Communication Department Program

1st year ‐ Semester I

1st year ‐ Semester II

2nd year ‐ Semester III

2nd year ‐ Semester IV

3rd Year ‐ Semester V

3rd Year ‐ Semester VI

4th Year ‐ Semester VII

4th Year ‐ Semester VIII

Elective Courses

COD 101 Introduction to Communication Design

This course addresses core concepts, theories, and methods to enable analytical and critical evaluation of design, encouraging students to understand and critique communication design through art and theoretical frameworks. It introduces students to communication design by exploring its conceptual and theoretical foundations. Students analyze design works and their impact on systems of signification and culture. The course includes weekly readings, lectures, and case studies, focusing on applying theoretical knowledge to real-world design challenges. Topics cover analogical, conceptual, abstract, sensorial, theoretical, material, and performative thinking, with an emphasis on semiotics, aesthetics, labor, gender, and technology.

COD 103 Graphic Design Tools

This course focuses on the basic tools in the computer graphics industry. Practicing with Adobe Illustrator students work on the given examples, tracing images, creating vector paths, shapes, & patterns. They also use image processing techniques, including selecting, changing, and replacing colors, poster design, basic photography techniques, and create shapes with type through Adobe Photoshop. Practicing with Adobe InDesign students create page spreads with text and photos and grasp rules of print media.

IDE 101 Principles of Design

This course provides a working knowledge of the basic elements and principles of design that will guide students in their pursuit to give form to ideas. The course will help students to attain an understanding of basic design concepts, visual thinking and design materials, as well as gain compositional skills through the use of formal and spatial elements. The goal of the course is to expand students? intellectual, visual and technical abilities besides encouraging and nourishing creative approaches to problem solving.

IDE 103 Design Visualization

In the scope of the course several visualization techniques beside the traditional ones are examined. Drawings and studies aimed at improving the ability of 3-dimensional thinking are made. The course aims to teach students the basic drawing standards in different scales.

COD English I

The course focuses on language and academic skills development through the themes of contemporary global issues and sustainable development. It addresses the underlying causes and impacts of contemporary global issues and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) which aspire to achieve a sustainable future. The course has an interactive nature and requires students to build knowledge and acquire and improve skills through the weekly assigned readings, discussions, and writing tasks.

TLL 101 Turkish Language and Literature 1

This course is based on exercises to make arguments without fallacies and discussions in various topics. Characteristics of Turkish and examination of selected literary texts are also part of this course. Discussions are carried out in debate format where two separate teams discuss positive and negative aspects of an issue. Correct use of language, grammar, and punctuation will be taught and also the historical and cultural backstage of literary texts will be discussed.

COD 106 Concept Development for Design

This course introduces the design thinking process as a framework for identifying design problems and generating design ideas. Within the scope of the course, students are expected to empathize with a target group, define design problems, ideate on alternative design solutions, and develop a proof-of-concept to support design decisions. Students practice solving design problems by conducting research methods and techniques to address their aesthetic and technical aspects and utilizing design thinking models.

COD 102 English II

The course focuses on language and academic skills development through the themes of contemporary global problems included in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). It also focuses on the solutions to these problems by providing students with a general understanding of the solution players /methods like corporate social responsibility (CSR), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and social entrepreneurship both abroad and at home. The course has an interactive nature and requires students to build knowledge through research, the weekly assigned readings and class discussions.

IDE 108 Art and Design History

The course will focus on the aesthetic and historical evaluation of arts and design from the early civilizations to modern era. With an emphasis on social aspects, works of art and design will be narrated in the context of the time and culture in which they were created. The course seeks to introduce a broad view of art history with special emphasis on major trends and movements that have occurred in the visual arts.

SEC 101 Introduction to University

The content of the course, which registered students are obliged to attend; university faculties and Seminars, peer and academic advisor activities offered by student development units, It creates safe living/environmental tests with social responsibility and library activities.

TLL 102 Turkish Language and Literature II

Several literary texts are analyzed in this course to answer the question ?why do we do/read literature?? and different approaches to literature are evaluated. Significance is given to reading selected fictional texts from different genres and writing critical essays about those texts. Correct use of language, grammar, and punctuation will also be part of the course.

COD 102 Communication Applications

This course addresses how to transfer concepts into visual language that are to represent the ideas and themes derived from the analysis of different media consisting of moving to static, or textual to visual messages such as movies, novels, advertisements or slogans. In parallel, students learn the necessary methods, tools and technologies for the effective presentation of developed projects.

COD 104 Photography

This course addresses the photographic language and methods, and practice with different techniques. The topics include the photographic concepts, basic use of camera and light, and photo processing in a digital environment.

COD 200 Internship I (Research)

Internship I includes tasks that support specific research subjects which may require the students to work on site or in lab. The students will actively participate to analyze problems that can be solved through design and develop graphic and/ or multimedia students.

