Girne American University was founded in 1985 as an independent, non-profit institution of higher education. From its establishment, the university has focused on providing access to an American-based higher education to the widest possible group of young learners. In charting its course for the next century, GAU will continue to be guided by this special mission.

To serve its objective, GAU uses a wide range of strategies; it fosters a variety of instructional approaches, it encourages scholarship, it engages in collaborative community services, and it empowers its constituents to become responsible citizens in an interdependent, pluralistic, global community.

Evolution

Since 1985, GAU has grown in its understanding of itself, as a modern University. Although geographically dispersed, GAU is one University.

Today GAU has a clear identity as a Traditional University with a non-traditional set-up. Over the next five years, it will further transform itself into a knowlege age University. Programmes at GAU will increasingly offer students the opportunity to experience and explore the interchange of theory and practice through technology and service-learning opportunities.

In a Vision for the Academic Year 2001, setout in1996, the Chancellor called upon the University to live up to its potential of becoming the premier institution serving the educational needs of young learners so as to become their university of choice. Pursuit of this goal has made GAU distinctive. Over the next five years, the University, will continue its efforts to cement its relationship with both young and adult learners, so that the University, and its programmes are the first choice of students seeking education.

Over the next five years, (the new age) GAU plans to place online many of the programmes it currently offers via traditional means.

GAU recognizes that computer technology has made the home and the workplace the most convenient sites for education. This same technology provides the University with a fresh means of fulfilling its core value of access.

For the linkage to be meaningful, especially at work, these learning opportunities must be available when the student wishes to access education (just in time), must be at least, as current in content and approach as other educational programes, and must be focused on what is relevant to the students' world. These learning opportunities must be modular in format so that a student is able to select tailored learning opportunities.

Over the next five years, GAU will place many of its programs online. It will also enter into partnerships with business and schools to provide tailored professional development online. GAU’s goal is to become a University with and without walls, a University located in time and place but unhampered by constraints of either in the fulfillment of its mission. To do this, GAU must maintain constant awareness of the impact of technology and how it changes knowledge and learning. GAU will evaluate its courses, and programs to be sure the curriculum and learning strategies reflect these changes.

As a knowledge - age University, GAU will strive to empower its graduates in the new workplace. Through their educational programes, students will maximize their abilities to confront a problem when faced with an unfamiliar situations and to work effectively towards a solution, and to apply knowledge to complex situations. Graduates will be encouraged to actively relate new ýnformation to previous knowledge and experience, to search for patterns and underlying principles, and to check for supporting evidence when arriving at a solution.

As successful knowledge workers, who practice lifelong learning, our graduates will view the University as their constant partner.

GAU understands that change is persuasive, and the University by design is positioned to accept challenges and competition, associated with higher education in the 21st Century. By being open to continuous environmental changes, the University will achieve its goal of being the prominent University serving young leaders.


How Do I Get To GAU?

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is situated in the Mediterranean, some 40 miles from the coast of mainland Turkey. There are numerous shipping and airline services from Turkey, and to Turkey from across the world. Syria lies 60 miles from its shores, and Egypt 250 miles.

To get to North Cyprus and GAU you must cross the sea either by plane or by ferry. You must travel via Turkey. It is usually most convenient to fly via the Atatürk Airport in Ýstanbul.

The Karmi Campus of GAU is found at Karaoðlanoðlu, a few kilometres from our "University Town" of Girne. The University bus service is on constant rotation from Girne, and from the dormitories in the Town Centre, to the University. This service for students runs every half an hour.
 

FACULTIES

FACULTY OF BUSINESS & ECONOMICS

Associate (ASc), Bachelor (BSc) & Masters (MBA) in Business Administration
Intensive theory and practice-based curricula are offered in four areas of specialisation to create an academic experience that is contemporary, challenging, diverse, globally oriented and professionally focused. The aim is to ensure that students are kept in close touch with the latest trends, developments and ideas in the international business world. Management students acquire the skills to plan, implement and control activities within organisations. The following areas of specialisation are offered:

Accounting (ASc/BSc)
The Accounting specialisation prepares the candidate to assume responsible positions in the accounting profession. Fundamentals needed by business students and potential accounting majors to understand the accounting equation and its applications, including the posting and summarisation of accounting data, and the preparation of basic financial statements. Accounting provides opportunities for ethical, social, economic and political issues to be examined.
Banking and Finance (ASc/BSc)
The Banking and Finance program is designed to provide professional skills that will enable students to succeed in a variety of jobs in finance and banking. Through various courses involving both domestic and international finance and banking, students will obtain basic principles and concepts which should allow them not only to obtain positions in local sector such as industry, banking, private companies and the public sector but also in international markets.

