5. Semester

optional

680118000

5 ECTS

2 hpw

The students understand that science is a human endeavour which is not a fixed set of knowledge but a cultural activity with specific outcomes that shape and are shaped by so ciety. In this respect, they also understand how science and scientific knowledge production were developed in the European context and that they are part of the European culture.

The students develop an understanding of how scientific concepts and scientific methods were developed historically. They are able to identify internal and external factors that shaped, triggered or obstructed these developments and can identify central periods of scientific development. The students can use methods for understanding, criticising, and reflecting texts by scientists as well as by historians of science. They can analyse procedures in order to compare cerebral knowledge and non-cerebral knowledge (skills, tacit knowing) as well as their role in scientific knowledge production.

The students can analyse primary and secondary source texts as well as material objects that are related to conceptual and methodological developments. They can develop practical procedures based on textual and material sources and reflect on this process. They reflect practical experiences with reconstructed instruments in order to develop an under- standing of performative and material aspects of knowledge production. They are able to value conceptual understandings that are historical and transfer their understanding to contemporary discussions about social issues related to scientific developments.

The students can collaborate in order to perform procedures based on their interpretation of the published account. The students can place their understanding in the respective historical contexts, reflect on their interpretation and on those of others. They are able to reflect on different procedures of producing a consensus and on epistemological aspects of knowledge production in different historical situations. In this respect, they are able to identify criteria that are historically relevant and put them in relation to their modern understanding of knowledge production.

Lecture, seminar, laboratory

Peter Heering

3^rd or 5^th Semester

Workload (total)

150 h

every fall semester

hereof

in class

30 h

1 Semester

individual

120 h

Seminar (2 hpw)

participants: 40

Essay (5000-6500 words)

optional

680119000

5 ECTS

2 hpw

Students know about the basic elements of constructing Europe as a space of education. They understand the relationships between education, public policy and social development in Europe. They will be able to analyse differing educational settings as they are rooted in national contexts as well as their transformation in the course of Europeanisation. They are able to apply selected theoretical approaches to analyse case studies of today's challenges for education in Europe, in view of their social and individual implications (e.g. social inequality, social inclusion, transnational biographies, etc.)

Critical reflection of theoretical approaches in education; understanding of concepts of life- long learning in differing cultural contexts

The ability to conceptualise (cross-cultural) educational settings; ability to identify and critically analyse educational settings with reference to education theory, politics and practice

Students will learn to reflect on their personal role in educational settings such as instruction, counselling, learning and training for groups and individuals.

Teaching and learning will be based on a balanced mixture of theoretical input, reading and discussion and self-guided case studies (project learning) as group activities.

Beatrix Niemeyer

3^rd or 5^th Semester

Workload (total)

150 h

every fall semester

hereof

in class

30 h

1 Semester

individual

120 h

Seminar (2 hpw)

participants: 40

Presentation and take-home assignment (4000-5000 words)

optional

680120000

5 ECTS

2 hpw

Students can deal with and develop differentiated and analytical questions concerning European languages. They can also discuss linguistic issues and exchange linguistic information. They are acquainted with European linguistic discussions in the past and present.

Students have acquired a diachronic and synchronic overview over the languages in Europe. They are familiar with linguistic discussions in past and present. They have acquired knowledge about language diversity in Europe. They are able to attend critically to historic and recent developments in language policies. Students are acquainted with basic methodologies of historiography of linguistics, language history, language change and language contact and know the basics of general linguistics.

Based upon the methodologies acquired during the seminar the students are enabled to analyse arguments, statements and naturalised notions of language critically, and also to pigeonhole them correctly into their respective historical contexts.

They have acquired analytic and critical skills concerning nationalist and/or ideological discourses both as a historical and as a current phenomenon.

Seminar discussions and workshops in groups

Cordula Neis

3^rd or 5^th Semester

Workload (total)

150 h

every fall semester

hereof

in class

30 h

1 Semester

individual

120 h

Seminar (2 hpw)

participants: 40

Paper (5000-6500 words)

optional

680128000

5 ECTS

2 hpw

The module provides a basic understanding of complex interactions between politics, economics, technology and the natural environment, so that students will be able to evaluate current environmental issues as well as policies and strategies to respond to them.

