Detailed program structure and contents for the M.A. Political Science

Detailed program structure and contents for the M.A. Political Science decision of the school council of the school of social science from the 10 th of March in 2010 This document is designed to inform those students, who do not speak German, about the detailed program structure of the M.A. Political Science. Only the German version is legally binding. It is laid down in the Modulhandbuch und Studienstruktur M.A. Political Science. I. Basic International Politics II. Basic Comparative Politics III. Advanced Methods IV. Research International Politics V. Research Comparative Politics VI. Elective VII. Research Internship VIII. Final 1

I. Basic International Politics 1. L International Readings Written exam (90 Politics min.) or paper(s) 2. L International Readings Written exam (90 Political min.) or paper(s) Economy 2 ECTS 14 12 ECTS Basic knowledge of statistics and Empirical Social Research Methods; good English language skills - Overview of the literature in the subfields of International Politics: Foreign Policy and Conflict Analysis, Regimes and International Organizations, International Political Economy, Transition and Transformation, European cooperation and integration. - Advanced knowledge of research questions, methodological approaches and explanations - Understanding of the problems and specialties of international cooperation and coordination and their historical roots. - Reading skills for scientific (especially English language) literature in International Politics; - Acquisition of methodological and analytical skills of International Politics. The Main themes of International Politics are the globalization, the analysis of conflicts, the implementation of international right, crisis, terror and its mediation (solution and management of conflicts), reasons and restrictions for the development and reform of international regimes/organizations as well as transformation of statehood and European governance. - Principles of International Politics - Peace and conflict studies - compliance and implementation of international cooperation - Bargaining and decision-making in International Politics - Transformation of statehood and international governance - European cooperation and integration - International Organizations in change - The transformation of states Basic module in the introductory phase Max. 30 participants Each fall semester (Herbstsemester) Two semesters Professors and assistants of the Professors for Political Science II, Political Science, Political Economy and Political Science and Contemporary History. Written exam (90-minutes) or paper(s) with about 5.000 words (for one paper) at the end of the lecture period. The resit takes place at the end of the lecture-free period. Proof of knowledge of the required readings during the semester. The grade for the module is composed of the module s graded classes, weighted according to the ECTS-credits. 2

II. Basic Comparative Politics 1. L Comparative Readings Written exam (90 Government min.) or paper(s) 2. L European Readings Written exam (90 Societies and min.) or paper(s) Politics 2 ECTS 14 12 ECTS Basic knowledge of statistics and Empirical Social Research Methods; good English language skills Basic knowledge of the most important theories, methodological approaches and findings in Political Sociology and Comparative Politics. - Reading skills for scientific (especially English language) literature in Political Sociology and Comparative Politics; - Acquisition of methodological and analytical skills. - The power structures of modern societies, social seperations and cleavages, nation and state - Traditional decision-makers like parliaments, governments and constitutional courts - Parties, interest groups and social movements as organizations of the civil society - Parties, interest groups and social movements as organizations of the civil society - The central institutional parameters of political competition like voting- and party-systems Empirical findings refer mainly to european political systems. The methodological middle is the role of comparison and the logic of empirical research according to theoretical principles. Old and new socio-political cleavages, nation and state, parties and organized interests, civil society, aspects of electorial behaviour, social and political participation, attitudes toward the political system (political culture) and voting- and party-systems, relations between executive and legislative branch, formation of government; parlamentarism and presidentialism, types of democracies and constitutional jurisdiction. Basic module in the introductory phase Max. 30 participants Each fall semester (Herbstsemester) Two semesters Professors and assistants of the Professors for Political Science I, Political Science III, Political Science and Comparative Social Research. Written exam (90-minutes) or paper(s) with about 5.000 words (for one paper) at the end of the lecture period. The resit takes place at the end of the lecture-free period. Proof of knowledge of the required readings during the semester. The grade for the module is composed of the module s graded classes, weighted according to the ECTS-credits. 3

