Focus Labour Market, Organization and Knowledge

Standard period of study: 2 academic years

Credit points:      120 CP

In the modern knowledge society, especially for the social sciences, competencies in dealing with knowledge are more important than encyclopedic expertise. The MA Social Sciences at the University of Oldenburg aims to introduce students to an integrative approach to the analysis of social phenomena from a sociological and political science perspective, especially in the fields of labour market, organization and knowledge. These concentrations also provide students with practical professional skills in the areas of labor market policies, organizational consulting, and knowledge management.

The Master's program in Social Sciences provides students with the competence to theoretically analyze, empirically research and normatively reflect on social science issues, especially in the fields of labour market, organization and knowledge. Social scientists must have the ability to think through scientific or practical problems from different perspectives, to place it in a larger context and to work on it with appropriate instruments. The starting point of the curriculum is therefore the interweaving of subject-related and practical research skills with theoretical and methodological knowledge.

Study structure and content

The MA Social Sciences is offered as a two-year program with 120 credits. Admission requires a BA degree in social sciences, sociology or political science with at least 60 KP share in social sciences or an equivalent qualification. Other admission criteria include sufficient English language skills and basic knowledge of statistics.

The program is composed of the following elements:

In addition to providing advanced theoretical and methodological knowledge, the goal is to study according to the student's own focus. In particular, the decision for two of the three main areas of study (labor market, organization and knowledge) promotes individual knowledge combinations and study paths. The introductory curriculum, which is obligatory for all students, imparts initial advanced knowledge in scientific theories and methods. In addition, an introductory overview of the three main areas of study is provided. The focal points of labor market, organization and knowledge form the content core of the study program. Through in-depth study in a project and an internship, the course is set for the students' professional orientation in the further course. Finally, the fourth semester is used to write a final thesis, which is accompanied by a colloquium.

Focus Labour Market

In the focus "Labour Market", students learn the competence for theoretical and empirical analysis of labour markets in a micro-macro-analytical and interdisciplinary perspective. The sociological approach focuses on the micro-founded explanation of social inequality in the labour market, taking into account the effect of the institutional, cultural and social embeddedness of the labour market. The political science focus is devoted to the actor-centered analysis of political decision-making and reform processes and individual attitudes towards the design of labour market and social policies in international comparison. The aim of the module is to qualify participants for jobs both in political institutions, social security organizations, employers' associations and trade unions, and in labour market and social policy research institutions.

Focus Organization

In the "Organization" focus, students learn to analyze and understand organizations from a political science and sociological perspective. The social science perspective looks at the interaction of the various actors in organizations. In particular, this involves understanding organizations as heterogeneous and environmentally open systems. By linking theory with concrete examples, students in this concentration acquire the skills to analyze organizations with the help of both political science and sociological approaches and to use this knowledge to effectively steer organizational action.

Focus Knowledge

In the "Knowledge" focus, students acquire comprehensive subject-specific knowledge of the approaches and methods of knowledge research. In addition, they acquire reflexive competencies with regard to the relationship between knowledge and society, especially with regard to current information and communication technologies. This concentration allows students to take the perspective of communication and the production of knowledge and focuses on the social effects and prerequisites of new information technologies. Students with this focus are qualified for activities especially in the field of knowledge, science and innovation research as well as for activities in the areas of strategy development, communication and human resources of companies, associations and foundations.

Occupational fields and fields of activity

The occupational fields for graduates of the program range from an academic career to private research institutions and opinion research institutes to staff positions in companies, in labor market administration, in organizational consulting, and in media and educational institutions.

Questions and answers about the freely selectable modules in the Master of Social Sciences

1. can bachelor subjects also be chosen?

The choice of modules of the Bachelor's program is explicitly excluded in the examination regulations. Up to now, there has been no exception to this rule in the FM Education and Educational Sciences.

2) How is access to the chosen module ensured?

The organization of participation in the desired module of the other subject master's program is the responsibility of the student. The decision on the possibility of admission to the module is, of course, made by the respective module supervisor of the other subject.

3. can modules of subjects with restricted admission be chosen?

In principle, a student can also choose modules of an admission-restricted Master's program after consultation with the person responsible for the module. The examination of free capacities for the admission of students from other subjects is then carried out by the chosen course of studies.

In the past, however, the option of choosing a module from another degree program has only been used sporadically. As a rule, students there choose modules from other majors.

According to § 4 of the admission regulations for the Master's program in Social Sciences, admission for the summer semester can also be applied for in justified exceptional cases. Due to the structure of the new Master's program, however, it is hardly possible to start the program in the summer semester, since four introductory courses are offered in the winter semester, which are often followed by two-semester concentrations, projects, internships or electives. Therefore, the courses of the winter semester can hardly be made up in the second semester. Therefore, only students who have already participated in the introductory courses in the previous winter semester and, if applicable, have completed most of them as part of their Bachelor's program can be admitted to the summer semester.

A quick overview of the internship regulations for master students (12 KP)

• Scope of the internship: 270 hrs.
• Participation in colloquium with group presentation
• Internship report at least 3,000 words, will be graded
• Crediting of previous activities is not possible
• Instead of the internship, a second project can be completed (also in the context of a semester abroad).