Courses
Genetics and Medical Biotechnology, 4 ECTS

Instructor: Asst.Prof. Arta Fejzullahu
Email: [email protected]
Faculty: School of Medicine
Department: Medical Biology and Genetics
Course Description: Medical Biotechnology, with the growth in Genetic Engineering technology and the advancement of research in Biotechnology, is experiencing rapid growth in recent years. This natural science field leads to the opportunities in the development of innovative technologies to improve human health through the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases. In this line, Medical Biotechnology that has revolutionized the health system combines engineering technologies with biological sciences to regulate systems and living organisms. Genome sequencing, cloning, stem cell research and gene therapy combined with CRISPR/Cas9 technology are the most important benefits of genetic engineering that make this field indispensable in the modern world.
Course Aim: The course aims to teach advanced lessons in the biological processes meant for medical biotechnology and other purposes. During the course the concept of medical biotechnology and its connections with human genetic diseases will be covered systematically from central dogma of genetics and then generalizing with the recent applications in biotechnology with special topics. The course is designed in two parts which will provide students the opportunity to learn not only the theoretical part of the course but also apply the practical part in our laboratories by using Genomic DNA Isolation and Measurement Procedures, Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR), RFLP, Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, Sequencing and Bioinformatics Tools. A unique aspect of this course is its focus on biotechnology in medicine.
Requirements: Basic Genetics and Computer Skills
Who can participate: Students from Faculty of Medicine, Genetic Engineering, Science and Arts (Genetics, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Neuroscience, Biochemistry) department.
Participation Limit: 20 Students
Curriculum:
COURSE SCHEDULE | ||||
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
The Biotechnology Century and Its Workforce | An Introduction to Genes and Genomes Genomic DNA Isolation and Measurement | Genetic Engineering: Recombinant DNA Technology PCR Experiment | Proteins as Final Products of Genes RFLP Experiment | Medical Biotechnology and Its Applications Agarose Gel Electrophoresis |
Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 |
Special Topics: Cancer Genetics Pharmacogenomics Bioinformatics Tools | Gene Primer Design Cloning and Sequencing | The Greatest Discovery: The Human Genome Project Special Topic: Sequence Analysis | Special Topic: Gene Therapy and CRISPR/Cas9 Technology | Ethics and Medical Biotechnology |
Current Issues in International Politics, 3 ECTS

Instructor: Prof. Dr. Tarık Oğuzlu
Email: [email protected] and [email protected] @TarikOguzlu on Twitter
Faculty : Administrative Sciences
Course Description: This course is designed as an introduction to current issues in international politics that appear to have a great impact on the dynamics of peace and cooperation across the globe. The goal is to help students engage in various issues on global agenda from conceptual, theoretical, political and practical perspectives. Making sense of today’s international environment in light of key issues concerning humanity is a vital task.
Learning Outcomes: Upon successfully completing the course, students will be able to analyze current issues in international politics from conceptual, theoretical, political and practical perspectives as well as develop an intellectual capacity to see where our world is headed to.
Who can participate: The course is open to undergraduate and graduate students in social sciences, international relations, humanities, arts, communication, political science, economics, management, journalism and business administration.
Prerequisites, if any: Desire to enhance knowledge and to improve critical thinking skills on international politics.
Course Materials: Readings will be shared with students.
Participation Limit: 30 students
Curriculum:
Week 1 | ||||
Day 1 Decoding the evolving dynamics of post-liberal international order | Day 2 Changing world order and debates on American grand strategy | Day 3 Changing world order and debates on the international identity of the European Union | Day 4 Changing world order and the rise of China in global politics | Day 5 Decoding the dynamics of Russia’s uneasy relationship with the liberal international order (Student presentations) |
Week 2 | ||||
Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 |
Making sense of NATO, BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization in today’s world | Changing dynamics of political, security and economic order in the greater Middle East | The growing importance of middle powers in global politics – traditional vs. new-age middle powers | Revolutions in Energy, Technology and Military Affairs and the future of humanity | The future of globalization: Are we heading toward the Second Cold War? (Student presentations) |
Assessment and Evaluation
Mid-term exam: Student presentations at the end of the 1st and 2nd weeks (40 %)
Final exam: Take-home exam at the end of the 2nd week (60 %)
Multi-Criteria Decision Making, 3 ECTS

