Graduate Seminar Directive
ISTANBUL SABAHATTIN ZAIM UNIVERSITY
DIRECTIVE ON THE SEMINAR COURSE IN GRADUATE PROGRAMMES
PART ONE
General Provisions
Purpose and Scope
Article 1 - (1) The purpose of this Directive is to determine the principles concerning the conduct of the seminar course in the graduate programmes carried out within the Institutes of Natural Sciences and Social Sciences of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University.
Legal Basis
Article 2 - (1) This Directive has been prepared on the basis of Higher Education Law No. 2547 and its amendments, the Council of Higher Education Graduate Education and Instruction Regulation dated 20 April 2016, and the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Graduate Education and Instruction Regulation.
Definitions
Article 3- (1) In this Directive;
a) Director: refers to the Institute Directors of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
b) University: refers to Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
shall have the meanings set out above.
PART TWO
General Principles
Purpose of the Seminar Course, Criteria for Offering and Assessment
Article 4 – (1) The main purpose of this course is for students to learn in a practical manner how to write an academic text in line with the knowledge acquired in scientific research methods and statistics courses, and to produce a piece of work by the end of the semester in which they are enrolled in the seminar course.
(1) In order to complete the coursework stage, students in thesis-based master's and doctoral programmes are required to take and pass at least seven (7) courses offered by their departments as well as the seminar course.
(2) The seminar course may be offered every semester in master's and doctoral programmes; however, students may register for this course at the earliest in the second semester of the coursework stage.
(3) The seminar course is non-credit and is offered for two (2) hours per week. At the end of the semester in which they are enrolled in this course, students are assessed as "Successful" or "Unsuccessful".
(5) The seminar course is taught by faculty members competent in the relevant department.
(6) Students are required to attend at least 70 per cent of the seminar course. A student who fails to meet the attendance requirement of the seminar course is deemed unsuccessful in this course.
PART THREE
Conduct of the Seminar Course
Seminar Course in the Thesis-Based Master's Programme
Article 5 - (1) In the first two weeks of the seminar course, the faculty member teaching the course informs the students in a way that addresses their shortcomings regarding research methods. Students' shortcomings are addressed on matters such as formulating a research question, converting it into a thesis format, and determining the research method.
(2) In the third and fourth weeks, a topic related to the master's thesis is determined for each student, taking into account their areas of interest and background. If they wish, students may also choose a topic other than their thesis topic.
(3) In the fifth and sixth weeks, the student determines, together with the course instructor, the research topic, the main and sub-questions of the topic to be studied, the method, the outline and the main sections.
(4) From the seventh week onwards, students begin their readings on their research topics under the supervision of the faculty member. The faculty member regularly follows up each week on the readings and research the student has carried out over the course of the week.
(5) By the end of the semester in which they are enrolled in the course, the student presents in class, within the specified time, the readings they have carried out on their research topic. The number of presentations a student will make during the semester, or whether they will make a presentation at all, is determined by the course instructor depending on the number of students taking the seminar course.
(6) At the end of the semester in which they are enrolled in the course, the student submits a research proposal to the course instructor. The proposal includes the research topic, a literature review, the method, any measurement instruments to be used, and a bibliography of possible sources. Alternatively, students who so wish may produce a study based on a literature review of the research topic and conducted in accordance with research methods.
Seminar Course in the Doctoral Programme
Article 6 - (1) The seminar course of the doctoral programme seeks to prepare the student in two respects. On the one hand, it enables the student to determine a research topic that will develop into a doctoral thesis, while on the other hand it prepares the student for the doctoral qualifying examination.
(2) In the first weeks, the faculty member teaching the course enables each student to develop an idea for a research topic that will develop into a doctoral thesis, taking into account their inclinations, areas of interest, background and master's-level work.
(3) After determining the topic of study, the student carries out a literature review and conducts research on the topic, and presents the information and findings obtained in the classroom setting. The number of presentations a student will make, or whether they will make a presentation at all, is determined by the course instructor depending on the number of students taking the course.
(4) The faculty member teaching the seminar course also guides the student on doctoral qualification throughout the semester. They inform the student about the core and supplementary sources deemed necessary and prepared by the department for the qualifying examination, and set out a road map for the student to read them.
(5) At the end of the semester in which the student is enrolled in the course, the student submits to the course instructor an assignment based on a literature review related to the research topic, or a study that may evolve into a doctoral thesis proposal. Whether the student passes the seminar course is determined based on this assignment as well as the student's classroom performance throughout the semester.
PART FOUR
Miscellaneous and Final Provisions
Entry into force
Article 7 - (1) This directive shall enter into force as of the second half of the 2017-2018 academic year.
Execution
Article 8- (1) The provisions of this directive shall be executed by the relevant Department Chair and the Institute Director.