Module Name

Module Contents

CP

Module 1:
Paradigms and Methods of Political Science

• Paradigms of political science
• Key approaches and debates in the discipline
• History of the subject
• Research practice and research design

Students attend the lecture series "Theoretical Paradigms of Political Science" and must produce proof of participation in two seminars as well as sit a course-related end-of-module examination. One of the seminars should deal with methodological questions of political science research.

14

Module 2: Sub-area I (compulsory elective module electable from one of three sub-areas)

Module 2a:

Sub-area I
Political Theory

• Problems, theories and methods of political theory

Students must produce proof of participation in two seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

11

Module 2b:
Sub-area I
Comparative Politics

• Problems, theories and methods of comparative politics

Students must produce proof of participation in two seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

11

Module 2c:

Sub-area I
International Relations

• Problems, theories and methods of international relations

Students must produce proof of participation in two seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

11

Module 3: Sub-area II (compulsory elective module electable from one of the three sub-areas which is NOT the same as in Module 2)

Module 3a:

Sub-area II
Political Theory

• Problems, theories and methods of political theory

Students must produce proof of participation in two seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

11

Module 3b:
Sub-area II
Comparative Politics

• Problems, theories and methods of comparative politics

Students must produce proof of participation in two seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

11

Module3c:

Sub-area II International Relations

• Problems, theories and methods of international relations

Students must produce proof of participation in two seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

11

Module 4: Focus Area (from the three possibilities in Module 4, students select one of the sub-areas already completed in Module 2 or 3)

Module 4a:

Focus Area
Political Theory

Students acquire knowledge related to:

• Theoretical and empirical contents in one of the three sub-areas “Political Theory”, “Comparative Politics” or “International Relations” that they have already completed in Module 2 or 3
• A broader interdisciplinary social science perspective
• Specific research priorities of their own choice

Students must produce proof of participation in two seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

11

Module 4b:

Focus Area
Comparative Politics

Students acquire knowledge related to:

• Theoretical and empirical contents in one of the three sub-areas “Political Theory”, "Comparative Politics” or “International Relations” that they have already completed in Module 2 or 3
• A broader interdisciplinary social science perspective
• Specific research priorities of their own choice

Students must produce proof of participation in two seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

11

Module 4c: Focus Area
International Relations

Students acquire knowledge related to:

• Theoretical and empirical contents in one of the three sub-areas “Political Theory”, "Comparative Politics” or “International Relations” that they have already completed in Module 2 or 3
• A broader interdisciplinary social science perspective
• Specific research priorities of their own choice

Students must produce proof of participation in two seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

11

Module 5-7: Compulsory Modules

Module 5:
Research Practice

Research practice courses are related to comparative politics and international relations contents.

Students must produce proof of participation in a seminar with 4 semester hours per week lasting one semester or a seminar with 2 semester hours per week lasting two semesters and complete a written, course-related end-of-module examination in the form of an empirical research paper.

14

Module 6:
Supplementary Studies

Courses can be chosen individually from:

• The sub-area of Political Science not chosen as a focus area or other specialisation
• From the Sociology course portfolio (for advanced social science studies)
• From all courses within the intra-faculty and cross-faculty research priorities (for advanced thematic studies)
• From the course portfolio offered by the Centre for Methods

Not electable are courses related to research practice courses/empirical practice courses, colloquia, bachelor’s courses.

Students must produce proof of participation in two seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

11

Module 7:
Internship

Students gain an insight into the organisation and processes of the institution providing the internship and work actively within it. The internship should be undertaken in an area related to politics in the broadest sense, e.g. at a public institution, association, non-governmental organisation, private sector company, etc.

Students are expected to find a suitable internship themselves; the teaching staff for the degree programme can help with arranging it. The internship can be undertaken during the semester vacation or parallel to the degree programme, full-time or part-time.

Students must prepare a report on their internship. It should report on the contents of the internship and reflect on the relationship between university education and the requirements of professional practice.

Duration: At least 10 weeks

12

Module 8-9: Completion of Studies

Module 8:
Colloquium

• Discussion of and reflection on one’s own research project
• Presentation of one’s own research project

Students must produce proof of active participation in a colloquium.

3

Module 9:

Master’s Dissertation

• Composition of a master’s dissertation on a topic of one’s own choice
• Presentation and oral discussion in the form of an oral examination