The Bachelor's degree programme Sociology

Sociology is an empirically oriented social science that researches contemporary and historical social life with a view to understanding the future. Sociologists understand social theory and various social-scientific methods. They use this knowledge to empirically research an array of social phenomena and to contribute to the explanation of and solution to social issues. 

Sociology strives to be a critical science. It scrutinizes the origins and development of society and investigates a wide range social phenomena – from the emergence of social movements and punk rock to the transformation of family structures, educational inequalities and globalization.

Sociologists therefore occupy themselves with “all the human gathering places of the world, wherever [people] come together. Sociologist[s] may be interested in many other things. But [their] consuming interest remains in the world of [humankind], their institutions, their history, their passions. And since [they are] interested in [people], nothing that [people] do can be altogether tedious for [them].” (Peter L. Berger, Invitation to Sociology)

Sociologists take very different perspectives and research all layers of society. Dyads – social groups of just two people – are just as much a subject of study in sociology as social movements or globalization. As sociologists are interested in such varying societal phenomena, this subject is notable for its wide range of perspectives and theoretical approaches, which often come into contact with other social or cultural subjects.

By completing a Bachelor’s degree in sociology, you will acquire an initial introduction to sociological thinking and scientific working methods. You will learn about fundamental methods of empirical social research (research logic, methods of quantitative and qualitative social research, data analysis, the use of software programs) and how to conduct your own empirical research via practical exploration (e.g. phone surveys, qualitative interviews and observation). As your studies progress, you will expand your knowledge of microsociology and macrosociology and learn how to apply your knowledge and methodical argumentative skills to the analysis of social phenomena. At the same time, you can choose a concentration and pursue your own interests – be they researching inequality, the sociology of culture, media sociology, the sociology of immigration, statistics and data science or environmental and technical sociology. You will have the opportunity to engage with topics such as gender, mobility, transformation, knowledge, communication and globalization.

The Bachelor’s degree program in sociology will equip you with a sound foundation in scientific expertise and will teach you to use scientific methods to identify sociological issues and problems. You will also learn how to analyze these objectively and scientifically, to find possible solutions and to weigh them up. As a sociologist, you will understand social theory, be able to work methodically and undertake your own independent scientific work. You will be able to reflect critically on complex societal issues and acquire the skills to act and make decisions on complex social processes. The Bachelor’s degree program in Sociology will also equip you with key interdisciplinary qualifications that can be applied to many professional activities and your social involvement. The skills you gain will also qualify you for a Master’s in Sociology or a related field of social science.

By studying Sociology at TU Dresden, you will have the opportunity to be a part of our vibrant and diverse Institute. With five Chairs, the Institute of Sociology at TU Dresden offers a broad spectrum of subjects. In terms of research and teaching, the Institute is particularly focused on culture and societal change – in the broadest sense. Alongside art, culture refers to various phenomena such as media culture, work culture, company cultures, academic cultures, political cultures as well as conflict culture and a broad range of everyday cultures. Understood in this way, culture raises issues of diversity and inclusion, cultural change, continuity and societal debate. By concentrating on societal change, sociologists in Dresden research the transformations that phenomena such as globalization, modernization, mediatization and digitalization, and climate change generate in different areas of society. The goal is a reflective, comparative and theoretically refined understanding of complex social phenomena.

The Institute of Sociology is a part of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Institute maintains manifold working relationships in research and teaching with the other disciplines within the School. The fact that the Institute of Sociology is part of a technical university also gives you the opportunity to benefit from proximity to technical and natural sciences in addition to psychology, geography and economics. The terms “technology” and “nature” in particular are used to pinpoint many of today’s societal problems. Sociological perspectives on how technologies are designed and how ecological problems should be addressed are currently in demand.

As an undergraduate program, the BA in Sociology is split into three areas: the core courses (125 credit points), the supplementary courses (35 credit points) and the General Qualification (AQua) courses (20 credit points).

In the core courses, you will learn how to describe and analyze societal issues using sociological terms and theories. The foundational modules cover sociological topics (such as social inequality, gender and environment), theoretical key concepts (such as roles, power and interaction) and empirical methods (such as standardized questionnaires, open interviews and participatory observation).

The core area is supplemented by two concentration modules, which you can choose from the following selection in the second third of the program: Culture and Knowledge; Ways of Life and Gender; Work, Education and Social Inequality; Applied Methods.

For the supplementary courses, which begin in the 3rd semester, you can choose from a diverse range of other subjects. At the end of the 2nd semester, you will make your selection from the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science’s other degree programs. You could select social pedagogy, history, communication, politics, philosophy, psychology or economics.

The 5th and 6th semesters are reserved for temporary stays at other universities (mobility window). If you plan on studying abroad, you can use these two semesters for this. You can find more information on stays abroad here.
The General Qualification (AQua) courses comprise an obligatory eight-week vocational internship and the acquisition of key skills such as foreign languages. ​​​​Other supplementary courses or a custom composition of modules may also earn you credit points. 

Ten weeks are reserved for working on your Bachelor’s thesis, which corresponds to 12 credit points.

The program can be completed on a part-time basis (12 semesters).

Study and examination regulations

Examination regulations dated September 22, 2016

Study regulations dated September 22, 2016

Current info flyer

Study schedule

A degree in sociology opens up a wide range of career opportunities for you, for instance in business (personnel management, training and continuing education, data processing, public relations, statistics and market research), with associations and chambers (organization, public relations, planning and decision-making, scientific consulting, press and public relations, vocational training, youth work), with political parties (opinion research, public relations, consulting), in the media and in public administration (e.g. as a specialist advisor, in strategic planning, or in dialogue with citizens), in teaching and instruction (in adult education and at universities), and in research (at universities and private research and consulting institutes).

In Sociology, you can independently explore a wide range of topics from a variety of analytical perspectives and by drawing on a broad repertoire of empirical methods. Seminar papers and theses can be written on topics such as the mediatization of family, hate speech or online conspiracy forums, inclusion in schools, gender in the military, careers in e-sports, protest dynamics in environmental activism.... Generally, you get to select your seminar and thesis paper topics yourself in consultation with the seminar instructor or your thesis advisor. We are more than delighted to support you in your work on fascinating and pressing issues!

You can find more information on advisors and requirements here.

You can find detailed information on how to apply and, if applicable, admission restrictions for the Bachelor's program in Sociology in the Study Information System (SINS): tud.de/sins/ba-soz.
You can apply online via the application portal.

Information and access to the application portal (for all degree programs at TU Dresden)