Economics (ASc/BSc)
Resource scarcity relative to demand is a central problem in every society which involves the making of choices and allocate decisions by economic agents individual consumers, firms and the state. The Economics program studies this problem and helps students to understand the behaviour and decision making of economic agents. It also provides insights into policy formation by state agencies. The subject deals with both theory and application and pays particular attention to current issues.

International Business Management (BSc/MBA)
The influence of an integrated world economy, the role of major trading blocks, in particular the EC, and the interdependence of national markets have combined to ensure that even non-traditional companies cannot ignore the international context of their business. Our curriculum draws upon the foundations of Organisational Theory, Economics, Finance, Marketing and International Relations, in such a way to develop understanding of the international order and environment.

Marketing (ASc/BSc/MBA)
The curriculum has been designed to help students acquit themselves well in a variety of managerial situations from the marketing of fast moving consumer goods to the marketing of financial services and capital equipment. The problems and opportunities involved in marketing to a wide range of customers and consumers are treated in depth.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Journalism & Broadcasting
The program develops the skills and knowledge of the students to a level where he is able to work as a professional journalist or broadcaster upon graduation. The degree program has been designed to teach students the basic technical skills of journalism and broadcasting. The required skills of communication, conducting research, reporting, shorthand, and desktop publishing, with underpinning knowledge in government, ethics and media law are presented.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Master of Science (MSc) in International Relations
International Relations is the academic study of important issues and problems, which result from patterns of behaviour at an international level. These issues span a growing area and include political, economic, military, technological, cultural and environmental problems. The department provides a comprehensive program including not only international relations courses, but also courses on business, international organisations, law, history, economics and special courses designed to enhance analytical thinking. In the International courses, the Balkan, Central Asian and Middle East countries are covered within an international worldwide perspective. Special emphasis is placed upon Turkey in historical perspective.

Associate (ASc) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Public Relations
Organisations need specialists to establish and maintain two-way effective communications with different stakeholders. The aim of this department is to develop and train future organisational communication experts. To this end the Department offers program, which will incorporate different but relevant disciplines, upon which the necessary technical skills are built. These include: one to one communication and mass communication techniques for achieving short, medium and long term favourable results. These are taught as theory and are enhanced with practical sessions. Strategies and tactical promotion plans are prepared and implemented by the students.

Bachelor (BSc) and Master (MSc) of Science in Public Administration & Political Science
These program aim to educate future managers and leaders for the public sector where ample opportunities exist for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of governmental institutions. The program represents clear deviation from the traditional legal orientation towards management in government. The approach is very close to the approach of the business department. Teaching methods are also designed for developing managerial, inter-disciplinary, problem-solving skills, while at the same time, cultivating self-confidence and emotional stability. Graduates will possess the skills and knowledge to allocate public resources, so as to support public interest with the greatest efficiency, effectiveness, speed and quality.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) and MBA in Computer Information Systems
The need for management personnel who understand computer technology and its impact on today’s business operations has never been greater. With an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems, you will be crucial resource in the information systems industry. The program prepares students to design and manage computer systems and related-technologies. Courses focus upon analysis of business systems, computer software and hardware concepts and database management.

Associate (ASc) and Bachelor (BSc) of Science in Tourism & Hospitality Management
Tourism is the largest single industry in the world. It contributes around 10% of the GDP in many countries. It is the major source of employment and important earner of foreign exchange. Tourism holds a prime position in both Turkey and Northern Cyprus. This rapidly growing industry is short of qualified and experienced staff and a degree gained at GAU can open the door to a wide range of career growing opportunities and management positions. Our curriculum follows a well-tested American format, which incorporates both general management- and specialised tourism and hospitality- courses. The courses have a high degree of practical content and students are required to undertake supervised practical experience (internship) within the industry. Recognising the international nature of tourism, the specified program also requires students to study German in addition to English. While tourism is in the forefront of employing technology to improve efficiency and service to the customer, it remains an industry in which the importance of inter-personal skills has not diminished. If you like people and wish to follow a varied, exciting career, Tourism is an excellent field to study.

