Social Sciences (B.A.)

The Bachelor's course of study (BA) Social Sciences is a joint degree programme of the subjects Sociology and Political Sciences of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Cultural Studies. (Faculty 03) of JLU Giessen.
The main subject is the analysis of society, its subareas, structures, conditions, and developments as well as their interactions with the actions of single persons. The main issues are:

• How and why do structures in society and politics emerge?
• How do they change?
• How do they influence acting persons and how do acting persons influence structures?

While the subject of sociology applies these main issues to society as a whole as well as its parts, such as family, gender, or working organisations, the subject of politics applies these issues to the political order of societies in general as well as to single areas of politics such as home affairs, foreign affairs, or financial politics.

What skills and interests should I have?

Students of this degree programme need to be interested in social and political issues, including empirical research into these areas. They also need sufficiently high levels of English to understand research literature published in English.

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 B.A. 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.

Examination and study regulations

General Regulations for Bachelor's and Master's programmes

Please note that only the German version of the regulation is official and legally binding. The English version is for informative purposes only.

Courses offered in the course catalogue

Electronical course catalogue (in German)

Study programme flyer

B.A. Social Sciences (PDF in German)

Accreditation

The programme has been accredited since 22 August 2006.

Links

Faculty 03 – Social and Cultural Sciences
Faculty's Deanery
Faculty's Examination office
Student representatives

Bachelor's Degree Programmes of Faculty 03

Berufliche und Betriebliche Bildung / Vocational Education and Training
Erziehungswissenschaft mit dem Schwerpunkt Außerschulische Bildung / Adult and Continuing Education, Extracurricular Education
Kindheitspädagogik / Early Childhood Education
Kunstpädagogik im Studiengang "Geschichts- und Kulturwissenschaften" / Art Education in the course of study "History and Culture"
Musikpädagogik / Music (also possible as subject of study in "History and Culture")
Musikwissenschaft / Music Education (also possible as subject of study in "History and Culture")
Social Sciences

Are you still not entirely sure whether the course of study is the right one for you? We support you with a wide range of information, events and advisory services around your study orientation and choice. For example, experience real university atmosphere at our Hoch­schul­informations­tagen (HIT) and the Open Campus Day!

Study orientation

To help you get off to a good start with your studies, we warmly invite you to attend our orientation events. Here you will learn
everything you need to know about starting your studies:

• creating a course schedule,
• examination regulations and registration deadlines,
• campus areas and leisure activities,
• and much more.

At the same time, you will have the opportunity to get to know your future fellow students.