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; Dr. Cornelia Frings; Julian Frinken
  2. Einf. BA Politikwissenschaft/BEd Sozialkunde: Einführungsveranstaltung für Erstsemester und Hochschulortwechsler
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Helen Callaghan; Dr. habil. Jasmin Fitzpatrick; Dr. Cornelia Frings; May Jehle; Victoria Krüger; Dr. Christoph Wagner
  3. Einf. MA PDF, MA PÖIB UND MEd Sozialkunde : Einführungsveranstaltung für Erstsemester und Hochschulortwechsler und interessierte BA-Studierende
    Instructor: Dr. Annette Schmitt
  4. Koll Examenskolloquium Bereich Theorie
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Claudia Landwehr
  5. Praktikum Bachelor- und Masterstudiengänge
    Instructor: Dr. Alexandru Filip; Dr. Annette Schmitt; Dr. Nils Steiner
  6. Sem (BA/MEd) Wehrhafte Demokratie: Theoretische Grundlagen, Instrumente und Debatten
    Instructor: Dr. Kevin Walz
  7. Sem (BA/MEd/MA-EU) Democratic public discource and free speech
    Instructor: Dr. Maria Paola Ferretti
  8. Sem (MA) Empirische Theorien in der Policy-Forschung
    Instructor: Dr. Cornelia Frings
  9. Sem (MA) Politik der Angst
    Instructor: Dr. Annette Schmitt
  10. Sem (Zertifikat/BA/MEd (nur, wenn noch Plätze frei sind)) Wassersicherheit im Klimawandel: Herausforderungen und politische Lösungsansätze
    Instructor: Dr. Cornelia Frings
  11. V Einführung in Analyse und Vergleich politischer Systeme
    Instructor: Dr. Nils Steiner
  12. V Einführung in die Politikwissenschaft
    Instructor: Dr. Annette Schmitt
  13. V Forschungswerkstatt
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Claudia Landwehr
  14. V Thema Bereich Politische Theorie: Zeitgenössische Demokratietheorie
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Claudia Landwehr

SoSe 2026