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE

Engineering Programs
The Engineering departments within the Faculty offer four-year, undergraduate programs leading to the Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees in Computer Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Industrial Engineering. In the first 2 years, common courses for all engineers include mathematical and computer sciences, and engineering sciences. All four-year engineering students must complete 30 working days of summer training. In addition to the above, two year (ASc) programs are offered in Industrial Electronics and Computer Programming

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Computer Engineering
The Computer Engineering program is designed to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and interdisciplinary educational foundation for a fulfilling career in high quality engineering work. The program is designed so that its graduates may continue with specialised work and undertake creative research toward a master’s degree.

The Faculty offers all the necessary computing facilities to develop skills in the use of computers and in the application of computerised techniques. These facilities include well-equipped computer laboratories with high-speed personal computers and a logic design laboratory for experimentation in the fields of digital systems design.

Research interests of the faculty include: speech processing, neural networks, digital signal processing, security, artificial intelligence, parallel architectures and database systems.

Following the two years common engineering program, in addition to core courses of computer engineering such as operating systems, file organisation, database system and programming languages, the curriculum includes both technical electives and free electives. All of the core courses have laboratory sessions.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in
Electrical & Electronic Engineering
The core courses aim to establish a firm general knowledge in all fields of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

In the junior year, students take the core courses of the electrical and electronic engineering. In the senior year there is a wide range of technical elective courses, which enable students to specialise further in their particular field of interest. The particular areas of specialisation are electronic circuits, measurements and instrumentation; automatic control systems and robotics; quantum and optical electronics; communications; computer systems; and electric power systems.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Industrial Engineering
Industrial Engineering is the application of engineering methods and the principles of scientific management to the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems of people, materials, information, equipment, and energy. The industrial engineer is concerned with the design of total systems, and is the leader in the drive for increased productivity and quality improvement. The industrial engineering profession uses a variety of specialised knowledge and skills. These include the mathematical, physical, and social sciences, together with the methods of engineering analysis and design. The industrial engineer is often involved in designing or improving major systems that encompass the total organisation. Consequently, he/she is often in contact with many segments of the organisation and develops a global view. Because of their management skill and global view of the organisation, a large proportion of industrial engineers move into management positions, and later advance into top-management positions. Although industrial engineering is especially important to all segments of industry, it is also applied in other types of organisations, such as health care, public utilities, agriculture, transportation, defence, government, and merchandising. Industrial engineering is finding increasing application in service industries. With increasing emphasis on quality and productivity for successful international competition, it is expected that industrial engineers will be in increasing demand in the new millennium.

The undergraduate program provides an interdisciplinary approach for its graduates to understand, to model and find solutions for systems. The Industrial Engineering curriculum develops both the engineering theory and the practical background and people skills necessary to design the optimal productive work and management control systems for an organisation.

At GAU, the theoretical foundations of Industrial Engineering are offered to the students to provide them with the skills and talents to solve a wide range of engineering problems related to manufacturing and service sectors.

Associate of Science (ASc) in
Industrial Electronics
Most industrial facilities require the services of an industrial electronics technician with the knowledge of digital circuitry and automated systems. The increasing dependence of industrial systems on electronics has created a need for technicians qualified to design, test, install, repair and control electronics and computer systems. The Industrial Electronics Department offers a two-year diploma program, which is designed to train interested and motivated students with the technical skills, required for industrial electronics fields. The program provides a balance mix of courses in electronics, industrial engineering and computer hardware.

The Industrial Electronics curriculum at GAU is designed to provide the student with a sound theoretical background in industrial electronics while being oriented toward applied problem solving. Students enrolled in the ASc program, are required to complete twenty basic courses with 64 credits.

Associate of Science (ASc) in Computer Programming
This is a two-year program intended to develop individual talent and creativity of the students and to promote an up-to-date awareness of new technologies in the field of Computer Programming. The program is designed to prepare students for professional practice by developing a firm foundation in Basic Sciences, as well as to encourage students to develop individual initiative

The department offers a balanced program comprising computer software and mathematical foundations. The emphasis is on programming aspects, the analysis and design of software systems.

Students enrolled in this program are required to complete 65 credits usually in two years. The core courses aim to establish a firm general knowledge in all fields of Computer Programming. Students must successfully complete twenty-five courses including the two elective courses and at least thirty working days of summer training in industry. Lectures are supplemented by tutorials, and by experimental work in the laboratories. In addition to the variety of courses covering basic and specialised subjects, electives are offered to enable students to advance their knowledge in different aspects of this specialisation.

