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Sociology

Minor

Important information at a glance

Degree: Bachelor (Minor)Language of Instruction: GermanStart of studies: Winter semesterAdmission: NC (restricted admission)Combined subjects: Combined bachelor's degree (minor)Standard period of study: Depending on major

Sociology is the science of social action. Social action is usually guided by norms, but deviations can occur as well. These deviations can lead to conflicts, which may give rise to new norms. Through social action, the entire cosmos of human interaction—cooperation, coexistence, and opposition—comes into being: flirting and chatting, friendships and rivalries, couples, families, clubs, networks, businesses, markets, political parties, states, religions, international organizations, societies, and more. Sociology studies these and other phenomena in their constant transformation and complex interconnections. To do so, it formulates theories to preserve knowledge and develops methods to gain valid findings about the social cosmos. During your course of study, you will acquire all the necessary theoretical and methodological fundamentals to work academically and apply sociological knowledge in practice.

The Department of Sociology at Goethe University is one of the largest sociology departments in Germany. More than 20 professors and their teams teach and conduct research here. This provides not only a broad and solid education in the fundamentals of the field but also a diverse and exciting range of topics on pressing current issues. Why do women earn less than men? Why are fewer and fewer citizens participating in elections? How can the integration of migrants be successfully achieved? How do precarious jobs change the world of work? Are states at the mercy of global financial markets? How does climate change impact societies? What’s really happening in these social networks? And much more...

Teaching and research at the Department of Sociology are further enriched through close cooperation with the Department of Political Science, the Sigmund Freud Institute (SFI), the Institute for Social Research (IfS), the Cornelia Goethe Center for Women’s Studies and the Study of Gender Relations (CGC), the Institute for Economics, Labor, and Culture (IWAK), the Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE), and the Center for Leadership and Behavior in Organizations (CLBO).

Structure and content

Sociology can be studied as a major or a minor.

Major
Minor

The sociology minor program is divided into three phases: the foundational phase (2 semesters), the advanced phase (2 semesters), and the specialization phase (1 semester).  
During the foundational phase, we introduce you to the discipline and teach you the techniques of academic research. You will explore key theories across various core areas of sociology.  
In the advanced phase, you will select two modules from five elective modules and deepen your understanding of them.  
In the specialization phase, you will choose courses from the specialization module to further refine your knowledge in specific areas.  

Detailed information about the program's content and structure can be found on the Department 3 webpages.

Study regulations

The study regulations govern the structure, organization, and content of the degree program, as well as the examination system. They form the foundation of your studies at Goethe University.

Study regulations