Hey all! I'm Batuhan: parent to two adorable cats, self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, and aspiring polyglot among other things. I'm a '26 from Istanbul, Turkey, and I am passionate about behavioral economics, sonic arts, postcolonial literature, and social media marketing! Be sure to reach out with questions regarding exploring the liberal arts, study abroad programs, research on campus, international student experience, and study abroad programs!
Academic Program
Cognitive Science and Art History
Favorite Thing Right Now
My personal blog Write Your Tongue! #shamelessplug
Writing 5 is one of the courses that count towards the first-year writing requirement. The course covered content relating to the self, transformation, and social dynamics relating to majority and minority. Dr. Godley is simply phenomenal. Her instruction was extremely accessible even though she covered intense topics. I could not have enjoyed my Writing 5 more!
Design Thinking was above and beyond my expectations. The course is structured around weekly projects, where we apply different cognitive strategies to cover topics like design principles, human need-finding, brainstorming, scenario building, and visual thinking.
Introduction to Cognitive Science covers a variety of fields including psychology, computer science, linguistics, and philosophy to provide insight into cognitive processes. This course helped me develop an understanding of all facets of cognitive science and which ones I would be interested in further pursuing as part of my major.
Psychology 10 is a deep dive into almost everything you might need to become well-versed in conducting research, analyzing data, and interpreting findings in a statistically sound manner. Professor Pfister is the most approachable professor I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. Statistics isn't exactly my forté, but I now feel confident in my stats foundation!
I loved taking this class with Madame Alverde, a professor from Université Toulouse ; Jean Jaures was an incredible experience. She made sure to correct our mistakes on the spot and improve them eloquently.
As I approach the halfway mark of my Dartmouth journey this spring, I find myself reflecting on the significance of distributive and world culture requirements in shaping my academic experience. These requirements, ingrained into Dartmouth's curriculum, serve as guiding pillars for undergraduates to explore diverse subjects and perspectives. Let's delve deeper into what these requirements entail and how they have influenced my educational journey thus far.
Distributive and World Culture requirements are integral components of the Dartmouth academic experience. Simply put, they represent a collection of broad themes that every undergraduate engages with by taking at least one course in each category to fulfill their graduation requirements.
Distributive Requirements encompass a spectrum of disciplines, including Art, Social Analysis, and Science with Lab. These courses serve as gateways to different fields of study, providing students with a well-rounded understanding of various subjects. On the other hand, world culture requirements ensure exposure to diverse viewpoints, encompassing both Western and non-Western perspectives. They encourage nuanced analysis of culture and identity, fostering global awareness and appreciation.
Before Dartmouth, I had a rigid approach to what I wanted to study. However, the distributive and world culture requirements incentivized me to explore beyond my initial plans, resulting in my changing my intended major numerous times and finally landing on Cognitive Science as my declared major. Courses in economics, engineering, art history, and other fields broadened my horizons, offering invaluable insights and expanding my intellectual toolkit.
Initially, I harbored doubts about completing all requirements given their breadth across disciplines. Yet, Dartmouth's liberal arts ethos fosters a culture of exploration and intellectual curiosity. Encouraged to venture beyond my comfort zone, I discovered a newfound passion for interdisciplinary learning. Surprisingly, I find myself nearing completion of these requirements, enriched by the diverse array of courses I've undertaken.
Some may question the necessity of requirements beyond one's major, fearing they might stifle personal agency. However, I firmly believe that Dartmouth's emphasis on a comprehensive academic experience is empowering rather than restrictive. By offering a spectrum of distributive and world culture requirements, Dartmouth provides students with the flexibility to tailor their education while ensuring exposure to diverse perspectives. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to engage with courses beyond my major, as they have enriched my academic journey in unforeseen ways.
In conclusion, Distributive and World Culture requirements represent more than checkboxes on a graduation checklist—they embody Dartmouth's commitment to holistic education. As I continue my academic journey, I look forward to embracing new challenges and opportunities for exploration, guided by the ethos of a liberal arts education.
After returning from an enriching study abroad program, I'm diving into a bustling spring semester here at Dartmouth. Here are my four courses I'm taking this term!
Dartmouth's liberal arts curriculum pushes students to explore new departments and draw connections between seemingly disparate disciplines. Come explore my Economics, Physics, and Asian, Societies, Cultures, and Languages classes!
