The Regional Planning Master’s Program began admitting students in 1989. In Turkey, regional disparities create a clear need for a regional-scale planning approach and for a skilled workforce trained in this field, which forms the rationale for the program. As globalization reshapes the meaning and content of “borders,” regions have re-emerged as a central unit of analysis and action within new economic, social, and physical interactions. Growing inter-regional linkages generate new dynamics and opportunities for both developed (central) and less developed (peripheral) regions. However, regional policies do not deliver the same level of success everywhere; therefore, a deeper understanding of the factors producing regional disparities is required. Place- and region-specific characteristics and values have become increasingly important for explaining regional performance.

The subject areas of regional planning and regional science are inherently interdisciplinary, and new themes are continually added in both theory and practice. With this awareness, the program aims to address the economic, social, environmental, and policy dimensions of regions, and to advance theory, methods, and practices related to these dimensions. Building on conventional regional development practices and theories, the program closely follows developments in the field, continuously renews itself in line with contemporary debates, and seeks to equip students as thoroughly as possible in light of these developments.

Program Vision: To be a program that responds to global change by strengthening competitiveness; is open to international and interdisciplinary cooperation; holds a distinctive and respected position among peer programs; continuously improves the quality of its graduates, publications, and research; and contributes increasingly to regional science at both national and international levels.

Program Mission: To strengthen students’ capacity for interdisciplinary collaboration; foster creativity; cultivate a global perspective and environmental awareness; encourage sensitivity to current global and national developments and professional ethics; and promote effective teamwork.

The program’s academic staff have international experience and are active members of various international scientific networks, including through visiting scholar positions and collaborative research projects. Key partner institutions include the University of Illinois Regional Economics Applications Laboratory, George Mason University, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the University of Barcelona Research Institute of Applied Economics, Cardiff University, the University of Berlin, the University of Milan, the University of Pécs, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (ECONRES), and the University of Oviedo (REGIOLAB).

The Regional Planning Master’s Program accepts applicants with bachelor’s degrees in the following fields: Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Geomatics Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geological Engineering, Sociology, Law, Business Administration, Statistics, Public Administration, International Relations, Economics, Industrial Engineering, and Political Science.

Students are required to complete a total of 30 credits, and the program is delivered with 30% instruction in English. The curriculum includes 22 courses organized under four main modules: Economy–Policy–Governance; Sustainability–Environment; Spatial Development; and Methods.

Aligned with these modules and reflecting recent developments in the field, the academic staff’s research interests include:

• Regional development theories 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 and governance

• Tourism and regional development

• Industrial location theory and policies

• Transportation policies and regional development

• Innovation and creativity

• Disaster management and risk analysis

• Strategic planning

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Regional Planning Master of Science Program Course Plan