Sociology of Inequality (Master of Arts)

Sociology of Inequality is a consecutive Master's programme in English that builds on a three-year Bachelor's programme in the social sciences, for example in sociology , political and administrative science , economics or a similar field of study. The programme is characterised by a research-oriented study programme that deals with social inequality as a pressing contemporary social problem, provides in-depth training in quantitative methods and offers personal and individual supervision. This is complemented either by a six-month external internship or by an international exchange, spending one semester at one of our partner universities. In its thematic focus on social inequality and its tight connection to the Graduate School of the Social and Behavioural Sciences (GSBS) and the Cluster of Excellence The Politics of Inequality , the programme is outstanding in Germany and in the European Union. The programme focuses mainly on the following thematic fields that are of core relevance to inequality in contemporary societies: migration and social integration, gender inequalities in organisations and the labour market, inequality in the education system and at work, political participation and social movements. After a basic introduction to theories of inequality and quantitative methods for inequality research, students will participate in several thematic seminars. A key part of the study programme is an intense, six-month project seminar in which students obtain hands-on research experience. A final thesis allows students to apply their training to their own individual research project. We place particular emphasis on providing students with the required methodical skills, thus enabling them to collect and analyse (quantitative) empirical data. Having some foundational knowledge on general social theory and basic training in empirical research methods (obtained during a BA) will allow students to fully benefit from the programme. In their third semester, students will pursue an internship (outside the university at a company, an organisation or research institution) to expand their range of experience as well as increase their opportunities on the labour market. Alternatively, this can be substituted by an international exchange, studying for one semester at one of our partner universities.