Why study history? History is the story of mankind. It gives us an understanding of where we have come from, and therefore where we are today. And it can help us decide where we might go in the future. We can all learn from history!
East Meets West at the Department of History
Why history at Bilkent? The Department of History boasts an international faculty of specialist instructors and researchers from Turkey, Britain, and the U.S., including its founder, Prof. Halil Ýnalcýk, and also Prof. Stanford Shaw, who are undoubtedly the two most eminent Ottoman historians alive today. For a full understanding of the past, a broad historical knowledge is essential; and therefore, the Department offers a unique and varied graduate program, with courses ranging from medieval England through Ottoman history to the contemporary United States! The Department of History offers scholarships for the program at both the M.A. and Ph.D. levels, and welcomes applications from all interested students, including those who have studied another subject. Many of the current History students have first degrees in IR or POLS and even in Mathematics or Engineering!
The department is truly international: it has students not only from Bilkent and other Turkish universities, but also from Europe and the United States; and it arranges exchange programs with universities abroad. In addition to taking graduate courses, history students play an active role in a number of important research projects organized by the department. This gives them the opportunity to learn the necessary research skills for their future scholarly careers.
Mehmet Kalpaklý, who is the Chair of the department, says: "In addition to our impressive teaching and research record, the Department of History seeks to bring up-to-date historical debates to the wider Bilkent community through our series of regular seminars and also through our informal History Evenings."
David Thornton, who is the Coordinator of the History of Civilization program, adds: "Bilkent is, I think, the only higher educational institution in Turkey which appreciates the meaning of the Latin word "universitas" and its vision is to provide students with a truly "universal" education and not just a vocational training for their future careers."
If you are interested in applying to the Department of History, the application deadline is
Wednesday, May 31.
For more details, please visit the department's web-page http://www.bilkent.edu.tr/~history or contact Dr Mehmet Kalpaklý at ext. 2206, or e-mail kalpakli@bilkent.edu.tr.