Instructor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Nima Mirzaei
Email: [email protected]
Faculty: Engineering
We live in a complex world with diverse people, firms, and governments whose behaviors aggregate to produce novel, unexpected phenomena. We need to make strategic decisions in uncertain and complex situations in which information is ambiguous. Effective decision-making requires the adoption of decision approaches that fit the complexities of these situations and the efficient management of decision-making processes. Within the two weeks, participants will be able to learn popular decision-making methods and software to assist them in decision-making when facing a real-life problem.
Course Description: This course deliberates decision-making under uncertainty by addressing Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques. MCDM is a collection of methods for trading-off different alternatives’ performance on multiple conflicting objectives; methods discussed include the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Analytic Network Process (ANP), and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods. Both qualitative and quantitative factors are considered to evaluate alternatives.
Finally, SuperDecion software is introduced in this course as a complementary tool for the decision-making approach.
Learning Outcomes: Upon completing the course, the students will be able to;
1. Configure the problems by analytical thinking and classify the problems.
2. Cooperate with a group for a decision-making process.
3. Implement an MCDM approach to a real-life problem and apply the method in professional practice.
4. Apply AHP, ANP, and TOPSIS multi-criteria decision-making techniques.
5. Use the computer programs (SuperDecion and Excel) to model and solve a problem.
Requirements: The students must have at least an intermediate level of English and a basic level of mathematics and statistics.
Who can participate: The course is open to undergraduate and graduate students in engineering, social sciences, humanities, communication, architecture, business, and marketing.
Assessment and evaluation:
Midterm exam: paper-based exam or project submission at the end of the 1st week (50 %)
Final exam: paper-based exam or project submission and presentation at the end of the 2nd week (50 %)
Course Materials:
Microsoft PPT, Books, articles, and videos. (Instructors will provide PPT slides)
Participation Limit: Max 20 students
Curriculum:
Week 1 | ||||
Day 1 (Monday) | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
Basic Concepts of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) (decision environment, attribute, criteria, degree, multi-objective, goal, objective) | Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) | Case studies and Computer Applications for AHP (SuperDecion program) | Analytic Network Process (ANP) | Midterm Exam (It would be the paper-based exam, single case study for each person, or group work project) |
Week 2 | ||||
Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 (Friday) |
Case studies and Computer Applications for ANP (SuperDecion program) | Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, model practice, advantages and disadvantages | Application of TOPSIS in Excel | Real-life case studies evaluation and discussion | (Final Exam) (It would be the paper-based exam, single case study for each person, or group work project) |
Digital Marketing, 3 ECTS

