HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY DIRECTIVE ON DOUBLE MAJOR PROGRAMS

Aim

ARTICLE 1 - The aim of this directive is to establish the procedures and principles governing the launch and implementation of double major programs in faculties, schools, and the State Conservatory at Hacettepe University.

Scope

ARTICLE 2 - This directive covers the provisions on the procedures and principles to be applied in the double major programs to be conducted at Hacettepe University.

Legal Basis

ARTICLE 3 - This directive is based on Articles 44 and 14 of Law no. 2547 and the provisions of "The Regulation on Transfer Between Associate’s Degree and Bachelor’s Degree Programs, Double Major and Minor Programs, and Credit Transfers Between Higher Education Institutions" and the "Hacettepe University Regulation on Associate and Undergraduate Education and Examinations."

Definitions

ARTICLE 4 - The terms in this Directive shall be defined as follows:

a) Double major program: a program allowing students enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program at Hacettepe University to concurrently take courses from another Bachelor's degree program and be awarded two separate diplomas, provided they meet the application, registration, passing conditions, and other requirements,

b) Respective department: The department, division, or art division within a faculty, school, vocational school, or the State Conservatory at Hacettepe University, which conducts a Bachelor's degree program and offers a double major program,

c) Respective Board: The Faculty Boards in faculties, School Boards in schools and vocational schools, and the Conservatory Board in the State Conservatory offering a double major program at Hacettepe University,

d) Respective Administrative Board: The administrative board of a faculty, school, vocational school, or the State Conservatory offering a double major program at Hacettepe University,

e) Student Affairs Office: The Student Affairs Office of Hacettepe University,

f) Rector: The Rector of Hacettepe University,

g) Rector's Office: The Rector's Office of Hacettepe University,

h) Senate: The Senate of Hacettepe University,

i) University: Hacettepe University,

j) University Executive Board: The Executive Board of Hacettepe University,

k) School: schools and vocational schools at Hacettepe University,

Launch of the Program

ARTICLE 5 - Double major programs shall be offered upon the application of the respective department, the decision of the respective board, and the approval of the Senate. These programs shall be implemented in cooperation with the department that offers the double major program and the department that conducts the student’s major program.

Students admitted to the double major program shall complete the necessary credits for graduation from the department offering the double major degree, excluding common courses and courses recognized as equivalent. However, the total number of credits required for the double major shall be at least 25% of the total credits required for graduation.

The courses and credits that a student must complete in the double major program shall be determined by the Senate's approval, based on the decision of the respective board and the proposal of the respective department. The curriculum, credits, and course contents in the double major program shall be designed to ensure that at the end of the program, students achieve the learning outcomes defined by the minimum required knowledge, skills, and competencies, based on the Higher Education Qualifications set forth by the Council of Higher Education.

The curriculum, credits, and contents of the courses and practices in a double major program shall be determined upon the proposal of the respective department, the decision of the respective board, and the approval of the Senate.

A double major shall not be implemented between programs with the same title but taught in different languages.

Implementation of the Program

ARTICLE 6 - Double major programs shall be implemented as follows:

a) The academic standing in the double major program shall not affect the academic standing and graduation status of students in the major program they are pursuing. Separate grade reports and transcripts shall be issued for the double major program.

b) Courses that will be counted towards both programs shall be determined by the respective department, considering the recommendation of the department that conducts the student's major program. The decision on whether to count courses taken by the student before enrolling in the double major program shall be made by the respective administrative board. The administrative board's decision on transferring common required courses from the major program and the courses counted towards both programs to the double major program shall be submitted to the Student Affairs Office upon the student's graduation from the major program. These courses shall appear on the transcript once the student graduates from the double major program.

c) Required or elective courses that students undertake as part of the double major program shall not be counted towards their major program.

d) Students may enroll in no more than one double major program concurrently. However, they may concurrently enroll in a minor and a double major program.

e) If a student withdraws or is dismissed from a double major program, they shall not be required to repeat the courses they have failed in the double major program.

f) Students seeking admission to a double major program that requires an aptitude test shall successfully pass the aptitude test. However, this requirement shall not apply to students who have been placed in the major program through an equivalent aptitude test.

g) Applicants to a double major program taught fully or partially in a foreign language shall either pass the foreign language proficiency exam administered by the School of Foreign Languages or achieve an equivalent score on one of the national or international proficiency exams recognized by the Senate.

