American Culture and Literature

Description

The Department of American Culture and Literature offers a program leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. The department offers a course selection that examines the United States in all its complexity, integrating literature, culture, and history.

This interdisciplinary program will not only introduce students to the study of the United States but will also develop critical and creative thinking skills that will enable students to reflect upon their own culture and its history and literature. The newly revised curriculum seeks to ground students in the skills of close reading and textual analysis.

Further, it asks students to consider works in their historical and cultural contexts, illustrating the complicated social relations that exist between writer, text, history, and reader. In recognition of the demands of contemporary professional and academic life, the program now requires courses in the natural and social sciences.

The program, as is true of most other programs in the humanities, does not offer vocational training per se but rather develops fluency in English, analytical skills, and ability in written expression that will prepare students for success in their professional lives and in further academic study.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline 2014-2015 Academic Year Spring Semester, beginning on 2 February 2015, will be open between 15 October - 15 December 2014; 2015-2016 Academic Year Fall Semester, beginning in mid-September 2015, will be open between 15 October 2014 - 16 July 2015 Tuition fee

• USD 13950 Year (International)

The annual tuition for international students beginning their program in September 2014 is 13,950 US Dollars (includes 8% VAT). Tuition fees are collected in two equal installments at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters. Tuition fees are payable in US Dollars only.

Start date February,September 2015 Duration full-time 48 months Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode On Campus Educational variant Full-time Intensity Flexible More information Go To The Course Website

Course Content

FIRST YEAR

Autumn Semester

Course Name

• Methods and Texts I
• Introduction to American Studies I
• Information and Communication Technology
• English and Composition I
• Advanced English Grammar I
• Orientation
• Turkish I

Spring Semester

Course Name

• Methods and Texts II
• Introduction to American Studies II
• English and Composition II
• Advanced English Grammar II
• Turkish II

SECOND YEAR

Autumn Semester

Course Name

• American Texts and Contexts I
• American History I
• Collegiate Activities Program I
• History of Turkey
• Cultures Civilizations and Ideas I
• Introductory Mathematics
• Introduction to Sociology

Spring Semester

Course Name

• American Texts and Contexts II
• American History II
• Collegiate Activities Program II
• Cultures Civilizations and Ideas II
• Physics for Poets
• Introduction to Political Science II

THIRD YEAR

Autumn Semester

Course Name

• Film Studies in American Culture to 1960
• American Theater
• American Intellectual History I
• American Novel to 1900
• Non Technical Elective

Spring Semester

Course Name

• Film Studies in American Culture Since 1960
• American Intellectual History II
• American Poetry
• American Novel From 1900
• Non Technical Elective

FOURTH YEAR

Autumn Semester

Course Name

• Summer Training
• Topics in Theory for American Culture
• Race and Ethnicity in American Culture
• Non Technical Elective
• Restricted Electives (2)

Spring Semester

Course Name

• Senior Project
• American Studies in a Global Context
• Gender Studies in American Culture
• Non Technical Elective
• Restricted Elective

RESTRICTED ELECTIVES

Course Name

• The 1950s
• The Great Migration Novel
• Contemporary American Short Story
• Modern Latino Short Fiction
• Readings in Southern Literature
• Novels of Toni Morrison
• Orientalism and American Culture 1860-1925
• The Thirties: the Great Depression and the New Deal
• Cold War Culture and Modernization
• Media Communications Culture
• American Film in Context
• The Self in American Culture and History
• The Art and Business of the Short Story
• American Society and Globalization
• Culture in its Historical Contexts
• Modern American Drama
• Topics in Cultural Studies
• American Pragmatism
• Modernity and Visuality
• Representations of the City
• Ethnic Literature
• Race and Media in the U.S.
• History of American Presidential Campaigns
• Contemporary Native American Writers
• The History of the Book in America
• Transatlantic Currents in American Women's Fiction and Poetry
• Contemporary African-American Women Writers
• The Early American Metropolis
• American Fiction in the 21. Century: Migration, Space, Identitiy.
• American Law Culture and Society
• Introduction to Advanced Academic Writing
• Reading De Tocqueville
• Writing for the Internet Age
• Colonialism and the Making of the New World
• American Culture and Politics in the 1970's
• American Gothic
• Sexuality Studies in American Culture
• Hemispheric American Studies
• Creative Writing Workshop
• Freedom and Philosophy in Anglo-America
• Black Power in American Studies
• History of US Foreign Relations: the Cold War and Beyond
• Humanities and Social Science Honors Seminar
• Politics of International Economy
• International Relations in Movies
• Diplomatic Language and Translation
• World Politics I
• World Politics II
• Film and Politics

