Established in the 1995-1996 academic year, the Department of American Culture and Literature offers a four-year undergraduate program leading to a B.A. degree. The medium of instruction is English.
The program aims to stimulate intellectual enquiry that explores Western culture in general, and American culture in particular. It is designed to develop students' skills in critical thinking and problem-solving as well as to equip them with the kind of intercultural competence that will be suitable for a variety of professions. Besides courses aiming to enhance students’ skills in oral and written English, the curriculum includes courses enabling them to analyze American culture and literature from literary, historical, and critical perspectives.
Among the academic activities organized by the Department are the Research Paper Contest, the International Students’ Conference, lectures by guest speakers, and discussions based on film showings. In addition, AMER Drama Club which is directed by Dr. Pürnur Uçar Özbirinci, annually stages a play in English. The Club welcomes every voluntary student’s participation and aims not only to improve the language skills of our students but also contribute to their social development through cooperative group work. By participating in these activities, our students find the opportunity to prepare efficiently for their future academic and professional careers.
Our Department has an Erasmus exchange agreement with two universities in Sweden. This agreement allows interested students to spend a term or two of their undergraduate education abroad.
In addition to area electives offered by the Department, students take elective courses from other departments at our university, on topics such as communication, fine arts, and languages other than English.
During their undergraduate education students may also receive a Certificate for Teaching English as a Foreign Language by attending a program offered by the Faculties of Education of a variety of universities. In this way they become entitled to teach English at institutions of primary, secondary and higher education in Turkey. Our graduates enjoy a wide range of academic and professional opportunities in fields such as primary and secondary education, higher education, foreign affairs, tourism, banking, business, and the media.
The teaching staff consists of one professor, three assistant professors, four instructors, and two research assistants. Currently 74 students are enrolled in the program.