FACULTY OF HUMANITIES

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 

First Year, First Semester

AME 101 Speaking Skills I

This course aims to improve students' general English language proficiency and focuses on developing effective speaking skills. It also builds communication skills based on the understanding of the structural language of texts.

AME 103 Reading Skills I

This course presents various approaches to reading texts and awakens fundamental reading skills. It enables students to establish a connection between the lexical and grammatical understanding of texts. 

AME 105 Grammar I

This course covers linguistic structures and provides instructions on essay writing using appropriate techniques and styles. It helps students learn meaning through sentence structure.

AME 107 Writing Skills

This course gradually covers paragraph and essay writing instructions of different types. Students will acquire the ability to summarize exam questions, rephrase them, interpret, and respond to them. The course aims to develop critical thinking, organizational, and presentational skills while composing compositions using appropriate techniques and styles. By the end of the semester, literature students become capable of interpreting the text both theoretically and practically.

AME 109 British History

This course introduces students to significant aspects of British culture and lifestyle. It also provides essential information about British history, foreign policy, and social and cultural movements of British society by comparing Turkish and British cultures, traditions, and other cultural elements, referring to Western culture.

First Year, Second Semester

AME 102 Speaking Skills II

Different topics are discussed, and role-playing is performed on specific subjects. The applied role-plays help students improve their speaking skills. In short, this course complements AME 101 by focusing on students' speaking and listening skills.

AME 104 Reading Skills II

The primary objective of this course is to enhance students' ability to read and comprehend literary texts in English.

AME 106 Grammar II

This course aims to develop students' language skills at the level of text and context. It also helps students construct language structures and use them in any context within a text.

 AME 108 Writing Skills II

This course aims to enhance students' translation, analysis, and writing skills. It includes ways of writing well-composed compositions, making distinctions between various texts, and making comparisons based on causal relationships between texts. As a result of this course, students are expected to learn to write essays on American culture and literature for different purposes.

COMP103 Introduction to Computer

Understanding the necessity of managing data as an enterprise resource. Introduction to basic data processing concepts. Students develop skills in the implementation of computers and knowledge of hardware and software.

AME 110 American History

This course focuses on the examination of the history and culture of the United States from the colonial period to the contemporary era. It provides essential information about the historical and social movements in the United States, organized by periods, while referring to literary works.

Second Year, First Semester

AME 201 Critical Thinking

This course aims to develop students' critical thinking and writing skills. Students will learn to write arguments and counter-arguments on selected topics for the class. Critical skills help the reader make logical judgments about the text. Communicatively, the link between the reader's full understanding of the essence and content of the reading text and providing sufficient feedback relevant to the text with adequate supporting information, evidence, logical thinking, and arguments is established and expanded to address the expected problems.

AME 203 Literary Theory and Criticism I

This course focuses on literary theory and its application to literary works. By studying literary criticism terminology and various critical methods, students are expected to learn how to read artistic materials from a critical perspective. The course also aims to increase critical awareness and enhance the perception of literary works.

AME 205 Introduction to Literature

It aims to provide literature students with a comprehensive view of literature, introducing fundamental concepts in the field of literature and developing analysis and criticism skills through literary masterpieces.

AME 207 Aspects of American Culture

Comprehensive and comparative examination of American history and culture from the colonial period to the contemporary era with references to social, political, philosophical, and scientific developments. Relevant literary works are also considered. 

AME 209 Literary Research Techniques

The main focus of this course is to work on research techniques, general terminology, how to use library and electronic resources, selecting a topic (how to focus), doing source research (bibliography techniques), preparing a working source list (on source cards), taking notes, and preparing a draft. Students will be required to write a draft in a proper essay format (footnote, quotation, etc.) using the MLA style guide.

NH001 National History I

It aims to demonstrate how history serves as a social memory function instead of a chronological presentation of events from the second half of the 1st century to the present day. Particular emphasis is placed on the national histories of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the ideas and principles of Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey.

 AME 202 Literary Terms

This course aims to introduce relevant literary terms and concepts to students by applying them to literary texts.

AME 204 Literary Theory and Criticism II

As a continuation of Literary Theory and Criticism I (AME 203), this course analyzes post-Renaissance critical literary movements. Marxism, Feminism, Structuralism, and Post-Structuralism are among the literary schools examined in this course.

AME 206 Mythology

This course covers selected myths treated as traditional tales and evolving narratives subject to political, social, and sexual ideologies. While the main focus is on Greek and Roman mythologies, other myths enrich the course.

