European Studies: Politics – Law – Society

From winter semester 2023/24, Saarland University’s Bachelor of European Studies will offer a B.A. in European Studies: Politics – Law – Society as a fourth programme alongside Geographies of Europe, Modern and Contemporary History, and Comparative Literature.

What will you learn in the bachelor’s degree programme European Studies: Politics – Law – Society? What career prospects does this programme offer?

For thousands of years European countries fought out their conflicts on the battlefield, leading to some of the most appalling wars in human history.  In the wake of this experience, Europe launched a unique experiment: the endeavour to solve disputes and conflicts not by war but by negotiation. In other words, Europe replaced the rule of force with the rule of law. This led to a hitherto inconceivable phase of cooperation between European states and to a period of unparallelled peace and prosperity. Questions arise, however: Can this success story go on indefinitely? Are the peoples of Europe and their political leaders prepared to yield more and more power to Brussels? Is that even desirable? Would it mean a loss of essential values – a loss of the diversity for which Europe stands? Are there perhaps other ways than that of ever greater integration? When the EU was just a common market such questions hardly arose. Today they are crucial.

Become experts on Europe and you’ll be able to answer such questions – and many others! In the B.A. programme European Studies: Politics – Law – Society your teachers will introduce you to the latest politological and sociological theories, and to the methods of data analysis, and will support you in applying them in practice. You will, in other words, be trained rigorously as social scientists. On completion of your studies you will be familiar with the political systems of Europe’s nation states, the functioning and working methods of the EU, and the common factors and differences among Europe’s societies.

Basic information on the B.A. programme

The programme provides a thorough social science training, primarily in the disciplines of political science and sociology, with complementary insights into European history, geography and culture. With a degree in this field, you will understand the ongoing development of politics, law and society and be able to to analyse the approaches of other disciplines to social science theories and methods.

This will give you an excellent basis either to continue studying for a master’s degree in European studies, sociology, or political science, or to embark on a career in a European institution or similar organization in Brussels, Berlin, or one of the German state capitals – or in the wider civil service or private sector. In today’s business and administrative world, European and international governance, cooperation and regulation are omnipresent, and competence in these areas is much called for.

Overview

The bachelor’s degree programme in European Studies: Politics – Law – Society comprises 180 Credit Points (CP) gaind in three key areas:

  • The core area consists of an introduction to European history, geography, politics, society, and media, and to the basics of European law. Here you will learn to work scientifically and gain competence in a foreign language and intercultural communication. (49 CP)
  • The specific disciplinary focus area of politics – law – society will provide you with specialist knowledge of European societies and their politics. You will learn to apply different analytical methods to statistical data analysis. Two in-depth modules will give you further insights into politological research on European issues. A legal module will enable you to focus on international, European, and/or constitutional law. Finally, a research-teaching project will give you the competencies you need for writing your bachelor’s thesis. (60 CP)
  • From the mandatory options list you can choose whatever courses you find profitable or of particular interest. You can, for example, choose courses from a particular disciplinary area or because you aim to go on to take a specific master’s degree. The list of options covers courses from English and American studies, business administration, media studies, geography, German studies, archaeology, history, art history, philosophy and psychology, Romance studies, theology, and literary studies. 
  • In the language courses (totalling 9 CP) you will gain the foreign language competence necessary for your mandatory period abroad in the fifth semester (20 CP). An eight-week internship (12 CP) will give you professional experience. You will complete your B.A. programme with a bachelor’s thesis (12 CP) under the supervision of a professor. Here you can demonstrate to the full your acquired expertise on Europe.

Program plan
  • Semester 1-4: Core area and focus area: Politics, Law, Society - optional area
  • Semester 5: Study semester abroad /  internship - optional area
  • Semester 6: Bachelor's thesis - optional area
Core area

The core area represents the overarching strand (102 credit points (CP) in total) of the four European Studies degree programmes with the specialisations "Geographies of Europe", "Politics - Law - Society", "Modern History" and "Comparative Literature" (see also information from CEUS). Here you will study together with students from all four degree programmes! Basic and specialisation courses from the subject contexts of Geography, History, Intercultural Communication, Media and Cultural Studies, Political Science and Law create the ideal starting conditions for an understanding of Europe:

  • Introduction to European history, lines of development, and spatial constructs
  • Introduction to population and migration studies
  • Introduction to European media cultures and cultural media
  • Introduction to Europe’s multi-level governance system
  • European integration
  • Foundation module: Intercultural communication; or Foundation module: French culture and media studies
  • European law
  • Introduction to scientific methodology.

The core area also includes language courses that prepare you for a stay abroad and, of course, your future in Europe in general. The fifth semester is usually used for studying or doing an internship in another European country or for a European research project. An eight-week work placement offers the opportunity to gain an insight into professional life. The Bachelor's thesis rounds off the programme.