MINOR PROGRAM

The Minor Program in American Culture and Literature takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the United States, its people, and its culture. The program allows students from any academic background to explore the main themes and ideas of American literature, film, theater, poetry, and history. Such ideas include gender, race, ethnicity, and other forms of identity. Moreover, the program will allow students to increase their fluency in English, as courses emphasize developing their reading, writing, and analytical skills. At the end, students should have a much better understanding of what the term "American" means, as courses and instructors seek to replace a superficial understanding of America with a deeper, more layered, and more nuanced understanding.

Prerequisite Courses:

• A minimum grade of B- in ENG 102

CURRICULUM

Courses

Course Name

• Introduction to American Studies I
• Introduction to American Studies II
• American Texts and Contexts I
• American Texts and Contexts II
• AMER Course Electives (2)

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5 TOEFL iBT® test : 87

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test.

Requirements

International students, who had graduated or are expecting to graduate from a High School equivalent to Turkish High Schools in Turkey, can apply to Bilkent University. All International applicants who are applying for full-time undergraduate degree programs are required to fill out the following application form at:

Online Application Form

The applications for:

• 2014-2015 Academic Year Spring Semester, beginning on 2 February 2015, will be open between 15 October - 15 December 2014
• 2015-2016 Academic Year Fall Semester, beginning in mid-September 2015, will be open between 15 October 2014 - 16 July 2015

How to complete your online application:

Step 1: Obtain a login ID and password

Step 2: Fill out the personal information part and upload the personal information page of your passport.

Step 3: Fill out the family Information part. All students who would like to be considered for partial tuition wavier recipients are recommended to fill out this part.

Step 4:REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Bilkent accepts the photocopies of exams/diplomas and certificates listed below for application. In the absence of national or international exams, high school graduation score can be evaluated for admission. Scanned copies of Turkish or English translation of the high school diploma and official transcript along with the explanation of the high school’s grading system should be submitted for application.

• - In the SAT I, a total score of at least 1000 out of 1600 (in the combined Critical Reading and Math Reasoning tests), depending on the department to which application is made.
• - In the General Certificate Education (GCE), including Cambridge International A Level, at least three A level scores, one of which is received in the particular subject area of the program applied for.
• - In the ACT examination, a minimum score of 24 in Mathematics, Science and Composite.
• - In the TQDK examination, a minimum score of 450 out of 700 in "Group II-III-IV" and a minimum score of 550 out of 700 in "Group I".
• - In the Baccalaureate Libanais examinations given in Lebanon, a diploma score of at least 14 in the Scientific Stream.
• - In the Tawjih examinations given in Jordan and Palestine, a minimum average of 85 points in all courses in the Scientific Stream.
• - In the West African Examinations Council - (International) Senior School Certificate examination (WAEC - SSCE), a maximum score of 2 in each of the six subjects, and a maximum total score of 9 from the same six subjects.
• - An International Baccalaureate diploma with a diploma score of at least 28 or higher up to 32 depending on the department to which application is made.
• - A French Baccalaureate diploma with a diploma score of at least 12.
• - ABITUR with a score of at least 4 and a minimum score of 5 out of 15 in the subjects related to the program applied for.
• - In the Libyan Al Shahada Al Thanawiya examination, a score of at least 195 in the Scientific Stream for Engineering and Science programs and at least 185 in the Social Sciences / Art Stream for other programs.
• - In the Gao Kao examination of the People's Republic of China, a score of at least 540 (It may vary according to the department applied for).
• - In Diploma Debirestan / Pisdanesgahi administered in Iran, with a score of at least 16 out of 20.
• - In the International University Test examination administered in Kazakhstan, a minimum score of 85 out of 100.
• - Gold, silver or bronze medals in the International Science Olympiads (*) recognized by TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey):

