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Program and courses Double degree in Sociology: Bamberg - Tilburg

Combine two Master's programs from two excellent universities to get the ultimate international experience. Bamberg University focuses on the specializations ‘Empirical Social Research’ and ‘Education, Labour Market, Inequality’. Tilburg University focuses on translating societal problems into sociological research in order to evaluate current policy and derive new policy.

Program structure

This two-year program consists of 120 credits (ECTS):

  • The Master Sociology at Bamberg University (60 ECTS): 
    • 7 research methods and data acquisition and analysis courses (42 ECTS) 
    • 3 content courses (18 ECTS) 
  • The Master Sociology (Politics, Policy and Society in Comparative Perspective) at Tilburg University (60 ECTS): 
    • 4 content courses (24 ECTS) 
    • 2 Master seminars (12 ECTS)
    • Master’s thesis (24 ECTS) 

You will spend the first year at Bamberg University in Germany, and the second year at Tilburg University. During the first term, you will be assisted in designing your individual study plan. An overview of the modules and courses of the program is provided below.

This program has one entry moment at the end of August.

Program content

Courses at Bamberg University

You will take seven courses in research, data acquisition and data analysis (42 ECTS) and three content courses (18 ECTS ) during your first year at the University of Bamberg:

  • Sociological Theory, Lecture (6 ECTS)
  • Research Design (6 ECTS)
  • Two courses in Advanced Methods of Data Aquisition (12 ECTS)
  • Four elective courses in Advanced Methods of Data Analysis (24 ECTS)
  • Two elective courses in Education and Work in the Life Course (12 ECTS)

Total 1st year: 60 ECTS

Courses at Tilburg University

You will take the following courses in block 1: August – October

  • Social Movements: Social Media, Democracy and Change
    You get a thorough introduction into the scientific field of social movement research. In a globalizing context and the current network and information society, it has become easier than ever to connect with people, share ideas and mobilize in collective action. In the recent decade we have seen several examples in which local movements spread globally through social media. 
  • Analyse Seminar Master Sociology

You will take the following courses in block 2: October – January

  • Social Policy and Social Risks
    Address social policy and welfare states and discover how various 'welfare regime types' have developed over time in different countries, reflective of different concepts of social solidarity and leading to varied outcomes in terms of economic well-being, stratification patterns, and life-course risks.
  • Master Seminar Sociology: From Theory to Research
    Throughout the program, you participate in the Master's seminar Sociology, which prepares you for writing your thesis. 
  • Analyse Seminar Master Sociology
  • Master's thesis

You will take the following courses in block 3: January – March

  • The Social Structures of Western Societies
    During this course, you get an outline of the main sociological concepts, theories, research and debates of the social structure of western society in general, and three important elements (social class, family and ethnicity) in particular. Learn to describe and explain the impact of national institutions, history and traditions, and overarching trends such as modernization and globalization in a micro-macro perspective. 
  • Master Seminar Sociology: From Theory to Research
    Throughout the program, you participate in the Master's seminar Sociology, which prepares you for writing your thesis. 
  • Analyse Seminar Master Sociology
  • Master's thesis

You will take the following courses in block 4: March – July

  • Politics and Society in Comparative Perspective
    Develop cross-country analyses of politics and societies, particularly focusing on the rise of populistic groups and of populistic rhetoric.
  • Analyse Seminar Master Sociology
  • Master's thesis

Full overview program and courses

Master’s thesis at Tilburg University

Start your Master’s thesis (24 ECTS) at Tilburg University in your second year by drawing your Individual Research Proposal (IRP) with feedback from the thesis supervisors. This proposal will be presented within the framework of the Master Seminar Sociology in unit 1 and 2.

  • You will write your Master’s thesis under joint supervision of faculty members of both University of Bamberg and Tilburg University.
  • Your thesis can have a more empirical theoretical accent with scientifically relevant conclusions, or can be a sociological analysis of a social or practical problem and existing interventions leading to relevant policy conclusions.
  • Preferably, a Master’s thesis has a strong link with the departmental research program. 

  • Defend your Master’s thesis at Tilburg University in February of the second academic year.

Thesis examples from the Sociology track (Politics, Policy and Society in Comparative Perspective):

  • Discrimination of minorities in the labor market 
  • Is judicial legitimacy declining, and why? 
  • Health apps and psychological constraints 
  • School dropout among ethnic minorities 
  • Social contacts and feelings of trust 
  • Religiosity and civic morality in the Netherlands 
  • Analysis of European values 

Please note: programs are subject to change. We advise you to look up the current program in OSIRIS Student at the start of the year.

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Extend your Master's with a junior traineeship

You have the opportunity to extend your Master's program by half a year, in which you do a junior traineeship (30 ECTS), in Dutch or English. During the traineeship you will dedicate half your time to research activities in the internship organization, and half your time researching and writing your Master's thesis. After completing the traineeship, you will receive a professional certificate in addition to your MSc. 

Generally, if you want to do an Extended Master, you can do it if you are hired by the partner organization. You can either do your Extended Master at one of the Academic Collaborative Centers at Tranzo, or at one of the partner organizations of the Extended Master.

Admission and application Extended Master

You can apply for the Extended Master's program when you have started one of the tracks in Sociology (Politics, Policy and Societal Development, Health, Wellbeing and Society, or Sociology: Politics, Policy and Society in Comparative Perspective). At the start of the Master's track Sociology: Politics, Policy and Society in Comparative Perspective, you will get more information about the extended Master's program in a track-specific meeting. During this meeting, you will be informed about the application procedure, deadlines, possible partner organizations and the structure of the program and traineeship. 

Partner organizations:

  • Gemeente Tilburg (onderzoeksdepartement) 
  • AO Consult (Arbeid Opleidingen Consult) 
  • Movisie (Landelijk Kennisinstituut en Adviesbureau voor maatschappelijke ontwikkeling) 
  • Mulier (Instituut ter bevordering van de sociaal-wetenschappelijke kennisontwikkeling en beleidseffectiviteit op het terrein van sport) 
  • Nivel (Nederlands instituut voor onderzoek van de gezondheidszorg) 
  • PON (sociaal-cultureel planbureau voor Brabant) 
  • ROA (The Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market, Maastricht) 
  • SCP (Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau) 
  • Oberon (Onderzoeks- en adviesbureau voor de onderwijs- en welzijnssector, Utrecht) 
  • OI (Onderwijs Inspectie (OW)) 
  • Inspectie SZW (Sociale Inlichtingen- en Opsporingsdienst, Ministerie van SZW) 
  • CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek) 
  • Gemeente Helmond (Afdeling Onderzoek en Statistiek)  
  • Gemeente Breda (Afdeling Onderzoek en Informatie) 
  • Verweij Jonker Instituut 
  • European Values Study, Tilburg University 

 

Short overview of the Double Degree in Sociology

  • Get two full Master’s degrees in Sociology from two outstanding academic institutions.
    • The program at Bamberg University focuses on empirical social research and education, labour market and inequality.
    • The general Sociology track (Politics, Policy and Society in a Comparative Perspective) at Tilburg University focuses on translating social problems into sociological research from both micro- (family, social networks, crime) and macro-perspectives (welfare state, solidarity) to evaluate and create policy. 
  • Get the Ultimate international experience by studying both Germany and the Netherlands.
  • Flexible program, with the possibility of tailoring your program to your interests, to create a unique and individual profile. 
  • You get the opportunity to enhance your skills and gain relevant work experience by extending your Master's program with a junior traineeship.

Interested in the Double degree in Sociology: Bamberg - Tilburg?

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