Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
1ESN105Turkey Geography and Geopolitics2+0+02305.11.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Primary Education Teaching
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Compulsory
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course This course aims to enable pre-service primary school teachers to acquire fundamental knowledge and concepts related to the physical and human geography of Türkiye and to understand the country’s strategic location and geopolitical dynamics.

Based on the understanding that geography is not merely the study of places, but rather the study of the dynamic relationships among people, the environment, and society, the course offers a holistic perspective ranging from Türkiye’s physical structure and population movements to its economic geography and international relations. It aims to provide pre-service primary school teachers, who will teach children about Türkiye at the primary school level, with a solid foundation and to develop the knowledge, understanding, and pedagogical awareness they can use in Social Studies and Life Sciences courses.
Course Content Türkiye’s location and position: Türkiye’s geopolitical and geostrategic situation and characteristics; its mathematical location; its relative location characteristics (neighboring countries); characteristics of the country groups to which Türkiye belongs (political, military, economic, and cultural organizations); Türkiye’s physical characteristics (climate, hydrographic features, soil structure, and vegetation); and its socioeconomic characteristics (population, settlement, agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, energy, industry, transportation, and tourism).
Course Methods and Techniques Lecture, question-and-answer, discussion, and case study.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. Mehmet Ragıp Kalelioğlu rkalelioglu@gantep.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Bazin, M. ve De Tapia, S. (2015). Türkiye Coğrafyası. İletişim Yayınları: İstanbul.
Tümertekin, E. ve Özgüç, N. (2015). Beşeri Coğrafya. Çantay Kitabevi: İstanbul.
Pamuk, Ş. (2021). Türkiye ` nin 200 Yıllık İktisadi Tarihi. Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları: İstanbul.
Hacettepe Üniversitesi Nüfus Etütleri Enstitüsü (2019). Türkiye Nüfus ve Sağlık Araştırması (TNSA) 2018: Türkiye ` nin Demografik Dönüşümü. Hacettepe Üniversitesi: Ankara. [Türkiye ` nin demografik dönüşümü için temel başvuru kaynağı]
Sagona, A. ve Zimansky, P. (2015). Türkiye ` nin En Eski Kültürleri: MÖ 1.000.000–550. Arkeoloji ve Sanat Yayınları: İstanbul.
Getis, A., Bjelland, M. D. ve Getis, V. (2018). Introduction to Geography (15th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education: New York. [İngilizce yardımcı kaynak]
Documents Ders izlencesi, Türkiye ` nin fiziki, beşerî ve ekonomik coğrafyasına ilişkin kaynak kitaplar, bilimsel makaleler, coğrafi haritalar, atlaslar, TÜİK verileri, jeopolitik analiz raporları ve ders sunumları.
Assignments Türkiye ` nin fiziki ve beşerî coğrafyası, nüfus ve göç hareketleri, ekonomik faaliyetleri, bölgesel farklılıkları ve jeopolitik konumuna ilişkin bireysel araştırma, harita inceleme, veri analizi ve değerlendirme çalışmaları.
Exams Ara sınav ve yarıyıl sonu sınavı kapsamında Türkiye ` nin fiziki, beşerî ve ekonomik coğrafyası, tarihsel coğrafyası ve jeopolitik özelliklerine ilişkin çoktan seçmeli, kısa cevaplı ve açık uçlu sorular.

Course Category
Social Sciences %50
Field %50

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 40
Final examination 1 % 60
Total
2
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 2 28
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 9 2 18
Assignments 3 6 18
Presentation 7 2 14
Mid-terms 1 1 1
Practice 8 2 16
Final examination 1 1 1
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 3 96

