Regional Planning Master of Science Program


The information and program qualifications related to the Regional Planning Master of Science Program, under the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the Graduate School, are summarized below.

Information About The Program

The Regional Planning Master Program started to accept students in 1989. Regional disparities in Turkey require a regional planning approach, as well as skilled labour in this field, which is the reason of existence for this program. In the course of globalization, while the definition and contents of ‘borders’ are changing, in the context of newly emerging economic, social and physical interactions, the importance of regions has increased, again. Increasing inter-regional interactions offer new opportunities and dynamics for developed (central) and under-developed (peripheral) regions. Regional policies do not affect all regions at the similar success levels. Hence an in depth analysis of causes of regional disparities is required. Place/ region dependent qualities and values have been used more efficiently in explaining regional performance.

Themes related to regional planning / regional science comprise various disciplines, and new theory and practice related themes are added each day. Knowing that, the program aims to comprise the economic, social, environmental and policy aspects of regions; and to develop theory, method and practices targeting these aspects. The program has been following the major themes in regional planning / regional science since the conventional regional development practice and theories; renews itself with respect to contemporary developments; and aims to enhance its students as much as possible in the light of these developments.

Program Vision: To be a program that follows global changes while increasing competitiveness, is open to international and multi-disciplinary cooperation, has a unique and respectful position among the other programs of the discipline, increases the quality of graduates' research and publications and improves regional science nationally and globally.
Program Mission: To enhance graduates with multi-disciplinary cooperation skills, to inspire them for creativity, to provide them with a global vision and environmental consciousness, to encourage them in considering current global and national developments and moral values in their judgements, and take place in teamwork.

Program members are affiliated to various international scientific networks; in terms of being visiting scholars and developing collaborative research projects. The partner institutions include: University of Illinois Regional Economics Application Laboratory, George Mason University, Free University of Amsterdam, University of Barcelona Research Institute of Applied Economics, Cardiff University, University of Berlin, University of Milan, University of Pecs, Madrid Autonoma University ECONRES and Oviedo University REGIOLAB.

The Regional Planning Master Program accepts students from the following departments: Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Planning, Geography, Geomatics Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geology Engineering, Sociology, Law, Management, Statistics, Public Administration, International Relations, Economics, Industrial Engineering, Political Science.

Each students are obligated to take 30 credits in total and the program is conducted as 30% English. There are 22 courses under the four main modules of the curriculum: economy-policy-governance; sustainability-environment; spatial development; methods.

In relation to these modules, but also having a wider perspective and focusing on the recent developments in the field; program members’ research interests focus on the following topics
• Regional development theory and policies
• Quantitative methods in urban and regional development
• Economic geography
• Regional policies / EU regional policies
• Sustainable development
• Social policy and planning
• Rural development
• Government – governance
• Tourism and regional development
• Location theory and policies for industrial areas
• Transportation policies and regional development
• Innovation and creativity
• Disaster management and risk analysis
• Strategic planning



Click here for the program's website.
 

Registration Requirements

Application Term : Previous Term / 2024-2025 Spring Semester

Application Requirements (For T.C Nationality)
ALES Numerical must be minimum 65 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 652, new system GRE minimum 152 ). Undergraduate GPA must be minimum 2.75/4 (70.83/100). Graduation must be Computer Engineering, Geography, Labor Economics and Industrial Relations, Environmental Engineering, Economics / Ekonomi, Industrial Engineering, Geomatics Engineering, Law, Civil Engineering, Statistics, Business, Management Engineering, Geological Engineering, Public administration, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Politics and Economy, Political Science / Siyaset Bilimi, Political Science and Public Administration, Political Science and International Relations, Political Studies, Sociology, Urban and Regional Planning, Farming Economy, International Economy, International Entrepreneurship, International Relations, International Trade.
Quota (For T.C Nationality): 8

Application Requirements (For International Students)
ALES Numerical must be minimum 65 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 652, new system GRE minimum 152 ). Undergraduate GPA must be minimum 2.75/4 (70.83/100). Graduation must be Computer Engineering, Geography, Labor Economics and Industrial Relations, Environmental Engineering, Economics / Ekonomi, Industrial Engineering, Geomatics Engineering, Law, Civil Engineering, Statistics, Business, Management Engineering, Geological Engineering, Public administration, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Politics and Economy, Political Science / Siyaset Bilimi, Political Science and Public Administration, Political Science and International Relations, Political Studies, Sociology, Urban and Regional Planning, Farming Economy, International Economy, International Entrepreneurship, International Relations, International Trade.
Quota (For International Students): 3

Transfer Quota : 2

Application Page
Graduate Education and Training Regulation Senate Principles

Application requirements, application dates, and quotas are updated in real-time from the Application System.
 

