M.A. Political Economy and International Relations – Institut für Politikwissenschaft

Recently, the scope for action and shaping democratic politics has been increasingly called into question:

Citizens’ expectations of the state go far beyond the creation and preservation of internal, external and social security. Rather, the distribution of prosperity, the regulation of markets and the “production” of a variety of other public goods such as consumer, environmental or data protection are at the forefront. Political decisions are therefore made under conditions of high complexity and in the face of a multitude of interests competing for consideration.

In addition, due to globalization processes and increasing interdependence between states, nation states can de facto be seen less and less as sovereign actors that regulate their internal affairs and external relations in a self-determined manner. Instead, we must understand them as networked and in many respects dependent actors whose scope for decision-making is reduced in a complex web of inter- and supranational relationships.

These obvious limits to the state’s scope for action point to a central question: In a politically and economically globalized and interconnected world, what possibilities do political actors on both sides of national borders have for shaping and controlling the world?

In the M.A. Political Economy and International Relations program, you will deal with this question in a theory-based and methodologically sound manner on the basis of the latest research findings.

The department recommends a sequence of modules in the form of study plans. This recommendation should enable you to complete your studies within four semesters. However, you can also design your course of study individually and deviate from the recommendation.

You will find the recommended study plan together with the examination regulations, the subject-specific appendix and the module handbook in the Download Center.

You attend a seminar designated for Module 6 from the courses offered by the Department of Political Science and choose a “suitable” lecture from the courses offered by our cooperation partners. A lecture is “suitable” if it enables you to study an aspect of the seminar in greater depth. You decide which lecture(s) this is (are). Let’s assume, for example, that you are taking part in a seminar on climate policy. Then it might be a good idea to listen to a lecture from the field of economics, for example on “Collective Decision-Making”. Against this background, you will then work independently on a study report in consultation with the seminar leader. The study report is nothing other than a term paper with an “interdisciplinary orientation”. It must therefore meet the requirements for a term paper. You then present and discuss the central results of your research in the following semester in the colloquium of the research unit to which your seminar leader belongs. As a rule, the presentation should not last longer than 15 minutes.

The assessment is based on the overall impression of the written and oral performance. The oral performance confirms or corrects the impression of the written performance; this is possible both upwards and downwards, but to a maximum of +/- 1.0. Both performances must be completed with at least a satisfactory result.

Please note: two options are possible if you keep to the standard period of study: you can attend the lecture and seminar in the same semester, for example in the 3rd semester. With this option, you have a solid basis for your decision: you can use the annotated course catalog in Jogustine to search for a seminar with us and a suitable lecture from the cooperation partners. This basis is even more solid if you first attend the seminar and then choose a suitable lecture in the following semester.

You can choose from the following lectures offered by our cooperation partners (subject to change):

Journalism Studies: “Political Communication” (WS)
Sociology: “Social Structure and Comparative Society” (summer semester), “Economic Sociology” (from winter semester 25/26)
Economics: “Social Choice” (summer semester)
Law: “International Humanitarian Law”, “Collective Peacekeeping” (summer semester)
History: “Introduction to Modern History” and “Longitudinal Section/International Relations” (summer semester)
Philosophy: “Introduction to Practical Philosophy” (summer semester), “Introduction to Applied Ethics” (winter semester)

A frequent question is whether you have to pass the examinations in the lecture. As far as the requirements of the Department of Political Science are concerned: No. However, you must ensure that you are not “set inactive” in the lecture, and you do this by completing the coursework expected of you by the person leading the lecture, if applicable.

As part of the practical module, you can do an internship of at least 9 weeks or combine a shorter internship with courses or only attend courses. There is a wide range of options available to you.

from the BA Political Science, core subject, advanced module/practical module: you will receive 3 CP in each of the seminars on professional qualification or application of methods;
of the Studium Generale: Both the lecture and the corresponding exercise must be attended in one semester: 6 CP;
of the ISSK: language courses. The number of CPs specified by the ISSK applies;
of the Data Center (ZDV): EDP courses. Provided they were offered weekly throughout the semester: 3 CP;
other “providers” at JGU (except university sports). The number of ECTS credits specified by the “provider” applies. Please read the relevant information in the module handbook on what to do if this is a lecture.

As soon as you register for the internship module in Jogustine, you will have access to the Moodle course “Internship”. There you will find all relevant information about the internship as well as a checklist of aspects that need to be considered (from the form for certifying that the internship is compulsory to the instructions for the internship report).

The credits you earn as part of the internship module are not automatically recorded in Jogustine, but must be recognized. This means: as soon as you have acquired the required 12 credit points, please contact the internship officer (currently Dr. Annette Schmitt) by email so that the recognition certificate can be issued for the examination office.

General information on the organization of internships can be found under the following link:

We have cooperation agreements with a number of internship providers. This list is constantly updated.

General information on the module examinations, such as submission deadlines etc., can be found on the module examinations page under the following link:

Under conditions of social complexity and increasing globalization and internationalization, graduates are in demand,

– who can think independently and are also team players,

– are able to analyze and critically reflect on political and economic interrelationships in a national and international context and translate their findings into concrete proposals for solutions, and

–We train you to do this as part of the M.A. in Political Economy and International Relations.

This enables you to work in these professional fields

in politics: as research assistants in political parties, parliamentary groups, with members of parliament, in ministries, government agencies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations
in policy-related areas: in political foundations, political journalism and political consulting

in market and opinion research, public relations, management consultancies and other private-sector companies

in science: as research assistants at universities, universities of applied sciences and private research institutions.

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