Masters Complementary Studies

Reflection and Inspiration

The Complementary Studies are an essential part of the special teaching model of Leuphana. They provide a forum for the interdisciplinary and reflexive exchange of all Masters students and are offered at all levels of education, i.e. Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral studies as well as in the part-time programmes of the Professional School. Therefore, the Complementary Studies are an integral part of every Masters programme (with the exception of Teacher Training and Double Degree programmes).

The Masters studies at Leuphana University of Lüneburg aim to promote dialogue-oriented critical thinking and to encourage students to acquire an overarching, reflective perspective through the inter- and transdisciplinary organisation of the Complementary Studies. To this end, it is crucial to deal with foreign scientific cultures and forms of knowledge, with the emergence of knowledge, different understandings of scientific knowledge, fundamental humanistic questions as well as philosophy and ethics.

The modules of the Complementary Studies help to understand non-subject-related knowledge and different subject-specific methods as well as to establish connections between different fields and forms of knowledge.  By using a foreign perspective it is possible to view the familiar scientific culture in a new light. Therefore, the Complementary Studies enable students to think and act in a socially responsible manner, which is necessary for pursuing an academic career or immersing in the non-academic professional world.

In professional contexts, graduates of Masters programmes typically do not have to deal with routine situations, but rather with contradicting interpretations and conflicts of norms as well as different knowledge bases and forms. Those who work in leadership positions with a lot of responsibility, in changing teams and under the conditions of complex transformation processes need, in addition to specialist knowledge, the ability to reflect and assert themselves as well as mediation skills. Closely linked to this is the ability to work together to analyse complex issues in a methodically guided way via communicative exchange, to evaluate them according to ethical criteria and to combine conflicting perspectives to decide and act with confidence.

The central objectives of the Complementary Studies are expressed in the three modules, each worth 5 CP:

  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)

Following Leuphana's international orientation, the language of instruction for half of the seminars is English.

Do you want to load external content supplied by Youtube?
With your consent, further personal data will be transmitted to, among others, Google in the USA in order to show you Youtube videos. However, the European Court of Justice has deemed the level of data protection in the USA, measured against EU standards, to be insufficient. There is also the possibility that your data may then be processed by US authorities. If you click on “Yes“, the data will only be passed on for the display of this video. If you click on “Always“, the data is generally passed on when Youtube videos are displayed on our site. For more information, please refer to our Privacy policy.
Campus survey on the study concept of the Masters programmes and the complementary studies at Leuphana Graduate School.

Module descriptions

Engaging with Knowledge and Sciences

This module discusses the basics of the theory of knowledge and science as well as questions and concepts from the spectrum of all Masters programmes using an interdisciplinary comparative perspective. The contents deal with the understanding of knowledge, forms of knowledge, genesis of knowledge, history of science, concepts of truth, paradigms of philosophy of science, scientific transformation processes as well as inter- and transcultural knowledge production. In addition, this framework also includes an examination of ethical considerations of responsibility in research and of science in society.

Reflecting on Research Methods

In the module “Reflecting on Research Methods”, students are introduced to unfamiliar scientific methods from other disciplines. Together with fellow students from different subjects, these methods are applied and reflected upon regarding research´s ethical questions and cross-disciplinary contexts of use. Differences and connections are established by the student´s reflection upon the possibilities and limits of familiar methods and subject cultures in comparison with others. This also includes the examination of different concepts and methods of interdisciplinary research.

Connecting Science, Responsibility and Society

The contents of the first two modules are put into a social ethical and responsibility context in the module “Connecting Science, Responsibility and Society”. In the frame of the social challenge of sustainable development, an ethical and responsible understanding of knowledge and science is developed discursively and the responsibility of academics is discussed. As an example, interdisciplinary research can be carried out on individual relevant subject areas in a theoretical, empirical or application-oriented manner.

Gender-Diversity Certificate

As part of the complementary studies, students can obtain a Gender Diversity Certificate if they take selected courses. More information on the Gender Diversity Certificate

Leuphana Sustainable Entrepreneurship Certificate

For enrolled Master students of the Leuphana Graduate School, the CSM offers the Leuphana Sustainable Entrepreneurship Certificate (L-SEC), a voluntary, study-integrated offer to support Master students in developing entrepreneurial solutions for sustainability challenges.

Complementray Studies Coordinators

Engaging with Knowledge and Sciences

  • Prof. Dr. Roberto Nigro

Reflecting on Research Methods

  • Prof. Dr. Henrik von Wehrden

Connecting Science, Responsibility and Society

  • Prof. Dr. Jacob Hörisch

Contact