The Master's degree programme Sociology

This degree program has been offered since the winter semester 2017/18 and was developed with the participation of students. The degree program is aimed at all those who are looking to deepen, broaden and empirically substantiate their knowledge of sociology after completing a Bachelor's degree in sociology or related subjects (whether in Dresden or elsewhere).

Information on the start of the winter semester 2026/27 will be made available from May 2026 and will then be kept up to date. We will endeavor to provide the latest information and the timetables for the first semester as early as possible via this link. Until then, you will see the information from the previous year.

Information about the start of the winter semester 2026/27

The degree program is consecutive and is divided into a sociological core area (60 LP) and a profile area (30 LP). The fourth semester is used to write the Master's thesis (30 CP) (see overview here).
The study and examination regulations for the Master's degree in Sociology (from 2017) can be found on the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science website, the module descriptions (sometimes also called "module handbook") can be found at the end of the study regulations(link to the regulations)

In the sociology core area (1st and 2nd semesters), students expand, deepen and specialize the subject knowledge they have acquired in their Bachelor's degree; among other things, they carry out a two-semester research project. Three specializations are offered in the core area:

• "Cultures of Modernity"
• "Social Inequality"
• "Interaction and Communication".

These specializations can either be studied to the same extent ( general studies option) or you can concentrate on one of the specializations ( specialization option).
To make it easier for students transferring from other study locations and related degree programs, a joint study program is provided for all students in the first semester: In the lecture series "Research Perspectives at the Institute of Sociology", ongoing research from the Institute is presented; in the plenary seminar, central concepts and theories from sociology are developed with the participation of the students and a common knowledge base is created; in the "bridge courses", quantitative and qualitative methods are refreshed or taught. In the first semester, they also gain an insight into the three main areas of study: Three research seminars ("core seminars") from the specializations are attended, one of which is continued in the second semester as a research project and concluded with a research report. The research seminars deal with new topics each year (i.e. the information from the previous year only provides a general orientation). Students choose their study option and focus at the end of the first semester. In addition to the second part of the research project, seminars from two of the study specializations must be completed in the second semester.

The profile area(third semester) has sociological and interdisciplinary content and can also include a professional internship of the student's choice. Alternatively, the third semester can also be used as a mobility window for studying abroad. Information on the structure of the semester and handling of the Learning Agreement can be found here. The fourth semester is used to complete the Master's thesis.

Here are some helpful links:
Einführung in das wissenschaftliche Schreiben (des Instituts für Soziologie)
Information and access to the application (central for all degree programs at TU Dresden)
General information on degree programs at the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science
Link to the examination regulations
Link to the study regulations (with module descriptions!)
Link to the study information system (SINS)
Link to the courses offered at the Institute of Sociology
Prospective students can contact the academic course coordinator Prof. Dr. Dominik Schrage with any questions!