Sociology is the general science of social phenomena. Its subject matter ranges from elementary social relationships, groups, networks, organizations and societies to the processes and structures of global society. Sociology examines how human action works, the unwritten laws according to which people interact with each other and the influence of structural conditions and cultural institutions on such practices. Sociology also tries to understand how mass phenomena (such as fashions) come about and which dynamics lead to conflicts. With this wide range of phenomena, Sociology is less specialized than other social sciences. It is an empirical science that records its objects with systematic observations and statistical data collection and develops and examines theories on this basis. Sociology has various research methods and theoretical approaches at its disposal in order to do justice to the particularities of its subject matter. Its internal diversity makes the program of study in Sociology exciting, but also renews the need for constant changes of perspective.
Have you ever asked yourself how good the opportunities for social advancement are in Germany and which social institutions favor or inhibit such processes? Or which institutions ensure that people are still differentiated by gender in the 21st century, for example why parenthood is only available as motherhood or fatherhood? Have you ever thought more closely about how teachers recognize good students and what observations are incorporated into the evaluation of people by educational organizations? Would you like to know why people are attracted to certain people and how they become social networks? Are you interested in how new technologies and innovations emerge, develop within social contexts and change our social reality? Do you want to find out how smartphones and social items are changing privacy and the public sphere? This is just a small selection of questions to which we will try to formulate answers together with you in the Mainz Sociology degree program.
Special features of the sociology degree program in Mainz
Sociology is offered at JGU Mainz as an undergraduate bachelor’s program in core and minor subjects. This can be followed by the master’s degree program “Sociology: Research Practice and Practical Research”.
The Sociology degree program is characterized by a wide range of attractive subject-related sociologies, which are taught in orientation and specialization modules on the bachelor’s program. There are currently eight specializations, each of which is based on one of the following working groups:
Sociological Theory and Gender Studies – Specialization: Gender Studies
Sociology of the body – Specialization: Sociology of the body
Media Sociology and Social Theory Specialization: Media Sociology
Social Structure Analysis – Specialization: Cultural Sociology
Sociological Theory and Gender Studies – Specialization: Gender Studies
Sociology of the body – Specialization: Sociology of the body
Media Sociology and Social Theory – Specialization: Media Sociology
Sociology of Technics and Innovation, Simulation Methods – Specialization: Sociology of Technics and Innovation
Another special feature is the multi-track methodological training. Both quantitative-statistical and qualitative-interpretative methods of social research are taught on the bachelor’s program. In the Master’s degree course, students specialize in one of these areas, but it is also possible to study a combination of methods. Students also have the opportunity to learn methods of network analysis and simulation.
