Higher Education, Science, Society
(Master of Arts)

Many social terms are shown, such as social, modern, science or interrelations

Profile

Course type

Postgraduate studies (Master)

Standard Course Duration

4 semesters

Course Start

Winter semester

Language of Instruction

German

Language Requirements

German HZB: none
International application: German C1
Find out more

Admission

Restricted admission

International

Stay abroad possible, but not obligatory.

Short Description

The Master’s degree programme in Higher Education, Science, Society enables students to theoretically and methodologically explore the global knowledge society. To this end, the degree programme is both research-oriented and interdisciplinary. Students acquire knowledge of university and science research in coordinated courses from the areas of sociology, political science, philosophy, law as well as economics and business administration. They also acquire advanced methodological skills in the area of empirical social research.

Students then apply the knowledge gained in a project module, which involves them undertaking their own research project at the premises of a cooperation partner. Cooperation partners include: the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW), the Volkswagen Foundation, Lower Saxony Ministry for Science and Culture, the Scientific Commission of Lower Saxony (WKN), and unitransfer – the Research and Technology Contact Office. After the standard period of study of four semesters, students have earned 120 credit points and are awarded a Master of Arts (MA) degree.

Further information on the website of the institute for sociology (German language only)

Course Content

Educational pathways and social structure
Legal requirements for science and academia
Methods of empirical social research
Organisation and management
Project course

Course Structure

The Project module, taken in the second and third semesters, takes centre stage in this degree programme. During the project, students build on the expertise and professional skills gained from the interdisciplinary basic module and the specialisation and compulsory elective module. The basic module introduces students systematically to the thematic interrelation of the degree programme and encompasses sociological, economic and scientific-philosophical perspectives. In the specialisation and compulsory elective module, students acquire expertise in the area of higher education legislation as well as in the educational and career pathways of university graduates. In addition, they also gain an overview of the key institutions, actors and regulatory structures of the academic system at the national and European level, as well as their areas of conflict and consensus. Throughout the degree programme, students can gain skills in qualitative and quantitative empirical social research and then apply these skills during their research project.

Semester	Topics and Analyses			Methods	Projects and Mentoring
1	Basic module Higher Education, Science and Society (20 CP) Sociological Diagnosis of the Present / Knowledge Society Introduction to Theoretical and Practical Philosophy of Science Economics of Education Actors and Institutions of the System of Higher Education and Science			Specialisation in Methods of Empirical Social Research (10 CP) Specialisation in Qualitative Methods Specialisation in Quantitative Methods	Research Methodology (5 CP) Introduction to Research Methodology
2	Specialisation module (compulsory area)				Project course (25 CP)
2	Educational Pathways and Social Structure 1 (5 CP) Educational and Career Pathways	Legal Foundations (5 CP) Higher Education Legislation	Organisation and Management 1 (5 CP) Regulatory Structures and Management of Science (Introduction)		Accompanying seminar Project Course 1	Project partner 400 hours with the partner organisation 290 hours preparation and follow-up
3	Compulsory elective area (one module is chosen)			Specialisation in Methods of Empirical Social Research (10 CP) either quantitative or qualitative specialisation	Accompanying seminar Project Course 2
3	Educational Pathways and Social Structure 2 (5 CP) Access to Higher Education, University Graduates, Entering the Job Market	Organisation and Management 2 (5 CP) Regulatory Structures and Management of Science (Specialisation)			Accompanying seminar Project Course 2
4	Master’s thesis and colloquium (30 CP)

Recommended Abilities

A Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Sociology, Political Science, Economics and Business Administration, Education/Education Sciences, Philosophy, Law or another closely related subject
Knowledge of empirical methods worth 10 credit points
Where applicable, evidence of an adequate knowledge of German (level: C1 GER) if applicants qualified for admission to higher education and gained their Bachelor’s degree outside Germany

Career Opportunities

Social science research and learning activities in research into education, university and science research
Higher education and research management in public bodies and R&D departments of companies from the private sector
Conceptualisation and implementation of science and research promotion
Development of science policy strategies for bodies such as ministries of science or international research establishments
Research and innovation transfer for companies
Career and human resources planning in the academic sector

Admission requirements and application

Admission Requirements

An undergraduate degree in a related field of study, such as

For master's degree programmes with restricted admission, places shall be allocated according to the university’s own selection procedure, if there are more applicants fulfilling the admission requirements than there are places available. The exact admission requirements can be found in the admission regulations: