Students

In the compulsory sociology modules, you will deal with work and occupational structures in modern working societies, their processes of change and their lines of conflict. You will also study the changes in the social structure of modern societies in the areas of education, the labour market, social inequality and gender, as well as aspects of migration and demographic change.

In the compulsory political science modules, you will study the basics of comparative government and international relations. You will learn about explanations for the existence and function of states. The functioning of government is analysed from various theoretical perspectives and you will discuss the core problems of democracy. You will also familiarise yourself with the most important theories to explain global political processes and deal with practical approaches to dealing with international problems on the basis of selected topics.

The modules each comprise 9 CP.

• Compulsory module International Relations & Global Governance
  The role and significance of international politics under the conditions of globalization is the focus of this subject area. You will learn about the most important theories for explaining global political processes and deal with practical approaches to dealing with international problems on the basis of selected topics.
• Compulsory module Social Structure of Modern Societies
  In this compulsory module, you will deal with changes in the social structure of modern societies in the areas of education, the labor market, social inequality and gender as well as aspects of migration and demographic change. You will learn about methods and findings of comparative social structure analysis and how to reflect on these critically.
• Compulsory module Statehood
  In this compulsory module, you will deal with the fundamentals of domestic politics. You will learn about explanations for the existence and function of states. The functioning of rule is problematized from various theoretical perspectives. Based on a comparison of modern political systems, you will discuss solutions to core problems of democracy, such as the conflict between majority rule and the protection of minorities.
• Compulsory module Future of Work
  In the compulsory module Future of Work, you will deal with work and occupational structures in modern working societies. You will learn to identify problems of structural change in industrial and service societies and to discuss processes of change (tertiarization) and lines of conflict (rationalization and participation).

In the compulsory elective area, you can choose from 11 modules from sociology and political science, three of which you can choose freely. The modules comprise 9 CP.

The following compulsory elective modules are available:

• Future of Work in International Comparison
  The transformation of modern working societies is taking place in the field of tension between globalization and regionalization. You will learn to identify different forms of society (industrial and service societies, information society) with special consideration of innovation developments, information structures and knowledge transfer in highly developed working societies and to discuss them on an international comparative basis.
• Inclusion and Exclusion in the World of Work
  In this module, you will deal with theories, models and research results of inequality research in the sociology of work and organizational sociology. You will acquire the ability to independently deal with central concepts and results of the analysis of social change in the world of work, with inclusion and exclusion in organizations and work processes as well as with organizational and subjective demands on work.
• Social Communication
  In this compulsory elective module, you will deal with the theoretical and empirical foundations of social communication. You will become familiar with basic cultural and communication sociological terms, theoretical concepts and social models and acquire the ability to independently deal with communication sociological analyses and forecasts on the development of communication, culture and society - in particular the information society - and to critically reflect on these.
• Peace and Conflict Studies
  Peace and conflict research deals with the causes and conditions of armed violence and approaches to overcoming it. You will learn about various conflict theories and apply them to current examples.
• International Political Economy
  This module deals with international economic relations in depth. The focus is on questions of development policy and international political economy.
• International and Regional Organisations
  The increasingly complex and interconnected world in the course of globalization requires new approaches from international politics to regulate global problems. In this module, you will deal with corresponding concepts of "global governance".
• Life Courses and Social Change
  In this compulsory elective module, you will deal with theories, methods and results of empirical studies on social inequality and social mobility. You will acquire the ability to independently deal with central concepts and results of the analysis of social change, modernization and globalization as well as life course research and to independently apply methodological skills.
• Research Topics in Social Stratification Research
  In this compulsory elective module, you will deal with theories, models and research results of sociological environmental, urban and mobility research. You will acquire the ability to reflect independently on socio-spatial and ecological developments and problems of modern societies and to apply relevant methodological skills to specific projects.
• Governance and Political Economy
  In this compulsory elective module, you will learn about different forms and processes of coordinating and regulating conflicts. One focus is on the relationship between state, economic and social actors in different contexts. The module combines theoretical perspectives with studies of selected policy fields, such as environmental policy.
• Political Communication
  In this compulsory elective module, you will deal with the theoretical and empirical foundations of political communication. You will discuss the background and effects of changes in the relationship between politics and the mass media. You will problematize the communication of politics in a media democracy.
• Participation and Communication of Interests
  In this compulsory elective module, you will deal with various forms of direct and indirect participation. You will analyze exemplary forms of interest mediation via associations, parties, elections or non-conventional channels.

In the first year of study, the focus in empirical social research is on the basics of social science methods and qualitative survey and analysis procedures, which are required, for example, to conduct interviews.

From the second semester onwards, you will learn quantitative survey and analysis methods and how to use the statistics programme Stata. Finally, depending on your profile, you will learn subject-specific methods of sociology or political science.

Each student selects modules amounting to 18 CP from related disciplines such as economics, law, communication and media studies, psychology, gender studies or philosophy in accordance with their personal/professional objectives

The modules can only be taken after completing the module "Fundamentals of Economics".

Internship Module

An internship totaling 480 hours gives you the opportunity to test and expand the qualifications you have acquired during your studies. Companies, associations, governmental and non-governmental organizations, political parties and authorities are eligible for this internship. Recognition of an internship abroad is possible.

Please note the information on internships.

The degree programme concludes with the Bachelor's thesis. It is usually completed at the end of the last semester. A practical Bachelor's thesis is possible.

The processing time is 3 months (PO 5). 12 CP are assigned for the Bachelor's thesis. In order to be admitted to the Bachelor's thesis, students must have at least 130 CP.