Architecture and Related Programs

Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) in Architecture
The Architecture and Design programs offer students the benefit of tuition in small (15-20 students) studios with, the newest technologies in computer assisted design labs, one-to-one supervision in project development and a friendly atmosphere with their instructors. The continually improving quality standards, together with education in English are a particular feature of this program.

Graduate Program (MArch)
The graduate program, currently offers tuition and research towards degrees in Construction Management Restoration and Preservation and in Architectural Construction.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in
City Planning & Urban Design
This new program was established in the academic year 2000 - 2001 spring semester. The aim is to train planners who can perceive holistic relationships, develop alternative views (utopian/realist) on how to transform these relationships and produce creative designs for the future and who posses the ability of investigating in depth without falling into partiality. Planners need, therefore, to be equipped with a variety of skills ranging from quantitative analysis techniques to social and economic analyses required to understand how the urban system works.

Associate (AA) & Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Graphic Design
Graphic Design is problem solving on two-dimensional surface. The designer conceives, plans, and executes designs that communicate a specific message to a specific audience within given limitations financial, physical, or psychological. The designer must provide something specific to a given audience about a given product or piece of information. Communication is the vital element in graphic design.

It is this element of communication that makes graphic design such an interesting and contemporary area. Designers must present current information using modern taste with up-to-date tools. They must stay informed about trends, issues, inventions, and developments.

Design education is a lifetime activity. Constant change will require constant renewal. It is not a career for a slow-paced, nostalgic person. To keep up with this fast-changing field you must approach the basic principles and practices with a flexible and curious mind.

The Bachelor of Arts (four-year) program provides students with a solid foundation in the principles of advertising, marketing, public relations, sales promotion and cost analysis as they apply to the commercial artist and graphic designer.

The Associate of Arts (two-year) program introduces students to the fundamentals of the communication profession and aims to develop artistic and creative abilities through an understanding of colour, illustration, lettering-typography and basic principles of design. Students are exposed to a broad range of commercial art techniques such as photography, painting, rendering.

Associate (AA) & Bachelor of Arts (BA)
in Interior Design
The Department of Interior Design offers a Bachelor of Arts (4 year) undergraduate degree program designed to teach students to conceive and manipulate interior spaces, with special attention to materials, color and textures. Students will learn to relate forms and images appropriate to particular interior environments, using concepts and images to handle increasingly complex, corporate and commercial spaces. Areas of study include construction knowledge, design theory, selection of appropriate materials, humanistic and ergonomic factors involved in the design of functional interior spaces.

Special concerns include construction techniques, detailing, finishes, materials, construction management and Historic Restoration. The curriculum integrates information with project-based design.

A two-year vocational program is also available

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

The Faculty of Education was established in 1997-1998 academic year under the name of “Faculty of Humanities.” Since the beginning of the 1998-1999 academic year, the Faculty has concentrated fully in teacher education and accepted the programs designed and developed by the committees established for the National Education Development Project under the co-ordination of the Higher Education Council, the World Bank, and the Turkish Ministry of Education.

The overall institutional objective of the faculty is that graduates will have teaching competencies in their particular fields by being furnished with the general and specific knowledge, methods, techniques and skills of modern teaching to fit the scientific and technical development of the world in the third millennium.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English Language Teaching
The main goal of this program is to teach the students the profession of teaching English as a foreign language, at primary and secondary education levels with a high level of competency.

This program also provides education and training for students to achieve a high level of English competence and to have the background necessary for translation services in business and government offices by offering the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills in the area of linguistics, literature and translation.

International students have a selection of university-wide courses available to replace TDE and translation courses. A foreign language other than English for two semesters is a requirement.

Master of Arts (MA) in Turkish Language and Literature Teaching (3.5 + 1.5 years, without Thesis)
The main objective of this department is to offer a combination of Bachelor of Education and Master of Arts Programs in a total of 5 years. The Department currently offers only one program, “Master of Arts in Turkish Language and Literature Teaching”. It is a 3.5 + 1.5 year master’s degree programs without thesis.

This programs is intended for students who have chosen as a profession the teaching of the Turkish Language and Literature at the Secondary School level. Its curriculum aims at teaching the historical development of the Turkish language, its present state and knowledge about the finesse of the language and detailed study skills and strategies; and the attainment of educational competence in teaching methods and technology.

