Composition of the Study Programme
Composition of degree programme
A defining feature of this degree programme is its integration of the two social-sciences disciplines. Alongside the study of political and sociological issues, the programme's core elements include a methodological and a practical part as follows.
- The study of political science and sociology is split into a foundation part teaching the fundamentals of both subjects (52 CP in total) and a specialisation part in which they gain more detailed knowledge (42 CP in total).
- The themed modules "Communication and Media / Cultures and Conflict", "Social and Political Change / International Relations and Comparative Sociology" and "Social Inequality and Gender Relations / Institutions and Policy Areas" are composed of elements from both politics and sociology, integrating related subject matter within each module.
- Subject areas which receive particular focus include media and communication, gender relations and European studies.
- Particular weight is given to a thorough grounding in methods in statistics, quantitative and qualitiative empirical social research, data collection and data analysis (40 CP in total).
- The above is complemented by a practical element, which encompasses not only the programme's compulsory period of work experience and its preparation and retrospective analysis seminars but also an introduction to academic working practice as well as argumentative and presentation techniques and lessons in IT and the language of social sciences (22 CP in total).
This BA programme stands out for the basic training in social sciences it provides, along with its interdisciplinary treatment of politics and sociology as well as its focus on qualifying students for various professional fields in the public and private sectors. Graduates' continued pursuit of studies in social sciences is also made possible by the availability of follow-up Master's programmes at JLU.
The following modules are compulsory:
- Foundation in Political Science and Sociology
- Political and Social Theory
- Political Economy / International Relations
- Social Behaviour and Communication / Socialisation
- An Introduction to Methods
- Data-Collection Procedures
- Data-Analysis Procedures
- Advanced Methods
- Key Skills
- Work Placement
- Communication and Media / Cultures and Conflict
- Social and Political Change / International Relations and Comparative Sociology
- Social Inequality and Gender Relations / Institutions and Policy Areas
- Teaching Research Project
- Dissertation
International dimension
The BA programme has an international dimension, select courses being held in English. It is also possible to access similar courses in the rest of Europe and the world. The programme of studies is open to foreign students, principally within the collaborative framework established by the Erasmus programme. The Faculty of Social Sciences and Cultural Studies has an international teaching and research profile which facilitates this exchange: it maintains collaborative relationships with around 25 universities in EU member states as well as with Norway, Turkey, Russia and all institutions of the European Union.