Special topics in political science II(SP412)
| Course Code | Course Name | Semester | Theory | Practice | Lab | Credit | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP412 | Special topics in political science II | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Prerequisites | |
| Admission Requirements |
| Language of Instruction | French |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Course Level | Bachelor Degree |
| Course Instructor(s) | Cemil YILDIZCAN cyildizcan@gsu.edu.tr (Email) |
| Assistant | |
| Objective | This course aims to examine population phenomena beyond statistical indicators by situating them within spatial, scalar, and everyday contexts. Demographic transformations in Turkey and globally, such as changes in fertility and mortality, population ageing, household transformations, migration, and mobility, are analysed in relation to social inequalities and spatial configurations. By bringing together demography and human geography, the course explores the interconnections between population, space, and society. |
| Content |
Special topics in political science II - Population, Space and Society: An Introduction to Human Geography The course begins with an introduction to key demographic concepts, methods, and data regimes, focusing on how populations are counted, classified, and governed. It then examines demographic transition and population dynamics, emphasising how these processes take on different meanings at different scales (household, neighbourhood, city, state). The second part of the course focuses on the material and spatial traces of demographic change, everyday geographies, urbanisation, migration, ageing, and ageism, with a strong emphasis on field observation. |
| Course Learning Outcomes |
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: Analyse demographic processes through spatial and scalar perspectives, Understand the spatial dimensions of demographic data production and interpretation, Relate population change to urban space, everyday life, and social inequalities, Conduct and critically reflect on field-based observation, Discuss ageing and ageism as spatial, social, and political processes. |
| Teaching and Learning Methods | The course combines lectures, guest lectures, class discussions, visual and audiovisual materials, field observation, and workshop-based activities. Active participation, group work, and peer feedback are integral components of the learning process. |
| References | Reading materials and other course resources will be made available on the course Microsoft Teams page in line with the weekly course schedule. |
Theory Topics
| Week | Weekly Contents |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction: Thinking Population between Social Demography and Human Geography |
| 2 | Contemporary Demographic Issues and an Introduction to Demographic Thought |
| 3 | Sources of Demographic Information and the Spatial Production of Data |
| 4 | Migratory and Residential Trajectories, Housing, and Urban Vulnerabilities |
| 5 | Population Dynamics and Demographic Transition: Reading Transformations across Scales |
| 6 | Reading Population in Space: Material Traces, Landscapes, and Social Archives |
| 7 | Everyday Geographies and Critical Reflexivity (Preparation for Fieldwork) |
| 8 | Fieldwork |
| 9 | Demographic Inequalities and Youth |
| 10 | Urbanisation and Spatial Segregation |
| 11 | Ageing: Governing Age at the Local Level |
| 12 | Age, Power, and Discrimination: Rethinking Ageism |
| 13 | Migrations and Mobilities |
| 14 | Workshop on Projects and Collective Work |
Practice Topics
| Week | Weekly Contents |
|---|
Contribution to Overall Grade
| Number | Contribution | |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution of in-term studies to overall grade | 2 | 60 |
| Contribution of final exam to overall grade | 1 | 40 |
| Toplam | 3 | 100 |
In-Term Studies
| Number | Contribution | |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 0 | 0 |
| Presentation | 1 | 20 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 |
| Project | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 0 | 0 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 1 | 40 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 40 |
| Make-up | 0 | 0 |
| Toplam | 3 | 100 |
| No | Program Learning Outcomes | Contribution | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 1 | Understanding the major theories, concepts, foundations, and methodologies used in the study of politics. | X | ||||
| 2 | Identifying the structure and operation of the political system in Turkey and other political systems in the world. | X | ||||
| 3 | Identifying and gathering information from credible primary and secondary sources; analyzing and synthesizing the acquired knowledge. | X | ||||
| 4 | Generating and testing empirically hypotheses about political processes, institutions, mechanisms and relationships. | X | ||||
| 5 | Designing, conducting and interpreting the results of original research in accordance with the scientific and ethical principles by using basic research methods. | X | ||||
| 6 | Showing awareness and sensivity towards issues related to democracy, human rights and social peace. | X | ||||
| 7 | Appraising the sources of societal conflict and how they can be resolved by political means. | X | ||||
| 8 | Examining critically the nature of change in the global political community, and the complex character of processes such as globalization. | X | ||||
| 9 | Taking a role in a teamwork in political science and general fields of other related disciplines. | X | ||||
| 10 | Following publications in foreign languages and communicating with the colleagues in the international environment by using French which is the language of education in Galatasaray University and English, the compulsory foreign language. | X | ||||
| 11 | Using required level of information and communication technologies. | X | ||||
| Activities | Number | Period | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class Hours | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Working Hours out of Class | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Assignments | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Presentation | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Project | 1 | 20 | 20 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 1 | 12 | 12 |
| Final Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Make-up | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yıl Sonu | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hazırlık Yıl Sonu | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hazırlık Bütünleme | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Workload | 150 | ||
| Total Workload / 25 | 6.00 | ||
| Credits ECTS | 6 | ||