An interest in…

• different ways of living and a readiness to change perspectives
• traveling and acquiring language skills
• communicating with people

In addition:

• a critical approach while remaining open to new perspectives
• basic knowledge of the major conceptual deliberations in cultural studies and the social sciences gained during your undergraduate studies
• basic knowledge of empirical, ethnological research methods
• an interest in political and societal issues

We recommend making an appointment with the academic advisory office before you take up this course of studies and after the end of the first academic year.

Proof of a bachelor’s degree in the subject of cultural anthropology or in a comparable cultural studies, social sciences, or regional sciences field earned at a higher education institution.

Proof of having successfully earned 40 credit points in cultural anthropology courses, or comparable achievements. Should a maximum of 12 credit points be missing by the time of the application, you are still able to apply under the condition that the required remaining credits be subsequently acquired by the end of the first academic year.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Applicants who have not obtained a university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution or a degree in a German-speaking course must provide proof of sufficient German language skills. These must correspond to the level DSH-2 of the “German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants” and must be proven by the time of enrollment at JGU.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

You can find more information in the master’s degree program’s examination regulations.

1st and 2nd semester:

• Ethnology of the Global – Current Theories and Debates
• General Cultural and Social Theories

Examples for seminars:

• “Anthropology of the Deplorables”? The Cultural Anthropology of Conservatism and Right-leaning Circles in the United States
• Cultural Policy and “Post-colonialism” in Africa
• Posthumanist Anthropology
• Violence, Gender, Witnessing

2nd to 4th semester:

Personal project in the supervised research colloquium

• Research methods and design
• Research internship
• Evaluating and handling research data
• Master’s thesis

At the heart of this degree program lie the project studies, during which you develop, carry out, and follow up on your own research project under close supervision. Both the research topic as well as the region are completely up to you: You can conduct research in your own neighborhood or go abroad.

3rd and 4th semester:

• Insight into academia as a field of practice
• Interdisciplinary perspectives

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.

The subject coordination team is happy to advise and support you in figuring out scholarship options for your stay abroad.

Internships

One aspect of this degree program is “Academia as a field of practice.” In this context, you will learn about everyday academic life in teaching, the organization of academic exchange, and interaction with non-university fields of practice. This can take various forms, such as leading a tutorial, assisting with teaching, organizing a day of professional practice, helping to organize a conference, visiting a summer school, or completing an internship at a museum.

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.

As part of the degree program, you will acquire a variety of skills that make you a sought-after employee in today’s international and globalized working world. These skills include:

The ability to work and conduct research independently: familiarity with empirical research methods, data collection and analysis, research, writing competence, and how to transfer knowledge in a variety of medial forms

Experience in project management: planning, organization, and implementation of projects

Communication skills: foreign language skills, intercultural mediation, knowledge and science communication

With these skills, you are well-suited to a variety of professional fields, such as

• Politics and social affairs (e.g., in ministries, political parties, foundations, educational institutions, associations, and clubs)
• International organizations, NGOs, economic organizations
• Science and science management (research and teaching, e.g., at universities, higher education institutions, research institutions or in research projects)
• Public service and administration (e.g., as a specialist consultant)
• International mobility and migration (e.g., administration and reception centers, embassies)
• Education (training, continuing education, adult education and advising)
• Cultural management, curatorial work (e.g., in theaters, museums, libraries, archives, documentation centers)
• Media, journalism, public relations, science communication (editing, proofreading, etc.)
• Leisure, tourism, and event management
• Business (e.g., consulting, corporate training)

The intensive, often practice-oriented field research you conduct during your project studies and the contacts you make also often result in specialized professional fields. These can be advisory or mediation jobs in educations, sports, or politics, or in the economy or in trade, or jobs related to communication and coaching.

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.