Traditional Handicrafts
Traditional Handicrafts Program
Education began in the 1985-1986 academic year as the Carpetmaking Department under Akdeniz University Isparta Vocational School. Since the 2004-2005 academic year, it has continued its education as the Traditional Handicrafts Program within the Department of Handicrafts at the Vocational School of Technical Sciences.
MISSION
To educate individuals capable of researching, identifying, and creating new designs for Traditional Handicrafts that hold historical and artistic value, with the ultimate goal of advancing our material culture. In line with this objective, sample productions are carried out in applied courses throughout the year. Our vision is to become a nationally and internationally respected and preferred education and research institution in the field of Art and Design, supported by a strong vocational and technical education infrastructure.
VISION
The vision of the program is to build upon the educational activities conducted since 1985 in carpet-making and since 2004 as the Handicrafts department. In the age of technology, hand-crafted artistic works hold a special place within the consumer society. The department aims to train students who possess the technical knowledge and skills to create contemporary decorative products rooted in tradition and to bring the designs of artists to life.
Our goal is to cultivate professionals who research and protect Turkish Traditional values, strive to keep them alive through contemporary approaches, and possess the ability to design and produce with an artistic perspective. We aim to raise individuals who can adapt to the current conditions of the field and evaluate all these activities through a continuous and disciplined approach.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES / EMPLOYMENT AREAS
At the end of a two-year education period, our school trains knowledgeable and qualified personnel in the fields of carpet-rug weaving, fabric weaving, pattern design, computer-aided pattern design, ceramics, serigraphy, felt making, marbling (ebru), illumination (tezhip), and miniature art.
Graduates of the program can work in the following areas:
- Industry & Private Sector: As weavers in factories or pattern designers in private companies.
- Restoration & Preservation: In restoration and conservation workshops.
- Education: As master instructors in handicraft courses opened by Municipalities or Public Education Centers.
- Public Institutions: Within the Ministry of Culture, in museums, or as carpet-weaving instructors in courses organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
- Entrepreneurship: Some graduates may also work as freelance artists, specializing in the production and design of giftware.
ADMISSION AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Students are admitted to the Traditional Handicrafts Program within the Department of Handicrafts at Isparta University of Applied Sciences through the central examination conducted by the Assessment, Selection, and Placement Center (ÖSYM).
Admission is based on the TYT (Basic Proficiency Test) score type. Our department offers a 2-year associate degree education.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS
Based on the Associate Degree Education and Examination Regulations, students must achieve a passing grade in midterm and final examinations. Evaluation is conducted according to the specific content of each course and may include assignments, projects, and professional practices where applicable.
To graduate from the Traditional Handicrafts program, a student must meet the following criteria:
- Achieve a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.00 out of 4.00.
- Successfully complete all compulsory courses in the curriculum.
- Fulfill any other required academic tasks or projects.
- Complete a total workload of 120 ECTS credits.
- Receive a formal graduation approval from the relevant administrative board.
EXAMINATIONS, ASSESSMENT, AND EVALUATION
At the beginning of each semester, students must register for their courses. To be eligible for the final examination, a minimum attendance of 70% is required. For each course, students are subject to at least one midterm exam and one final exam.
All examinations are evaluated out of 100 points. The final grade is determined by calculating 40% of the midterm score and 60% of the final exam score. To pass, students must score at least 50 on the final exam and achieve an overall average of at least 45.
The final grades are converted into letter grades according to the following scale:
- Students receiving AA, BA, BB, CB, or CC are considered to have passed the course.
- DC and DD are considered conditional passes.
- For courses with FF or FD grades (unsuccessful), students must retake the midterm and final exams in the following semester the course is offered.
- For courses with an NA grade (failed due to absenteeism), students must repeat the course and fulfill the attendance requirements in the next available semester.
TRANSITION TO HIGHER DEGREE PROGRAMS
Graduates holding an associate degree may transfer to four-year undergraduate programs through the Vertical Transfer Examination (DGS). Based on the criteria determined by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), they are eligible to transition to relevant faculties, such as Faculties of Education and Faculties of Fine Arts, to complete their bachelor's degree.
Click here for the web page