Application and Admission Requirements

ARTICLE 7- Application and admission requirements for double major programs are as follows:

a) Except for programs in law, medicine, health-related fields, and engineering, the quotas for double major programs shall be established by the Senate and shall not be less than 20% of the program quotas. The department offering the double major program shall publicly announce the program along with the quotas.

b) Applications for double major programs shall be made no earlier than the beginning of the third semester of the major program and no later than the beginning of the fifth semester for four-year programs, the seventh semester for five-year programs, and the ninth semester for six-year programs.

c) To be eligible to apply for a double major program, students must have completed and passed all courses in their major program up to the semester they apply for the double major. Additionally, they must have a minimum CGPA of 2.75 at the time of application and rank within the top 20 percent of the same grade level in the major program. Students with a CGPA of 2.75 who do not rank in the top 20 percent of the same grade level in the major program may still apply for the double major program if they have a score equal to or higher than the OSYS base score of the program offering the double major in the relevant year.

d) Those who meet the requirements shall apply to the respective Dean's Office or Directorate offering the double major program within the specified period outlined in the academic calendar. Their application should include a letter expressing their intention to enroll in the double major program, along with their transcripts. After the applications are evaluated by the department offering the double major program, student admission up to the announced quota shall be determined by the respective administrative board. The decision, along with its enclosures, shall be submitted by the respective Dean's Office or Directorate to the student's enrolled faculty, school, or conservatory, as well as to the Student Affairs Office. All application and admission procedures must be completed before the beginning of the semester, prior to course registrations.

Academic Advising

ARTICLE 8 - A double major program coordinator shall be appointed by the heads of the respective departments involved in the double major program to ensure the program is effectively managed and meets its objectives, and to provide academic advising to double major students. They shall collaborate closely with the student's major program advisor.
Duration of the Program 

ARTICLE 9 - Students who have met the graduation requirements for their major program but have not yet completed the requirements for the double major program shall adhere to the maximum duration defined in paragraph (c) of Article 44 of Law No. 2547. This duration begins from the academic year in which they enrolled in the double major program.

If students who have graduated from the major program continue their studies in the double major program beyond the standard duration, they shall be required to pay the tuition fees applicable to the double major program.

Dismissal

ARTICLE 10 - Conditions for dismissal are as follows:

a) Students may voluntarily withdraw from the double major program.

b) Students enrolled in a double major program may withdraw and apply for a different double major or minor program, as long as they meet the application requirements.

c) A student who fails to register for courses in the double major program for two semesters, except for reasons stated in Article 13 of this directive, shall be dismissed from the double major program.

d) During the double major education period, the cumulative grade point average of students in their major program may temporarily decrease down to 2.50 once. Those whose CGPA in the major program falls below 2.72 for a second time or falls below 2.50 in any semester shall be dismissed from the double major program.

e) Those who fail to graduate from the double major program within the period defined in paragraph (c) of Article 44 of Law No. 2547 shall be dismissed from the double major program.

f) Those who graduate from the major program with a CGPA of less than 2.72 shall be dismissed from the double major program.

Academic Standing and Graduation

ARTICLE 11 - Conditions related to academic standing and graduation are as follows:

a) Students who have met the graduation requirements of their major program and have completed the double major program with a minimum CGPA of 2.75 shall be awarded a double major degree, pending approval by the respective administrative board. However, students who have met the graduation requirements of the double major degree but have not graduated from their major program shall not be awarded a double major degree.

b) Upon the decision of the respective administrative board, students who withdraw or are dismissed from the double major program may be awarded a certificate of minor degree for the courses they have taken, provided that the department offering the double major has a minor program and that the student has fulfilled all the requirements related thereto. The evaluation of the courses they have taken shall be determined by the respective administrative board.

National and International Exchange Programs

ARTICLE 12 - Equivalents of courses completed by students during an exchange program, as outlined in Article 35 of the "Hacettepe University Regulation on Associate and Undergraduate Education and Examinations," may be integrated into the double major program transcript following approval by the respective administrative board.

Excuse and Leave of Absence

ARTICLE 13 - Upon the decision of the respective administrative board, students who are unable to register for any courses in the double major program due to unavailability of courses, course scheduling conflicts, or valid excuses may be granted a leave of absence exclusively for the double major program. The duration of this leave shall not be counted towards the time frame for completing the double major program.

Miscellaneous Provisions

ARTICLE 14 - In matters not covered by this directive, the provisions outlined in the "Hacettepe University Regulation on Associate and Undergraduate Education and Examinations," as well as decisions made by the Higher Education Council, the Senate, respective administrative boards, and relevant boards shall be applied.

Annulled Directive

ARTICLE 15 - The Hacettepe University Directive on Double Major Programs, adopted by Senate Decision dated 01/02/2006 and numbered 2006-13, is hereby annulled.

PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 1 - Students who enrolled in the double major program before the 2013-2014 Academic Year shall be subject to the provisions of the Hacettepe University Directive on Double Major Programs, adopted by Senate Decision dated 01/02/2006 and numbered 2006-13.

PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 2 - Students who enrolled in the double major program before the 2023-2024 Academic Year shall be subject to the provisions of the Hacettepe University Directive on Double Major Programs, adopted by Senate Decision dated 06/03/2013 and numbered 97, and amended by Senate Decisions dated 21/12/2016 and numbered 342, 25/07/2018 and numbered 289, and 06/11/2019 and numbered 372.

Enforcement

ARTICLE 16 - This directive was adopted by the University Senate on 06/03/2013 and took effect from this date onwards.

Implementation

ARTICLE 17 - The provisions outlined in this directive shall be executed by the Rector of Hacettepe University.