AME 208 American Popular Culture

The main aim of this course is to explore historical and theoretical approaches to the examination of contemporary American popular culture and understand how it affects our thoughts, feelings, lifestyles, and even people's votes in the age of consumerism.

AME 210 History of Western Thought

This course provides students with sufficient knowledge about the development of Western thought and introduces the process from ancient Greece and ancient Egypt to the French Industrial Civilization. By examining the reasons and effects of the development of Western thought, it discusses leading philosophy schools and thinkers, along with historical consequences.

NH002 National History II

This course is a continuation of NH001. It covers the Modern Turkey period following the establishment of the Republic of Turkey and focuses on world history as well.

TURK 001 Turkish Writing

Language and its definition, the relationship between language and other areas, and its importance for humanity. Turkish language, its place among world languages, spelling rules, punctuation marks, types of written expression, sentence, paragraph, narrative methods, and styles.

Third Year, First Semester

AME 301 Gender Studies in American Culture

This course will explore literary works produced by individuals defined as "others" in the United States, whose experiences have historically been shaped by conflicts with dominant racial and cultural paradigms. It can be the literature of authors and/or writers of racial, ethnic, and cultural minorities. Particular emphasis will be placed on sociological, historical, and literary texts.

AME 303 American Poetry I

This course aims to teach students works of different American poets from the colonial period to the end of the 19th century. Students will be required to read, analyze, reflect, and conduct research on poems. The course also provides students with the necessary terms of poetry and critical methods applicable to poetic works.

AME 305 American Novel I

This course aims to critically evaluate specific periods of the American novel. In this context, the course explores literary movements such as realism, naturalism, and the novel of social behaviour within the context of American culture's historical and social aspects, focusing on the examination of the American novel from the late 19th century. Students' intellectual framework will be enriched, especially with a strong focus on literary trends in late 19th-century American literature, such as naturalism and realism.

AME 307 American Drama I

The purpose of this course is to provide students with a brief introduction to American Theatre. This course presents a theoretical perspective, historical and political aspects of the drama development, particularly from Ancient Greek Theatre to 20th-century modern European Theatre, along with theatrical movements, playwrights, and plays in American theatre. The aim is to enable students to appreciate post-World War II American theatre, new trends, and developments in post-war America, develop a critical perspective, and read, understand, and compare various texts based on socio-cultural and economic characteristics. Moreover, it aims to develop a comparative perspective to analyse the plays written during that period and to read and interpret plays selected from feminist and ethnic theatre while considering the intersection of class, gender, and racism.

Third Year, Second Semester

AME 302 Race and Ethnicity in American Culture

This course will explore literary works produced by individuals defined as "others" in the United States, whose experiences have historically been shaped by conflicts with dominant racial and cultural paradigms. It can be the literature of authors and/or writers of racial, ethnic, and cultural minorities. Particular emphasis will be placed on sociological, historical, and literary texts.

 AME 304 American Poetry II

The main aim of this course is to teach students works of different American poets from the colonial period to the end of the 19th century. Students will be required to read, analyze, reflect, and conduct research on poems. This course also provides students with the necessary terms of poetry and critical methods, allowing them to apply these terms and methods to poetic works.

AME 306 American Novel II

This course is a continuation of American Novel I. This course aims to critically examine the American novel and its various historical, cultural, literary, and discursive contexts. Within the scope of this course, students will work on 20th-century literary trends, especially Modernism and Postmodernism, with reference to William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" and Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-5." Students' intellectual frameworks will be enriched, especially with a focus on Modernism and Postmodernism in 20th-century American Literature. As they are introduced to these novels, students will also be taught the basic cultural and literary approaches to analyze these novels. This will give them the opportunity to compare other 20th-century American literary works.

AME 308 American Drama II

The aim of this course is to provide students with a general understanding of post-World War II American theater, enabling them to appreciate new trends and developments in post-war America, develop a critical perspective, and read, understand, and compare various texts based on socio-cultural and economic characteristics. Additionally, it aims to develop a comparative perspective to analyze plays written during that period, read and interpret plays selected from feminist and ethnic theater, and consider the intersection of class, gender, and racism.

AME 401 The Fantastic in American Literature

This course will focus on the genre of the fantastic, which combines literary art, scientific, and philosophical speculations and often evokes a sense of "wonder." It will examine the history of the genre and then explore representative themes, rhetoric, and narrative techniques in texts, films, and other media. The aim of this course is to review the history of fantastic literature from its origins in mythology and fairy tales to contemporary fantasy, covering themes and motifs from early developments to modern fantasies.