Focus area: Politics - Law - Society

The social science specialisation consists of modules worth 60 credit points (CP):

In the "Politics - Law - Society" specialisation, you will learn the essential social science and legal foundations and specialisations of European research and receive an introduction to empirical social research at the beginning of your studies, which you can further deepen in later seminars. The following modules are part of the specialisation:

  •     Politics and Society in Europe (9 CP)
  •     Empirical Social Research (9 CP)
  •     Specialisation in European political science research (18 CP)
    • Comparative European Politics
    • International Relations and European Integration
    • Political Sociology in Europe
  •     Law and Governance (9 CP)
  •     European Politics: Empirical Analyses (15 CP)
Options

In the option area, students can choose and take courses from many different areas in order to strengthen their own profile:

  •     English studies
  •     Business administration
  •     European comparative media studies
  •     Geography
  •     German studies
  •     Classical Archaeology
  •     Art History
  •     Modern History
  •     Philosophy
  •     Psychology
  •     Romance Studies
  •     Protestant Theology
  •     Catholic Theology
  •     Comparative Literature
  •     Pre- and Early Historical Archaeology
  •     The optional area: Optional area including certificates (e.g. Applied Pop Studies, Gender Studies, Language Support and German as a Second Language, Knowledge and Communication). The optional area also regularly offers numerous additional social science exercises and seminars on general and current topics, which will help you to strengthen your social science profile beyond the modules on offer.
Official degree program documents

Examination regulations, degree program regulations, departmental provisions, module handbook can be accessed here.

 

Auslandsstudium

Ein Auslandsaufenthalt ist verpflichtend und findet üblicherweise im fünften Semester statt. Neben einem Auslandssemester ist auch ein Praktikum im Ausland oder ein Europäisches Forschungsprojekt möglich.

Unsere Partneruniversitäten finden Sie auf unserer Seite zum Auslandsstudium. Für weitere Informationen zum Auslandspraktikum und zum Europäischen Forschungsprojekt wenden sie sich bitte an die Erasmuskoordinatoren Frau Dr. Rosa Navarrete und Herrn Dr. Moritz Rehm.

Study adviser

Djamila Jabra

European studies: Politics - Law - Society

Campus
Bulding C5 3, Room 0.15
studium-prg(at)uni-saarland.de

Consultation hours by appointment: Friday, 11:00-13:00 Uhr

 

 

Dr. Martin Ulrich

European studies: Politics - Law - Society

Campus
Bulding C5 3, Room 0.16
Tel.: +49 681 302-2322
studium-prg(at)uni-saarland.de

Consultation hours by appointment: Tuesday, 09:00 - 11:00 Uhr

 

 

As a graduate of the BA program ‘European Studies: Geographies of Europe’ you may go on directly to

  • Master's degree programmes: Due to the focus on social sciences, it is possible to take Master's degree programmes in the following disciplines: political science as well as general social and socio-scientific degree programmes. In addition, there is a large number of degree programmes in the context of European Studies. Saarland University offers the degree programme "Spaces, Politics and Societies of Europe" in particular.
  • Job market entry: The Bachelor's degree programme qualifies students for direct entry into professional life in the following areas: European institutions, public administration, institutions of cross-border cooperation, non-governmental organisations, associations, chambers, political parties, regional development/regional management, private companies such as project developers or management consultancies, economic development, local authorities and others.

We give Politics- Law - Society a human face

Prof. Dr. Daniela Braun

Campus
Building C5 3, room 0. 13
Tel.: +49 681 302-2352
d.braun(at)uni-saarland.de

further information
 

 

Prof. Dr. Martin Schröder

Campus
Building C5 3, room 0.11
martin.schroeder(at)uni-saarland.de

further information
 

 

Djamila Jabra

Study adviser:

Campus
Building C5 3, room 0.15
studium-prg(at)uni-saarland.de

further information
 

 

Dr. Martin Ulrich

Study adviser:

Campus
Building C5 3, room 0.16
studium-prg(at)uni-saarland.de

further information

 

Prof. Dr. Georg Wenzelburger

Campus
Building C5 3, room 0.19
Tel.: +49 681 302-71222
georg.wenzelburger(at)uni-saarland.de

further information
 

 

Dr. Rosa Navarrete

Erasmus-Coordinator

Building C5 3, room 0.15
Tel.: +49 681 302-2368
rosa.navarrete(at)uni-saarland.de

further information
 

 

Dr. Moritz Rehm

Erasmus-Coordinator

Campus
Building C5 3, room 0.16
Tel.: +49 681 302-2322
moritz.rehm(at)uni-saarland.de

further information