Social Sciences, Master 1 subject

  • What keeps modern society together?
  • What is globalisation?
  • How do cultures differ?
  • How is socio-scientific knowledge formed and assessed?
  • Which specific perspectives and explanations do economy, sociology, political science, social psychology and social anthropology provide?
Marcel Wojzechowski

As far as the range of subject goes, you’re very flexible and can opt for a political, economic or sociological field of study. In my opinion, everyone, from the theorist to the practitioner, is bound to be happy here.

– Marcel Wojzechowski, Master's degree

Steckbrief

Abschluss
Master of Arts
Beginn
Winter- und Sommersemester
Dauer
4 Semester
Unterrichtssprache
German
Admission
Not restricted, application service
Information on enrollment/application for German applicants

Information on enrollment/application for German applicants

Application information for international applicants

Application information for international applicants

Worum geht's?
Dieser Studiengang ist einzigartig, weil ...
it enables students to specialise in a socio-scientific discipline after finishing their B.A. degree and prepares them for workplace realities by focusing on research and practical application of knowledge.
Er bietet eine Vertiefung in den Bereichen ...
  • Globalisation, transnationalisation and governance
  • Urban and regional development
  • Management and regulation of labour, economy and organisation
  • Culture and democracy
  • Social research Methods

Zu wem passt's?
Wer diesen Studiengang studieren möchte,

has: substantial basic know-how and sound methodology competencies

enjoys: in-depth interdisciplinary study of the chosen major subject

struggles through: the requirements, developing and answering socio-scientific issues in an autonomous manner

Dieser Studiengang ist für Absolvent*innen der folgenden Fächer geeignet
  • with a clear focus on social science
Wer einen Abschluss in diesem Studiengang hat, arbeitet häufig
  • in academia and research
  • in corporate management and consulting
  • in administration and politics
  • in market and opinion research
  • in the fields of education and culture as well as in intercultural Projects
  • in associations, companies and NGOs
  • in the equal opportunities area
  • in adult education, further education and training
  • in public relations work
  • in trade unions, workers' associations and chambers of commerce
Und sonst?
Ein Praktikum ...

is mandatory. It is done during the degree course.
Dauer: 8 weeks

Ein Auslandsaufenthalt ... is recommended.
Dauer: 1 semester
Wer hilft?
Studienfachberatung

Corinna Land
Gebäude, Raum: GD E1/161
Tel.: +49 (0)234 / 32-(0234) 3222966
E-Mail:
Webseite Studienfachberatung

Kontakt zu Studierenden

Fachschaft Sozialwissenschaft
Gebäude, Raum: GD 03/137
Tel.: +49 (0)234 / 32-25418
E-Mail:
Webseite Fachschaft

Andere Studiengänge in diesem Fach

Marcel Wojzechowski
Marcel Wojzechowski is a Social Studies student in his 2nd semester. He is pursuing the Master of Education degree. Marcel’s second subject is Educational Science. He is, moreover, member of the departmental student committee.

Wieso haben Sie sich damals für Ihr Studienfach entschieden?

To be honest, social science was a very popular subject at school with me. You deal with the reality of humans and use a scientific discourse to explain that reality; you discover hidden mechanisms that make our world tick. As far as the range of subject goes, you’re very flexible and can opt for a political, economic or sociological field of study, or combine any of them. In my opinion, everyone, from the theorist to the practitioner, is bound to be happy here.

An welchen Stellen haben sich die Erwartungen an Ihr Studienfach erfüllt, an welchen nicht?

Okay, so just as in any other degree course, you don’t have a great deal of freedom to begin with. It all starts with building a sound foundation based on which you’ll be able to take part in the discourse. The branch of Economic Science, for example, didn’t meet my expectations at all, even though it was that field that turned out to be quite interesting and remained so, to my great surprise.

As I said, as the degree course progressed my impression has been verified that it offers a huge diversity of subjects and combinations thereof. I observed socio-cultural class wars at the football pitch, studied youth subcultures and their socio-historical genesis and, as part of a seminar, me and my fellow students prepared a tour of the Phönix Lake for private visitors (to name but a few examples).

Was macht Ihnen in Ihrem Fach am meisten Spaß?

I very much enjoy working with my fellow students, especially in the departmental student committee, together with other students. As far as my favourite field of study is concerned, it has turned out to be sociology, because it’s so deeply connected with my favourite subject, namely different youth subcultures since 1945. Here, you can explain a lot with your own ideas, in connection with classic thinkers like Pierre Bourdieu.

Was war bisher die größte Herausforderung?

As far as subject and discipline is concerned, I have felt I’m in the right place from the get-go. Getting to terms with the scientific approach, as opposed to the usual “school-like” text work, is the supreme discipline and it has led to several setbacks, before I managed to gain sustainable results. Like they say: “Practice makes perfect.”

Was wollen Sie einmal damit werden?

My degree course prepares me for a career in the educational sector, or to be exact: with the Master of Education degree, I can start working in a school. After graduating with a teaching degree, I could imagine working in adult education, either in the private or the public sector.

Welche Tipps geben Sie den Leuten, die auch überlegen, Ihr Fach zu studieren?

The same advice I give every student, really: take part in our introductory courses, get involved, check out the things you’re interested in. If it’s politics, economy and society, there’s a lot for you to discover here, and you can see that for yourselves. Don’t let the initial impression that you’re being patronised discourage you. Two semesters later, you’ll recognise the purpose behind it. If you have any questions or doubts, you can always ask a fellow student in the tutor programme for help or go to the departmental student committee, which is something I did not do when I first started (laughs). It can only help.