Sociology
Sociology (M.A.)
The explicitly research-oriented Master’s degree program in Sociology at the Institute of Sociology at FAU focuses on taking a theoretically guided approach to wording sociological questions, designing empirical research approaches for dealing with them, conducting the investigations and analyzing results.
- Degree
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Duration of studies in semester
- 4
- Start of degree program
- Summer semester, Winter semester
- Study location
- Erlangen
- Number of students
- 1-50
- Subject group
- Economic Sciences, Law
- Special ways to study
- Part-time degree program
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Admission Requirements
- Qualification assessment
What is the degree program about?
The Master’s degree program in Sociology is aimed at enabling our graduates to acquire systematic, theoretical and methodological knowledge of the subject as well as the skills needed to design, implement and conclude a sociological research project independently, depending on their research-oriented specialization. After completing their Master’s degree, graduates have the subject-related requirements needed to start a doctoral degree.
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The Master’s degree program in Sociology has a standard duration of study of four semesters. It is a consecutive, research-oriented degree program worth 120 ECTS credits, with 20 of these ECTS credits being acquired in a supplementary subject.
The first semester teaches the foundations of theory and methodology and students choose their initial specialization. In the second and third semester students work on a research semester lasting two semesters (taking either a qualitative or quantitative approach) as well as studying two further areas of specialization and a supplementary subject. In the fourth semester, students work on their own independent academic piece of work, their Master’s thesis. -
Tools for research during the degree program are current theoretical approaches from the area of sociology (including the history of their development) and the typical quantitative and qualitative methods of social research. Our degree programs offer specific Master’s courses in the specialist areas of labor & organization, education & biography, culture & communication and comparative social analysis. Students can explore subjects in depth, enjoying extensive support from teaching staff.
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If you intend to study a Master’s degree in Sociology, you ought to be prepared to read a lot and deal with demanding texts, which may require significant effort to read and discuss.
For lectures in methods of empirical social research you are required to have knowledge of statistics. A good understanding of mathematics is therefore beneficial. It is true that most of the calculations are done by computers, but an understanding of the procedures is required when interpreting results. -
The research-oriented approach enables graduates of the Master’s degree program to carry out empirical research in aThe research-oriented approach enables graduates of the Master’s degree program to carry out empirical research in accordance with academic standards or to adapt research results and make them usable for practical purposes – a qualification that is required and expected far beyond the area of university research into social sciences in an increasing number of extramural areas of work.
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- Admission requirements (first semester)
- Qualification assessment
- Application deadline winter semester
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15.07.
- Application deadline summer semester
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15.01.
- Content-related admission requirements
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If you would like to apply for the Master’s degree in Sociology, you should have completed a Bachelor’s degree in sociology (grade of 2.5 or better). Applicants with an overall grade in their degree or, in the case of Section 34 (4) ABMStPO/Phil, an average of their achievements to date between 2.51 and 3.00, are invited to attend a selection interview; the remaining applicants are not admitted to the second level of the qualification assessment process and receive a rejection notification including reasons. In order to be admitted, applicants with a degree in another subject or a related subject must be able to provide proof of knowledge in sociology accounting for at least 50 ECTS credits and may be admitted subject to the proviso that they must acquire additional credits in sociology within one year. In exceptional cases, students enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program may be admitted to the Master’s degree program if they have acquired at least 140 ECTS credits. However, we would strongly advise you against this, as the workload in the Master’s degree program is very high and there is hardly any time available to make up for missing credits from the Bachelor’s degree program.
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants
- DSH 2 or equivalent
- Details and notes
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Only part-time study is possible when starting in the summer semester.
Do you need help or more information?
Our Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) is the central point of contact for all questions about studying and starting a degree programme. Our Student Service Centres and subject advisors support you in planning your studies.