The aim of the Social Planning course is to convey the concept, historical development, and theoretical foundations of social planning; to teach students to analyze the importance and processes of planning in areas such as development, social security, health, education, employment, poverty, the environment, and gender; to examine Turkey’s planning experiences in their historical context; and to enable students to critically evaluate planning processes.

This course begins with the definition of the concept of social planning, its types, and its economic and social dimensions; theoretical approaches and historical development are examined. Planning practices are discussed in areas such as development plans, social security, health, education, employment, poverty, the environment, sustainability, and gender. The course also analyzes Turkey’s industrial and agricultural development periods, the role of the State Planning Organization, and the decline of planning under the neoliberal era. Additionally, it covers data collection and analysis processes, offering a critical assessment of the role of planning in addressing social problems.