Course structure and module overview

Below you will find further information on the modules:

Module: Fundamentals of Methodology (1st/2nd semester; 13 ECTS credits)

Content:

What characterises academic work and how does one go about it?

How does one collect empirical data and how can it be analysed?

How does one apply both in practice?

Academic work thrives on rigour and objective verifiability, combined with a willingness to constantly question findings critically. Against this backdrop, students learn what distinguishes academic work from other types of writing. The academic research process is examined and practised, taking into account both literature-based and empirical research. The latter is explored in more detail through insights into the methods of empirical social research and descriptive statistics. Both are put into practice as part of a small research project.

Module: Fundamentals and Areas of Social Policy (1st/2nd semester; 10 ECTS credits)

Content:

• What is social policy and who is responsible for it?
• In which policy areas does social policy operate?
• What current challenges must social policy address?

Students will learn about the basic concepts, objectives and key players in social policy. The course will also examine the factors that shape social policy and the various ways in which it can be implemented. The focus will then shift to the specific policy areas covered by social policy. The course will emphasise that social policy is not limited solely to social security systems, but can be found in a much broader sense in virtually every aspect of life. Furthermore, the ‘Technical English: Social Policy’ module provides students with fundamental and advanced English language skills in the field of social policy.

Module: Introduction to Sociology (1st/2nd semester; 8 ECTS credits)

Content:

• What is sociology all about?
• What are the foundations of social behaviour?

The nature of sociology is discussed. Key concepts, fundamental questions and the methodology of sociological research are examined. The foundations of social behaviour are explored in relation to the formation of social structures.

Module: Introduction to Political Science (1st/2nd semester; 8 ECTS credits)

Content:

• What is politics all about, and how does it work?
• What is political science, and what does it study?

The fundamentals, intellectual history and key areas of so-called ‘political theory’ are explained. The academic study of politics seeks to analyse and explain political phenomena using rigorous, discipline-specific methodology.

Module: Introduction to Economics (1st/2nd semester; 8 ECTS credits)

Content:

• How do economists traditionally model the behaviour of economic agents? What outcomes do markets produce, and when do they fail? What problems can arise from a macroeconomic perspective?
• What are the state’s responsibilities in market economies, and what instruments does it have at its disposal?

The focus is on the fundamental models of micro- and macroeconomics used to explain individual and macroeconomic issues, such as price formation in goods and labour markets, economic fluctuations and unemployment. The limitations of these models and the role of the state in the free play of market forces are discussed, and selected instruments of state economic policy for resolving allocative and distributive problems are examined.

Module: Introduction to Communication Studies (1st/2nd semester; 8 ECTS credits)

Content:

• Why is communication ‘everything’, and how does it work?
• How do the media work, and what significance do they have for the political system?
• How can one develop one’s own presentation skills?

Students will learn about key communication and media theories, the national and international media landscape, and their significance for the political system. They will also reflect on their own communication behaviour and develop their own range of options through practical exercises.

Module: Fundamentals of Law (1st/2nd semester; 5 ECTS credits)

Content:

• What role does ‘law’ play in society?
• How does ‘law’ relate to the regulation of social needs?

Students will learn about the concept and function of law, both in a national and international context, particularly within the European framework. The nature of a welfare state will be discussed, including the significance of law for social policy. The legal options available in the field of social policy will be examined.

Module: Advanced Module in Methodology (3rd/4th semester; 11 ECTS credits)

Content:

• How can findings derived from samples be generalised? And how can relationships between different variables be modelled and analysed?
• Which methods of empirical social research can be used to address specific research questions?
• How does evaluation research work?

Students will learn the basic methods of inductive statistics, in particular estimation and testing methods, and econometrics (in particular regression models). The methodology of empirical social research will be explored in depth, and selected statistical software packages such as SPSS or MAXQDA will be introduced. Furthermore, the course will cover aspects of evaluation research and its application using selected examples.

Module: Advanced Social Policy (3rd semester; 10 ECTS credits)

Content:

• How do international organisations, states and the European Union shape social policy – and what differences can be observed around the world?
• How can poverty and inequality be measured, compared and explained – and what challenges does this pose for research and policy-making?
• Which social policy strategies can effectively reduce poverty and inequality, and what recommendations for action can be derived from international comparisons?

The ‘Advanced Social Policy’ module provides in-depth knowledge of international and European social policies, as well as the issues of poverty and inequality. Students analyse social policy systems in an international comparison, examine the roles of key actors and institutions, and learn about different welfare state models. In addition, they acquire knowledge of theories, concepts and methods for measuring and explaining poverty and inequality. Using current databases and empirical analyses, they apply quantitative and qualitative methods and develop well-founded recommendations for addressing social policy challenges in a global context.

Module: Advanced Political Science (3rd/4th semester; 6 ECTS credits)

Content:

• How do political development processes work?
• How do such decisions become reality, particularly in a socio-political context?

Building on the skills acquired in the foundation module, this module focuses on the institutional context, organisational principles, strategies and procedures involved in political decision-making processes. In particular, it examines how political decisions are implemented in practice, especially within a socio-political context.

Module: Advanced Economics (3rd/4th semester; 6 ECTS credits)

Content:

• What role do international economic relations play in the prosperity of a national economy?
• What further explanatory approaches to socio-politically relevant issues does economics offer beyond the ‘classical theories’?

