Roads to Democracies – Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Politics and Culture Roads to Democracies (MA)

The Roads to Democracies programme 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, historical, social, and cultural aspects of democratic ideas, institutions, and structures within and outside Europe. Furthermore, students can choose from a variety of language courses (including German) offered by the university's Language Centre, and they can acquire important soft skills through courses offered in intercultural communication, academic writing and more. In addition, the House of Young Talents, the Career Service and the Alumni Association offer a wide range of extracurricular activities to prepare students for their future careers. 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., the University of the Azores, the University of Bologna, the University of Coimbra, the Pedagogical University of Krakow, the University of Lucerne, Marmara University, the University of Palermo, the University of Piraeus, and others. The language of instruction and examination is English. Furthermore, international academic exchange is strengthened through the organisation of joint summer schools and guest lectures in Siegen and abroad. International cooperation in the students' research activities is encouraged through the possibility of involving professors from the participating partner universities as second supervisors of the Master's theses. The Roads to Democracies Master of Arts degree programme qualifies successful candidates for admission to doctoral studies / PhD studies. The Master‘s programme provides a good basis for management positions at, e.g.: international organisations and NGOs, international aid and development agencies, research institutions and institutes of higher education in the public and private sectors, cultural agencies and cultural heritage institutions, publishing houses, journalism and media agencies concerned with international and intercultural communication, political parties, associations, foundations, and international and internationally operating companies.