COD 201 Design Studio I

This course addresses visual communication design through studio problems focusing on research, concept development, creativity and form-making. It covers the methods and techniques used in the design process where complex ideas and messages are transformed into creative visual form.

COD 203 Video Production

Students are introduced to the main concepts of video production, such as the production phases of filmmaking, basic grammar of cinematic language, and film editing. The exercises and discussions intend to equip students with the principles of digital filmmaking and help them develop creative design skills and critical evaluation skills by using digital video as a source of production.

COD 205 Typographic Communication

This course addresses major topics of anatomy of letter forms, type history, classification systems, composition and page layout, legibility, readability and expressive qualities of type. This course covers exercises to support the necessary type skills for print and digital media and help students develop their creative process and use typography in the solution of communication design problems in newly powerful ways.

COD 207 Creative Coding I

This course addresses programming concepts using p5js, a JavaScript library for creative coding. Students work on the basics of programming, including variables, functions, debugging and control structures, and how to apply them to create custom applications. In the course, programming fundamentals are examined through Algorithmic Art practices to enhance students' comprehension of programming concepts and their creative applications in design. Students work on individual and collaborative projects, participate in in-class coding exercises, and discuss various Algorithmic Art techniques and their applications.

COD 209 Interactive Design Tools

Beginning with foundational training in HTML and CSS, the course incorporates weekly exercises to reinforce learning through practice. Students leverage Bootstrap to construct their own professional websites.

IDE 209 Contemporary Art and Design

The course will focus on the aesthetic and historical evaluation of art and design in their cultural framework from the late 19th century through to the 20th century. With an emphasis on the social aspects of art and cross-cultural influences, the course will give an overall framework of cultural history. Thus from the late 19th century the course will proceed chronologically and examine a set of specific aesthetic and social issues in the art and design landscape.

SEC 201 Introduction to Sectors

SEC201 deepen students' knowledge of professional life and industry profile in each of the following ten sectors: Financial Services, Retail, Agency & Professional Services, Consumer Goods, Industrials, Healthcare, ICT, Leisure, Hospitality & Entertainment, Energy, Social Services Students are not only provided with sectoral information, they are equipped with tools and skills to find and interpret most relevant and up to date industry data. Sectoral information is provided by expert guest speakers from the sectors via sectoral briefings as well as online tools i.e. sector-related videos, e-books, academic papers and news.

COD 202 Design Studio II

This course focuses on visual communication design products where multiple components come together to form a dynamic system. Students work on the given design problems on topics such as creative brand identity, emblem and logo design, corporate identity, infographics, book, magazine and interactive interface design for print, digital and/or interactive media. They develop a creative and unique approach to design, along with the methods they can use to approach multi-layered design problems.

COD 204 Visual Media Animated

This course introduces the core principles of motion media and guides students in using Adobe After Effects to produce well-timed animated films. Through practical instruction, students build a strong foundation in motion graphics and effects techniques, empowering their creativity and elevating the quality of their digital projects.

COD 208 Creative Coding II

This course builds on the fundamentals of COD 207 Creative Coding I and covers advanced programming concepts, including data structures, custom algorithms, and programming paradigms like object-oriented programming (OOP), network communication protocols, and utilizing additional software libraries. This course focuses on developing interactive applications through programming, integrating creative coding frameworks, algorithmic art practices, and principles of interaction design. The course has both theoretical and practical components, and students are required to complete various programming assignments, readings, and projects.

COD 210 History of Communication Design

This course studies the history and theories concerning communication design, graphic design and interactive media in parallel with the movements in art history with the aim of providing students with the necessary theoretical basis in communication design. It focuses on the issues concerning communication and design practices within the historical, cultural, social, political and technological contexts. For this purpose, the class examines the relation between the societies, media, art & design, and discusses the role of communication designer comparatively in different periods.

IDE 206 Human Factors in Design

This course introduces the basic concepts of human factors to demonstrate the importance of considering human capabilities and limits in design. Within this context, physical, biomechanical and mental elements of the relationship between the user and the product or service will be examined.

SEC 202 Skills Management

SEC202 is designed to introduce the students one of the most significant aspects of the professional life: skills management. It allows them to improve their personal and transferrable skills for a successful career as well as for their personal life. The course aims to build competency development for their career discovery. The course subjects are provided by weekly workshops as well as online tools i.e. related videos, e-books, academic papers and news.

SEC 202 Introduction to Sectors II

The course will deepen students’ knowledge of work life and industry profile in each of the following four sectors: retail, health, tourism and real estate, production and emerging sectors. Students will not only be provided with sectorial information, but they will also be equipped with tools and skills to find and interpret most relevant and up to date industry data. Extensive sectorial information will be enhanced by expert guest lecturers from the business world, visits to firms, firsthand brief industry experience, as well as case studies.

