Academic
Features
American missionaries founded Bosphorus University
as Robert College in 1863; it was the first American
college outside the United States. In 1971 it
became part of the national university system.
The University has retained the original facilities
and its liberal arts college character in undergraduate
education. It is one of Turkey's best universities.
Bosphorus University's four schools are: Arts
and Sciences, Economics and Administrative Sciences,
Education, and Engineering. The student body numbers
about 10,000 (8,000 undergraduates). Bosphorus
University faculty are truly international in
their training with doctorates earned from European
and American universities as well as from Turkey's
best institutions. All instruction is in English.
The campus setting is quite spectacular. The
main section sits on high hills overlooking the
Bosphorus - the waterway connecting the Sea of
Marmara to the Black Sea. The buildings are a
handsome European design. There are wooded areas,
walkways and benches along the overlooks to the
Bosphorus. Alongside the campus stands the fortress
Rumeli Hisar, built in 1452 by the Ottoman conqueror
Sultan Mehmet II.
A comprehensive summer session at Bosphorus University
provides a wide selection of undergraduate courses
(approximately 120) from introductory to advanced
levels. For the Bosphorus University students summer
is a time to take courses when class sizes are smaller and
there is more interaction with the professors. For American
students the summer is a time to experience the campus
when it is not as busy and yet is still lively with opportunities
to interact with their Turkish counterparts. Bosphorus
University students speak English well; many welcome
the opportunity to become acquainted with visiting
international students.
All instruction at Bosphorus is in English. Students generally
take 2 courses, worth 8-10 Binghamton credits. Some
examples of courses are:
| Mediterranean History |
Islamic History & Civilization |
| History of the Modern Middle East |
Islamic Art & Architecture |
| History of the Byzantine Empire |
Religion and Society |
| Ottoman Social & Economic History |
International Economics |
| Social Change and Development |
European Integration |
| Current Issues in World Politics |
Environment and Politics |
| Politics of Nationalism and Ethnicity |
History of Turkish Painting |
| The Black Sea in World Politics |
Urban Anthropology |
| The Middle East in World Politics |
European Security |
| Economic Development |
International Conflict Analysis |
Courses in the following subjects are offered.
Some may meet Binghamton general education requirements.
Course descriptions are available from Bosphorus University.
| Chemistry |
Sociology |
| International Relations |
History |
| Mathematics |
Philosophy |
| Western Languages |
Education |
| Literature |
Electrical Engineering |
| Economics |
Environmental Sciences |
| Physics |
Management |
| Psychology |
Political Science |
| Music Appreciation |
Fine Arts |
Turkish Language Instruction
Participants will gain much more out of the experience if they work to acquire some knowledge of the Turkish language. Turkish is taught at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels each term. Students are placed in classes of 10-20 people according to their language level.
Advisors at Binghamton
The following
individuals are knowledgeable about Bosphorus
University and Istanbul and are very willing to
talk to students about the program: Professor
Donald Quataert, History; Professor David Cingranelli, Political
Science; Professor Arieh Ullmann, Management;
and Susan B. Lewis, International
Programs. They also can put students in contact
with Bosphorus University students or alumni on
the Binghamton campus.
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