Institute of Political Science
MA Program

MA program

The MA program Political Science [de] is an advanced two-year graduate degree which combines a disciplinary specialization with a distinctive interdisciplinary profile. In a politological basic area graduates work in their first year on specific research questions by improving their methodological skills and increasing their specialised knowledge. Our five professorships cover all fields of the discipline (Political Theory and History of Ideas, Political Systems, International Relations, European Comparative Government, Political Science Research Methods). In your second year you can choose one out of four interdisciplinary courses:

  • Intellectual history – Supported by the Institutes of Sociology and German Linguistics, the Professorship for Political Theory and History of Ideas reconstructs intellectual thinking, acting and working in its social and political complexity.
  • Political systems past and present – Supported by the Institutes of European History and English & American Studies, the Professorship for Political Systems analyses former and contemporary political orders in Germany, Europe and across the world.
  • Power shifts and challenges in terms of security policy – Supported by the Institute of European Studies, the Professorship for International Relations handles changes in terms of power and security policy as well as their implications for German and European politics.
  • Political Consulting – Supported by the Institute of Media Studies, the Professorship for European Comparative Government analyses and teaches the forms, techniques and strategies of political consulting and communication.

The last term is reserved for your MA thesis that completes your study with a substantial piece of research. Traineeships are part of our program just as excursions are, thus students can gain a valuable insight into possible future career fields. Numerous international partnership programs provide opportunities to gather international experience.

The MA Political Science program addresses graduates in the fields of political and social sciences. It is taught in German and designed for four semesters (two years) of study. If successfully completed, students will receive the academic degree Master of Arts (M.A.).