HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY DIRECTIVE ON MINOR PROGRAMS

Aim

ARTICLE 1 - The aim of this directive is to establish the procedures and principles governing the launch and implementation of minor programs in faculties, schools, and the State Conservatory at Hacettepe University, with the exception of the Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry.

Scope

ARTICLE 2 - This directive covers the provisions on the procedures and principles to be applied in the minor programs to be conducted at Hacettepe University, with the exception of minor programs at the Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry.

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) 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 minor program,

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

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

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

e) Rector: The Rector of Hacettepe University,

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

g) Senate: The Senate of Hacettepe University,

h) University: Hacettepe University,

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

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

k) Minor program: The program that allows students who are enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program at Hacettepe University to take a limited number of courses in a certain subject from another degree program at the University and be awarded a certificate of minor degree, provided that they meet the stipulated requirements.

Launch of the Program and Minor Degree Protocols

ARTICLE 5 - Minor degree 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 minor program and the department that conducts the student’s major program.

The courses and credits that the student must undertake in the minor program shall be determined by the approval of the Senate upon the proposals of the respective board and the respective department.

The number of credits for the minor program shall be no less than 10% of the total credits stipulated for graduation from the department offering the minor program.

If a required or elective course in the major program offering the minor degree is included in the minor degree protocol, it shall be considered compulsory for the minor degree student.

Courses not covered in the curriculum of the major program offering the minor degree or courses with an SEC code offered to all departments in the University shall not be included in the minor degree protocol.

Courses listed in the minor degree protocol shall not bear the same title and/or code as the courses required in the student’s major program.

Implementation of the Program

ARTICLE 6 - The minor program shall be implemented as follows:

a) Minor programs may be applied between departments conducting semester-based education.

b) The academic standing in the minor 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 minor program.

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

d) No course transfer procedure shall be applied between the minor and major programs of the student. However, in the event of withdrawal or dismissal from the minor program (except for graduation), the courses completed in the minor program may be transferred to the student's major program upon the decision of the respective administrative board of the Faculty/School/Conservatory in which the student is enrolled.

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

f) Students may undertake up to three courses per semester in the minor program.

g) Students shall only enroll in courses covered in the minor degree curriculum determined by the minor degree protocol.

Application and Admission Requirements

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

a) The quotas for the minor program shall be finalized by the decision of the respective administrative board upon the proposal of the respective department. Quotas, along with conditions (e.g., deadline for application and announcement of results), shall be announced by the respective faculty/school/Conservatory on their websites no later than the end date of the course period specified in the academic calendar.

b) Applications may be submitted no earlier than the beginning of the 3rd semester and no later than the beginning of the 5th semester of the major program.

c) To apply to the minor program, students must:
- have passed all the courses they have taken in the major program up to the semester they apply for the minor program,
- have a minimum CGPA of 2.75 at the time of application.

d) Students who meet the requirements shall apply to the respective faculty/school/Conservatory offering the minor program within the period specified in the academic calendar. Applications should include a letter enclosing their transcripts and stating their intention to enroll in the minor program. After the applications are evaluated by the respective department, student admission up to the announced quota shall be concluded by the decision of the respective administrative board. This decision, along with a copy of its enclosures, shall be submitted by the faculty/school/Conservatory offering the minor program to the faculty/school/Conservatory in which the student is enrolled, and to the Student Affairs Office.

Academic Advising

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

Duration of the Program 

ARTICLE 9 - a) Upon reasoned application, a student eligible to graduate from the major program but who has not yet completed the minor program may, in mandatory cases, be granted an additional period of up to two semesters by the respective board to fulfill the requirements of the minor program. The decision shall be forwarded to the relevant faculty/school/Conservatory the student is enrolled in and to the Student Affairs Office. No further additional period or examination shall be granted to students enrolled in the minor program. Failure to successfully complete the minor program within this period shall result in dismissal from the minor program.

b) Students who have fulfilled the graduation requirements of the major program but are granted an additional period to complete the minor program shall be required to pay the tuition fee for the minor program during this extended period.

c) Students who have completed a minor program shall only be eligible to receive a certificate of minor degree upon fulfilling the graduation requirements of the major program.

Dismissal

ARTICLE 10 - Conditions for dismissal are as follows:

a) Students may voluntarily withdraw from the minor program. The procedures for withdrawing from the minor program shall follow the same guidelines as those for admission to the program. Once a student withdraws from the minor program, any courses that were counted towards both the major and minor programs shall continue to appear on the major program transcript.

b) Students enrolled in a minor program may withdraw and apply for a different double major or minor program, as long as they meet the application requirements. However, they cannot re-enroll in the minor program from which they withdrew.

c) A student who fails to register for courses in the minor program for two consecutive semesters without an approved leave of absence shall be dismissed from the minor program.

d) To continue their studies in the minor program, students shall maintain a minimum CGPA of 2.25 in their major program. Students who fail to meet this requirement shall be dismissed from the minor program.

e) Students who fail to graduate at the end of the additional periods granted shall be dismissed from the minor program.

Academic Standing and Graduation

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

a) A Certificate of Achievement (Certificate of Minor Degree) shall be issued to a student who completes the minor program with a minimum CGPA of 2.25 and is eligible to graduate from their major program. This certificate shall not be treated as a diploma. The issuance of the certificate shall adhere to the guidelines outlined in the "Hacettepe University Directive on the Issuance of Diplomas, Certificates, Provisional Certificate of Graduation, and Other Documents" as well as the "Directive on the Format, Size, Font and Font Size of Diplomas and Certificates and on the Issuance of Second Copies."

b) Students who are eligible for a certificate of minor degree but fail to graduate from their major program shall not be granted the certificate. However, upon the student's request, a document certifying the courses they have completed may be issued.

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 minor 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 minor program due to unavailability of courses, course scheduling conflicts, or valid excuses may be granted a leave of absence exclusively for the minor program. The duration of this leave shall not be counted towards the time frame for completing the minor program. Students who took a leave of absence from their major program shall also be considered on leave from their minor 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 Minor Programs, adopted by Senate Decision dated 16/05/2007 and numbered 2007-84, is hereby annulled.

PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 1 - Students who enrolled in the minor program before the 2013-2014 Academic Year shall be governed by the provisions of the Hacettepe University Directive on Minor Programs, as adopted by Senate Decision dated 16/05/2007 and numbered 2007-84.

Enforcement

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

Implementation

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