Instructor: Cihan Tınaztepe
Email: [email protected]
Faculty: Administrative Sciences
Course Description:
This course is about the exciting world of digital marketing. The importance of digital marketing has been outlined by Ryan (2017) as:
“Digital marketing has become the most powerful form of marketing ever known to mankind.” The growth of the Internet, in terms of the number of websites online and the number of people with internet access, is unstoppable. It’s estimated that there are more people online today globally than offline. As the potential audience grows, so too does the allure of digital marketing. Digital marketers around the world need to understand new ways of understanding and engaging with their customers who are becoming better informed, better connected, more communicative and more in control than ever.
In this course, we are going to look at how businesses can harness the power of online revolution to connect and engage with their customers successfully. One of the key things to remember is digital marketing is not about understanding the underlying technology, but rather about understanding people, how they are using that technology, and how you can leverage that to engage with them more effectively. Yes, today’s marketers have to learn to use technology; but understanding people is the real key to unlocking the potential of digital marketing.
The Impact of This Course on Your CV and Employability: In this course you will be introduced to Digital Garage by Google, which offers a range of digital marketing skills tutorials. Digital Garage courses are approved by industry experts, top entrepreneurs and some of the world’s leading employers. On successfully completion of all activities you will be able to receive an accredited certification from Google that can help to enhance your CV, which can also be upload able to your LinkedIn profile.
Learning Outcomes: This intense digital marketing course will introduce you to the key principles and practices of digital marketing. By the end of this course, you will be able to:
1. Describe the transition from marketing to digital marketing
2. How digital technology is influencing consumer behavior
3. How to assess effectiveness of websites and create compelling web content
4. Engage consumers through email, mobile and social media marketing
5. Comprehend what search engine marketing is and how it works
Who can participate: The course is open to undergraduate and graduate students in social sciences, business and marketing, humanities, arts, communication, political sciences, philology and journalism.
Participation Limit: 30 students
Curriculum:
Week 1 | ||||
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
Introduction to and digital marketing. | Traditional consumer behaviour versus online consumer behaviour | Assessing the effectiveness of websites | The growth of content marketing in the digital age | Assignment: Digital Garage test |
Week 2 | ||||
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
Digital marketing fundamentals | Digital marketing strategy and development | Campaign planning for digital media | Examining a real case of Hill’s digital marketing activities and BENSENO digital agency visit | Closing- the final exam |
Neuroscience, 3 ECTS

Instructor: Prof. Nedret Altıok, Prof. Hakkı Dalçık, Assoc. Prof. Onur Turan Bayazıt
Email: [email protected]
Course Description:
This is an introductory course in Medical Neuroscience designed to include the basic principles of organization and function of the Central Nervous System. The course will focus primarily on the cerebral cortex and the subcortical areas of the human brain to illustrate the core concepts in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurobiology and neuropharmacology. Cellular composition and molecular structure of the brain and the functions of the synapses and neural signaling will be described and practical sessions will be held.
This course will also refer to specific neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases of the Central Nervous System and give the basic molecular principles on their pathophysiology and treatment.
Overall goal of this course is to provide the foundation for understanding the structures and functions of the brain underpinning human behavior, emotions, cognition and learning to give a dynamic picture of the rapidly evolving field of neuroscience and its clinical applications.
Learning Outcomes:
-Identify the neocortex, subcortical brain, and the functional areas of the brain
-Understand cortical neuronal networks that integrate movement, cognition, and emotion
-Gather essential information about synaptic transmission and mechanisms of neurotransmitter modulation of neuronal activity
– Understand the pathophysiology of cognitive decline
-Discover how cortical neuronal circuits are used to inspire the artificial neural network
-Understand how neuroscience is connected to artificial intelligence
Who can participate? Medical and other Health Sciences, Computer and Electrical Engineering undergraduate and graduate students.
Prerequisites, if any: Basic knowledge of biology and enthusiasm.
Course Materials: Lecture notes, books, lab videos, problem sets and reading of original papers.
Participation Limit: Max 20 students
Curriculum:
Week 1 | ||||
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
Prof. H. Dalçık Anatomical Organization of the Central Nervous System and lab demonstration I | Prof. H. Dalçık Functional areas of the Cerebral cortex and the Corticospinal Tracts and lab demonstration II | Prof. H. Dalçık Subcortical Structures: Limbic system and the Basal Ganglia and lab demonstration III | Assoc. Prof. Onur T. Bayazıt Neurons, Neuroglia, Nerve Fibers, Blood-Brain Barrier | Midterm exam |
Week 2 | ||||
Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 |
Assoc. Prof Onur T. Bayazıt Action potentials, Synaptic Transmission, Brain Imaging techniques | Prof. N. Altıok Neurotransmitters and their Pahways, Genes and Behavior | Prof. N. Altıok The Molecular Neurobiology of Cognitive Function and Neurodegenerative Disorders | Prof. N. Altıok The Molecular Neurobiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Addiction | Final Exam |
Assessment and Evaluation
Midterm and final examinations, homework problem sets, and classroom participation.
Exploration of Turkish Art via Museums, 3 ECTS

