Course content – Public Affairs and Economics

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

Following an introduction into Advanced Economic Theory in the first semester, students get in contact with the three main research topics of Leuphana’s Institute of Economics in the third semester (modules Empirical Labour and Personnel Economics, International Economic Policy, and Behavioral Public Economics). The core area provides the fundament for further specialization and offers insights into the research foci of the Institute of Economics. This opens up opportunities for the master's thesis and the Ph.D. track.

In the first semester, students get in contact with state-of-the-art quantitative methods. In the second semester, two additional modules complement the empirical focus (Experimental Methods and Qualitative Methods). All modules in the integration area are jointly offered with the Masters programme “Public Affairs and Democracy”, the political science Masters programme of Leuphana’s School of Public Affairs. In the integration area, we provide students with the methodological skills they need to understand the most recent empirical literature and succeed in their master’s theses.

Students choose a profile area that offers them interdisciplinary perspectives on topics covered in the economics core area. Possible profiles are Finance Studies, Political Studies, and Sustainability Studies. With these profiles, students can benefit from Leuphana’s interdisciplinary approach and the good connections between the schools.

Students can choose among a large set of electives, both disciplinary and interdisciplinary. For example, electives in economics include the modules Environmental Economics, Public Finance and Public Policy, and Replication Studies. 

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)

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.