Information
The interdisciplinary Master Program in Political, Economic and Legal Philosophy (PELP) centres on questions of practical philosophy, particularly with regard to the relation of normative theory and social practice. Social structures and problems – whether economic, political or legal - are interdependent and inescapably normative, both in their presuppositions and their implications. The aim of the PELP program is to enable students to understand and investigate this interdependence and underlying normativity, in order to help them to deal appropriately with a wide range of political, legal, economic and social problems. Strong emphasis is laid on interdisciplinarity and the connection between theoretical and practical issues in science and philosophy.
Academic degree
Master of Arts "MA"
Working Languages
German and English
Duration
The standard duration (4 semesters) can be extended under certain special circumstances, for example if the programme is completed while working.
Target Group, Preconditions
The PELP programme is developed for the following target group:
Students with Bachelor degrees in humanities, law, or social sciences (including cultural and economic sciences), and applied sciences, or any other equivalent national and international study programmes can apply for PELP. The equivalence will need to be recognised by the Rectorate. Completion of the PELP programme as a whole requires 120 ECTS credits. If students don’t have a Bachelor degree in philosophy they can still enroll in the MA PELP. However, they will have to have successfully completed additional courses in philosophy at the BA level (including logic, theoretical and practical philosophy and history of philosophy) to the extent of 28 ECTS before they complete their MA PELP studies.
Pedagogical Goals
The PELP programme aims to provide students with the intellectual tools required to first analyse and evaluate the normative dimensions of complex public, economic and legal issues and decisions, and then to develop original normative solutions to the various problems raised by these issues. The programme provides a systematic introduction to basic aspects, problems and methods of philosophy and political, legal, economic and social sciences, to ethical ways of arguing, and to the process of formulating and implementing political decisions. Additionally, the programme develops essential competencies in cooperation, integration, and interdisciplinary discourse. The aim to foster the ability to conduct independent scientific work is reflected in the high value given to the Master Thesis in the programme. It is not only expected that students will write a Thesis with around 30.000 words, but the Master Thesis (30 ECTS) and the related courses (10 ECTS) sum up to a total of 40 ECTS.
Study Objectives - skills profiles
The PELP programme aims to provide students with the intellectual tools required to first analyze and evaluate the normative dimensions of complex public, economic and legal issues and decisions, and then to develop original normative solutions to the various problems raised by these issues. The programme provides a systematic introduction to basic aspects, problems and methods of philosophy and political, legal, economic and social sciences, to ethical ways of arguing, and to the process of formulating and implementing political decisions. Additionally, the program develops essential competencies in cooperation, integration, and interdisciplinary discourse. The aim to foster the ability to conduct independent scientific work is reflected in the high value given to the Master Thesis in the programme. It is not only expected that students will write a Thesis with around 30.000 words, but the Master Thesis (30 ECTS) and the related courses (10 ECTS) sum up to a total of 40 ETCS. Working languages: German and English
Occupational Areas
The PELP programme prepares graduates for both scientific and practical careers; for example, and non-exhaustively, jobs in administration and public services, politics (political parties and organizations, NGOs), business, education (universities, universities of applied education and other educational institutions), consulting, ethics counselling, media.
Career Options
Philosophy is not a vocational degree. Nevertheless, studying it prepares you for a number of potential career options. This is because studying philosophy trains you in skills that are highly valued by virtually all employers: the ability to think precisely and critically, to grasp arguments quickly and to express yourself clearly.
Occupational areas are (for example, and non-exhaustively):
• educational institutions (universities, colleges, applied education)
• administration and public services
• politics (political parties and organizations, NGOs)
• business
• publishing, literature and journalism
• media
• librarianship
• information and knowledge management
• (inter) cultural communication: cultural politics and management
• health services
• consulting
• political, ethics and social counseling