COD 300 Internship II

Internship II requires students to actively participate in the production of various media in parallel with the communication needs of a company. Students are expected to understand and observe in detail the team work, in-group collaborations, and production-client relations on the subjects of planning, media integration, and production techniques & tools.

COD 301 Design Studio III

This is a studio course that focuses on the fundamentals of game design production, with an emphasis on creative experimentation and interdisciplinary thinking. Students explore core concepts such as game mechanics, rule systems, player experience, narrative structure, and gameplay dynamics, while also engaging with visual and interaction design principles. Through workshops, critiques, and collaborative studio practice, students design game prototypes, developing their ability to balance technical constraints with creative intent.

COD 303 Creativity and Innovation

This course introduces students to the cognitive, cultural, and practical dimensions of creative thinking within communication design. Emphasizing the early stages of the design process—such as research, ideation, conceptual development, and creative risk-taking, the course equips students with tools and techniques for generating and refining innovative ideas. Through workshops, collaborative exercises, and individual exploration, students will experiment with visual and conceptual approaches that challenge conventions and foster originality. The course also engages with contemporary discourses on creativity, problem framing, and the value of failure in creative practice.

COD 305 Interaction Design

This course introduces students to the concepts, principles, methods, and techniques of interaction design as a basis for developing ideas through design thinking models. During the course students carry out a design research which entails defining a design problem, identifying a target group, iteratively developing design solutions by using co-design methods and agile techniques, and evaluating their design ideas.

HIST 201 Principles of Ataturk & History of the Turkish Republic I

This is the first of a two term-courses that analyze the political, economic and social aspects of the process of formation and development of the Republic of Turkey. It addresses issues related to the end of the Ottoman Empire; the formation of the Republic of Turkey and the inheritance it took from the empire; and the political, economic and social aspects of the nascent nation-state during the early Republican period. The course is taught in lectures and discussions. The students are encouraged to think the history of Turkey objectively and scientifically.

COD 302 Design Studio IV

This course focuses on designing interactive experiences through systems, objects, or events that facilitate meaningful user interaction. Students will explore screen-based, tangible, and hybrid interfaces while applying user research, persona development, and scenario-based design. Emphasis is placed on experiential learning through project-based work, enabling students to develop and test interactive frameworks that address real-world design challenges.

COD 306 User Experience Evaluation

This course introduces the essence and foundations of usability testing for the analysis and evaluation of design elements as to whether they meet the users' requirements, needs, limitations, mental models, and cognitive styles. In this course, students examine the concept of usability, testing methods, and how to design a study so that it addresses a usability problem, through recruiting the right participants, and setting up the test environment. The students are expected to conduct a usability test with participants, ask the right questions, and make an analysis of the results in order to inform design solutions that address the problem.

HIST 202 Principles of Ataturk and History of the Turkish Republic I

This is the second of a two term-courses that analyze the political, economic and social aspects of the process of formation and development of the Republic of Turkey. It addresses Turkey?s experience of democracy from the beginning of the multi-party parliamentarian system in 1946 to the present, and the political, economic and social aspects of this experience. The course is taught in lectures and discussions. The students are encouraged to think the history of Turkey objectively and scientifically.

COD 401 Design Studio V

This course explores the intersection of experience design and narrative production. Students investigate how spatial environments—both physical and virtual—can be crafted to support storytelling, emotional engagement, and user interaction. They conceptualize and produce design projects through the lens of videography and media production that integrate space, story, and movement. The course includes hands-on workshops in video production, spatial design, and narrative design, encouraging students to experiment with immersive multimedia formats and media-rich narratives.

COD 403 Interactive Marketing

In this course, all dimensions of interactive marketing are discussed, and students experience the first-hand applications of the interactive marketing principles practiced in the industry. guest-lecturers from leading brands of the world are invited to enrich the case study discussions of the course.

COD 402 Graduation Project

Within the scope of the class, the students are expected to work on a problem which they have found out throughout the term and create a professional application on the basis of communication design. They submit different aspects of their projects once in a month to a jury to be guided by the critics.

COD 404 Professional Practice & Ethics

The course includes both practical and theoretical work. In the theoretical part, students develop an understanding of the communication design profession by including seminars and discussions on career strategies, market tendencies, business management, designer-client relations, copyright and licensing, labour laws and design ethics. With practical projects students obtain the necessary tools for applications and interviews such as preparing a résumé and designing a portfolio. Classes also incorporate presentations by invited professionals, field trips as well.

COD 400 Internship III

Internship III requires students to actively participate in the production and post-production stages of audio-visual media productions relating to television, multi-media, film and advertisement campaigns in graphic design, interactive design, animation offices or post-production environments.