About

About

1. History

The Faculty of Education at Bursa Uludağ University traces its origins to the Bursa Institute of Education, established in 1958. As the first institution of higher education to open in Bursa, the Institute made significant contributions to meeting Turkey's demand for teachers over 23 years as an Institute of Education and one year as a Higher Teacher Training School. In 1982, under Law No. 2547 of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), the institution was restructured as the Faculty of Education affiliated with Uludağ University, and has since trained tens of thousands of teachers. The Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling (GPC) was established in 1993 within the Department of Educational Sciences and welcomed its first undergraduate graduates in 1997. The Master's program was launched in 1994, followed by the Doctoral program in 2011. Evening (second) education was introduced in 2011, with the first graduates completing the program in 2015. By a decision of the Departmental Board, admission to the evening education program was discontinued as of 2019. The curriculum has been updated in line with YÖK restructuring efforts in 1997–1998, 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2018. The current program, in effect since the 2018–2019 academic year, is organized into three categories: Field Education Courses (45–50%), Teaching Profession Courses (30–35%), and General Culture Courses (15–20%).

2. Mission and Vision

Mission

The mission of the Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling is to train professional counselors equipped with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and ethical principles necessary to deliver services that support individuals' personal, social, educational, and vocational development, and to contribute to the theoretical and applied knowledge base of the field through original scientific research.

Vision

The vision of the Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling is to be a leading department recognized at national and international levels — one that monitors and shapes scientific developments in the field and whose graduates make meaningful contributions to the psychological health and well-being of society.

3. Academic Programs

3.1. Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate program aims to train psychological counselors with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to deliver personal-social, educational, and vocational psychological counseling and guidance services in accordance with scientific standards. The language of instruction is Turkish. The program is offered as full-time (daytime) education. Graduates who successfully fulfill all program requirements are awarded a Bachelor's Degree in Guidance and Psychological Counseling and earn the title of Psychological Counselor.

Admission Requirements
  • Hold a secondary school (high school) diploma or equivalent
  • Obtain a sufficient score in the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) administered by ÖSYM
Graduation Requirements
  • Successfully complete all required field education, general culture, and teaching profession courses (total 240 ECTS)
  • Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 on a 4.00 scale (for students admitted in 2014 and later)

3.2. Master's Program

The Master's Program is offered under the Department of Educational Sciences within the Institute of Educational Sciences. Established in 1994, the program aims to train expert personnel equipped with theoretical and applied knowledge and skills to deliver guidance and psychological counseling services across various settings, and to contribute to scientific advancement in the field.

Admission Requirements
  • Hold a bachelor's degree from the GPC Department or the Psychology Department of a Faculty of Science and Letters
  • Have a graduation GPA of at least 59.16 out of 100, or 2.25 out of 4.00
  • Obtain sufficient scores in the Graduate Education Entrance Examination (ALES) and a foreign language proficiency exam
  • Achieve a score of at least 70 in the scientific evaluation and/or interview
Graduation Requirements
  • Successfully complete a minimum of 120 ECTS
  • Complete at least eight required and elective courses, plus a seminar course
  • Successfully defend a thesis before a jury
  • Fulfill any publication or scientific activity requirements as stipulated by the Senate

3.3. Doctoral Program

The Doctoral Program is offered under the Department of Educational Sciences within the Institute of Educational Sciences. Established in 2011, the program aims to train specialists with advanced theoretical and applied expertise in guidance and psychological counseling, as well as academics capable of conducting independent scientific research in the field.

Admission Requirements
  • Hold a thesis-based Master's degree from the GPC Department
  • Obtain sufficient scores in ALES and a foreign language proficiency exam
  • Achieve a score of at least 70 in the scientific evaluation and/or interview
Graduation Requirements
  • Successfully complete at least 24 credit hours of coursework, seminar, specialization courses, and dissertation work (total 240 ECTS)
  • Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 75 out of 100 and a minimum CGPA of 2.25 out of 4.00
  • Pass the Doctoral Qualifying Examination
  • Successfully defend the dissertation proposal and final dissertation before a jury
  • Fulfill any publication or scientific activity requirements as stipulated by the Senate

4. Academic Staff

The Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling currently employs 12 academic staff members: 3 Professors, 5 Associate Professors, 2 Assistant Professors, and 2 Research Assistants.
Head of Department
  • Assoc. Prof. Asuman Yüksel
Faculty Members
  • Prof. Nagihan Oğuz Duran (Head of the Department of Educational Sciences)
  • Prof. Figen Akça
  • Prof. Rahşan Siviş Çetinkaya
  • Assoc. Prof. Filiz Gültekin
  • Assoc. Prof. Hacer Belen
  • Assoc. Prof. Ömer Faruk Kabakçı
  • Assoc. Prof. Hazel Duru
  • Asst. Prof. Meltem Yıldız
Research Assistants
  • Res. Asst. Dr. Mustafa Özkan
  • Res. Asst. Firdevs Öztürk

5. Contact Information

Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling
Bursa Uludağ University, Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Sciences
Görükle Campus, Block B — Nilüfer / BURSA, Turkey
Phone: +90 (224) 294 09 42
Fax: +90 (224) 294 21 99
E-mail: ulupdr@uludag.edu.tr
 

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Create Date: 4/26/2026
Last Modify Date: 9/7/2026 11:34:12 AM

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