Political Science

Why do wars happen? What is justice? What holds the EU together? If you’re interested in these or similar fundamental questions about our society, a course in Political Science might be the perfect fit for you. In the B.A. Political Science program, you’ll explore a wide range of questions across the three main areas of the field: Political Theory focuses on how political processes should ideally be structured. In contrast, Comparative Political Science examines how institutions and processes within political systems (such as states or the European Union) actually function. The subfield of International Relations addresses foreign policy issues and other cross-border political developments. Beyond gaining expertise, this degree program is designed to help you develop critical judgment and the ability to identify causes and solutions for complex political and social problems.

The Frankfurt Institute for Political Science is the largest political science institute in Germany. It offers an especially diverse and in-depth range of courses with a strong research focus across all areas of the discipline. After an introduction to the fundamental methods and content of the field, you’ll have excellent opportunities to tailor your studies and deepen your knowledge in a specific area of interest.

The Frankfurt degree program stands out for its international compatibility—take advantage of opportunities like a semester abroad. Additionally, the program’s traditional integration with Sociology provides a broad foundation in the social sciences, with a focus on Political Science.

The interdisciplinary Cluster of Excellence “The Formation of Normative Orders” and the cooperation with the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt offer a unique variety of topics, course content, and opportunities for specialization.

Video: Introduction to the Political Science Degree Program

The political science course is divided into four phases:

• Fundamentals:  
  In the first semester, you will attend the Introduction to Political Science (Propaedeutics), which includes a tutorial on academic writing. You will also learn about quantitative and qualitative methods and select courses from the module Fundamentals of Social Sciences.
• Subfields:  
  During this phase, you will explore various topics in Political Theory, Comparative Political Science, and International Relations.
• Specialization and Internship:  
  In the specialization phase, you can choose from a wide range of courses at the master’s level. The internship allows you to deepen your interests and gain initial professional experience.
• Final Phase:  
  In the last phase of your course, you will embark on a colloquium, where you will receive support during the writing process of your bachelor’s thesis. After submission and evaluation of your thesis, an oral examination will follow.

Detailed information about the content and structure of the course can be found on the pages of Department 3.