 AME 403 Studies in American Culture

The purpose of this course is to examine the social values, institutions, and concepts accepted at the core of American culture. By analyzing cultural, social, and political movements and transformations, the course also aims to discuss important issues to understand contemporary America.

 AME 405 Graduation Project I

This course includes student-centered lifelong learning that combines academic studies with real-life goal-setting, learning new things, problem-solving, time management skills, and community service. Students will also be required to prepare a graduation thesis on a subject related to language education, literature, and American culture under the guidance of their advisors and utilize research materials and methods.

 AME 407 Contemporary American Literature

The aim of this course is to provide students with a deeper understanding of the methods and strategies of contemporary American literature. In this direction, significant modernist novels that constitute literary and cultural sensitivities will be the main focus.

 Fourth Year, Second Semester

AME 402 World Literature

The purpose of this course is to provide a broad understanding of works from literary traditions outside of Anglo-American literature. The works to be examined may include those produced in the 20th century by authors such as Lorca, Svevo, Proust, Mann, Kafka, Bréton, Camus, Duras, Kundera, Mahfuz, Borges, Marquez, Cortazar, among others. It may also include works from the Western and Eastern literary canon before the 20th century, including names such as Dante, Petrarch, Cervantes, Moliere, Goethe, Balzac, Flaubert, Baudelaire, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Rumi, and Khayyam.

 AME 404 American Foreign Policy

This course aims to analyze the history of American foreign policy from the perspective of changing global and regional international systems. Emphasis is placed on the impact of these systems and America's role in creating and operating international systems. Particularly, the approach, policy, involvement, and ideological dimensions of the United States regarding contemporary events will be examined.

 AME 406 Graduation Project II

This course is the final stage of AME 405 Graduation Project I. Students are required to work individually or in teams, find a project advisor, and propose a project that can be implemented in real life to the graduation project committee. Each team/student must research the needs and requirements of their projects with the guidance of their project advisors.

 AME 408 Film and Literature

Literature and cinema employ different narrative modes. The purpose of this course is to understand and appreciate these different art forms by examining films as texts. The research should help students develop an understanding of the complexities of representation and interpretation processes in economic, political, and cultural contexts. This course explores the multifaceted relationship between literary texts and their film adaptations, with a focus on represented films.

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• 3. Semester
• 4. Semester
• 5. Semester
• 6. Semester
• 7. Semester
• 8. Semester

Our department is founded on the principle that language proficiency, cultural knowledge, information, and communication are inseparable components of a complete education. Established within the Faculty of Humanities, our department aims to educate individuals who will earn a respected place in the modern world through their command of the English language, knowledge, culture, self-confidence, productivity, appreciation of independent thought, and sense of social responsibility.

Our department aims to provide insight into the historical and cultural development of Western societies (British and American) through cultural texts, and to enhance students’ analytical and dialectical thinking skills through detailed textual analysis and discussion-based methods. Our courses include distinguished examples from English and American literature such as poetry, short stories, novels, and drama. Through in-depth analysis of these works, we aim to develop students’ ability to think logically and coherently, view issues from multiple perspectives, and reach creative conclusions. These are skills our students will benefit from and apply in all areas of their lives.

In addition to literature courses, our curriculum includes essential subjects such as creative writing, translation, linguistics, Greek mythology, research techniques, and critical theory — all of which contribute to ensuring our students graduate as well-rounded individuals. Furthermore, elective courses — including foreign languages (French or German) or courses from other departments (such as Journalism, International Relations, etc.) — offer students the opportunity to pursue their interests through additional study.

Skills such as consistent, critical, independent, and multidimensional thinking are acquired through reading, comprehension, and discussion. Our courses are designed not only to promote reading and understanding but also to encourage open debate. One of our primary goals in the classroom is to create an environment where students can express themselves freely and confidently. As a faculty and department that recognizes the importance of personal expression in building communication skills and self-confidence, our mission is to provide students with the tools to express themselves effectively in both written and spoken forms.

Our students will have the opportunity to use these tools while learning Western language and culture, and while comparing it to their own language and culture. Our department places great emphasis on comparative thinking, and we strongly believe that such comparisons will help our students become more aware of their own cultural heritage and utilize this awareness in the production of knowledge.

Our field is not based on rote learning, but on acquiring knowledge and engaging in multidimensional thinking — making it a highly enjoyable area of study. Upon graduation, our students will be equipped to pursue careers in a wide range of fields, where they can apply their skills and knowledge. Thanks to their proficiency in English and broad cultural background, our graduates will have career opportunities both in Turkey and abroad.