Instructor: Mehmet Resat Basar, Professor (Istanbul Aydın University), Mesut Batuhan Cankir, Lecturer (Istanbul Aydın University)
Email: [email protected]
Course Description:
Istanbul, one of the oldest cities in the world, the city which located on two continents, the biggest city of Turkey. Also the new center of modern and contemporary art with its historical and cultural roots. In this beautiful city, we would like to show Anatolian Civilizations and Arts, Traditional and Contemporary Turkish Arts by visiting museums in an interactive manner. Within the two weeks, students will learn quite a few information about Anatolian and Turkish art by presentations in classrooms then they will prove this information in museums experimentally. The Course contain Hittite, Phrygian, Lydian arts, traditional arts; calligraphy, miniature, tiles, the best works of contemporary Turkish artists and many more. The museums that will be visited are Istanbul Archeological Museums, Topkapı Museum, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Pera Museum, Proje 4L Museum, İstanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum and Istanbul Modern Museum.
Learning Outcomes: Upon successfully completing the course, the students will be able to;
• Identify Anatolian and Traditional and Contemporary Turkish art
• See and discover Istanbul’s museums
• Understand differences between art disciplines also movements
Who can participate: The course is open to all undergraduate and graduate students.
Prerequisites: –
Course Materials: –
Participation Limit: 20 students
Curriculum:
Week 1 | ||||
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
Meeting & Anatolian Civilisations | Traditional Turkish Art | Visiting Sabancı Museum | Visiting Topkapı Palace | Visiting Istanbul Archaeological Museums |
Week 2 | ||||
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
Contemporary Turkish Art | Visiting Elgiz Museum | Visiting Pera Museum & Taksim Galleries | Visiting Istanbul Modern & İstanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum & Final Exam | Graduating |
Brand Management, 3 ECTS

Instructor: Asst.Prof.Müge Irfanoğlu
Email: [email protected]
Course Description:
The aim of the course is to provide a comprehensive and up to date treatment of the subjects of brands, brand equity and strategic brand management- the design and implementation of marketing programme and activities to build, measure and manage brand equity.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understanding the role of brands, the concept of brand equity and advantages of creating strong brand equity
- Understanding three main idea to build brand equity as choosing brand elements, designing marketing programs and leveraging brand associations
- Understanding branding strategies such as brand hierarchies, portfolios, extensions
Who can participate: all students interested in brand management and marketing colorful world 🙂
Prerequisites, if any: n.a
Course Materials: The main book of the course is “Strategic Brand Management” by Kevin Lane Keller published by Pearson Global
Participation Limit: 30
Curriculum:
Week 1 | ||||
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
Meeting / Introduction to the course | Marketing overview | Brands and Brand management | Customer based brand equity and brand positioning | Midterm online examination |
Week 2 | ||||
Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 |
How to build the brand equity? | How to manage the brand equity? | Brand extensions | Brand resonance | Take home exam as final examination (Homework and ppt) |
Assessment and Evaluation
Mid-term exam: Take home online quiz 40% (at the end of the 1st week)
Final exam: Take-home exam 60 % (at the end of the 2nd week)
IAU reserves the right to cancel any of the courses if insufficient enrollment occurs (Less than 10 participants)
Digital Game & eSports Economics, 3 ECTS

