Language Sciences (= LS) is the interdisciplinary umbrella term for all subjects concerned with the phenomenon of ‘language’ (primarily including linguistics and national philology). Language offers a rich array of approaches, as it combines structural, social, cognitive and technological aspects. If these are considered in isolation, a large part of linguistic phenomenology remains unexplored. LS opens up the possibility of understanding language from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students are given the opportunity to engage intensively with questions concerning the structural diversity and unity of languages, the changeability of languages, their social embeddedness, their technological use, and their acquisition, loss and processing. This engagement takes place on a multilingual basis and is always closely linked to current research debates. Students are encouraged to undertake independent academic work and are integrated into existing research contexts. The courses are predominantly research-oriented and are aimed primarily at students who envisage an academic career as a professional path.

Future career opportunities outside education

Graduates of the programme are highly suitable candidates for roles in the field of ‘language research’ in the broadest sense. They are well-suited to roles at university or non-university institutions engaged in basic research or language technologies.

Stages of study / Course content / module descriptions

The programme aims to train capable early-career researchers who can engage meaningfully with the subject of ‘language’ from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students learn how the various specialised branches of ‘linguistics’ can be related to one another and what opportunities this opens up for expanding our understanding.

Study Plan

In the first semester, the focus is on the profile module. In this module, students are brought up to the same level of knowledge, the main areas of specialisation are introduced, and general guidance is provided for the rest of the programme. The Free Module, which students are expected to put together from the full range of courses offered by the Universities of Bremen and Oldenburg in consultation with the programme’s module coordinator, can be taken from the very first semester. The second to third semesters comprise the compulsory-elective phase, during which students must choose their specialisation by completing at least two (but no more than three) modules from one of the designated specialisation areas. The Master’s thesis must also be written in the chosen specialisation. At least one module, but no more than two, must be taken from an area other than the specialisation. The fourth semester is set aside for the final module, which is dedicated to the writing of the Master’s thesis.

Compulsory, compulsory-elective and elective modules

The compulsory component comprises 30 CP and consists of the profile module and the free-choice module. In addition, there is the final module (Master’s thesis) worth 30 CP. The compulsory-elective component covers the 2nd and 3rd semesters and comprises a total of four modules worth 60 CP.

Typical course formats / teaching methods / teaching profile

The LS curriculum offers seminars as part of the two-semester modules (2nd–3rd semesters), which are occasionally combined with lectures and/or tutorials. In addition, there is student project work, organised in consultation with the lecturers, as well as a reading tutorial during the specialisation module.

Areas of specialisation / fields of study

The main areas of focus within the LS are:
* Language Description and Comparative Linguistics (SuS)
* Language, Society, Politics (SGP)
* Computational Linguistics and Natural Language Processing (NLP)
* Language and Cognition (SuK)
Students choose these specialisations by completing at least two modules from the respective specialisation area.