Social Sciences
(Bachelor of Arts)

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Profile

Course type

Undergraduate studies (1 Subject bachelor)

Standard Course Duration

6 semesters

Part-time option

Part-time study is optional.

Course Start

Winter semester

Primary Language of Instruction

German

Language Requirements

German HZB: none
International application: German C1
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Admission

Restricted admission

International

Stay abroad possible, but not obligatory.

Short Description

How is society structured? How is the world of work and careers changing? How can conflicts and social prejudices be explained? What is the significance of globalisation, and what effects do the many and varied changes in culture, the economy and politics have on each of us and our everyday lives? These are just some of the questions that students on the Bachelor’ degree programme in Social Sciences will encounter, irrespective of whether they are concerned with industrial or family sociology, with education systems or cultural sociology with a particular emphasis on countries outside Europe or in the Federal Republic of Germany. In order to answer such questions, students familiarise themselves with theoretical approaches, research methods and techniques. Here at Leibniz Universität Hannover, a key element of the degree programme in Social Sciences involves gaining fundamental scientific qualifications in empirical social research. In core subject areas, students also develop their knowledge of issues of central importance to society, while learning how to reflect critically on and independently develop their level of knowledge. These skills are complemented by exercises where students learn to analyse complex social data and present the results appropriately.

Further information on the website of the Institute of Sociology (German language only)

Areas of Focus

Cultural anthropology, focusing on Latin America
Methods of empirical social research
Sociology of scientific knowledge and educational sociology
Sociology of work and organisational sociology

Course Content

The degree programme has an interdisciplinary structure. In addition to pursuing the core areas of structural and subject-oriented sociology and political science, students on the Bachelor’s programme also take other subjects. In the first semesters, they broach the fundamental theories of sociology and political science in the conflicting areas of society, institutions and individuals. They learn how structures in the economy and society have developed and how political systems are organised. In the thematic area following on from this, a variety of sociological specialisations are offered. This gives students the opportunity to develop and expand on their chosen area of specialisation, taking them in the direction of a particular career and setting the path for a postgraduate Master’s degree programme. For their later professions, it is also important that students hone their methodological skills, acquiring basic skills in the fields of “Methods of Empirical Social Research” and “Statistical Methods of Presentation and Analysis”. In research seminars, students choose a topic for research, applying the knowledge gained in practice.

Semester	Compulsory modules	Compulsory elective area A	Compulsory elective area B	Compulsory elective area C	Key transferable skills and practical training
1	Introduction to Sociology (8 CP) Introduction to Political Science (6 CP) Individual and Society (6 CP) Social Structure and Social Statistics (6 CP) Introduction to the Methods of Empirical Social Research (6 CP)				Key Transferable Skills (12 CP) Practical Training (12 CP)
2	Analysis of Contemporary Societies (8 CP) State and Politics (6 CP) Non-Standardised Qualitative Methods of Empirical Social Research (Part A) (10 CP) Standardised Quantitative Methods of Empirical Social Research (Part A) (12 CP) (including Statistics 1)
3	Non-Standardised Qualitative Methods of Empirical Social Research (Part B) (CP see above) Standardised Quantitative Methods of Empirical Social Research (Part B) (CP see above) (including Statistics 2)	Work, Organisation and the Social State 1 (10 CP) Education, Culture and Courses of Life 1 (10 CP) Cultural Anthropology and Global Society 1 (10 CP) (Choice of two modules, total of 20 CP)		Compulsory elective area C (20 CP): Modules from other subjects (e.g. Law, Economics, Business Administration, Philosophy, History, Transformation Studies...)
4	Research Learning Module (18 CP)
5	Research Learning Module (18 CP)		Work, Organisation and the Social State 2 (10 CP) Education, Culture and Courses of Life 2 (10 CP) Cultural Anthropology and Global Society 2 (10 CP) (Choice of two modules, total of 20 CP)
6
6	Bachelor’s thesis (10 CP)

Recommended Abilities

The willingness to get to the depths of specialist issues and to work independently
The willingness to read lengthy specialist texts
A good command of English and knowledge of at least one other modern foreign language are useful at university and in the world of work (no obligatory language requirements)

Career Opportunities

Graduates of Social Sciences have a wide range of career options and possibilities to specialise in various areas. However, the lack of a specific profession for social scientists means that students must take a lot of initiative and be flexible in planning their future career. Potential career opportunities include academic research, teaching and continuing education, project management, public relations and consultancy, human resources development and association work, as well as market, opinion and consumer research.

Possible Further Degree Programmes

Under certain conditions, admission to the following Master's programmes is also possible. More detailed information can be found in the respective admission regulations. If you have any questions, please contact the course advice of the desired Master's programme:

Economic Geography (Master of Arts)
Educational Sciences (Master of Arts) (Only possible with the elective module "Education, Culture and CVs")

Admission requirements and application

Admission Requirements

The exact admission requirements can be found in the admission regulations:

Application Deadlines

First-year students (Application for the first semester is only possible for the winter semester)

Applicants from Germany and other EU countries: June 1st – July 15th of the year
Applicants from outside the European Union: April 15th – May 31st of the year (application via uni-assist)
Applicants who have passed the assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung) of a German foundation course (Studienkolleg): 01.06.-15.07. of the year

Students resuming their studies and transfer students (application in a higher semester)