Study Concept
Concept and Goals of the Masters Degree
The masters degree sociology at the institute of sociology at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg is a programm decidedly oriented on research. It offers you a fundational theoretical education in combination with the qualifications needed for the independent planing, conceptualising and execution of research. These skills and the needed knowledge will be offered through specialised and small masters courses. Through this they offer the persuit of specifically selected sociological topics and concentrated support during the conception and development of your own research. The theoretical knowledge on research will be translated into practice with the help of a research-seminar spanning two semesters and a research project.
Our programm offers many possibilities to set your own focus. You can choose between four topic-related focal points: comparative social analysis, education and course of live, culture and communication, work and organisation. Additionally sociological theory and methods of empirical social research can also be chosen. All of these offer masters courses. Starting with the winter semester 2012/13 the institute offers the possibility to replace the masters courses with “integrated masters courses”. Due to this students can choose between more courses and they can take a closer look at current research topics being discussed in their field of interest.
The course is designed to be studied for four semesters and includes 120 ECTS-points. 100-ECTS points have to be taken in sociology and 20 ECTS-points need to be part of an additional course of your chooshing. The masters degree is designed on top of a bachelors degree in sociology or a related subject.
The goal of the masters programm for our students is:
- acquirering adequate systematic and historical knowledge of the subject and a deep knowledge of one concentrated part of it
- acquirering the skill to design, execute and finish a sociological research project relating to their topic of interest
- to be able to start a doctorate following their graduation
Due to this students will work on a specific topic of research and the independent discussion starting their first semester: They choose a topic for their own research and work on it with the help of a supervisor. This is designed to make them able to independantly analyse a sociological topic beyond the reception and reproduction of literary knowledge. The goal of the masters is to develop the skill of developing a sociological research project and a concept for their analysis reaching from a theoretical basis to the developement and analysis of an empirical survey as well as translating the project into a practical application. All of this will be taught through the specialisation of the student in one certain area of research. This way of studying is designed to prepare the student for their day to day work life.
Due to this students develop a subject-specific education, designed for them to be able to independently work on research questions, their translation into an empirical research project and to be able to systematically methodically and theoretically reflect the results of research. Additionally they will be able to translate their findings into writing and be able to present them. They will be qualified to work in academic fields relating to media, culture, HR and further education of adults, public institutions as well as universities and scietific research institutes. The region of Erlangen and Nuremberg is site to huge research institution (f.e. institute for employment research , NIQ, federal ministry of migration and refugees). You will also find many instrial and media companies that offer interesting possibilities after graduation.