The Department of Turkish Language and Literature aims to conduct scholarly research and studies on the Turkish language and literature and to educate highly qualified specialists, educators, and researchers in various fields of Turkish Language and Literature. The Department closely follows the latest national and international developments in Turkish Language and Literature, while applying and teaching contemporary methods of Turkology. Giving priority to regional studies, the Department identifies and documents both written and oral materials related to the folk literature and cultural heritage of the surrounding region and evaluates them through academic research. The findings of these scientific studies are disseminated to the academic community through publications, conferences, symposiums, and seminars.
The Department is committed to providing students with a comprehensive education on the historical stages of the Turkish language, from the Old Turkic period to the present day, as well as on the major literary works and prominent figures of Turkish literature using contemporary teaching methods. The primary objective is to educate graduates who are capable of conducting independent scientific research in the field of Turkology.
The Department consists of six academic divisions:
- Department of Modern Turkish Language
- Department of Old Turkic Language
- Department of Modern Turkish Literature
- Department of Old Turkish Literature
- Department of Turkish Folk Literature
- Department of Turkish Folklore
In addition to its undergraduate program, the Department also offers Master's and Ph.D. programs.
Mission
In line with the academic vision of Gaziantep University and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the mission of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature is to educate scholars who possess a solid understanding of scientific principles and methodologies; demonstrate strong analytical and critical thinking skills; conduct high-quality research in the field of Turkish Language and Literature; adopt an interdisciplinary perspective by establishing connections between Turkish studies and other academic disciplines; and integrate scientific knowledge with broader aspects of social and cultural life.
The Department aims to educate individuals who embrace universal human values, respect human rights and ethical principles, uphold democratic ideals, appreciate cultural diversity, and actively participate in social life. It seeks to develop graduates who are intellectually curious, innovative, open to lifelong learning, and capable of objective evaluation based on scientific evidence. Furthermore, the Department encourages research into regional cultural heritage, promotes the dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of society, and cultivates scholars who have a thorough understanding of the historical and contemporary texts of the Turkish language and literature. Graduates are expected to contribute positively to their professions and academic disciplines while remaining committed to the principles and reforms of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Recognizing accreditation as an essential component of continuous quality improvement, the Department has adopted accreditation as one of its strategic objectives. Within this framework, the undergraduate program was awarded accreditation by the Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Science, Literature, Science-Literature, Language and History-Geography Faculties' Educational Programs (FEDEK) on 4 April 2022.
In Türkiye, accreditation of Faculty of Arts and Sciences programs is a voluntary quality assurance process conducted by national accreditation agencies recognized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). Accreditation certifies that a program meets nationally accepted standards of quality and educational effectiveness. Receiving the FEDEK accreditation certificate demonstrates the Department's commitment to systematic governance, continuous improvement, educational excellence, and sustainable quality assurance practices.