Gülnur Kocapınar – Assistant Professor, Yeditepe University
Quick Bio
- Undergraduate: Political Science and Public Administration, 2011, METU
- Master's Degree: Sabanci University, 2013, Political Science
- PhD Degree: Sabanci University, 2019, Political Science
- Current Position: Assistant Professor, Yeditepe University
- Location: İstanbul, Türkiye
What does your current job involve? What’s a typical day like?
I am currently working as an Assistant Professor. On some days of the week, my work mainly involves teaching undergraduate and graduate courses and holding office hours, during which I meet with students to discuss their coursework and theses. I also collaborate with faculty members and students on academic research papers and projects.
How did your Political Science and International Relations education at SU contribute to your current position?
The MA and PhD programs in Political Science at SU provided invaluable opportunities for my academic career goals. They offered an environment where we could develop ourselves in many areas such as theory, methodology, and critical thinking. Both the expertise and competence of our faculty members and the diversity and content of the courses we took enabled me to build a strong foundation for my current position. From our professors, we not only learned about course-related topics but also about the qualities of being a good academic. In addition, the teaching assistantships I undertook in various courses at SU allowed me to gain valuable teaching experience, which has greatly contributed to my current role.
What was your favorite course in Political Science at SU, and why?
Both the MA and PhD programs offered a highly comprehensive selection of courses. In particular, the wide range of methodology courses was extremely beneficial in helping us gain an in-depth understanding of scientific research methods. Among the courses I took, Turkish Politics taught by Prof. Dr. Ersin Kalaycıoğlu and Comparative Politics taught by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özge Kemahlıoğlu were especially important and engaging for me, as they helped me clarify my academic interests and deepen my knowledge in those areas.
Did your relationship with your professors at SU continue after graduation?
Yes, my communication with the Political Science faculty members at SU has continued after graduation. We have the opportunity to meet and collaborate both while working on joint research projects and during various seminars, conferences, and thesis or examination committees.
What would you say to a student who is considering studying Political Science and International Relations, but still unsure?
Political Science and International Relations is a highly comprehensive field that brings together diverse approaches and fosters critical thinking through the variety of topics studied and research methods employed. At the same time, its openness to collaboration with other disciplines such as Psychology, Sociology, and Economics provides students with valuable opportunities to develop an interdisciplinary perspective and body of knowledge.