If you’re planning to study Political Science at JGU, you should have the following strengths:

• Interest in current affairs and social processes:
  Political science goes hand in hand with current world events.
• Interest in regularly reading the news:
  This is the only way you can contextualize current events against the background of the theories and approaches of political science.
• Strong willingness to read and a very good knowledge of written and spoken German and English:
  You will have to read and write lot! Language skills in foreign languages can be acquired by means of appropriate courses at JGU.
• Ability to think analytically: Political processes are complex.
• Basic knowledge of statistics or the willingness to acquire this during your studies:
  You will learn, for example, how to interpret and calculate election statistics yourself. If you don’t have these skills yet, we will teach you − what matters most is your interest.
• Good communication skills:
  Political scientists often find themselves in positions where they have to lecture, moderate, and convey content (but there are also additional courses at the university where you learn to overcome a fear of public speaking, structure conversations, and present content).

You will study this subject as part of a two-subject bachelor’s degree program. The degree program always consists of an academic major and minor, which can be combined according to your interests or professional goals.

If you choose the subject as a minor, you will generally complete only a portion of the modules and classes taught to students of the major subject. As a result, you will focus on a selection from the content listed below.

Program structure

The program lasts six semesters and comprises:

• An introductory module
  Introduction to the subject, methodological knowledge, academic work:
  three lectures and two practice classes in small groups
• Five basic modules
  System of the Federal Republic of Germany, political theory, analysis and comparison of political systems, economy and society, and international relations,
  each comprising two lectures and one seminar

Additionally in the Political Science major:

• Three advanced modules
  I: Methods, subject-specific application;
  II and III: Two seminars each from the elective courses
• One practical module
  Professional field qualification, internship
• Final module
  Bachelor’s thesis and oral examination

In the basic seminars, we provide you with fundamental knowledge that allows you to identify your interests and consolidate them in the intermediate seminars.

In the advanced modules II and III you can generally choose freely from a wide range of thematic seminars, but your choice must include at least two sub-areas of political science (system of the Federal Republic of Germany, political theory, analysis and comparison of political systems, economy and society, international relations) in four seminars. Seminar topics in past semesters have included populism in Europe, right-wing extremism, internet and politics, citizens and social policy, borderless justice, mediation in international conflicts, comparison of Latin American systems, political responsibility, and policy field analysis.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

Many students spend their 4th and/or 5th semester abroad and have their coursework credited. The Institute of Political Science has an extensive network of partner universities abroad from which our students can benefit.

Internships

As part of the practical module, you will complete a full-time, six-week internship.

You should plan to do this from around the fourth semester onward.

Voluntary internships are another good opportunity to obtain more in-depth insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

Your studies in Political Science will provide you the following career-relevant skills:

• Knowledge of institutions, political policies, and processes at different levels (municipal to international)
• Analytical thinking
• Text analysis
• Excellent research skills
• Academic work
• Presentation and moderation skills
• Statistics as well as data collection and analysis (STATA, Limesurvey, R)

Typical relevant professional fields

• Consulting within ministries, authorities, parliaments, or political parties
• Political consulting at agencies, think tanks, associations, or civil society organizations
• Press work for newspapers, radio, digital services, and in companies
• Data analysis for scientific institutions, political consulting agencies, and companies
• Political education, especially for independent institutions and in adult education
• Consulting on international cooperation issues for governmental or non-governmental organizations
• Academic career at universities and research institutions

Other potential career paths:

• Consulting at (international) banks: Which transactions are ethically justifiable?
• Combating cybercrime at the Federal Criminal Police Office: How can the monopoly on the use of force also be enforced digitally?
• Corporate human resources departments

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.