Political Science
Bachelor of Arts (Minor subject)

The general prerequisite for the admission is a general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur, etc.). A good command of English is advantageous.

The study of political science is devoted to (among others) political systems, the impact of European integration, the effects of electoral systems, the quality of representation in democracies, the functioning of political parties, and the analysis of international conflicts. In Düsseldorf, particular emphasis is placed on party research, on European research and on researchon  voting advice applications.
Typical classes are:
- The German Political System - Introduction to Political Theory - Comparative Political Science - Conflict and Peace Research - International Political Economy - Parliamentarism - Democracy in the European Union - Parties and Party Systems - Elections and Electoral Systems.

The study program proceeds as follows: You start in the first semester with a combination of lecture and exercise. In the lecture you will get an introductory overview of political science in its breadth, in the exercise you will discuss classics of political theory. In the second semester, you will combine a lecture on the German political system with an exercise on the analysis of political systems. At the end of your first year, you will take a final module examination for these courses, which together form the basic module of Political Science. Parallel to this introduction you will learn the basics of the qualitative and quantitative methods of the subject.
From the second academic year onwards, you are free to choose your courses. You will take a total of nine courses from three areas of political science, namely Europe and International Affairs, Systems and Structures, and Areas and Processes of Political Science.

administration, political parties, political foundations and interest groups; journalism