Social Sciences - Bachelor of Arts

Social science deals with social issues and problems of human coexistence, from the smallest relationship units to organizations and complex (regulatory) systems. The degree course combines political science and sociology in two selectable specialization options with varying degrees of emphasis.

Facts

Standard period of study:
6 semesters
Language of instruction:
German, partly English
Admission:
admission-free
Start of studies:
winter semester
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Two students are chatting in a paved square with a few trees. A student walks past them with her laptop wearing a face mask.
© Simone Reukauf

Social science deals with social issues and problems of human coexistence, from the smallest relationship units to organizations and complex (regulatory) systems.

The degree program combines political science and sociology in two selectable major variants with different weightings. The core program of the political science major includes the areas of political theory, state and domestic politics, international politics, comparative politics and European governance. The core programme in the Sociology major is divided into the areas of Sociological Theories, Microsocial Structures, Macrosocial Structures, Economic and Organizational Sociology and (other) Special Sociologies.

The supplementary minor contains a selection of subject-specific modules from the other discipline. You can develop your personal profile via the compulsory elective area, a free elective area and individual internships.

The degree qualifies you for jobs in interest groups, regional, national and international non-governmental organizations, in administrations and political parties, in journalism, in market and opinion research as well as in the field of evaluation and in (further) education institutions. At the same time, it meets the requirements for further studies with different social science specializations.

You can choose between two options:

  • Major Political Science & Minor Sociology
  • Major Sociology & Minor Political Science

The Bachelor's thesis is written in the major area.

Regulations

Every degree has sets of regulations which govern access, admissions, examinations and the structure of the program. More concrete information on the structure of the program is provided here:

 Regulations Social Sciences (B.A.) - Single-Subject Bachelor

Study Program Plans

Study program plans are an example of how the degree program may be structured.

Major Political Science

Sem. Qualification Methods of empirical social research Political Theory Governance in the multi-level system Comparative political science International politics European Politics Minor Sociology Elective area
1st (winter semester)

SOZ-BP-EF:
Introduction to Political Science (3 CP)

SOZ-BQ-TA:
Techniques of scientific work (4 CP) Working Techniques (4 CP)

SOZ-M1-BK_v01: Basic Module Methods of Empir. Social Research (10 CP)

1) Introductory Methods of Emp. Social Research, 2 CP

SOZ-BP-PT1:
Political Theory I (10 CP)

1) Power and rule, 4/6 CP

SOZ-BP-RM1:
Governance in the multi-level system I (10 CP)

1) Government system of the FRG,
4/6 CP

      

SOZ-BS-ST1: Sociological Theory I (10 CP)

1) Theories of action 4/6 CP

 OZ-B-FWB: 18 CP, including 1 LN, i.e. 3 courses
2nd (summer semester)  

2) Economic and social statistics, 4 CP

3) Ein. qualitative methods, 4 CP

 2) Theories of democracy, 6/4 CP 2) Structures and
Functions of the
political system of the
EU
6/4 CP

SOC-BP-VP1:
Comparative Political Science. I
(10 CP)

1) Theories & Methods,
4/6 CP

SOZ-BP-IP1:
Inter. Politics I
(10 CP)

1) Intro. internat. Ref.,
4/6 CP

   2) Theories of social
differentiation
6/4 CP
3rd (winter semester)

SOZ-BQ-BRP:
Internship
(7 CP)

SOZ-BQ-PB:
Internship report
(2 CP)

SOZ-M2-EP:
Empirical Practice
(10 CP)
[optionally with quantitative
or qualitative
orientation]

1) Part 1, 4 CP

SOZ-BP-PT2:
Political Theory II
(10 CP)

1) Specialization 1,
4/6 CP

SCO-BP-RM2:
Governance in the
multi-level system II
(10 CP)

1) Specialization 1,
4/6 CP

 2) Comparison of political
systems, 6/4 CP		 2) Introduction to
IPÖ,
6/4 CP

[1 x compulsory elective
(10 CP) from
Offer BA ES]

Either

SOZ-BES-IS:
EU in the internat. system

or

SOZ-BES-IN:
EU in the
internal perspective

or

SOZ-BES-EW_v01:
European Economy

[4 x compulsory elective]
(30 CP) from:

SOZ-BS-MA:
Social structure and
social inequality

or

SOZ-BS-MI:
Microsoc. structures

or

SOZ-BS-VM:
Advanced Methods

or

SOZ-BS-WO1_v01:
Einf. in die Wirtschafts-
/ Organizationssoz.
4th (summer semester)   2) Part 2, 6 CP 2) Specialization 2,
6/4 CP		 2) Specialization 2,
6/4 CP

SOZ-BP-VP2:
Vgl. Politikw. II
(10 CP)

1) Specialization 1,
4/6 CP

SOZ-BP-IP2:
Intern. Politics II
(10 CP)

1) Specialization 1, 4/6 CP
5th (winter semester) SOZ-BQ-KO:
Colloquium
Bachelor thesis
(4 CP)		       2) Specialization 2,
6/4 CP		 2) Specialization 2,
6/4 CP
6th (summer semester) SOZ-BAR: Bachelor thesis
(12 CP)
Compulsory area

 

Major Sociology

Legend: Vertical: number of semesters; Horizontal: first line thematic areas, second line modules; compulsory modules are highlighted in gray

Sem. Qualification Methods of empirical
social research		 Sociological theories Micro/macro sociology Economic/
organizational sociology		 Special sociologies /
Specialization in methods		 Minor in Political Science Elective
area
1st (winter semester)

SOZ-BAR: Bachelor thesis
(12 CP)
Introduction to
Sociology
(3 CP)

