History
Our faculty is one of the 16 faculties of Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University (BAİBÜ), which was established in 1992. It was founded based on Law No. 2809 on the Organization of Higher Education Institutions (Article: Additional 16 and 30), dated 28/03/1983, and the Council of Ministers Decision No. 2852, dated 17/02/2012, published in the Official Gazette No. 28244 on 25/03/2012. In the spring semester of the 2013-2014 academic year, our faculty moved into its own newly constructed building.
Since its establishment, our faculty began accepting students, and in the 2012-2013 academic year, when teaching began, 60 students were admitted to the preparatory class through additional placements. The Department of Religious Culture and Moral Education (İDKAB) first started teaching under the Faculty of Education in the 2011-2012 academic year, but in 2012-2013, it was transferred to the Faculty of Theology with its 72 students following a decision by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). (By the YÖK decision dated 17/04/2014, admissions to the İDKAB department were suspended.) Additionally, a second education program began in the 2013-2014 academic year, with a total of 230 students receiving education. Our faculty graduated its first class in 2015.
Dergiabant (Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Faculty of Theology Journal) is a peer-reviewed academic journal published twice a year, in spring (May) and autumn (November). The first issue of our journal was published on 06/08/2013, and since the Spring/2017 issue, it has been indexed by ULAKBİM TR Dizin. (See the decision of the TÜBİTAK ULAKBİM TR Dizin Committee dated 23/02/2018.)
Physical Structure
Our faculty is located at the İzzet Baysal Campus, the central campus of Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, which is one of the prestigious universities in our country, situated between Ankara and Istanbul. Located in the Gölköy area of Bolu, the heart of nature, and surrounded by natural beauty, our faculty is 8 km away from the city center, with public transportation available throughout the day.
The faculty building and the Ali Ericek Practice Mosque were constructed by Bolu philanthropist businessman Ali ERİCEK. The foundation of our faculty building, with a closed area of 6000 m², was laid on 12/11/2012, while the foundation of the Ali Ericek Practice Mosque, with a closed area of approximately 5000 m², was laid on 26/07/2013.
In accordance with the YÖK letter (Date: 26/03/2015, Number: 75850160-101.04/16183), the Akşemseddin Islamic Sciences Practice and Research Center (AKİMER) was established under the Rectorate of Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University. Located adjacent to our faculty, the center provides a peaceful study environment with conference rooms and classrooms, housing works in the field of Islamic sciences for the benefit of our students and researchers.
Academic Staff and Education
The academic staff of our faculty consists of a total of 59 faculty members, including 8 professors, 17 associate professors, 13 assistant professors, 3 lecturers, and 18 research assistants.
Our faculty’s educational programs are divided into three (3) departments: "Basic Islamic Sciences," "Philosophy and Religious Sciences," and "Islamic History and Arts." The Department of Basic Islamic Sciences is composed of seven (7) major disciplines: "Arabic Language and Rhetoric," "Hadith," "Islamic Law," "Kalam and History of Islamic Sects," "Recitation of the Qur'an and Science of Qiraat," "Sufism," and "Tafsir."
The Department of Philosophy and Religious Sciences consists of two (2) major disciplines: "Religious Sciences" and "Islamic Philosophy." The Religious Sciences Major Discipline includes five (5) subfields: "Religious Education," "Philosophy of Religion," "Psychology of Religion," "Sociology of Religion," and "History of Religions," while the Islamic Philosophy Major Discipline includes three (3) subfields: "Islamic Ethics," "Islamic Philosophy," and "Logic."
The Department of Islamic History and Arts includes two (2) major disciplines: "Islamic History" and "Turkish-Islamic Literature and Islamic Arts." Under the Islamic History Major Discipline, there are two (2) subfields: "History of Islamic Institutions" and "Islamic History." Under the Turkish-Islamic Literature and Islamic Arts Major Discipline, there are three (3) subfields: "Islamic Arts," "Turkish Religious Music," and "Turkish-Islamic Literature."
In addition to the first (daytime) education programs in our faculty's Arabic preparatory classes and undergraduate departments, a second education program was launched in 2013. Furthermore, thesis-based master’s degrees are offered in the fields of Basic Islamic Sciences, Islamic History and Arts, and Philosophy and Religious Sciences under the Graduate School of Social Sciences for both Turkish and international students. Additionally, doctoral education is provided in the Department of Basic Islamic Sciences. The Theology Undergraduate Completion (İLİTAM) program was launched under the BAİBÜ Distance Education and Research Center (İBUZEM), and teaching activities are carried out by our faculty members in this context.
Our Deans
Our Mission
The mission of BAİBÜ Faculty of Theology is to conduct comprehensive research in the field of Islamic sciences based on primary religious sources, contributing to knowledge production and dissemination at both national and international levels. It also aims to train theologians who are committed to national and spiritual values, capable of systematic, consistent, and critical thinking, and who can be beneficial to society and humanity through formal religious education that takes into account the religious diversity in society.
Our Vision
Our vision at BAİBÜ Faculty of Theology is to be a leading faculty both nationally and globally, known for sharing the knowledge and values produced in the field of Islamic sciences. We aim to be exemplary in training theologians, religious educators, and competent religious officials equipped with classical and contemporary knowledge.