Let us remind you that in this department, as long as knowledge is valued, your efforts will never go unrewarded. We wish all our students success and warmly invite them to join us on this dynamic, enjoyable, and exciting journey.

1. Being able to internalize and discuss concepts and ideas related to American culture and literature, as well as developing critical methods and understanding. 
2. Understanding the different disciplines within American culture and literature and being able to present academic work within a multidisciplinary framework.
3. Having knowledge about the socio-cultural structure, economy, and politics of America.
4. Analyzing different periods of American official and cultural history, comparing them within their own context and with other eras, particularly in terms of history, politics, culture, art, and literature. 
5. Creating awareness about Western culture and cultural history, and being able to apply acquired knowledge comparatively to Western cultures and literatures and Turkish culture and literature. 
6. Being able to read literary, cultural, and artistic products/texts through cultural criticism approaches and analyzing these cultural texts and the evolving and changing discourses related to them.
7. Developing analytical and critical thinking skills by engaging in literary and cultural criticism.
8. Transferring the knowledge, critical perspective, and flexibility gained from the American culture and literature department to other areas of life and professional contexts, and using the acquired knowledge and skills with a sense of professional and ethical responsibility.

 

Course Code	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
AME101	3	2	2	1	2	1	3	1
AME103	4	1	2	1	2	1	2	1
AME105	4	2	3	1	2	1	3	1
AME107	3	2	2	1	2	1	2	1
AME109	4	2	5	5	2	1	2	4
COMP103	2	2	1	1	1	2	2	1
AME102	4	2	2	1	2	2	3	5
AME104	3	5	3	1	2	2	3	4
AME106	3	5	3	2	2	2	4	4
AME108	3	5	4	2	2	2	4	4
AME110	1	2	1	1	1	2	2	4
AME201	4	3	3	2	3	2	3	4
AME203	3	3	3	3	2	2	3	3
AME205	4	4	3	3	2	2	2	4
AME207	3	3	3	3	2	2	4	4
AME209	4	3	3	3	2	2	3	4
NH001	1	1	1	1	2	2	3	3
AME202	5	4	3	3	2	2	2	4
AME204	1	3	3	3	2	2	3	4
AME206	4	4	4	3	2	2	3	4
AME208	3	5	4	3	1	2	2	5
AME210	2	1	1	1	2	2	3	4
NH002	2	2	2	2	1	2	1	2
TURK001	2	2	2	1	1	2	2	2
AME301	4	4	3	4	2	2	3	4
AME303	4	5	3	4	2	3	3	4
AME305	5	4	3	3	2	3	2	3
AME307	5	3	3	3	2	2	3	3
AME302	5	3 3	3	3	1	2	3	4
AME304	5	3	4	3	2	2	3	4
AME306	4	3	4	4	2	3	4	3
AME308	5	3	4	4	2	2	3	4
AME401	4	3	3	4	2	2	4	3
AME403	3	4	3	3	1	3	3	4
AME405	3	4	3	3	1	2	3	4
AME407	3	4	3	4	1	3	4	4
AME402	3	4	3	4	3	3	4	4
AME404	4	4	4	3	3	4	3	4
AME406	4	4	3	4	3	4	4	4
AME408	4	4	3	4	3	3	3	4
1.Very Low, 2.Low, 3.Medium, 4.High, 5.Very High

 

Faculty of Humanities, in American Culture and Literature (243 ECTS).

In order to complete the undergraduate program, American Culture and Literature undergraduate program students are required to take 46 courses. 

Students who successfully complete the program must not have received a grade of "F" in any course. 

Graduating students can receive their diplomas provided that they have completed at least 123 credits and have a 2.00 GPA or higher.

 

Graduates of the English Language and Literature department can find employment opportunities in various fields, some examples of which are listed below:   Translation/interpretation and specialization in ministries, public and private institutions. Guiding and managerial positions in tourism establishments. Media-related jobs such as journalism, news agencies, and TV program editing. Freelance translation and interpretation. Literary criticism. Jobs in the publishing industry, including writing and editing. Advertising and copywriting. Specialization in foreign trade in the private sector. With the Pedagogical Formation Certificate (for citizens of Northern Cyprus), students can work as English language teachers in public or private schools, or as instructors at universities.

The following program educational objectives are career and professional accomplishments that our graduates are expected to achieve after graduation:

Language Skills Development: One of the primary objectives is to enhance students' language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) to enable them to proficiently use the English language.