SOZ-BQ-TA:
Techniques of academic
work
(4 CP)

SOZ-M1-BK_v01:
Basic Module Methods of
empir. Social Research
(10 CP)

1) Introductory methods of empirical
social research (2 CP)

SOZ-BS-ST1:
Sociological Theories I
(10 CP)

1) Theories of action,
4/6 CP

 SOZ-BS-MA:
Social Structure and Social
Inequality
(10 CP)
1) Introduction,
4/6 CP		     SOZ-BP-PT1:
Political Theory I
(10 CP) (compulsory)
1) Power and Rule 4/6 CP
(offered in the winter semester)
2) Theories of Democracy 6/4 CP
(offered in the summer semester)		 SOZ-B-FWB: 18 CP, including 1 LN, i.e. 3 courses
2nd (summer semester)  

2) Economic and
Social Statistics,
4 CP

3) Ein. qualitative methods,
4 CP

 2) Theories of social
differentiation,
6/4 CP		 2) Specialization,
6/4 CP

SOZ-BS-WO1_v01:
Introduction to
Economic/
Organizational Sociology
(10 CP)

1) Economic Sociology,
4/6 CP

SOZ-BS-SS1:
Special Sociologies I
(10 CP)

1) 4/6 CP
2) 6/4 CP

SOZ-BS-SS2:
Special Sociologies II
(10LP)

1) 4/6 CP
2) 6/4 CP

SOZ-BS-VM:
Specialization in Methods
(10 CP)

1) 4/6 CP
2) 6/4 CP

SOZ-BP-RM1:
Governance in the multi-level system I
(10 CP) (compulsory elective)
1) System of government I 4/6 CP
(offered in the winter semester)
2) Structures and functions of the
political system of the EU 6/4 CP
(offered in the summer semester)

SOZ-BP-VP1:
Comparative Political Science. I
(10 CP) (compulsory elective)
1) Theories & Methods 4/6 CP
(offered in summer semester)
2) Comparison of Political Systems 6/4 CP
(offered in winter semester)

SOZ-BP-IP1:
International Politics I
(10 CP) (compulsory elective)
1) Introduction inter. Relations 4/6 CP
(offered in summer semester)
2) Introduction to IPE 6/4 CP
(offered in winter semester)
3rd (summer semester)

SOZ-BQ-BRP:
Internship
(7 CP)

SOZ-BQ-PB:
Internship report
(2 CP)

 SOZ-M2-EP:
Empirical Practice
(10 CP)
[optionally with quantitative
or qualitative orientation]
1) Part 1, 4 CP

SOZ-BS-ST2:
Sociological Theories II
(10 CP)

1) Specialization 1,
4/6 CP

SOZ-BS-MI:
Microsociolog. Structures
(10 CP)

1) Introduction to
Microsociology,
4/6 CP

 2) Organizational
sociology,
6/4 CP
4th (summer semester)   2) Part 2, 6 CP 2) Specialization 2,
6/4 CP		 2) Specialization
Microsociology,
6/4 CP

SOZ-BS-WO2_v01:
Specialization in Economic
Sociology
(10 CP)

1) Specialization 1
4/6 CP
5th (winter semester) SOZ-BQ-KO:
Colloquium
Bachelor thesis
(4 CP)		       2) Specialization 2
6/4 CP
6th (summer semester) SOZ-BAR: Bachelor thesis
(12 CP)

 

General information about university admissions may be accessed at  Admission Requirements. The German Higher Education Entrance Qualification (Abitur) entitles students to commence a first degree qualification at Osnabrück University. The term “first degree qualification” refers to a period of study that culminates in a student’s first professionally-relevant university degree (Bachelor’s degree or First Legal State Examination). Information about the conditions that apply for people seeking to embark on an undergraduate degree without the higher education entrance qualification may be found at  Studying without an Abitur.

Applicants in possession of international certification must demonstrate sufficient levels of  German Language Proficiency.

This program is not subject to admission restrictions.

All information pertaining to the application process may be found at  Application, Admission and Enrollment.

German and international applicants with German certification can enroll directly for this subject that does not have admission restrictions. You can find all information on enrollment and the enrollment deadline for the desired semester under  Bachelor's degree programs (one subject) - open admission.

Please note: different application conditions and deadlines may apply for  Applicants with Non-German Certification!

The examination regulations do not prescribe an obligatory period of study abroad. However, a number of  Options for Studying Abroad are available to you within a range of exchange programs. The  International Office will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Studying at Osnabrück University means you will be subject to semester fees. Depending on how much of your study credit (standard period of study plus tolerance semester) you have used up, you may also have to pay long-term study fees. Additional information on this topic may be found at  How Much does Studying Cost?

Our  Central Study Counseling Service will be happy to provide you with all the information you need about studying, admission requirements and the structure of your chosen program.

Each department’s  Departmental Study Counselling Service will answer any questions you might have about the content of individual programs.

Links

 Department of Cultural Studies and Social Sciences
 Institute of Social Sciences
 Information on the Single-Subject Bachelor / Regulations
 Enrollment Information

If you are interested in a Master's degree course at Osnabrück University, please take note of its  regulations on access, in which the respective admission requirements are regulated.

In addition to the consecutive degree programs listed below, it may be worth considering other Master's degree programs and checking whether you can be admitted. You will usually receive appropriate advice from the departmental study counseling service or the course coordinators.

 Conflict Studies and Peacebuilding - Master of Arts
 European Governance in Transformation - Master of Arts
 International Migration and Intercultural Relations - Master of Arts
Sociology: Dynamics of Social Change - Master of Arts

The degree program is accredited by the Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programs  (AQAS).