MED 501 and MED 502: Media Theory I and II

The aim of these courses is to survey major theories of media and mediated communication. They cover readings from a wide range of approaches, from effects research to media ecology, from cultivation to diffusion of innovations. The main objective of these courses is to provide an overview of these theories in order to facilitate an understanding that research, including the “thesis research”, requires a solid conceptual backing.

MED 505: Seminar I: Media Research I

Media Research I are epistemology and methodology. The course provides a broad introduction to the epistemological foundations and methodological approaches in media studies, highlighting how epistemological perspectives shape research methods. Key topics include the fundamentals of qualitative and quantitative research, the connection between theory and research, formulating research questions, designing research, and research ethics. These subjects will guide students in developing a solid foundation for conducting rigorous academic research.

MED 506: Seminar II: Media Research II

In this course students participates in the application of a research project; consider the particulars of own thesis project, and complete the thesis proposal to be submitted by the end of the semester.

MED 510: Research Methods for Media and Communication

This course addresses the history, paradigms, and practices of quantitative, qualitative and digital research in media and communication fields. Various methodological approaches such as descriptive analysis, ethnography, narrative analysis, discourse analysis, grounded theory, oral history, as well as qualitative techniques such as interviews, focus groups and participatory observation are discussed in addition to a basic research ethics training.

MED 512: Issues in Digital Culture Studies

This course focuses on particular theoretical topics that emerge in the ever-growing literature on cybercultures. This semester the focus will be deconstructing a currently hyped-up concept of Metaverse. In the first part, its relation to existing technologies- from augmented reality, virtual reality to the blockchain, - that serve building metaverse will be underlined. In the second part, metaverse imaginaries will be discussed in order to speculate about the concept's potential in the emerging knowledge-based social-economic formations.

MED 521: Digital Anthropology

Cyber anthropology/ Digital anthropology is a sub branch of sociocultural anthropology. It deals with cybernetic systems, virtual communities, cultures of technology, the computer underground, techno-mysticism and similar concepts that involve culturally informed interrelationships between human beings and digital technologies. This course provides an overview of these major concepts and discusses methodologies for digital ethnographies such as researching online relationships, designing internet behavior research, online interviewing and research relationship, ethnographic presence in cyber settings, and web sphere analysis within anthropological boundaries.

MED 523: Media and Democracy in the Digital Age

How is the rise of the social media affecting democracy? This course will focus on how digital technology is changing the role of the media in political processes. What is "fake news", what is the effect of trolls and bots in electoral campaigns, how to check and validate the accuracy of information used by politicians and the media will be some of the questions that will be dealt with in the course. How companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google are responding to the criticisms that their activities are harmful to democracy will also be examined. The students will be introduced to all the major issues regarding the political uses of the old and the new media in Turkey, the United States and around the world.

MED 531: Media, Sound and Space

This course explores the ways in which media shapes, reflects, and transforms social life. By examining sound and spatial dynamics, students will investigate how these elements interact and are mediated. By analyzing social phenomena—such as identity, gender, and urban life—students will investigate the ways media both constructs and communicates societal values and norms. Through engagement with social theory, observation techniques, and ethical inquiry, students will develop a reflective understanding of how media mediates experiences and norms of space and sound in society.