensions of infotainment. Ethical dilemmas in war and election reporting. Privacy, sexism, plagiarism and reporting on minorities. Ethical responsibilities in medical reports. Duty-based ethics versus virtue based ethics. Rights and responsibilities of journalists. Codes of conduct in different countries. Emerging ethical concerns in the new electronic media, etc. The course will emphasize discussion, debate and analysis of specific concrete cases from the international and Turkish practice of journalism.

MCS 509 Cinema Studies (3-0)3

Cinema Studies is a broad field that takes as its subject matter the interdisciplinary study of various aspects of the institution of cinema. Cinema Studies encompasses the studies of the modes of production and distribution of films on the one side, and the various loci and nature of the viewing experience on the other. The two sides of this process are intermediated by the interference of social, political, and cultural factors that make history, of which the films produce a certain specific representation. In addition, this course will selectively focus on at least one period, one national cinema, one genre, one auteur and one film theory.

MCS 512 Media and Politics(3-0)3

This course focuses on the political role of the media. The objective is to take an in-depth look at the relationship between the increasingly intimate relationship

between media, the political system, and the public at large. We will examine how well the media, as our primary source of political information, fulfill the

democratic demands made of them. We will also explore the influence of ownership and the interplay between political actors and the media in the recognition of

political identities, and the opening up of new spaces for public discussion. The implications for politics of 'globalization' and new media (satellite, digital and

internet casting) are also considered. While new forms of mass communication constitute a key factor in a globalized world, traditional media continue to be

influential when it comes to how we make sense of our political landscape.

MCS 521 Literature and Cinema in Mediterranean World(3-0)3

This course deals with the representations of the Mediterranean in cinema and literature. By 'Mediterranean' is meant something more than the mere sea; it refers to an entire human geography that constitutes a 'world' in itself with its rhythms of daily life and culture as put by the eminent French historian Fernand Braudel. Mediterranean cinema and literature is the corpus of cinematic and literary institutions and practices out of which emerge the representations of the Mediterranean. It includes not only the native locals but also the foreigners and expatriates who contribute to the production of the Mediterranean image(s).

MCS 522 Comparative Media Studies(3-0)3

This course aims to introduce graduate students to comparative perspectives in media studies. Course participants will explore some approaches in the media theory, basic terms and concepts related to communicative systems as fundamentals of more comprehensive analysis of various levels of communicative actions in terms of domestic and international systems in related to cultural and political contexts. An other aspect of this course is to make applied studies on the media systems particularly by using content analysis and case studies.

*Descriptions of non-MCS courses are given in the listings of the

related departments. In addition to the courses listed here, students can take any relevant graduate course offered by other departments upon the consent of the advisor.