Module structure of the Master's program in Political Science
Your opportunities
You can study our Master's program in Political Science with or without a specialization. The module overview (see picture) shows you the basic structure of the program. If you are aiming for a degree without a content focus, the module group "specialization" is omitted and the extension area increases accordingly. You can see below which concrete modules must be selected for the respective specializations.
After you have determined your focus*, you can change your focus once during your studies. To do so, contact the examination office to apply for the change of focus.
*You choose your specialization indirectly via the module registration in FlexNow: If you register for a module of a subarea as a specialization module, then this is your chosen specialization. The secretariats can easily change this assignment as long as no grade has been entered for a module. After that, it is officially a specialization change.
Our types of courses
There are three basic course types in the master's program in political science:
- Method seminar (8 ECTS-Points)
- Lecture (6 ECTS-Points)
- Main seminar (8 ECTS-Points)
Each course is assigned to one of the three course types via the general module title. Main seminars and lectures are additionally assigned to one of the six main content areas.
Detailed information on all modules as well as their learning objectives and contents can be found in the module handbook. The specific content and topics of the main seminars may vary from semester to semester. This flexible module structure allows lecturers to address and discuss current topics to a particular extent in the courses of a semester.
Modules and module groups of the specializations
The specializations described in the tables can also be found in Appendix 1 of the exam and study regulations. There you will also find a list of all existing modules with assignment to the respective subareas in Appendix 2.
- Without specialization
- Comparative Political Science
- International and European Politics
- Modern Political Theory
- Political Sociology
- Policy Analysis
- Computational Social Science
Without specialization
| Module Group | Modules | ECTS-Points |
|---|---|---|
| Methods of political science | Two modules from the area of methods of political science according to appendix 2. | 16 |
| Political science submissions | Modules according to Annex 2 from at least three political science subfields, each amounting to at least 10 ECTS. | 44-74 |
| Supplementary area | Free combination of modules of the student's choice from the following areas:
| 0-30 |
| Master thesis | Thesis on a topic from a subfield of political science | 30 |
| Sum | 120 |
Comparative Political Science
| Module Group | Modules | ECTS-Points |
|---|---|---|
| Methods of political science | Two modules from the area of methods of political science according to appendix 2 | 16 |
| Political science specialization | Modules from the subfield of Comparative Political Science according to Appendix 2 and a maximum of one module from the subfield of Political Sociology. | 30 |
| Supplementary area | Free combination of modules of the student's choice from the following areas:
| 44 |
| Master thesis | Thesis on a topic from the subfield of comparative politics | 30 |
| Sum | 120 |
International and European Politics
| Module Group | Modules | ECTS-Points |
|---|---|---|
| Methods of political science | Two modules from the area of methods of political science according to appendix 2 | 16 |
| Political science specialization | Modules from the subfield of International and European Politics according to Appendix 2 | 30 |
| Supplementary area | Free combination of modules of the student's choice from the following areas:
| 44 |
| Master thesis | Thesis on a topic from the subfield of International and European Politics | 30 |
| Sum | 120 |
Modern Political Theory
| Module Group | Modules | ECTS-Points |
|---|---|---|
| Methods of political science | Two modules from the area of methods of political science according to appendix 2 | 16 |
| Political science specialization | Modules from the subfield of political theory according to appendix 2 | 30 |
| Supplementary area | Free combination of modules of the student's choice from the following areas:
| 44 |
| Master thesis | Thesis on a topic from the subfield of Political Theory | 30 |
| Sum | 120 |
Political Sociology
| Module Group | Modules | ECTS-Points |
|---|---|---|
| Methods of political science |
| 16 |
| Political science specialization | Modules from the subfield of Political Sociology and a maximum of one module from the subfield of Comparative Political Science according to Appendix 2. | 30 |
| Supplementary area | Free combination of modules of the student's choice from the following areas:
| 44 |
| Master thesis | Thesis on a topic from the subfield of Political Sociology | 30 |
| Sum | 120 |
Policy Analysis
| Module Group | Modules | ECTS-Points |
|---|---|---|
| Methods of political science | Two modules from the area of political science methods according to Appendix 2. | 16 |
| Politial science specialization | Modules from the subfield Policy Analysis according to Appendix 2. | 30 |
| Supplemenatry area | Free combination of modules of the student's choice from the following areas:
| 44 |
| Master thesis | Thesis on a topic from the subfield of Policy Analysis | 30 |
| Sum | 120 |
Computational Social Science
| Module Group | Modules | ECTS-Points |
|---|---|---|
Qualitative and quantitative methods | Two modules from the area of political science methods according to Appendix 2. | 16 |
| Political science specialization | Three modules from the subfield Computational Social Science according to Appendix 2 as well as module PWM-PT-HS5 Hauptseminar: Political Theory V | 30 |
| Computer science and business informatics | Modules from the subjects computer science and business informatics | 28-32 |
| Supplementary area | Free combination of modules of the student's choice from the following areas:
| 12-16 |
| Master thesis | Thesis on a topic from the subfield of Computational Social Science | 30 |
| Sum | 120 |
Modules and module groups of the specializations
The specializations described in the tables can also be found in Appendix 1 of the exam and study regulations. There you will also find a list of all existing modules with assignment to the respective subareas in Appendix 2.