Visiting students
Information about our study programmes offered by our five institutes
BA Political Science
In this six-semester BA program (mainly in German, partly in English), students are introduced to the key areas of political science (Germany’s political system, political theory, comparative politics, international relations, and policy studies). Focal themes in the program include global governance and European integration, democracy theories, and welfare state politics. Students can specialize in one of the subdisciplines in their fourth semester. Students aiming for a teaching career can study political science as a main or subsidiary subject. The Bachelor’s program is open to Erasmus students of political science and neighboring disciplines.
MA Political Science
This four-semester Master’s program is designed for students wishing to deepen their knowledge of political science. Most courses are taught in German, but there is also a growing number of English language courses. Areas of specialization include political theory, public administration, European integration, and international relations. Topics covered include state and democratic theory, democratic justice as well as public policy and administration. Erasmus students, who are at the MA level, may in general participate in seminars of this program.
MA International Relations
This four-semester Master’s program is designed for students wishing to deepen their knowledge of political science. Most courses are taught in German, but there is also a growing number of English language courses. Areas of specialization include political theory, public administration, European integration, and international relations. Topics covered include state and democratic theory, democratic justice as well as public policy and administration. Erasmus students, who are at the MA level, may in general participate in seminars of this program.
MA Social Policy
This four-semester study program is designed for students wishing to specialize in studies on the modern welfare state, i.e., the analysis of health care, pension, or unemployment systems. The welfare state is examined not only from a political science perspective but also from a sociological, legal, and economic perspective and the study program has a strong focus on global dynamics of the welfare state. Courses are offered in German and in English and cover subjects such as theories of the welfare state, comparative policy analysis as well as methods to study social policy. Erasmus students at the MA level are welcome to attend courses in this program.
Master of Education (M. Ed.)
The four-semester M. Ed. program qualifies for the teaching profession at grammar schools/ secondary schools in the subject of Politics. The program combines political science education with by the study of Didactics and Educational Science. Erasmus students at the MA level are welcome to attend courses in this program.
BA Integrated European Studies (IES)
The BA programme IES is multidisciplinary and comprises political science and cultural history, with a geographic focus on the European continent.
There are two study tracks or concentrations available: the political science track, in which students focus on European integration, European states and politics in Europe and theories and research methods that allow their systematic study; and the cultural studies track, in which topics such as cultural and social theory, cultural memory and museum studies, gender studies, and postcolonialism are taught in depth.
International students are welcome to choose from the wide range of courses offered on both study tracks of the IES curriculum, tailoring their own study programmes individually. Lectures and seminars are offered in German and English.
MA European Politics (MAEP)
The political science MA program deals with Europe both with regard to the European integration process and the political system of the European Union (EU) and with regard to the polities and politics of European states and their relationships and contributions to the EU and to EU integration.
In the first semester, students get introduced to political science theories and approaches in European Studies and training in qualitative and quantitative research methods. In the second semester, students attend seminars in the core modules “The European Union. Polity, Politics and Policy” and “The EU and the European States from a comparative perspective”. During the third semester students spend a semester abroad or do a research internship. The fourth semester is reserved for the writing of the master thesis.
BA in History
The two Bachelor’s programs offer a broad historical knowledge and an introduction to the methods of historical research. In a first phase, students acquire knowledge of the major historical periods: Ancient, Classical, Medieval, Modern and Contemporary History. The second phase emphasizes thematic approaches, such as Archeology, German History, East-European History, History of Slavery, Latin American and Global History, and includes broader approaches, such as “cultures–entanglements–conflicts,” “order and dissent,” “interpretations and imaginations of the past,” and “the multiplicities of modernity.” Students who choose the teacher’s training option will be offered courses in didactics of history and educational sciences.
MA in History
The Master’s degree provides students with advanced skills in historical research as well as with professional skills, preparing either for a range of different careers or to pursue further study at the doctoral level. From the academic year 2023/2024 onwards, the existing general M.A. in History is expected to give space for two programs: “Public History” (Geschichte in der ?ffentlichkeit) and “Inequalities: past and present” (Ungleichheiten: Past and Present). The “Public History” Master’s program will address the role of History in public discourse, including the perceptions of history, memory, culture, and competing interpretations of historical phenomena, as well as their public presentation in the media. Students will also acquire professional competencies such as communication skills and presentation techniques for historical content in the media and in museums/exhibitions.
The Master’s program “Inequalities: past and present” will focus on the study of social inequality throughout history, its perceptions, and interpretations. Students will analyze and discuss the diverse effects of inequality, their sociopolitical consequences, and historical-analytical approaches. They will also deepen the study of the developments of inequality, dealing with the historical processes of sociopolitical change in Europe and beyond, and with the historiography on this subject. So, this master’s program will have an interdisciplinary approach on the subject. Beyond the historical seminars, student will also have the possibility to engage in classes from Sociology, Political Sciences and Cultural Studies. Thereby this program will build up a particularly good base for different occupational fields as well as for a future PhD thesis.