Students will be familiar with societal causes of today’s most pressing ecological crises (such as global warming or biodiversity loss) and will know and be able to distinguish various theories of sustainable development as well as environmental policies. Additionally, specific economic, cultural and societal contexts of diverse approaches are taken into account.

Students will obtain and practise various essential academic skills in social sciences, such as reading and presenting academic literature, academic reasoning, argumentation, writing, and citation styles.

Students will be able to work in teams and to communicate complex socio-ecological problems and environmental policies verbally and in written form. Additionally, they have the capacity of putting themselves in differing positions. Furthermore, students will be able to autonomously follow and critically reflect on on-going debates in the field of sustainability.

Seminar discussions, group work, simulation games

Bernd Sommer

3^rd or 5^th Semester

Workload (total)

150 h

every fall semester

hereof

in class

30 h

1 Semester

individual

120 h

Seminar (2 hpw)

participants: 40

Essay (5000-6500 words)

optional

680129000

5 ECTS

2 hpw

Migration within European borders and migration to Europe are social phenomena creating and affecting individual and family life trajectories, economy, politics, religion and national and European discourses. This module on migration and European borders will present some of the key concepts and theories within sociological research into migration and borders. It will, for instance, explore and discuss how these theories become operational within current studies related to human movement and mobility. Theoretical approaches may span micro- level intercultural communication and interaction with social structures, policy and governance. Furthermore, it will be discussed how they relate to contemporary cases and politics. Current topics and cases such as the European educational market, the internationalisation of organisations, legal and illegal migration, the circulation, impact of and conditions for international labour and students may be addressed.

By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:

-              describe and explain theories and concepts relevant to sociological research into migration and borders,

-              explain why and how these theories and concepts can be applied and contrast them to each other,

-              correspondingly, theorise selected social phenomena and occurences, and analyse these phenomena on the basis of the chosen theories,

-              recognise and classify sociopolitical and cultural topics as to their relevance to the different schools and streams within migration and border research,

-              critically assess discourse (e.g., in media, research polls, or political proposals) as to its factual grounds, potential misconceptions, and formulate hypotheses on these discourses' impact on society.

Students will be able to demonstrate an advanced and critical understanding of the interplay of methods, instruments and applied theories and concepts. They will accurately label, define, and explain methods, use accurate terminology, and be able to relate research questions to a scope of possible methods. Further, they will be able to critically assess sources as to their choice and operationalisation of methods, to alert biases and inaccuracies.

Students learn to collaborate in different manners, to present and analyse problems in the above-mentioned fields in a partner or group situation in a manner appropriate to the addressees, and to express themselves competently in a culturally appropriate and gender- sensitive manner.

Methods of instruction include, but are not limited to, ex-cathedra teaching, classroom discussions, student presentations and different forms of student group work and self-study

Monika Eigmüller

3^rd or 5^th Semester

Workload (total)

150 h

every fall semester

hereof

in class

30 h

1 Semester

individual

120 h

Seminar (2 hpw)

participants: 40

Written paper (5000-6500 words) or oral exam (25 min.) or oral presentation (15 min.) plus written paper (4000-5000 words) or Portfolio

optional

680130000

5 ECTS

2 hpw

The module deepens the understanding of the economy of European nation states as studied in Module TD S 1 by analysing how they interact with each other guided by the institutions of the EU. Care is taken to take a multi-paradigmatic approach based on different traditions in economics and (International) political economy. Also, the interrelations be- tween inner-EU relations and interests and the global system are analysed. The substantive foci will vary according to changes in academic and public debates.

The module builds an understanding of the economy of the European Union in its entanglement of markets, small, and large firms, governments, civil society and bureaucracies at the national, European and global levels.

Students will be able to develop a first understanding of complex cross-national and multi- level social, economic and political interactions.

Students will be able to unveil the "national interest" metaphor and see the conflicting interests of different (collective) actors in their national, European and international entanglements. They will also be able to reflect critically on their own positions regarding various European policy issues.

Methods of instruction include, but are not limited to, ex-cathedra teaching, classroom discussions, student presentations and different forms of student group work and self-study.

Ulrich Glassmann

3^rd or 5^th Semester

Workload (total)

150 h

every fall semester

hereof

in class

30 h

1 Semester

individual

120 h

Seminar (2 hpw)

participants: 40

Paper (5000-6500 words) or oral exam (30 min.)