You should be interested in questions of social coexistence and want to critically question the things we take for granted in our everyday lives.

Prerequisites for pursuing this degree:

• Empathy as well as the ability to think abstractly
• An inquisitive spirit of observation as well as analytical thinking
• An understanding of the language of all social classes

For this program of study, you must also be able to read and understand specialist literature in English. However, you will not be required to provide separate proof of your language skills.

Depending on your chosen area of specialization, you should also possess foundational skills in either quantitative-statistical or qualitative-interpretative methods of social research.

Proof of a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent higher education degree: At least 60 credit points or equivalent must have been earned in the subject of sociology.

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 examination regulations of the master’s program.

Program structure

The program’s methodological orientation plays a key role in shaping the study path. Two-semester empirical projects in qualitative methods begin exclusively in the winter semester, while projects in quantitative methods and network analysis start in the summer semester.

Depending on your chosen methodological focus and the semester in which you begin your studies, you will take the empirical project in either the first or second academic semester. As a result, your choice between a qualitative or quantitative focus is made at the outset of the first semester. The program structure plans (in German) provide a summarized overview .

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 Erasmus Office of the Institute of Sociology is happy to help you plan and organize your stay abroad. You can find more information here (in German).

Internships

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain 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.

Sociology is not a subject that leads students to a specific, clear-cut career path. And contrary to popular belief, as a sociology graduate you have excellent opportunities on the job market.

Beyond quantitative and qualitative research methods, a sociology degree cultivates a distinctive approach to working and thinking, which is valuable in many professional fields. Studying Sociology is not about swotting up on textbook knowledge, but about working in a reflective, multi-perspective, creative, solutions-focused, and independent way. With these skills, you will be qualified for positions across diverse sectors in today’s service and knowledge-based society:

• Social, market, and opinion research
• Project management and consulting
• Human resources and marketing
• Media and publishers
• Public administration, organizations and associations
• Foundations and non-governmental organizations
• Education and culture
• Research and research management

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.