Literary History and Critical Reading Ability: To teach students the history and development of English literature, important literary periods, and genres, as well as to develop their ability to analyze and critically evaluate literary works.

Written and Oral Communication Skills: To advance students' language proficiency, narrative, and compositional skills to enable effective written and oral communication.

Creativity and Aesthetic Perception: To explore the creative aspects of literature, nurture students' imagination, and enrich their aesthetic perception.

Diversity and Cultural Awareness: To understand the diversity of the English language and literature worldwide, and promote respect for cultural diversity and tolerance.

Research Competence: To equip students with research and literary study skills, analyze sources, and enhance critical evaluation of literary materials.

Social Role of Language and Literature: To comprehend the role and impact of language and literature in society, and examine literary works in cultural, historical, and social contexts. 

Sensitivity in Communication: To develop sensitivity and ethical communication skills by understanding the impact of language and literature on society.

Communication in a Foreign Language: The English Language and Literature department aims to provide students with the ability to comprehend and communicate in a foreign language other than English.

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: To foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills through the analysis of literary works and their practical application in daily life.

These educational objectives aim to provide students in the English Language and Literature department with comprehensive knowledge of language and literature, develop critical thinking abilities, increase cultural awareness, and strengthen communication skills. Consequently, graduates will contribute to society as accomplished, conscious, and empathetic individuals in the field of language and literature.

Lecture-Based Instruction: Traditional lecture-based instruction can be used to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of topics and the main elements of literary works. This method provides students with general knowledge about literary periods, movements, authors, and significant literary works.

Discussions and Dialogues: By organizing group discussions and dialogues on literary works and topics, students' critical thinking, commenting, and expressing their ideas are developed. This method also allows for the analysis of works from different perspectives.

Group Work and Project-Based Learning: A method that encourages students to work in small groups and develop projects on literary works. This way, students enhance their research, collaboration, and presentation skills.

Literature Circulation and Reading Groups: An interactive method that provides students with opportunities to read and discuss various literary works. It enables students to establish deeper connections with literature and explore different writing styles of authors.

Watching Films and Theatre Performances: Screening film or theatre adaptations of literary works allows students to experience the visual and auditory aspects of the works and helps them understand literature in different forms.

Literature Clubs and Events: Organizing literature clubs or events, both within and outside the school, encourages students to engage more closely with literature and increases their interest in learning.

Technology-Enhanced Instruction: Using technology tools such as the internet, e-magazines, and digital books enriches the learning experience by providing students with online resources and interactive materials.

Literature and Art Activities: Arranging events that explore the interaction of literature with other art forms encourages students to view literature from an artistic perspective.

Staging and Drama Activities: Adapting some literary works for the stage or organizing drama activities allows students to internalize the works, understand characters, and experience the atmosphere of the literary piece.

Field Trips: Visiting places of literary importance such as author houses, museums, or historical locations helps students gain a better understanding of the historical and cultural context of literature.

These methods enhance student participation, accommodate different learning styles, and facilitate more effective learning of literary subjects in the English Language and Literature department. Instructors can further enrich the learning experience by diversifying these methods and adapting them to suit students' needs.

Additionally, since 2007, a course support system has been used as a distance education system. This system can be accessed via the web address e-learning.gau.edu.tr. It offers various opportunities for education and training. Some of the system's uses include announcements about the course and sharing electronic materials with students. It also allows students to actively participate in discussions on specific course topics with instructors and classmates, surpassing traditional classroom applications.

 The key features of this system include:

Assignment submissions

Establishment of a discussion platform

File sharing

Grading

Instant messaging within the system

Online calendar

Online news and announcements

Online tests

Quick access to information

Furthermore, this system contributes to reducing paper waste and ensuring equal treatment for each student while maintaining system transparency. Like many other social networking services, it enables all enrolled students and instructors in the course to see the messages received. Therefore, it serves as a contemporary educational tool for engaging with students outside the classroom and planning activities. The use of this system is highly encouraged by all instructors, leading to its increasing popularity and growing benefits.

 

To graduate from the undergraduate programs of our faculty, students are required to meet the following conditions:

1.Credit Load and Course Completion:

Students must successfully complete all required and elective courses specified in their program and fulfill a minimum course load of 123 credits.

2.Grade Point Average (GPA):

To graduate, students must have a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale.

3.Disciplinary and Financial Obligations:

Students must not have any disciplinary penalties that would result in dismissal from the university and must have fulfilled all financial and administrative obligations before graduation procedures.