III: Advanced Methods 1. L Multivariate Analyses Readings Exercises, papers or written exams 1. S Tutorial Multivariate 1. 1. 3. Exercises LN 2 Analyses L Game Theory Readings Exercises, papers or written exams S Tutorial Game Theory Exercises LN 2 L Research Design Readings Exercises, papers or written exams 5 ECTS TP 8 26 21 ECTS Basic knowledge of Empirical Social Research Methods; good English language skills - Knowledge of empirical-.analytical component of political science - Knowledge and competences in the formal theory construction - Knowing and applying multivariate analysis - Overview over the basics of game theory, application of game theory in Political Science - Overview of the different research designs and its applications - Multivariate analysis - Theories of rational choice, social choice, cooperative and noncooperative game theory, signal games, bayesian learning models, bargaining theories Multivariate Analysis, Maximum likelihood estimation, Limited Dependent Variable Models, Multiple Imputation Obligatory module in the introductory and 2 nd study phase Max. 60 participants in the lecture, max. 30 participants in the seminar groups Start each fall semester (Herbstsemester) Three Semesters Professors and assistants of the Professors for Political Economy, Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences and Comparative Political Behavior Lecture: written exam (90 minutes or take-home) at the end of the lecture periode and/or exercise/papers during the lectures. Seminar: exercises/papers during the seminar. The resit takes place at the end of the lecture-free period. The grade for the module is composed of the module s graded classes, weighted according to the ECTS-credits. 4

IV: Research International Politics 2. S Selected Topics in Readings International Politics 3. RS Selected Topics in Readings International Politics Paper(s)/ Paper(s)/ TP 14 21 3 ECTS 18 ECTS Good knowledge of Empirical Social Research Methods, good English language skills, knowledge of the current research status in scholarly literature of International Politics - Deeper knowledge in selected areas of International Politics - Practice of several quantitative and qualitative methods - Comprehension of the result in literature - Knowledge of the questions and problems of research design and research logic - Profound knowledge of research results - Competence in theory and methodical thinking, - Deduction and specification of hypotheses, - Search and editing of indicators, - Empirical work on research questions and verification of hypotheses in comparative perspective. The Main themes of International Politics are the globalization, the analysis of conflicts, the implementation of international right, crisis, terror and its mediation (solution and management of conflicts), reasons and restrictions for the development and reform of international regimes/organizations as well as transformation of statehood and European governance. - Institutional change and institutional design of international institutions - Processes of diffusion in international politics - International economic relations - Ratification and referendums - Power and consensus in international politics - International Governance : democracy and democratic deficit - Economic policy in international context Obligatory module in the 2 nd study phase 15 participants Start each spring semester (Frühjahrssemester) Two semesters Professors and assistants of the Professors for Political Science II, Political Science, Political Economy and Political Science and Contemporary History Paper(s) with if necessary an own data analysis of about 5.000 words (for one paper) for the seminar and of about 6.500 words for the research seminar, oral presentations, active participation in group discussions. The grade for the module is composed of the module s graded classes, weighted according to the ECTS-credits. 5

V: Research Comparative Politics 2. S Selected Topics in Readings Comparative Politics 3. RS Selected Topics in Readings Comparative Politics Paper(s)/ Paper(s)/ TP 14 21 3 ECTS 18 ECTS Knowledge of Empirical Social Research Methods, good English language skills - Deeper insight in selected areas of Comparative Politics and Political Sociology - Knowledge of the current state of research in scholarly literature - Knowledge of the questions and problems of research design and research logic, - Practice of several quantitative and qualitative methods. - Competence in theory and methodical thinking, - Deduction and specification of hypotheses, - Search and editing of indicators, - Empirical work on research questions and verification of hypotheses in comparative perspective. The seminar imparts the current state of international research to the students. The research class invites students to independently pursue their research interests in institutional or cultural aspects of Comparative European Politics. Political cleavages and party systems, political ideologies and value orientations, theories of political participation, political involvement, models of political communication and information processing, coalition politics, legislation, institutional design, mechanisms of political regulation, bureaucracy Obligatory module in the 2 nd study phase 15 participants Start each spring semester (Frühjahrssemester) Two semesters Professors and assistants of the Professors for Political Science I, Political Science III, Political Science and Comparative Social Research. Paper(s) with if necessary an own data analysis of about 5.000 words (for one paper) for the seminar and of about 6.500 words for the research seminar, oral presentations, active participation in group discussions. The grade for the module is composed of the module s graded classes, weighted according to the ECTS-credits. 6

VI. Elective * 2. S Selected Topics in Paper(s)/ MAP 7 International Politics 2. S Selected Topics in Paper(s)/ MAP 7 Comparative Politics 2. L Advanced Quantitative Methods Exercises, papers or written exams MAP 7 *One out of the three courses for choice 7 1 ECTS 6 ECTS Knowledge of Empirical Social Research Methods, good English language skills Deeper Knowledge in one of the three areas: Comparative Politics and Political Sociology, International Politics, empirical Analysis in Political Science Empirical work on research questions and verification of hypotheses in comparative perspective See Research Comparative Politics, Research International Politics; selected methods of quantitative analysis See Research Comparative Politics, Research International Politics; Maximum likelihood estimation, Limited Dependent Variable Models, Multiple Imputation Obligatory module in the 2 nd study phase 15 participants in the seminar, 60 participants in the lecture Each spring semester (Frühjahrssemester) One semester Professors and assistants of the Professors for Political Science I-III, Political Science, Political Science and Comparative Social Research, Political Economy, Political Science and Contemporary History, Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences and Comparative Political Behavior Paper(s) with if necessary an own data analysis of about 5.000 words (for one paper) for the seminar and for the lecture a written exam (90 minutes or take-home) at the end of the lecture period and/or exercises/papers during the lectures. The resit takes place at the end of the lecture-free period. The grade for the module is the grade of chosen class. 7

