Philosophy

The Philosophy undergraduate program at Bilkent University offers students an in-depth exploration of fundamental questions concerning existence, knowledge, ethics, and logic. Designed to foster critical thinking and analytical skills, the program provides a comprehensive curriculum that covers various branches of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, and the history of philosophy. Students are encouraged to engage in rigorous debates, develop their own philosophical perspectives, and critically analyze contemporary issues through a philosophical lens. The program also emphasizes the importance of clear and precise reasoning, effective communication, and the ability to construct well-founded arguments. Whether students aim to pursue advanced studies or seek to apply philosophical insights to real-world problems, this program prepares them with the intellectual tools necessary for diverse careers in academia, public service, media, law, and other fields requiring sharp analytical skills. Throughout their studies, students have access to a vibrant academic community, engaging with renowned faculty members whose expertise spans many areas of philosophy. The curriculum integrates both classical philosophical texts and contemporary philosophical debates, ensuring students gain a balanced and thorough understanding of the discipline. Additionally, Bilkent University encourages interdisciplinary approaches, allowing philosophy students to collaborate with departments such as cognitive sciences, political science, and literature. With an emphasis on research, critical analysis, and articulate expression, the program aims to produce graduates capable of thoughtful inquiry and ethical reflection in a rapidly changing world. By the end of the program, students will be equipped with a solid foundation in philosophical theories and their applications, preparing them for further academic pursuits or to make meaningful contributions to society. The Philosophy program at Bilkent University prides itself on its commitment to academic excellence, intellectual growth, and the development of independent, reflective thinkers prepared to address some of the most pressing questions of our time.

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

• Introduction to Computing and Programming for Social Sciences
• English and Composition I
• Orientation
• Introduction to Calculus I
• Introduction to Logic
• Introduction to Philosophy I
• Turkish I

Spring Semester

Course Name

• Principles of Economics
• English and Composition II
• Introduction to Calculus II
• Ancient Philosophy
• Introduction to Philosophy II
• Turkish II

SECOND YEAR

Autumn Semester

Course Name

• Introduction to Probability and Statistics I
• Collegiate Activities Program I
• History of Turkey
• Epistemology
• Rationalists
• Basic Physics I
• Second Foreign Language Elective

Spring Semester

Course Name

• Collegiate Activities Program II
• Ethics
• Empiricists
• Introduction to Psychology
• PHYS 108 or MBG 110
• Second Foreign Language Elective

Students should take either PHYS 108 or MBG 110 in this semester in addition to the aforementioned courses (see ELECTIVES)

THIRD YEAR

Autumn Semester

Course Name

• Summer Training I
• Kant
• Intermediate Logic
• Metaphysics
• Literature Elective
• Second Foreign Language Elective

Spring Semester

Course Name

• Political Philosophy
• Philosophy of Language
• Philosophy of Mind
• Art Elective
• Second Foreign Language Elective

FOURTH YEAR

Autumn Semester

Course Name

• Philosophy of Science
• Summer Training II
• Senior Thesis I
• Electives (2)
• History Elective

Spring Semester

Course Name

• Social and Legal Philosophy
• Aesthetics
• Senior Thesis II
• Elective
• History Elective

SECOND FOREIGN LANGUAGE ELECTIVES

Course Name

• Basic French I
• Basic French II
• Basic French III
• Basic French IV
• Basic French III
• Basic French IV
• Intermediate French I
• Intermediate French II
• Intermediate French III
• Intermediate French IV
• Communication Skills in French I
• Communication Skills in French II
• Readings in French I
• Readings in French II
• Readings in French III
• Basic German I
• Basic German II
• Basic German III
• Basic German IV
• Basic German I
• Basic German II
• Basic German III
• Basic German IV
• Intermediate German I
• Intermediate German II
• Intermediate German III
• Intermediate German IV
• Communication Skills in German I
• Communication Skills in German II
• Readings in German I
• Readings in German II
• Ancient Greek I
• Ancient Greek II
• Latin I
• Latin II
• Ancient Greek III
• Ancient Greek IV
• Latin III
• Latin IV

HISTORY ELECTIVES

Course Name

• Human Evolution and World Prehistory
• Ottoman Reform Movements I: Political and Social (1550-1839)
• Ottoman Reform Movements II: Political and Social (1839-1914)
• Ottoman History: 1300-1600
• Ottoman History: 1600-1914
• Byzantine History I: 324-1025
• Byzantine History II: 1025-1453
• British History: 1485-1914
• Medieval British History
• Medieval Europe (500-1500)
• Modern Europe (1453-1914)
• America and the World since 1898
• History of the United States until the Reconstruction
• History of the United States from the Reconstruction
• History of American Politics
• Intercultural Relations: Issues and Debates
• The International System
• Globalization
• Contemporary International Relations
• History of the Cold War
• European Union
• Causes and Prevention of War
• Cosmopolis: From the Roman to the Ottoman and British Empires
• Interculturalism and Europe
• European Union: The Challenges
• Conflict Analysis and Resolution
• State and Society in the EU Member States

