Political Science (Bachelor)

The bachelor’s programme in Political Science focuses on the analysis of politics in its various forms. We encounter politics as an institution (e.g. states and their institutions), as content (i.e. as results of political decisions in areas such as migration and environmental policy, etc.) and as a process (e.g. such as elections or legislative processes). The degree programme aims at giving students a basic understanding of the principles of politics from the local to the global level and of the different theoretical and methodological analysis tools. They are qualified to critically and systematically analyse problems in the area of political science. Moreover, they learn how to present and communicate political phenomena and their social and economic context.

Study programme

The Introductory and Orientation Period (STEOP) and two modules on the basics of social sciences and interdisciplinarity as well as an introduction to academic research and writing introduce students to the fundamental principles of political science as a subdiscipline of social sciences. The primary objective of the programme is that students acquire knowledge of political ideas, theories of political science, the political system in Austria and the EU, comparative analyses of politics, international politics as well as methods of political science. Alternative compulsory modules and elective modules provide the opportunity for students to specialise in specific subject areas and acquire qualifications preparing them for their future profession. Students can choose from modules on the following subject areas: political concepts and research on theories; international politics and development; European Union and Europeanisation; Austrian politics; state activity, policy and governance analyses; gender and politics; Eastern European studies; as well as culture and politics. In a bachelor’s thesis, they have to demonstrate the theoretical and methodological competences acquired.