A Bachelor’s degree is a first academic title that you can obtain after a course of study usually lasting six semesters (i.e. after just three years). The Bachelor’s degree qualifies you for a career, i.e. it gives you the opportunity to enter professional life directly. Alternatively, you can go on to complete a Master’s degree (M.A. or M.Ed.).

There are two Bachelor’s degree programs in Political Science at Mainz University, namely the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science and the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Social Studies, which prepares students specifically for the teaching profession at secondary schools. The B.A. in Political Science can only be studied in a major/minor combination, i.e. with Political Science as major combined with a minor or with Political Science as minor combined with another major. In the B. Ed. you study two subjects plus educational sciences.

Information on the subjects that you can combine with Political Science as part of this so-called dual-subject Bachelor’s degree can be found on the website of the Central Student Advisory Service under the following link:

We also offer four Master’s degree courses at the Department of Political Science: the two political science Master’s degree courses M.A. Political and Democratic Research and M.A. Political Economy and International Relations. These courses are supplemented by a political science M. Ed. in Social Studies.

In addition, we have developed the trinational M.A. European Studies together with our partner universities in Opole (Poland) and Dijon (France). This unique program enables students to gain international experience: They spend the first semester in Opole, the second in Mainz and the third in Dijon.

Yes, it is possible to start the first semester of both Bachelor’s degree courses in the winter semester as well as in the summer semester.

In addition to the general requirements for admission to a university degree course (Abitur), students must have sufficient English language skills to be able to read English-language specialist literature and take part in courses in English. The basic requirements for successfully studying political science also include an interest in politics, a willingness to read widely and an enjoyment of academic work.

Most of the examinations that are relevant for the Bachelor’s grade are taken during the course of study (so-called module examinations). A total of nine module examinations must be completed in the B.A. Political Science major, five module examinations in the B.A. Political Science minor and seven module examinations in the B.Ed. Social Studies.
In the B.A. Political Science major, the Bachelor’s thesis (completion time eight weeks) and a final oral examination (duration 30 minutes) are added at the end of the degree course. In B. Ed. Social Studies, the Bachelor’s examination only consists of a Bachelor’s thesis (completion time eight weeks), which must be written in one of the two subjects or in Educational Science (if the Bachelor’s thesis is written in Social Studies, the Master’s thesis must be written in the other subject; if the Bachelor’s thesis is written in the other subject, the Master’s thesis must be written in Social Studies; if the Bachelor’s thesis is written in Educational Science, students can choose in which subject the Master’s thesis is written; the Master’s thesis cannot be written in Educational Science).

Yes, the degree is recognized nationwide. However, this does not mean that there are no additional admission requirements (e.g. aptitude tests) for various Master’s degree programs.

No, you can’t say that. This is because the degree courses at the individual universities differ in their focus and individual modules can also be different. However, knowledge of the basic areas of political science and methodological skills are generally taught at all universities that offer a Bachelor’s degree in political science. It is therefore usually possible to transfer to a Master’s program in the same or a related subject after the Bachelor’s examination without any problems. A change of study location during your Bachelor’s degree may mean that you have to catch up on certain modules at the new university or complete additional coursework. If you are planning to change universities, compare the respective study regulations carefully and seek advice from the student advisory service.

Not only can you, but you should. The Department of Political Science strongly recommends that all students study abroad for at least one semester or complete an internship abroad. The best time for this is after the fourth semester of the B.A., i.e. after completing the basic modules. In principle, all successfully completed and equivalent achievements abroad in the field of political science can be recognized.

Yes, you need an internship of at least six weeks in the B.A. Political Science major. However, you do not necessarily have to complete these six weeks in one go; you can split this period into more than one internship. You must complete your internship in fields related to political science, e.g. journalism/PR, political consulting, market and opinion research, continuing political education/adult education, political parties and associations, international organizations, political administration, etc. If you are unsure whether your internship will be recognized, please contact the responsible internship officer at the department.

No. The study plan we have drawn up is merely a recommendation. It takes into account a roughly equal workload over six semesters.

No. The standard period of study is six semesters, i.e. you must generally be able to complete your studies as a full-time student after six semesters. Depending on your life and study situation, you may be able to study a few semesters longer. You must have registered your Bachelor’s thesis by the end of the twelfth semester at the latest, otherwise it will be deemed to have been failed for the first time.

No. The department determines the binding form of the examination. However, it cannot specify an examination form that is not provided for in the examination regulations. You have your own freedom of choice in the basic modules. You can choose the two basic modules in which you want to write a term paper as a module examination. The remaining basic modules must be completed with a written examination.

Yes. In the minor subject, you must select four out of five basic modules and then successfully complete these four. You must complete two of the basic modules with a written examination. In the other two, you must submit a term paper as an examination. It is not possible to complete five basic modules and then choose the four best examinations. When you register for the basic modules, you decide which four basic modules you would like to complete. It is not possible to register for a fifth basic module, nor is it possible to change a basic module at a later date.

Yes. You choose yourself in which two basic modules you write a term paper as a module examination.

The examinations in the basic modules relate to the two lectures of the respective module, in this case the introduction to the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany and a second advanced lecture (e.g. introduction to political sociology). The introductory lectures are largely standardized, i.e. their content is largely repetitive. The content of the thematic lectures varies more widely. In order to give students more flexibility here, the written examination in the basic modules is generally based on a) the introductory lecture, b) the current thematic lecture and c) the thematic lecture from the previous year, whereby students must choose between b) and c) in the written examination. This gives students the opportunity to refer to the previous lecture in the exam. In cases of doubt, please always consult the respective module coordinator directly as to which lectures the module exam is based on.

Students who are enrolled at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in the Bachelor of Education in at least the 5th semester or in the Master of Education can choose a further subject in addition to their previous subject combination as part of the “Extension Examination” certificate course. At Mainz University, the “Extension Examination” certificate program is only possible for the teaching degree at secondary schools.
In accordance with the “Regulations for the examination in the teaching-related certificate program (extension examination) at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz” dated May 30, 2012, six modules must be successfully completed as part of the certificate course “Extension Examination” for the teaching profession at secondary schools in the subject of Social Studies, namely from the B. Ed. Social Studies the modules
– Fundamentals of Political Science and its neighboring disciplines
– Democracy and Society in Germany
– Comparison of Political Systems or Political Theory (one of both must be chosen)
– Didactics of Social Studies

and from the M. Ed. Social Studies the modules
– Politics and political mediation
– Cross-cutting issues in the political context.

The module examinations in the two modules “Fundamentals of Political Science and its neighboring disciplines” and “Didactics of Social Studies” are to be completed in the form of written examinations, the module examinations in the other four modules in the form of academic term papers.