Course content – Public Affairs and Democracy

2nd Semester:

• Comparative and International Political Economy
• Environmental Economics
• Governing transformation to Sustainability
• Public Finance and Public Politics

3rd Semester:

• Global Sustainability Politics and Sustainable Statehood
• Security Policy in a Globally Comparative Perspective
• Replication Studies in Economics
• Behavioral Public Economics

Modules in this study area (45 CP) introduce students to the key concepts, theories, arguments and debates in research on democracy in both the Global North and the Global South. Modules cover behavioural, cultural, institutional, international and normative-theoretical perspectives on democracy. This study area also contains a research seminar, in which students pursue their own research project in preparation for their master’s Thesis.

Modules in this study area (20 CP) familiarise students with the most important methods used in contemporary research in the social sciences and are intended to provide the skills necessary to both critically evaluate existing work and produce rigorous original research. Besides acquiring methodological foundations, the focus in these modules is on the concrete application of methods. Modules in this study area are taught by faculty from the institutes of economics and political science.

Modules in this study area (10 CP) enable students to specialise in relevant subject areas of their own choice. Modules are drawn from other institutes within the School of Public Affairs as well as other schools, allowing students to deepen their substantive knowledge in political science and/or strengthen their interdisciplinary profile.

The Complementary Studies are an essential part of the special teaching model of Leuphana. It supplements and expands students' subject-specific learning with the following three modules (5 CP each) with critical academic and practical perspectives from all faculties:

1. Engaging with Knowledge and Sciences (in the 1st Semester)
2. Reflecting on Research Methods (in the 2nd Semester)
3. Connecting Science, Responsibility and Society (in the 3rd Semester)

Modules in this study area (30 CP) prepare students for and involve the writing of the master’s thesis. In the Master's Forum, students are supported by peers and the lecturer in designing, executing and appropriately communicating their own research project on democracy.

Generally, the master's thesis is written at the end of the degree programme. All the information about the master's thesis and how to organise your master's thesis in five steps has been compiled for you on the website Master's thesis.

In addition, helpful courses for writing the master's thesis are regularly offered as part of the GradSkills.

The following link provides access to documents which set out the general conditions for examinations, an overview of the curriculum, as well as detailed and legally binding regulations.

General Assessment Regulations and the Subject-Specific Schedules

In the course catalogue you can get an overview of the courses currently offered and their specific contents.