The basic module Political Theory offers an introduction to the following topics:

  • Philosophy of science
  • Normative and empirical political theories
  • Introduction to the history of political ideas
  • Contemporary democratic theory
  • Contemporary theory of justice

In the seminars in advanced modules and in the master’s degree programs:

  • Lecture courses on important authors and works of political theory
  • Seminars on specific currents and paradigms in political theory, e.g. deliberative theories of democracy
  • Seminars that discuss current issues and challenges (e.g. climate crisis, populism, social inequality) against the background of normative and empirical political theories

In the Master’s degree in Political Economy and International Relations, the department is also responsible for Module 1 (Research Methods) and organizes the lecture series on research methods as well as the small group on research methods (headed by Cornelia Frings) and offers seminars on qualitative methods.

Here you will find an overview of the courses offered in the current semester:

  1. Basissem Politische Theorie
    Instructor: Dr. Maria Paola Ferretti; Julian Frinken; Kevin Walz
  2. Einf. BA Politikwissenschaft/BEd Sozialkunde: Einführungsveranstaltung für Erstsemester und Hochschulortwechsler
    Instructor: Fabio Best; Univ.-Prof. Dr. Helen Callaghan; Dr. Jasmin Fitzpatrick; Dr. Cornelia Frings; Sabine Schmidt; Dr. Annette Schmitt; Dr. Christoph Wagner
  3. Einf. MA Politik- und Demokratieforschung, Politische Ökonomie und Int. Bez. und MEd Sozialkunde: Einführungsveranstaltung für Erstsemester, Hochschulortwechsler und interessierte BA-Studierende
    Instructor: Dr. Annette Schmitt
  4. KG (MA) Forschungsmethoden (Politische Ökonomie + Internationale Beziehungen)
    Instructor: Dr. Cornelia Frings
  5. Koll Examenskolloquium Bereich Theorie
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Claudia Landwehr
  6. Praktikum Bachelor- und Masterstudiengänge
    Instructor: Dr. Alexandru Filip; Dr. Annette Schmitt; Dr. Nils Steiner
  7. Sem (BA/MEd) Deliberative Demokratie in Zeiten von Fake News
    Instructor: Dr. Annette Schmitt
  8. Sem (BA/MEd) Demokratieabbau: Muster und Ursachen
    Instructor: Dr. Nils Steiner
  9. Sem (BA/MEd) Practice-oriented Political Philosophy
    Instructor: Dr. Maria Paola Ferretti
  10. Sem (BA/MEd/Zertifikat) Back to nature: Renaturierung als politische Gestaltungsaufgabe
    Instructor: Dr. Cornelia Frings
  11. Sem (MA) Boomer vs. Zoomer? Politische Einstellungen und Wahlverhalten im Generationenvergleich
    Instructor: Dr. Nils Steiner
  12. Sem (MA) Die Rhetorik der Reaktion. Argumente, Motive und (Gegen-)Strategien
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Claudia Landwehr
  13. Sem (MA) Verteilungsgerechtigkeit
    Instructor: Dr. Cornelia Frings
  14. V Einführung in die Politikwissenschaft
    Instructor: Dr. Annette Schmitt
  15. V Einführung in die Politische Theorie
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Claudia Landwehr
  16. V Forschungswerkstatt Politikwissenschaft
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Claudia Landwehr

WiSe 2025/26