VII. Research Internship 3. P Research Internship Participation 8 8 8 ECTS - The internship, respectively the Summer School, is supposed to take place after the second semester. Exceptionally both can be done at an earlier point in time during the master s course, as well as during the free time after finishing a bachelor s degree and before starting the master s. Insights in the day-to-day work at empirical social research institutes. Transfer of the knowledge about the research process in the empirical social science into practical day-to-day work. Deeping knowledge of empirical methods and data analysis Not less than a six-week-internship (210 working hours) at a Social Science Research Institute, which works in an academic or non-academic area. Participation at a summer school (minimum two weeks) with empirical orientation. Whether a summer school may be eligible or not has to be confirmed by the internship-office of the department. - - - - Six weeks (research internship); two weeks summer school. A combination of both is possible after a required consultation of the internship-office. Social Science Research Institutes and organizers of summer schools. Course requirement for this module is a report on the internship of about 1500 words of length. It has to be turned in at the internship office by the first week of the fourth semester. For more details see the Praktikumsordnung. The research internship and the report are not part of the final grade. 8

VIII: Final 4. C Thesis Colloquium LN 6 4. Master s Thesis MAP 24 30 1 ECTS 29 ECTS Successful passing of at least the research module in the subfield the thesis will be written in. - Independent scientific and theory-based work in one of the subfields of Political Science, - Critical usage of the literature, - Critical usage of the methods. Preparation, monitoring and writing of the master s thesis - Selection and specification of the research question, - Research design and outline of the thesis, - Presentation and validation of the results. - Topics and problems - Search of Literature and Publishing in Political Science - Independent Evaluation of Research Results - Presentation and Discussion Obligatory module in the 2 nd study phase Max. 12 participants Each Spring Semester (Frühjahrssemester) One Semester All the Political Science professors (or their subsitutes) As proof of performance students are supposed to present the results of their work on the thesis in the colloquium. The examination consists of the master s thesis with a length of 25-35 pages (the thesis should be publishable). The grade for this module is the grade of the master s thesis. All indications concerning the semester in this program structure are recommendations for students. Index: C FSS HWS L LN MAP P RS S TP colloquium spring semester fall semester lecture fail/pass course final exam practical training research seminar seminar graded course 9

Program Schedule Master of Arts Political Science Semester ECTS 1. (fall) (Sep.-Dec.) Basic International Politics: 14 Basic Comparative Politics: 14 Advanced Methods: 26 32 L International Politics (2) 7 L Comparative Government (2) 7 L Multivariate Analyses (2) 7 S Tutorial Multivariate Analyses (2) 2 L Game Theory (2) 7 S Game Theory (2) 2 2. (Spring) (Feb.-June) L International Political Economy (2) 7 L European Societies and Politics (2) 7 28 You have to chose one research module: 3. (fall) (Sep.-Dec.) Research International Politics: 21 S Selected Topics in International Politics (2) 7 RS Selected Topics in International Politics (4) 14 Research Comparative Politics: 21 S Selected Topics in Comparative Politics (2) 7 RS Selected Topics in Comparative Politics (4) 14 Elective : 7* S Selected Topics in International Politics (2) 7 S Selected Topics in Comparative Politics (2) 7 L Advanced Quantitative Methods (2) 7 L Research Design (2) 8 Research Internship: 8 30 (e.g. Summer School / Internship) 4. (spring) (Feb.-June) Final : 30 MA thesis (-) 24 C Colloquium (2) 6 30 * One of the three courses for choice, the seminar out of the Research s should be from the not selected Research. 120 Index: The numbers in parentheses represent course hours per week, the numbers without parentheses are the amount of ECTS credits awarded for the seminar (e.g. for the lecture on International Politics, this means a 90 minute lecture per week, with a total of 7 ECTS credits awarded for this course.) C colloquium RS research seminar FSS spring semester S seminar HWS fall semester TP graded course L lecture LN fail/pass course 10