BA Sociology
The objective of the BA program in Sociology is to equip students with a solid knowledge in basic sociological theories and methods, statistics, and social stratification analysis. In addition, students are given the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in selected research areas within sociology. Emphasis is placed on training in empirical research methods and gaining competence in selected branches of sociology. Erasmus students of Sociology and neighboring disciplines are welcome to join courses in the BA Sociology program.
MA Sociology and Social Research
The Master’s program in Sociology and Social Research is designed for students who seek to deepen their knowledge of sociological theories and acquire practical and methodological competencies in doing empirical social research. The course design offers project modules to ensure that students become familiar with all facets of current research. Key areas for specialization are:
– Social inequality and living arrangements– Education, work, and the welfare state– Urban development and migration– Social integration and methods research– Network research
An overarching focus is placed on life course research and longitudinal methodology; both approaches characterize the research profile of sociology at the University of Bremen. Erasmus students of Sociology at the MA level may participate in various seminars but must consult teaching staff first. They can also choose from BA courses.
BA/BSc Geography (in German)
The bachelor program imparts the basics of physical geography and human geography as well as geographical techniques and methods. The subject of physical geography is the influence of natural geofactors on the human habitat. Human geography analyzes human and societal activities with regard to the resulting spatial structures. The instruments that are used are, for example cartography, geographical information systems, statistics, field mapping, creating and evaluating questionnaires, and laboratory work.
The obligatory excursions increase the awareness of concrete interdependencies in the field. The first/fall semester starts with an orientation during the week before normal classes start and an introductory project module.
The basic modules introducing human and physical Geography form the foundation of knowledge needed for the next semesters. We also offer modules introducing Geographical Information Systems, cartography, statistics, and social research. During the second year, our students can choose from a range of modules discussing fields of geographic research and methodology in more detail.
Our project modules offered in the fifth semester allow students to conduct their own group research projects according to their personal interests. This prepares students to develop skills to work on their bachelor thesis during the last (sixth) semester. Students opting to become a teacher in secondary education can also choose modules in the didactics of geography.
Master of Education (M. Ed.) (in German)
The four-semester M. Ed. program qualifies for the teaching profession at grammar schools/ secondary schools in the subject of Geography/ Earth Science. The program combines geography education with the study of Didactics and Educational Science. Erasmus students at the MA level are welcome to attend courses in this program.
MA Urban and Regional Development (in German)
How do the many, often unacquainted people in the urban social fabric manage to coexist? What causes the marked regional differences in residents’ living conditions that are currently observed, and how does our society approach the extreme divergences among the ways in which people live? This MA (completely taught in German) focuses on these issues. It offers students the opportunity to take an indepth look at questions concerning the social organization of space. It aims to impart interdisciplinary knowledge from the fields of geography and sociology. At its heart are the spatial differentiations and their impacts on different developments and structures that take place in our society’s cities and regions. Questions concerning regionalization, suburbanization, the sustainability of regional development, as well as migration and integration, diversity in cities, and especially in urban planning, urban economies, urban infrastructure, and housing markets stand at the core of the program. Emphasis is being placed on teaching spatial information processing techniques and methodological approaches to develop spatial action plans.
In the first semester, students learn fundamental concepts in theoretical sociology as well as economic theories of regional development. In addition, indepth coverage of advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods is provided. In the second and third semesters, students have the opportunity to acquire research skills through modules on specific urban topics such as environment, culture, migration, and urban economies. Parallel to this, students develop a study project with a focus on planning instruments and procedures.
MSc Physical Geography: Environmental History (in English)
The current debate about the reasons and effects of climate change illustrates the need for experts who can understand and explain the complex interrelations that lead to environmental changes over time. Meeting this demand, the M. Sc. “Physical Geography: Environmental History” is a researchoriented Master’s program in physical geography focusing on the understanding and reconstruction of environmental and climatic history. This program is innovative and unique in Germany due to its distinctive interdisciplinary approach including courses in physical and human geography, archaeology, geosciences, paleobiology, and environmental physics. To ensure high academic quality and practical orientation, the program draws on both, expertise within the University of Bremen as well as on partnerships with regional scientific institutions in Bremen and Lower Saxony. All classes are taught in English. You will be trained in interdisciplinary lectures, seminars, projects as well as in laboratory and field courses. Consecutive core subjects start in the winter semester and are continued in the summer semester, closely interconnected and consolidated by means of research-based and hands on training. Furthermore, computer-based analyses and visualization techniques of spatial and temporal data and processes are conveyed. Advanced students of other subjects at the Faculty of Social Sciences can study courses in Archeology and Historical Political Ecology even without a background in natural sciences.
While we expect that you study the majority of your courses at Faculty 8, you may find some interesting lectures and seminars at other Faculties of the University. Often students of Social and Political Science can find interesting courses at the Faculty of Law and at the Faculty of Economics while students of History and European Studies pick a few courses at the Philological and Philosophical Faculties. Geography students might be interested in courses offered at the Faculties of Physics, Natural Sciences and Geosciences.