Family Councilling and Education

Hello, dear students. I am Prof. Dr. Ahmet AKIN, the head of the Department of Family Counseling and Education in the Graduate Education Institute at Istanbul Medeniyet University. I have been working at Istanbul Medeniyet University since 2017. My areas of expertise include family counseling, self-deception, and self-sabotage. The Department of Family Counseling and Education is a specific field established to address the problems encountered in families or to conduct research related to family counseling. Recently, there have been various issues concerning families and youth in our country and worldwide. In our department, we conduct academic research on these issues and explore possible solutions through family counseling. Our graduate program offers two options: non-thesis master's and thesis master's. The non-thesis program lasts for one year, while the thesis program includes one year of coursework followed by one or two years of thesis writing, with the possibility of transitioning to a doctoral program. For the non-thesis program in family counseling and education, there is no requirement for the ALES (Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Exam) or foreign language proficiency. However, for the thesis program, proficiency in a foreign language and an ALES score are required. Applicants to the program should hold a bachelor's degree in fields such as psychology, counseling and guidance, child development, social work, or theology. In our graduate programs in Family Counseling and Education, we have a diverse faculty consisting of numerous academics who have completed their doctorates in fields such as psychology, counseling and guidance, child development, and social work. The majority of our faculty members hold the titles of associate professor and professor, and they bring academic richness with their international experience and publications. As our program is multidisciplinary, we benefit from various disciplines including sociology, psychology, child development, and developmental psychology in the field of family counseling and education. Our faculty members who teach in the program are experts in the field of family and counseling education, which allows us to offer a wide range of courses in areas such as theories of family counseling, theories of psychological counseling, scientific research methods, and the sociology of family history. Our courses are offered as both mandatory and elective courses, providing students with a broad range of options in their curriculum. Our elective course offerings are extensive.The Istanbul Medeniyet University Master's Program in Family Counseling and Education offers many opportunities to our students. Especially, our university is located in a central institution in terms of its location. It is close to the metro, metrobus, and other public transportation options. The physical facilities of our university's library and various other campus facilitations are always available to serve our students. Since our university was established in the 2010s as a new institution, it differs significantly in terms of building structure and social amenities, making it a university with many distinctive features in Istanbul. Our students can study their lessons in Turkey's largest library located on campus. Additionally, they will receive education in modern buildings equipped with innovative and technological features such as air conditioning, heating systems, and sound. Of course, I would like to emphasize once again that we are fully supportive of our students with our high-quality and diverse faculty members. Istanbul Medeniyet University is in a favorable position in terms of ERASMUS programs. Many of our students participate in exchange programs to various countries in Europe every year. The Master's Program in Family Counseling and Education can also be considered within this framework. As Istanbul Medeniyet University, we are a university that embraces the values and origins of the ancient Turkish-Islamic civilization spanning 1500 years, incorporating all its principles. Therefore, the Master's Program in Family Counseling and Education focuses on educating students based on our country's ancient values and family principles rather than being solely Western-oriented. Perhaps in this aspect, it distinguishes itself from many other graduate programs. In Istanbul Medeniyet University's Master's Program in Family Counseling and Education, we have a different understanding of family. It is not solely Western-oriented but rather incorporates the Anatolian family concept. We strive to run this program with an understanding of family that includes our ancient Anatolian values, in addition to Western influences. Graduates of our Master's Program in Family Counseling and Education, whether from the non-thesis or thesis track, can develop themselves and find various career opportunities as family counseling specialists. They can also work as family counselors within the state structure through positions occasionally opened by the Ministry of Family in our country. Istanbul Medeniyet University's Master's Program in Family Counseling and Education boasts a highly qualified faculty. Our university places importance on publication rankings and the quality of publications, setting it apart in terms of vision and perspective. As Istanbul Medeniyet University, we are like the fixed leg of the compass in Mevlâna's metaphor, with our culture, civilization, and values, while the mobile leg is open to technology, progress, and internationalization. In this regard, students can choose us with peace of mind. We welcome them all to our university and educational journey.