LITERATURE ELECTIVES

Course Name

• American Theater
• American Intellectual History I
• American Intellectual History II
• American Poetry
• American Novel to 1900
• American Novel From 1900
• Contemporary American Short Story
• Modern American Drama
• American Pragmatism
• 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
• World Mythology
• Introduction to Drama
• The English Novel (19th Century)
• Introduction to the Novel
• Poetry
• The Short Story
• Modern Drama
• Shakespeare I (Comedies, Romances, Problem Plays)
• Shakespeare II (Tragedies, Roman Plays, Histories)
• Renaissance Literature
• Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Literature
• Modern British Fiction I (to the 1950s)
• Modern British Fiction II (1950s to present)
• Theory and Practice of Criticism
• British Drama
• Introduction to Popular Culture
• Major Writers of the Victorian Period
• Post-Colonial Literature
• Romantic Poetry
• Modern Poetry
• Twentieth Century Poetry
• Humanities and Social Science Honors Seminar
• Literature and Society

ART ELECTIVES

Course Name

• Analysis of Moving Image
• Film Theory and Criticism
• Visual Technologies and Visual Narratives
• Interactive Media Design and Development
• Fine Arts Seminar
• Philosophy of Art I
• Philosophy of Art II
• History of Art III
• History of Art IV
• Analysis of Art Work I
• Analysis of Art Work II
• History of Graphic Art
• Readings in Near Eastern Art and Archaeology
• Readings in Anatolian Art and Archaeology
• Readings in Greek Art and Archaeology
• Readings in Roman Art and Archaeology
• Readings in Byzantine Art and Archaeology

ELECTIVES

Course Name

• Film Theory and Criticism
• Media and Society
• Popular Culture
• Introduction to Advertising
• Media Industries
• New Media
• Music and Media
• Media, Memory and Culture
• Media Theory and Methods
• Global Communications
• Principles of Journalism
• Gender and Media
• Media Ethics
• War, Peace and Security
• International Relations Theory
• Politics of International Economy
• Human Rights and Human Security Regimes
• Environmental Issues and Ecological Sustainability
• Game Theory and International Politics
• International Environmental Politics
• Global Economic Governance
• International Ethics
• Environment Philosophy and Ethics
• A Concise History of Mathematics
• Introduction to Modern Biology
• Science and Ethics
• Molecular Basis of Evolution
• Introduction to Human Genetics
• Advanced Philosophy of Language
• Advanced Philosophy of Mind
• Medieval Philosophy
• Nineteenth Century Philosophy
• Introduction to Phenomenology
• History of Analytic Philosophy
• What is a Mind?
• Philosophy of Mathematics
• Foundations of Cognitive Science
• Consciousness
• Moral Psychology
• From the Kitchen to the Streets: An Introduction to Feminism
• Basic Physics II
• Quantum Physics
• Ethics and Morality in Daily Life
• Political Concepts
• World Politics I
• Issues in Political Theory
• Science, Society and Technology
• World Politics II
• Public Opinion and Political Behavior in Democracies
• Body and Emotions in Social Life
• Liberalism and Socialism: Past and Present
• Life, Nature and Politics
• Film and Politics
• Ethics and Politics
• International Political Economy
• Workshop in Cognitive Psychology Research
• Perception, Attention, and Action
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Selected Topics in Cognitive Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychological Testing and Measurement
• Abnormal Psychology
• Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
• Industrial and Organisational Psychology
• Economic Psychology and Consumer Behaviour
• Cross-cultural Psychology
• Mind in Evolution
• Theory of Mind
• Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Learning: Theory and Practice

MBG 110 or PHYS 108 may be taken as elective, if not taken the second year.

MINOR PROGRAM

Professor Tom Nagel (New York University) regards fundamental research on nine core areas -- how we know anything; other minds; the mind-body problem; the meaning of words; free will; right and wrong; justice; death; the meaning of life -- as the essential responsibilities of a philosopher. The best way to become skilled at philosophy is to think about these topics analytically and in the tradition of rational inquiry.

Since its inception, the Department of Philosophy has hosted numerous distinguished analytic philosophers as short- or long-term visitors. The staff members, while pursuing diverse interests within the discipline, also subscribe to the analytic vision. The Minor Program in philosophy should arm a student who completes its course requirements with an indispensable background (and tricks of the trade) needed for advanced study. The courses in the Program study the original philosophical works in the foregoing areas mentioned by Nagel.

Prerequisite Courses: None

CURRICULUM

Courses

Course Name

• Introduction to Philosophy I
• Introduction to Philosophy II
• Epistemology

Electives (3)

ELECTIVE COURSES

Course Name

• Ancient Philosophy
• Ethics
• Rationalists
• Empiricists
• Political Philosophy
• Social and Legal Philosophy
• Kant
• Philosophy of Science
• Philosophy of Language
• Philosophy of Mind
• Metaphysics
• Aesthetics

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.

The Philosophy program at Bilkent University offers a comprehensive undergraduate education designed to develop students' critical thinking, analytical skills, and understanding of fundamental philosophical questions. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, logic, and the history of philosophy. Students are encouraged to engage deeply with classical philosophical texts as well as contemporary debates, fostering an environment for rigorous intellectual development. The program aims to cultivate philosophical thinking that can be applied across various disciplines and professional settings. Students have access to experienced faculty members who are experts in their fields, and they benefit from a stimulating academic environment that emphasizes discussion, research, and original thinking. The program often includes courses that explore the intersection of philosophy with science, politics, and society, preparing graduates for careers in academia, public service, law, journalism, or business. Bilkent University also provides numerous opportunities for students to participate in seminars, workshops, and conferences, both within Turkey and internationally, enhancing their academic experience and professional networking. The PhD program provides advanced research opportunities, encouraging original contributions to philosophical scholarship. Overall, the Philosophy program at Bilkent University is designed to produce well-rounded thinkers capable of critical analysis and ethical reasoning, equipped to address complex questions about human existence, knowledge, and values.