"Roads to Democracies. Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Politics and Culture" is an international, interdisciplinary, and research-oriented Master of Arts programme integrating the subjects of history, political science, and sociology. The full-time programme has a duration of two years (four semesters).
The programme aims to provide students with analytical tools and theoretical knowledge that help to understand and explain the interrelation between institutional structures, political processes, and the social and cultural foundations of democracy. Students shall develop a broad, comparative understanding of the mechanisms behind democratic processes from a historical and social scientific perspective. Thus, students will acquire the competence to assess present-day democratic developments on a national and supranational level. They will obtain theoretical knowledge and gain advanced insights into comparative research methods in history and the social sciences. The interdisciplinary curriculum focuses on political, economic, historical, social and cultural aspects of democratic ideas, institutions, and structures within and outside Europe.
International academic exchange is an important aspect of the programme. It is strongly recommended that students spend a semester abroad with an Erasmus+ scholarship at one of the participating partner universities, e.g., University of Bologna, the University of Coimbra, Uppsala University, the University of Palermo, and others. The language of instruction and examination is English.
The programme comprises compulsory core modules as well as elective courses:
Semester one:
One Introductory Module (INT):
INT 1.1. Theories of Democracy
INT 1.2 Methods of History and Social Sciences
One Thematic Module: TM 1 Actors and Institutions in Historical and Contemporary Perspective
One Additional Practical Module: APM 1 Additional Special Studies
Semester two:
One Method Module (MET): Empirical Research on Democracy
One Thematic Module: TM 2 Political Cultures and the Public Sphere: Past and Present
One Internship (8 weeks)
Semester three:
Two Thematic Modules: TM 3: Global and Transnational Processes: Past and Present
TM 4: Democracies in Comparative Perspective
Students can choose to spend the third semester at the partner university abroad and attend TM 5 Roads to Democracies - Thematic Module Abroad
Semester one to three:
One Additional Practical Module: APM 2 Transferable Skills
Semester two to three:
Master's Thesis Module MM 1 Thesis Forum
Semester four:
MM 2 Master Examination (Master's thesis and the Master's thesis presentation)
Modes of teaching are seminars, blended-learning courses, workshops, projects, conferences, and lectures.
Students are expected to obtain an average of 30 credit points per semester and must acquire 120 credit points over the entire programme.
Further information on the programme an the application process can be found on the following websites:
http://www.uni-siegen.de/phil/studium/studiengaenge/master/roads/
http://www.uni-siegen.de/phil/studium/studiengaenge/master/roads/application.html?lang=de