Instructor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Ali Efe İRALI
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]; also @aliefeirali for Twitter
Course Description: The course aims to provide ability to make comment and understand basic principles of gaming industry that includes game development and marketing strategies. In the course, it is planned to explain the main operatives of developer and player parties in the context of basic gaming technologies and the linked elements related with distribution, publishing and platform systems. Within this scope, the unique models of the relevant ecosystem will be mentioned and financial principles will be detailed under critical headlines such as physical retail, virtual retail, and other production factors of the digital environment.
Learning Outcomes: Students who take the course will be able to interpret gaming ecosystem and explain historical processes together with business models and methods.
Who can participate: The course is open to all undergraduate and graduate students who interests to work in gaming industry. Especially in social sciences, international relations, humanities, arts, communication (new media, journalism and radio-tv and cinema, public relations), political science, economics, business administration, design oriented disciplines (game, graphics, animation), computer engineering.
Prerequisites, if any: Although some of them will be mentioned briefly during course, the knowledge of basic principles that includes supply and demand theorems would be a plus.
Course Materials: Readings will be shared with students.
Participation Limit: 20 students
Weekly plan (Every day will be 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of in-class debates with active student participation)
Week 1 | ||||
Day 1 Digital Game and Economic Terminology | Day 2 History of Digital Game Market and eSports Organisations | Day 3 Physical and Virtual Products of Gaming and Positioning in Retail Marketing | Day 4 Vertical and Horizontal Integration in Gaming Business | Day 5 Advertisement in Games and eSports as a Promotion in Marketing (Student presentations) |
Week 2 | ||||
Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 |
Evaluation Methods in Game Industry from Economic Perspective | Virtual and Augmented Reality Based Applications in Game Technologies | Streaming in Games | General look into Gaming Industry from Different Sectors | Future of NFT Oriented Gaming Environments and Possible Economic Variables of Metaverse (Student presentations) |
Assessment and Evaluation
Mid-term exam: Student presentations at the end of the 1st and 2nd weeks (40 %)
Final exam: Take-home exam at the end of the 2nd week (60 %)
Food Technology, Cereal and Vegetable Oil Applications, 4 ECTS

Instructor: Prof. Dr. Zeynep Dilek Heperkan / [email protected]
Dr. Meral Yıldırım Yalçın / [email protected]
Research Asistants: H. Sena Olcay and Tuğçe Ceyhan
Course Description: The objective of this course is to gain knowledge about the characteristics and production methods of cereal products and edible oils. This course will provide information about the characteristics of cereals and cereal products, oilseeds and edible oils. Students will also gain knowledge about the use of enzymes in the production of cereal-based functional products and the production of gluten-free bread, composition of oils, chemical and degradation reactions and quality characteristics of oils, crude oil production and refining processes and specific oil production technologies and classification.
Learning Outcomes: Upon successfully completing the course, students will be able to analyze cereal products and edible oils using different techniques and equipments. They will also gain practical knowledge about the production of cereal products, especially gluten-free bread.
Who can participate: The course is open to undergraduate and graduate students in agriculture, food science and technology, food engineers, nutrition and dietetics.
Prerequisites, if any: To be willing to learn up-to-date information on cereal science and technology, and edible oil.
Course Materials: Readings will be shared with students.
Participation Limit: 20 students
Weekly plan (This course includes 20 hours of lectures, 10 hours of laboratory and 20 hours of technical excursions and industrial applications with active student participation.)
Week 1 | ||||
Day 1 Structures, starches, proteins and minor constituents of cereals Laboratory applications will be organized | Day 2 Storage of cereals, microflora and mycotoxins Technical excursion and industrial application will be arranged | Day 3 Milling and flour production, breadmaking systems and quality Laboratory applications will be organized | Day 4 Use of enzymes in the production of cereal-based functional foods and food ingredients. Technical excursion and industrial application will be arranged | Day 5 Gluten-free bread production, wheat allergy, celiac disease, novel strategies for disease prevention and treatment. Technical excursion and industrial application will be arranged |
Week 2 | ||||
Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 |
Oilseeds and Chemical Structure of Oils Oilseeds maturity, harvest condition; handling of seeds and seed storage; composition of oil Laboratory applications will be organized | Chemical and Degradation Reactions Technical excursion and industrial application will be arranged | Crude Oil Production Crude oil receiving, storage and handling; pressing and extraction methods Laboratory applications will be organized | Refining of Vegetable Oil; Neutralization Bleaching Deodorization Winterization Technical excursion and industrial application will be arranged | Production Technology and Classification of Various Oils; Olive oil Sunflower oil Aroma therapy Industrial application will be arranged |
Assessment and Evaluation
Mid-term exam: Student presentations at the end of the 1st and 2nd weeks (40 %)
Final exam: Take-home exam at the end of the 2nd week (60 %)