Dear Students,
As we begin a new academic year, it is with great joy and pride that I welcome you to the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences. Starting university is not merely entering an academic institution; it is also embarking on a journey of self-discovery and transformation—a journey that will reshape the way you think. On this journey, we will not only provide you with knowledge but also guide you in learning how to use your mind, to understand different modes of thinking, to recognize the connections between concepts, and to grasp the multidimensional nature of events.
As the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, our core principle is to educate individuals who can understand the human being within personal, social, and cultural contexts; who think critically, question, analyze, and view the world from multiple perspectives. What truly matters to us is not only that these abilities serve as “academic skills,” but that they are internalized as intellectual capacities encompassing all aspects of life.
Today, we live in what is called the “information age.” However, we must remember that while accessing information has never been easier, the real challenge lies in becoming individuals who can filter, connect, and transform that information. One of the most essential abilities for this is thinking — not just thinking, but thinking well, deeply, comparatively, inquisitively, and critically. We see these not merely as intellectual tools but as essential foundations for fulfilling our individual and social responsibilities.
Human and Social Sciences encompass fields that seek to understand human nature, behavior, values, cultural structures, language, history, beliefs, and political systems. Yet this understanding is not something that can be gained solely from academic texts; it also requires a systematic habit of thought. Each of our programs—whether Psychology, English Language and Literature, Turkish Language and Literature, or Political Science and International Relations—is designed to equip you with this intellectual foundation. What matters most to us is that you do not simply possess disciplinary knowledge, but that you can use it to interpret, make sense of, and ultimately transform the world.
This faculty is not just a place where you earn a diploma. It is a space where your thoughts will take shape, your values will be questioned, and your perspectives will evolve. One of the most valuable outcomes of university education is the ability to develop mental flexibility and to keep thinking even when faced with contradictions. For this reason, our goal is not to train students who merely memorize knowledge, but to cultivate individuals who can question and reconstruct it when necessary.
With our university’s strong academic heritage and interdisciplinary approach, you will explore diverse ways of reasoning, enrich yourself at the intersection of scientific and philosophical inquiry, and develop your own unique perspective. Our faculty provides not only knowledge but also the space to think, to debate, and to ask questions. Because we know that progress is only possible through questions—especially those that have no easy answers.
Our faculty offers a wide academic diversity through its programs in English Language and Literature, English Translation and Interpreting, Psychology, Turkish Language and Literature, Political Science and Public Administration, and Political Science and International Relations (English). Each of these programs opens doors to new worlds, allowing you to engage with different disciplines and build your own intellectual map.
We also attach great importance to learning that extends beyond the classroom. Through seminars, workshops, social responsibility projects, club activities, and research studies, we aim to ensure that our students grow not only through knowledge but also through experience. We provide many opportunities for you to develop in reasoning, ethical judgment, cultural empathy, and social responsibility.
Our vision is to educate individuals who can generate knowledge on a global scale, who are sensitive to social issues, committed to ethical values, and intellectually influential. The world today faces deep fractures, uncertainties, and polarizations. In this landscape, those who can create solutions will not be individuals who merely accumulate knowledge, but those who blend it with intellect and conscience. We are dedicated to nurturing you in this direction.
We hope that you will become individuals who can look deeply into the complex issues of our time, who not only analyze existing structures but can also rebuild them when needed, and who can defend what they believe to be right while striving to understand other perspectives. This requires the courage to think. To think courageously is to continuously renew and improve yourself — something achievable only through the combined cultivation of critical, creative, and ethical thinking.
One of our faculty’s guiding principles is learning to live with differences. We act with an understanding that respects pluralism, values inter-identity dialogue, and embraces cultural diversity as a source of richness. This will broaden your intellectual horizons and help you replace singular truths with plural perspectives.
Dear Students,
I deeply understand the excitement you feel as you take your first steps into this faculty. Each of you has a unique story, a different curiosity, and an individual point of view. We highly value the richness that this diversity brings to our community. Our expectation from you is simple: stay open to learning, never hesitate to ask questions, draw strength from differences, and have the courage to think.
Human and Social Sciences are not only about understanding the past but also about shaping the future. We will build that future together. Every idea, every contribution of yours will be part of this greater structure. We will grow and transform together.
Once again, welcome to our faculty. May your path be clear, your mind open, and your heart strong. It will be a great honor and joy for me to guide you on this journey.
Sincerely,
Prof. Dr. Müge Artar
Dean, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences
