Department of Political and Social Sciences

1. Semester

Module	ECTS	Courses	Forms of Active Participation	Module Exam/Grade
1 The Political Unification Process in Europe and the Development of European Societies since 1945	10	Introductory Course (Lecture)	Recap of the lecture, discussion on the basis of the preparatory reading	Written exam in introductory course (lecture)
		Main Seminar*	1 seminar paper/ 3 essays as main performance, perhaps additionally presentation, group work
2 Sociological Theories of Social Change and Integration	10	Introductory Course (Lecture)	Written test in introductory course	Term paper (approx. 5,000 words) in seminar
		Main Seminar*	Presentations, group work, preparation of excerpts and thesis papers
3 Methods of Comparative Research in Social Sciences	10	Introductory course (lecture)	Recap of the lecture, discussion on the basis of the preparatory reading	Written exam in introductory course (lecture)
		Main Seminar*	1 seminar paper/ 3 essays as main performance, perhaps additionally presentation, group work

The table shows the first semester of the master’s program with modules 1-3. Every module consists of one introductory course, which is a lecture and one main seminar.

For Module 1, it is required to take a 90 minute written exam in the introductory course (lecture), and to write one seminar paper/3 essays (~3000 words) as main performance, plus perhaps a presentation or group work in the main seminar. The grade for this module will result from the written exam.

Module 2 requires written tests in the introductory course (lecture) and one term paper (~5000 words) in the main seminar. The grade for this module will result from the term paper in the main seminar.

Module 3 has the same structure as module 1. One needs to write one exam in the introductory course (lecture), and one seminar paper/3 essays (~3000 words) as main performance, plus perhaps a presentation or group work in the main seminar. The grade for this module will result from the written exam.

2. Semester

Module	ECTS	Courses	Forms of Active Participation	Module Exam
4 Social Structure and Inequalities in European Societies	10	Specialisation Lecture	Written exam in specialisation lecture	Term paper/Essays (approx. 5,000 words) or an oral exam (25 min) in seminar
		Main Seminar*	Presentations, group work, preparation of excerpts and thesis papers
5 Culture and Values in European Societies	10	Specialisation Lecture	Written exam in specialisation lecture	Term paper/Essays (approx. 5,000 words) or an oral exam (25 min) in seminar
		Main Seminar*	Presentations, group work, preparation of excerpts and thesis papers
6 Globalization and Regional Development	10	Specialisation Lecture	Written exam in specialisation lecture	Term paper/Essays (approx. 5,000 words) or an oral exam (25 min) in seminar
		Main Seminar*	Presentations, group work, preparation of excerpts and thesis papers

Modules 4-6 are planned for the second semester. Each of these modules consists of one specialization lecture and one main seminar.

The modules 4 , 5 and 6 have the same structure and examination requirements. For all three lectures, a written exam is required. The grades for the modules 4-6 however, are given in the main seminars. In one of the modules, the grade is determined by an oral exam. In the two other modules, the grade results from term papers. The students are free to decide in which of the three modules they want to do the oral exam. It is not possible to do more than one oral exam.

3. Semester

Module	ECTS	Courses	Forms of Active Participation	Module Exam
7 Research Practicum	15	Research Placement*	Presentations, group work, preparation of excerpts and thesis papers, submission of the first draft of the research report	Research report (approx. 7,000 words) in research placement
8 Specialization (2 elective areas)   (1) Advanced Methods of Empirical Social Research OR (2) Special Fields of Sociological Research	15	Specialisation Seminar*	Essay or thesis papers (approx. 1,500 words), perhaps presentation, group work	Term paper/Essays (approx. 3,000 words) in one of the Specialisation seminars
		Specialisation Seminar*	Essay or thesis papers (approx. 1,500 words), perhaps presentation, group work

In the third semester, the students are supposed to do their specialization with completing Module 7 and 8.

Module 7 is a research placement, in which the students carry out a small-scale theory-based empirical study. It is required to write a research report of the research placement of about 7,000 words. This report makes up the grade for this module.

Module 8 consists of two elective modules: "Advanced Methods of Empirical Social Research" and "Special Fields of Sociological Research". Students must choose one of the elective modules, each of which consists of two seminars. In one of those two seminars, they need to write one term paper (~3000 words) or three essays, which is pass or fail.

The final semester focuses on the master’s thesis and its accompanying colloquium "Sociological Research". The master’s thesis should be about approx. 15,000 words/50 pages long and is the last examination in the master’s program. More details on the master's thesis can be found here.

4. Semester

Module	ECTS	Courses	Forms of Active Participation	Module Exam
9 Sociological Research	5	Colloquim	Attending and presenting in master colloquium	Master thesis (approx. 15,000 words/50 pages)
Master thesis	25	Master thesis