* (IOI) The International Olympiad in Informatics
(IBO) The International Biology Olympiad
(IPhO) The International Physics Olympiad
(IChO) The International Chemistry Olympiad
(IMO) The International Mathematical Olympiad
(JBMO) Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad
(BMO) Balkan Mathematical Olympiad
(BOI) Balkan Olympiad in Informatics

Step 5: ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

As Bilkent is an English medium university, students are required to meet the language requirement to be able to pursue their studies in their departments. The language requirement can be met through the submission of an exam result meeting the minimum requirements in any of the following exams as outlined below:

• TOEFL iBT, a score of at least 87
• IELTS Academic, a score of at least 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 scored in every section
• CAE, a grade of at least "C"
• FCE, a grade of at least "B"

External exam results are valid for two years. When students submit results for any of the exams mentioned above, Bilkent University School of English Language reserves the right to investigate these exam results for reliability purposes, the right to give an exam to students to check the validity of their exam results, and the right to not accept exam results that are considered to be suspicious.

If students cannot submit an exam result which meets the minimum requirements, they can take the COPE exam administered by Bilkent University after registration. Students, who cannot meet the minimum pass score in the COPE exam, will have to attend classes in the English Language Preparatory Program which is a one to two year program where they will receive 25-30 hours of classroom input every week.

PLEASE NOTE: The exam results must be sent to the university directly by the related institution. The exam results that are not sent to the university by the related institution will not be accepted.

• TOEFL should be sent directly from ETS to Bilkent University - CODE: 0620.
• IELTS should be sent directly from British Council to Bilkent University.

Step 6: List and rank your selected programs up to 5 choices. Please note that students who choose Graphic Design; Fine Arts and Music must take an aptitude test administered by the related faculties in August.

Step 7: Please write a 250-word statement of purpose describing your academic goals and reasons to study at Bilkent.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Alumni Study Travel Fund

  Scholarships for students who are already attending the University of Reading.

• Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

  The University of Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Bilkent University.

Funding

Scholarships for International Students

Prospective students who apply for financial assistance are evaluated according to their high school grades, their national and/or international exam scores, and other relevant academic criteria.

Qualified applicants are offered partial or full tuition waiver scholarships. Tuition waiver scholarships are awarded at five levels, ranging from 20% to 100% in increments of 20%. Accommodation scholarships are also available for a limited number of top students who are on full tuition waiver scholarship.

Students can benefit from scholarships for maximum of 2 years in the English Preparatory Program and for a maximum of 5 years in 4-year undergraduate programs.

Students on scholarship are required to take at least the minimum course load* specified for their department each semester (excluding any withdrawn courses**, GE100, GE251 and non-credit courses) and to maintain a minimum annual GPA of 2.00/4.00. (The annual GPA is calculated as a weighted average of Fall and Spring semester grades; courses taken in the optional Summer School are also included in calculation.) English Preparatory Program students are required to qualify to take the ECA or COPE exam at the end of each course or pass COPE by the end of the academic year. Scholarships of students who fail to meet these conditions will be decreased one level and cannot be restored even if the students improve their performance. If there are no Fall or Spring semester courses within the annual GPA, students with less than 2.00 are given a warning; if these students fail to meet the required conditions at the end of the following year, their scholarships will be decreased by two levels.

Students on accommodation scholarship are required to maintain a minimum annual GPA of 2. 50/4.00. Students who fail to meet this condition will loose their accommodation scholarship.
* The minimum course load depends on the department. This information can be found in SRS ( https://stars.bilkent.edu.tr/srs/ ) under "Information Card" and "lower limit".

** The number of withdraws is irrelevant, provided that students finish the semester with the minimum course load. If a student falls one course below the minimum course load by withdrawing a course, this is also possible provided that this situation occurs only once over the fall and spring semesters combined.

Merit Scholarship

At the end of each academic year, international students who have taken at least a minimum curriculum course load (excluding any additional courses, withdrawn courses, GE 100-250-251, non-credit courses and repeated courses in Spring, already taken in Fall semester) and attained an annual grade point average of 3.30 or above, as well as being in the top 5% of all the non-scholarship students in their program, may become eligible to receive a merit scholarship for the following academic year on top of any partial tuition waiver scholarship they may already have.