MasterBee

Information about MasterBee


English Proficiency



Regulations and Guidelines

Regulations and Guidelines


Academic Calendar

Academic Calendar


Course Plans



Course Schedules

Course Schedule for the Offered Courses


Course Adjustment and Exemption Procedures

Course adjustment and exemption procedures are carried out in accordance with the Exemption and Adjustment Procedures Regulation of Istanbul Technical University.
Exemption and Adjustment Procedures Regulation


Program Educational Objectives

The main aim of the program is to create tools, methods and a theoretical framework for the analysis of concepts and processes related to regions. Development of analysis and policy methods for regional planning, which adopt multidisciplinary perspectives instead of single-discipline, conventional planning approaches; and the discussion and spread of ideas and debates on Regional Science are among the aims of the program as well.


Measurement and Evaluation

Evaluating Student Success
The student success is evaluated considering Articles 56, 57, 58, and 59 of the Istanbul Technical University Graduate Education and Training Regulation Senate Principles.

ARTICLE 56 - Before the enrollment for the courses begins, the faculty member who offers the course informs the Program Executive Committee about the types, number and contribution percentage to the final grade of the studies within the semester, as well as requirements for a right to take the semester final exam. These requirements shall be finalized by approval of the Program Executive Committee and approval of the chair of the department, who declares them to the student and informs the Graduate School.

ARTICLE 57 - A student may appeal the final grade of a course within one week following the announcement of the grades. Appeals must be submitted to the Graduate School in writing. The relevant faculty member shall re-evaluate the student's success status and submit the result to the Graduate School within one week. Appeals not submitted within the prescribed time frame shall not be considered by the Graduate School.

ARTICLE 58 - Courses in graduate programs shall be evaluated according to the following grading system.
Grade Description Grade Scale
Excellent AA 4.00
Very good plus BA+ 3.75
Very good BA 3.50
Good plus BB+ 3.25
Good BB 3.00
Conditional Pass CB+ 2.75
Conditional Pass CB 2.50
Conditional Pass CC+ 2.25
Conditional Pass CC 2.00
Fail FF 0.00
Fail(No Exam) VF 0.00

ARTICLE 59 - Students who wish to improve their cumulative grade point average may retake courses during the course-taking period. The most recent grade will be counted for the repeated courses.


Internship

There is no internship in this program.


Graduation Requirements

To complete the program, it is required to gain 30 Credits by completion of 10 courses; to successfully complete the Seminar Course (that has no credits); and to successfully complete the Master’s Thesis. 30% (5 courses) of the course plan consists of compulsory courses; the completion of which corresponds to the completion of 50% of the whole program.
According to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), each of the program courses gives 7.5 ECTS.


The Awarded Degree and Title

Degree : Master of Science    Title : -


Program Employment Opportunities

Graduates from the Regional Planning Master Program are employed in various institutions, including development agencies, several ministries, municipalities and research institutes.


Number of Graduates

Graduate Statistics
YearNumber of Graduates
20135
20146
201511
20164
20175
20185
20199
20206
20214
20222
20237
20247


Program Outcomes

P.O.1 The Knowledge Component: the theoretical framework of planning processes, policies and implementations; socio-economic and environmental conditions and functional areas of regions; governmental, legal and political aspects of upper-scale physical plan preparation and policy implementation; and having sufficient knowledge in at least one field that requires concentration.
P.O.2 The Skills Component: Problem formulation; research and data collection skills; quantitative research methods and computer skills; very effective written and verbal communication; working in multidisciplinary teams; synthesis and application of knowledge
P.O.3 The Values Component: social justice; economic welfare and efficient use of resources; the role of government and public participation in democratic societies; respect to different opinions and ideologies; protection of natural, social and historical heritage in the build environment; apprehending professional and ethical responsibilities


Program Coordinator

Doç. Dr. Ebru Kerimoğlu
E-mail: kerimoglu@itu.edu.tr
Web: https://research.itu.edu.tr/tr/persons/kerimoglu


Head of the Department

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Küçükmehmetoğlu
E-mail: kucukmehmetoglu@itu.edu.tr
Business Phone : +90 (212) 293 13 00
Web: https://research.itu.edu.tr/tr/persons/kucukmehmetoglu

Links

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