In addition to teaching, students who graduate from this program will be able to work in the fields of journalism and broadcasting, public relations, archives, foundations and libraries. Above all, the program will help the students to improve themselves and be efficient with skills and techniques in novel writing, story writing, poetry, criticism and research techniques.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Computer and Instructional Technology Teaching
Computers and other instructional technologies are a very powerful media for improving the learning process. In the information age the roles of the instructor and the learner are changing very rapidly. Teachers are no longer the only source of knowledge. With a few keystrokes students can explore the world and can access libraries, other teachers and students to obtain the knowledge they seek. The medium of instruction is English.

The main goal of the Computer and Instructional Technology Program is to prepare the students to the profession of teaching and the use of computer program and educational technologies at basic and secondary education level.

This program enables the students to select and/or develop software materials for instructional purposes such as computer assisted instruction, distance education and individualised education. The program also provides education and training for students to achieve a high level of computer competency, which will enable them to work in the public sector or private industry and businesses. This program will develop students skills, which could be used and transferred to various fields such as participating as a member of a team, working with different groups, using communication effectively, decision making, problem solving and establishing new initiatives.

One of the essential components of the program is to equip the students with research concepts and skills. Students in the information age should be able to locate, select, classify and use information for the specific purposes required of the problem or project.

To graduate from these programs students must complete 137 credit hours of study including 43 credit hours of educational courses.

FACULTY OF LAW

GAU Law Programs
The faculty of Law provides a four year LLB degree in Common Law and a two year LLM in International Business Law for lawyers and non-law trained graduate students, as well as various seminars and Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) courses for practicing judges and lawyers in the TRNC. Qualified students can obtain a Dual Degree LLB/BSc Law degree from GAU and Law Schools in England. Most of the GAU LLB graduates successfully continue their legal education with professional courses or further academic degrees in Europe, the USA, Turkey or the TRNC. The Law Faculty members include barristers, lawyers and academics, variously trained in England, the United States, Turkey and the TRNC. Some of the faculty are visiting members and come to GAU to give lectures and seminars for special programs. The emphasis of the Law Department is to provide both the academic and practical education, which every professional lawyer needs in his or her practice and career.

LLB in Common Law
The LLB in common Law provides the TRNC student with a full grounding in the legal concepts currently used in the TRNC. While most courses focus on legal principles found in English Common Law, each student has a full review of those aspects of local law, which are based on Continental and Code Systems. GAU students are found to perform with credit in the TRNC Bar Exam. This program is not available to citizens from Turkey, but is available for the many international students for whom Common Law and European Union Law will be of interest.

LLM in International Business Law
The law Master Program in International Business Law is designed to equip the lawyer or businessperson with a complete grounding in the concepts and practice of business law in the global economy.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Law
For GAU degree purposes there are 40 courses, each worth 3 credits, for a total of 120 credits to obtain the BSc (Law).

In each year there are three courses taught for two semesters using the (Blackstone Press) text materials. These are shown with an LLB code below. The additional four courses for the year are taught as one semester long courses run as GAU managed and delivered courses. Additional elective courses may be provided by GAU, based on the availability of qualified professional law teaching staff and the needs of the students. The dual degree provides the student with the high quality of UK based programs along with the advantages of a more traditional setting and the tailoring of course offerings to meet local and regional requirements. All students have the option of taking the same syllabus but with only GAU courses for a GAU based LLB.

Electives may include the following three-credit courses: Advanced Business Law, Intellectual Property Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Comparative Constitutional Law Seminar, Issues in Import/Export Law, and International Trade Law.


FACULTY OF HUMANITIES


Department of Psychology

Recent years have witnessed a considerable increase in the demand for professionals in the field of psychology, particularly in the fields of child psychology, criminal psychology, clinical psychology, occupational psychology, public relations etc. This reflects the availabiity of opportunities for the graduates of our programme which is designed to instruct and inform our students in all areas of psychology.

Department of Psychology provides education and training at undergraduate level. Academically, the department offers courses in the field of developmental, social, experimental, and applied psychology.

The objectives of our department are • To offer theoretical and applied courses in psychology • To equip the students with the basic knowledge and understanding of human behaviors • To equip the students with methods and techniques that will be essential for application as well as further studies in their profession.