According
to the profile of the department, the M.A. program in Sociology focuses on two
directions: work-welfare-profession, and social change and sociological diagnosis
of time. Applicants must choose one area of focus.
Both
directions are in many ways inter-connected in the teaching structure of the
program. Both are introduced to students in a joint introductory term. On a
macro-sociological level, the program builds on the continuous transformation
of late industrial labour societies with a special focus on gearing of labour
market, economic organisations and controlling of the welfare state. On a micro-sociological level, the main focus
is the advisory and therapeutic interactions and activity orientations of the
professional actors. The herewith identified space of societal change should
allow for a grounded social-scientific analysis through the mediation of
historical-sociological, societal-theoretical and time-diagnostic approaches
and concepts. In this sense, the first term of the study program provides the
in-depth teaching of the qualitative and quantitative methods of empirical
social research.
Starting
in the second term, the program is divided into the tracks
“Work-Welfare-Profession” and “Social Change and Sociological Diagnosis of
Time” with an option to choose one module from a different track.
This
graduate program provides a double-sided opportunity for a highly relevant
practical point from the perspective of theory of society and diagnosis of time
and, vice versa, a grounded theoretical reference to the study of social change
in work, welfare and profession in the current society.
The track „Work-Welfare-Profession“
During the second and third term, the
„Work-Welfare-Profession“ track aims to convey the advanced knowledge of
essential theories and newest research findings in the applicable areas of
labour market, welfare state and social differences, social services and
professions (clinical sociology), economy and organisation. Two modules result
out of this, enabling one to complement and expand the subject knowledge with
teachings imported from the second track of the program and/ or through
teachings imported from one or two thematically close disciplines of choice:
education, intercultural business communication, political science, law and
economics (‘trans-disciplinary perspective’).
This stage of the program provides the option
of applying acquired theoretical knowledge to a concrete vocational field
(‚specialisation or a vocationally oriented practical course’).
The track “Social Change and Sociological Analysis of Time”
During the second and third term the track “Social Change and Sociological Analysis of Time” aims to convey the advanced knowledge of essential theories and newest research findings in the applicable areas of the theory of society, historical sociology and diagnosis of time.
This track mirrors the track “Work-Welfare-Profession”: students have the opportunity to complement and deepen („Specialisation“) their theoretically grounded knowledge through teachings imported from the second track of the program and/ or through teachings imported from one or two thematically close social science disciplines of choice: education – culture – anthropology, human geography, history, communication, philosophy and political science (“trans-disciplinary perspective”). This stage of the program also provides the option of applying acquired theoretical knowledge to a concrete vocational field (‚specialisation or a vocationally oriented practical course’).
Both
tracks of the M.A. in Sociology („Work-Welfare-Profession“ and „Social Change
and Sociological Diagnosis of Time“) include preparation for the M.A. thesis
(see Module on Research Supervision). The third term offers training in
research design. The beginning of the fourth term commences with a research
seminar providing intensive guidance in the crucial stages of planning,
conceptualising and advancing the M.A. thesis.
Program Requirements
The requirement for enrolment to the M.A. program in Sociology is a certificate indicating the first qualifying level of higher education (Magister, Diploma, B.A., etc.) in Sociology or related programs in Germany or a foreign country.
Admission to the program requires special qualification. This demands skills in Sociology (or equivalent skills in another field) covering at least 60 LP according to ECTS (including skills in methods of empirical social research to the extent of at least 20 LP), achieved through the procedure of examination. As an exception, admission is possible if the required documents concerning applicant qualification are sent later.
The
applicants should possess sufficient skills in the English language.
Proof
of successfully completing courses in Sociology (or equivalent skills in other
fields).
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