Starting in the winter semester 2021/22, the University of Cologne (UoC) will offer a new, internationally oriented sociology degree programme in English / good supervision key for students and preparation for various professions as well as an academic career:
‘Using Psychology to solve Societal and Economic Issues’: Using this motto, the new English-language programme ‘Sociology: Social and Economic Psychology’ will start at the UoC’s Faculty of Management, Economics, and Social Sciences in the coming winter semester. In addition to the already existing Master’s degree programme ‘Sociology – Social Research’, this will be the second English-language Master’s programme in sociology with an international orientation offered by the University of Cologne.
The programme’s interdisciplinary orientation enables B.A. graduates from a wide range of disciplines to specialize in the field of social and economic psychology in the course of their master’s studies. A Bachelor’s degree in psychology is not required, as is the case with similar programmes at many other universities.
The new full-time programme will allow students to earn a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree within the standard period of study of four semesters. Accepting only 25 students per academic year will facilitate intensive learning and close exchange with faculty and lecturers.
Since the programme is taught entirely in English, it is also attractive for international students. The opportunity to spend a semester abroad underlines the international orientation of the programme.
At the beginning, students will receive comprehensive training in sociology, including fundamental sociological theories, knowledge about socio-demographic change and inequalities in contemporary societies, as well as methods for the analysis of cross-sectional data. In the field of social and economic psychology, an introductory lecture will develop the theoretical foundations and provide knowledge in psychometrics. Building on this, students have the opportunity to independently implement and deepen their skills in the framework of a research project.
‘Being able to choose from a variety of exciting seminars in the fields of social and economic cooperation, organizational psychology, or consumer behaviour will enable students to tackle current topics in an application-oriented manner. A large selection of courses from neighbouring disciplines, for example Corporate Development, Marketing, or Media and Technology Management, rounds off the new master’s degree programme,’ said Professor Dr Detlef Fetchenhauer, Chair of Economic and Social Psychology. He initiated the new programme, elaborating, ‘Systematically linking these different disciplines with the opportunity of setting one’s own focus will enable students to develop an individual career-qualifying profile.’
A degree in the Master’s programme ‘Sociology: Social and Economic Psychology’ is expected to open up good opportunities for graduates on the job market, for example in the fields of organizational development, consulting, human resources development, market and opinion research, or marketing. But the degree will also prepare students for an academic career in psychology, sociology, or social or economic psychology.