The School of Humanities and Social Sciences at TUD

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences (GSW) at Dresden University of Technology encompasses a wide range of disciplines that explore, shape, and advance society, culture, and education from diverse perspectives.

Diversity is our strength: The thematic, methodological, and cultural breadth in our study programs, teaching, and research makes the School an open and creative place at TUD. Here, different disciplines, perspectives, and approaches come together to address questions and develop solutions for the challenges of our time. Our goal is to create an environment for students, researchers, and teachers in which diversity is not only valued but actively promoted—whether through the broad selection of study programs, the interdisciplinary orientation of our projects, close international cooperation, or the varied experiences, perspectives, and talents of all participants.

The School includes the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, and the Faculty of Linguistics, Literature and Cultural Studies. Our study programs cover Education, Social Pedagogy, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Communication Science, Property and Data Law, Theology, Art History, English and American Studies, Romance Studies, Classical Philology, and Slavic Studies. Innovative combinations and modern degree programs such as “Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences,” “International Relations,” or “Digital Humanities” open up diverse educational paths and career opportunities.

Research and teaching are characterized by interdisciplinarity, internationality, and practical relevance. Central contemporary issues are at the heart of our work—from educational processes and societal transformation to media and culture in a global context. Our aim is to generate knowledge that enables us to understand, reflect on, and actively shape societal challenges. In particular, the emerging field “Societal Change,” as part of the current Excellence Strategy, investigates cultural manifestations and consequences of social transformation processes across disciplines.

The School forms the institutional basis for further research and teaching initiatives and, in addition to the faculties, includes centers such as the Disruption and Societal Change Center (TUDiSC), the SchauflerLab@TU Dresden, the Center for Methods in Social Sciences (ZSM), the University School Research Center Dresden (ForUS DD), the Research Center for Comparative History of Religious Orders (FOVOG), and the Center for International Studies (ZIS).

Through this structure, as well as the integration of the humanities and social sciences into TU Dresden’s Excellence Strategy, the expertise of additional scientific disciplines—including computer science and engineering, environmental and life sciences, as well as medical and materials research—is incorporated, along with collaboration with non-university research partners and societal practitioners. In this way, a closely networked, interdisciplinary environment is created that connects research, teaching, and knowledge transfer.

Within the framework of the Scientific Area Committee IV “Culture and Societal Change” (SAC IV) as part of DRESDEN-concept, cooperation between the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and non-university research and cultural institutions in Dresden is coordinated.

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences includes the

• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science
• Faculty of Linguistics, Literature and Cultural Studies

and the

• school centers