Building on the skills acquired in the foundation module, the focus shifts to foreign trade theory and policy, exchange rates and monetary systems, as well as growth and prosperity in an interconnected global economy. Moving beyond the so-called mainstream, approaches from behavioural economics, heterodox economics and socio-economics are examined and discussed.

Module: Advanced Sociology (3rd/4th semester; 7 ECTS credits)

Content:

• What logic do social subsystems follow?
• How do processes of social change unfold?

Building on the skills acquired in the foundation module, this module focuses on the processes of cooperation and conflict within and between social subsystems. Against this backdrop, the module examines processes of social change, including the communication associated with them, with a particular focus on the socio-political sphere.

Module: Advanced Communication Studies (3rd/4th semester; 6 ECTS credits)

Content:

• How does political communication work?
• Why is crisis management necessary?
• How can one negotiate without losing sight of one’s own objectives?

This advanced module focuses on the key players, the media and the impact of political communication. It is about the ability to identify ‘issues’ and to implement optimal crisis and campaign management. Furthermore, it is about the ability to optimise one’s own negotiating skills, including argumentation techniques and the art of leading a discussion.

Module: Advanced Law (3rd/4th semester; 5 ECTS credits)

Content:

• What does the field of labour and social law entail?
• How are the two related to one another – particularly in times of social change?

Building on the skills acquired in the basic module, this module focuses on individual and collective labour law and thus on the factors influencing gainful employment, as well as on the social law framework of the social security system. In analysing the relevant interdependencies, processes of social change are examined in this context.

Module: Society and Work in Transition (4th semester; 8 ECTS credits)

Content:

• How are social developments, digitalisation and demographic change transforming the world of work?
• What challenges do these pose for social policy, social justice and sustainable development?
• What reform concepts and policy options can help shape a sustainable future for society and the world of work?

The module ‘Society and Work in Transition’ examines changes in society, the world of work and social policy from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students analyse historical and current processes of transformation, including digitalisation, demographic change and issues of social sustainability. They examine the opportunities and challenges posed by social developments and discuss political and legal reform options. As part of an interdisciplinary project, they develop their own solutions to current socio-political issues and assess their potential impact on society and the world of work.

Module: Interdisciplinary Social Policy (5th semester; 5 ECTS credits)

Content:

• How can current social policy challenges be understood and analysed from different academic perspectives?
• What insights from social policy research, political economy and political sociology can help in developing viable solutions?
• How can social policy measures be effectively implemented, evaluated and adapted to changes in society?

The ‘Interdisciplinary Social Policy’ module explores current social policy issues in depth by integrating different academic perspectives. Students engage with current research findings and learn to apply concepts, methods and theories from various disciplines to societal challenges. In doing so, they analyse social policy problems, evaluate existing approaches and discuss issues relating to the implementation and impact of policy measures. Through practice-oriented project work, they address changing current topics and develop analytically sound and application-oriented perspectives for social policy.

Module: First and second specialisation subjects (5th/7th semester; 10 ECTS credits each)

Content:

Specialisation modules I and II offer the opportunity to choose two out of a total of three specialisation modules. These are:

• ‘Society’ – focusing on sociological and political science issues and concepts
• ‘Economics’ – focusing on economic issues and concepts
• ‘Communication’ – focusing on communication and media studies issues and concepts

The courses within the specialisation are not fixed but may vary from year to year. In all specialisations, the focus is on topics and issues in the context of “sustainable social policy” – to a greater extent than in the foundation and advanced modules. Some courses are taught in English.

Module: Supplementary subjects (5th semester; 15 ECTS credits in total)

Content:

The supplementary modules offer students the opportunity to follow their own inclinations and interests when choosing individual subjects. For example, the following subjects may be offered or taken:

• Philosophy/Ethics
• Project Management
• Intercultural Competence
• Rhetoric and Presentation
• Social Psychology
• Microsimulations
• Search Engine Optimisation and Social Media; Photoshop
• Foreign Language Course

Module: Work Placement Semester (6th semester; 30 ECTS credits)

Content:

“Grey, my dear friend, is all theory; green is the golden tree of life.” (Faust 1, Goethe)

In this way, students are given the opportunity to put the knowledge and skills they have already acquired during their studies to the test in a practical setting. At institutions of their choice (including those abroad), they will spend 20 weeks working on social policy-related tasks – including those involving communication and media studies – within a specific professional context. In doing so, key skills in areas such as the application of knowledge, time management, teamwork and language proficiency will be utilised and developed.

Module: Final module (7th semester; 20 ECTS credits)

Content:

Everything comes to an end, including this degree course.

The Bachelor’s thesis involves the independent production of a scientifically and practically oriented written piece of work. Students demonstrate to themselves and to the reader that they are capable of independently developing a well-founded answer to a research question of their own choosing from the field of social policy, whilst applying scientific theories and methods appropriately and presenting their findings in writing in a professional manner. As part of an accompanying research seminar, students have the opportunity to present their (interim) findings professionally, to evaluate their fellow students’ academic work in terms of content and methodology, and to develop constructive suggestions for solutions. Finally, students present the results of their Bachelor’s thesis in an oral examination.

A selection of bachelor’s theses can also be found on the university’s publication server.

Below you will find the documents ‘Study Progression Plan’, ‘Study Plan’ and ‘Module Handbook’, which provide further details on the course content (in German language).