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Coğrafyanın temel kavramlarını ve fiziksel ile beşeri coğrafya arasındaki ilişkiyi açıklayabilir.
2 Türkiye ` nin fiziki yapısını (dağlar, ovalar, iklim, akarsular, göller, faylar) tanımlar ve Anadolu ` nun jeomorfolojik özelliklerini değerlendirir.
3 Anadolu ` nun tarihi coğrafyasını ve farklı medeniyetler üzerindeki etkisini yorumlar.
4 Türkiye ` nin demografik yapısını analiz eder; nüfus değişimini, iç ve dış göçleri değerlendirir.
5 Türkiye ` nin ekonomik coğrafyasını (tarım, sanayi, hizmet sektörü) ve bölgesel farklılıkları yorumlar.
6 Türkiye ` nin jeopolitik konumunu, komşu ilişkilerini ve dış politikasını açıklar.
7 Coğrafi bilgileri ilkokul düzeyi sosyal bilgiler ve hayat bilgisi öğretimine aktarabilecek pedagojik bir bakış açısı geliştirir.
8 Türkiye’nin fiziki ve beşeri coğrafyasına ilişkin haritaları, uydu görüntülerini, nüfus piramitlerini, grafik ve tabloları yorumlayarak mekânsal dağılışları ve bunlar arasındaki ilişkileri açıklar.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Course Introduction and Overview: What Is Geography? Physical and Human Geography; Fundamental Geographical Concepts and Questions. Türkiye ` s Geographical Location and Significance in the World. Bazin ve De Tapia (Bölüm 1); Getis vd. (Bölüm 1)
2 Türkiye ` s Physical Geography I – Geomorphology: Major Landforms and Fault Lines. Türkiye ` s Major Mountain Ranges, Plateaus, and Plains. Elevation and Topographical Characteristics. Bazin ve De Tapia (Bölüm 2); Ders sunusu
3 Türkiye ` s Physical Geography II – Climate, Water Resources, and Natural Hazards: Climate Regions and Types in Türkiye. Major Rivers and Basins. Lakes and Water Resources. Seismicity and Natural Disaster Risks. Bazin ve De Tapia (Bölüm 3)
4 Human History in Anatolia I – Early Settlements: Paleolithic and Neolithic Periods. Early Humans and the Transition to Sedentary Life in Anatolia. Göbeklitepe and Çatalhöyük. The Beginnings of Agriculture and the Transition to Settled Life. Obsidian Trade Sagona ve Zimansky (Bölüm 1–2); Ders sunusu
5 Human History in Anatolia II – Bronze Age Anatolia: The Chalcolithic Age. Early Bronze Age and Trade Networks in Central Anatolia. The Hattians and the Hittite Empire. Trade Networks and Cultural Interaction. Sagona ve Zimansky (Bölüm 3–5); Ders sunusu
6 Human History in Anatolia III – Antiquity and Byzantium: Iron Age Civilizations: Phrygians, Lydians, and Urartians. Aegean Coasts and Ancient Greek Colonies. Alexander the Great and Hellenism. Anatolia during the Roman and Byzantine Empires. Sagona ve Zimansky (Bölüm 6–9); Ders sunusu
7 Ottoman Empire to the Republic – Geography and Historical Foundations: Geography in the Ottoman Empire. Population and Institutions of the Ottoman Empire. Modernization Efforts. Türkiye during the War of Independence. Foundations of the Geographical System during the Establishment of the Republic (1914–1950). Pamuk (Bölüm 1–4); Bazin ve De Tapia (Bölüm 4)
8 Midterm Exam
9 Population Geography of Türkiye I – Demographic Transformation: Historical Development of Türkiye ` s Population. Theories of Demographic Transition. Fertility, Mortality, and Population Growth. Population Pyramids and Age-Sex Distribution. TNSA 2018 Raporu; Tümertekin ve Özgüç (Bölüm 3)
10 Population Geography of Türkiye II – Migration and Distribution: Internal Migration and Interregional Migration Dynamics. Migration: Causes, Consequences, and Reasons. External Migration. Migration and Current Trends. Migration Movements and Changes in the Population. Tümertekin ve Özgüç (Bölüm 4–5); TNSA 2018
11 Settlement and Urban Geography: Rural Settlement Types: Villages, Hamlets, Summer Pastures, and Highland Settlements. Major Cities and Metropolitanization in Türkiye. Urban Growth and Transformation. Tümertekin ve Özgüç (Bölüm 6–7); Bazin ve De Tapia (Bölüm 6-7)
12 Economic Geography of Türkiye I – Industry and Urbanization: Sectoral Activities in Türkiye: Distribution of Industry and Services in Türkiye. Major Industrial Centers in Anatolia. Trade and Transportation Sectors: Services, Tourism, Transportation, and Information Technologies. Spatial Interaction and the Turkish Economy: Regional Differences. Pamuk (Bölüm 6–8); Bazin ve De Tapia (Bölüm 8)
13 Economic Geography of Türkiye II – Agriculture and Rural Economy: Primary Activities: Agriculture in Türkiye. Major Agricultural Regions and Key Agricultural Products. Livestock Farming, Forestry, and Water Resources. Agriculture ` s Place in the Economy. Bazin ve De Tapia (Bölüm 6 7); Pamuk (Bölüm 5)
14 Türkiye ` s Geopolitics I – Strategic Location and Neighbors: Türkiye ` s Geographical Position and Its Strategic Importance. Neighboring Countries and Border Relations. The Black Sea, Aegean, and Mediterranean Geopolitical Interests. NATO Membership and Security Policies. Bazin ve De Tapia (Bölüm 10)
15 Türkiye ` s Geopolitics II – Regional and Global Relations: Evaluation of Türkiye ` s Geographical Position in Relation to the Middle East, the Caucasus, and the Balkans. Energy Transmission Lines and Türkiye ` s Role in Distribution. Current Trends and Debates. Bazin ve De Tapia (Bölüm 10)
16 Final Exam Relevant Source

 
Sustainable Development Goals
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13 P14 P15 P16 P17 P18 P19 P20 P21 P22 P23 P24
C1 4 1 2 1 3 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 4 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 2
C2 4 1 2 1 2 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 3 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 2 1
C3 4 1 2 1 3 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 4 2 1 1 3 1 1 2 2 1 1 3
C4 4 1 3 1 3 3 3 2 1 2 1 1 4 2 1 1 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 2
C5 4 1 3 1 3 3 2 2 1 2 1 1 4 2 1 1 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 3
C6 4 1 3 1 3 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 4 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 3
C7 4 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 3 2 2 1 4 2 2 1 3 2 2 1 2 1 2 3
C8 4 1 3 1 3 4 3 2 1 2 1 1 4 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 2

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant