Curriculum


General Rules

Courses

  • If a specialisation is chosen, at least three of the four courses must be completed in the selected specialisation. At least one course must be completed from another department’s course offerings for the GSBS.
  • If no specialisation is selected, at least three courses must be completed in the department’s course offerings for the GSBS.

Research Seminars / Colloquia

  • The first required research seminar/colloquium is the thesis proposal, included in the first progress report, and presented in a colloquium by end of the third semester at the latest.
  • The remaining three research seminars/colloquia are taken in the subject area or the specialisation.

Additional Rules Regarding Research Seminars / Colloquia

  • The active participation in a workshop/conference (presentation and paper), can be recognised as a research seminar/colloquium, if a member of the thesis committee, or a representative, grades the presentation and paper with a pass. The department‘s doctoral committee decides on recognition.
  • A maximum of two courses or research seminars/colloquia may be substituted by long-term work on third-party funded research projects or by independently taught courses with a duration of two hours per week in a semester. This applies per substitution of a course or research seminar/colloquium. Please also check the additional discipline rules for the GSBS. The department’s doctoral committee decides on the application.
  • Additional courses for acquiring key skills may be taken. They cannot, however, be recognised as regular courses of the GSBS.

Additional Rules of the Disciplines

A1. Biology

See the general rules.

A2. Physics

See the general rules.

A3. Psychology

See the general rules.

A4. Statistics

See the general rules.

B1. Linguistics

  • At least three courses from the Department's own course offerings must be completed. On application, a maximum of two courses may be substituted by a collaborative work period of at least six months duration on a third-party funded project, by a one-semester independently taught course lasting two semester hours per week or by a conference presentation (poster or lecture). These rules apply per course substitution. The decision on this is made by the Department’s doctoral committee.
  • If a specialisation is selected, three courses must be completed in the selected specialisation. Up to two of these courses may be selected from courses outside the Department’s own course offerings. On application, a maximum of two courses may be substituted by a collaborative work period of at least six months duration on a third-party funded project, by a one-semester independently taught course lasting two semester hours per week or by a conference presentation (poster or lecture). These rules apply per course substitution. For the substitution of courses in the specialisation, collaborative work on a third-party funded project or teaching must be assignable to the topic area of the specialisation. The decision on this is made by the Department’s doctoral committee.

B2. Sociology

  • ­If an interdisciplinary specialisation chosen, at least three courses must be taken in the chosen specialisation. At least one course must be completed outside sociology. Regarding the completion of further academic achievements, you can freely select among the courses and research seminars / colloquia offered by the GSBS. On application, a maximum of one course may be substituted by a work period of least six months on a third-party funded project or by a one-semester independently taught course of two semester hours per week. The decision on this is made by the Department’s doctoral committee.
  • If no specialisation is chosen, at least three courses must be completed in sociology. Regarding the completion of further academic achievements, you can freely select among the courses and research seminars / colloquia offered by the GSBS. On application, a maximum of one course may be substituted by a work period of at least six months on a third-party funded project or by a one-semester independently taught course of two semester hours per week. The decision on this is made by the Department’s doctoral committee.

C1. Economics

  • If no interdisciplinary specialisation is selected, the following three core courses have to be taken:
    • “Topics in Advanced Microeconomics”
    • “Topics in Advanced Macroeconomics”
    • “Topics in Advanced Econometrics”.
  • In agreement with the first supervisor, it is possible to substitute all or some of the core courses with other courses in economics.
  • If an interdisciplinary specialisation is selected, three courses have to be taken in the selected specialisation. A further core course (see above), must be taken.
  • Research seminars and colloquia can be selected from all research seminars/colloquia offered by the GSBS.

C2. Politics and Public Administration

  • At least three courses must be taken from those offered by the Department for the GSBS.
  • A maximum of two courses can be substituted by a six-month work period on a third-party funded research project or a one-semester independently taught course of two semester hours per week (per course substitution). The decision on this is made by the Department’s doctoral committee.
  • Aside from Politics and Public Administration, it is possible to specialise in either “Decision Sciences” or “Inequality”. Three courses have to be taken in the specialisation. Two of which can be courses that are not from the Department’s own course offerings for the GSBS.
  • A maximum of two courses can be substituted by a six-month work period on a third-party funded research project or a one-semester independently  taught course of two semester hours per week (per course substitution).  The work on a third-party funded research project or an independently taught course must be assignable to the topic area of the specialisation. The decision on this is made by the Department’s doctoral committee.

Additional Rules of the Specialisations

D. Collective Behaviour

  • All courses and research seminars/colloquia offered by the Departments involved in the Cluster for the GSBS can be selected.
  • The specific rules for the relevant discipline have to be taken into account when selecting courses and research seminars/colloquia. 

E. Decision Sciences

  • See the general rules.

F. Inequality

  • Two research seminars/colloquia offered by the specialisation must be selected.
  • Substitution of courses is only possible, if the discipline rules permit. Work on a third-party funded project or teaching must be assignable to the subject area of specialisation. The decision on this is made by the doctoral committee of the respective department.