European Studies: Politics – Law – Society

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.

• 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

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.

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)

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.

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

A semester abroad is compulsory and usually takes place in the fifth semester. In addition to a semester abroad, an internship abroad or a European research project is also possible.

You can find our partner universities on our study abroad page. For further information on internships abroad and European research projects, please contact the Erasmus coordinators Dr Rosa Navarrete and Dr Moritz Rehm.