“Sociology [...] should mean: a science that seeks to understand social action by interpreting it and thereby explain its course and effects” (from Max Weber's “Economy and Society”, 1920).

Sociology is concerned with the analysis of human coexistence, whereby the Global Sociology degree program focuses in particular on the analysis of societies from a global perspective, taking into account regional and social characteristics. Substantial knowledge of theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding contemporary societies, their problems and challenges is taught. In addition to fundamental sociological modern social theories, the course also deals with processes of globalization and transnationalization and their analysis. The course focuses on three areas relevant to social coexistence: Economics, culture and politics. The regional focus of the course is on European and, in particular, Eastern European societies as well as the regions of Latin America and North America.

The Institute of Sociology offers two degree programs: the 60-LP Bachelor “Global Sociology” and the consecutive Master “Sociology - European Societies”. The comparatively small institute thus guarantees excellent student support.

The Bachelor's program benefits from the excellent social science infrastructure that Berlin has to offer and is offered in cooperation with the Freie Universität`s institutions

• Latin America Institute (LAI),
• Institute for East European Studies (OEI),
• John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies (JFK)

and 

• Wissenschaftszentrum für Sozialforschung Berlin (WZB)
• and Sozio-oekonomisches Panel (SOEP).

Members of all these institutions are actively involved in teaching the Bachelor's degree. In the past, many students have also been able to gain practical research experience as student assistants at these institutions.

The comparative perspective, which is systematically cultivated in the teaching of the degree program, can be found at only a few universities nationwide. It makes it possible to learn about, describe and explain contemporary developments in globalization both theoretically and by means of empirical research.

Global Sociology is combined with a core subject as a 60 LP Minor Subject.
The study of Global Sociology as a Minor Subject comprises modules from three areas of study:

• Introductory area
• Basic area
• Extension area

The structure and course of the degree program is regulated by the study regulations. They contain detailed descriptions of the content and qualification objectives of each individual module and an exemplary study plan. The examination regulations define the type and requirements of the module examinations and the Bachelor's examination. The regulations specify the credit points (CP) for each module or course as well as the workload in hours for the entire degree program.

Global Sociology as a 60 LP Minor Subject

Introductory area

• Module: Introduction to Sociology (10 CP)
• Module: Introduction to Empirical Social Research (10 CP)

Basic area

• Module: Methods of Global Social Analysis (10 CP)
• Module: Global Perspectives in Sociology (10 CP)

Extension area (choice of 2 out of 3)

• Module: Economy and Society in a Global Perspective (10 CP)
• Module: Culture and Society in a Global Perspective (10 CP)
• Module: Politics and Society in a Global Perspective (10 CP)

Graduates have academic and practical knowledge and skills that qualify them for a career or a further course of study. As Global Sociology is studied as a module within a combined Bachelor's degree program, the chosen core subject determines the professional qualification. A Master's degree and possibly a doctorate are prerequisites for managerial positions or employment in research and teaching.

The following literature suggestions are intended to provide an insight into

a) the topic of comparative sociology
b) the research being conducted at the Institute of Sociology.

You do not have to acquire this literature in preparation for your studies.

For a)

General Introductions

• Joas, Hans & Mau, Steffen (Ed.) (2020): Lehrbuch der Soziologie. Frankfurt am Main/New York: Campus.

• Tubergen, Frank van (2020): Introduction to Sociology: Culture, Structure, and Inequality. Routledge.

Introductory Readings on Specific Topics in Sociology

• Mau, Steffen & Verwiebe, Roland (2009): Die Sozialstruktur Europas. Konstanz: UVK

• Diekmann, Andreas (2023): Empirische Sozialforschung: Grundlagen, Methoden, Anwendungen. Reinbek: Rowohlt.
• Rucht, Dieter (2023): Kollektive Proteste und soziale Bewegungen: Eine Grundlegung. Betz.
• Deutschmann, Emanuel (2021): Mapping the Transnational World: How We Move and Communicate across Borders, and Why It Matters. Princeton University Press.
• Della Porta, Donatella & Diani, Mario (2020): Social Movements: An Introduction. 3rd edition. Wiley Blackwell.
• Breen, Michael J. (2017): Values and Identities in Europe: Evidence from the European Social Survey. London: Routledge.
• Turner, Jonathan H. (2012): The Sociology of Emotions. New York: Cambridge University Press.

For b) 

• Borbáth, Endre, Swen Hutter & Arndt Leininger (Ed.) (2023). Under Pressure: Polarisation and Participation in Western Europe, in: Special Issue of West European Politics, Vol. 46 (4).

• Hutter, Swen & Kriese, Hanspeter (Hrsg.) (2019): European Party Politics in Times of Crisis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Hutter, Swen (2014): Protesting Culture and Economics in Western Europe: New Cleavages in Left and Right Politics. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
• Büttner, Sebastian M., Monika Eigmüller & Susann Worschech (Hrsg) (2022): Sociology of Europeanization. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Oldenbourg.
• Delhey, Jan, Emanuel Deutschmann, Monika Verbalyte & Auke Aplowski (2020): Netzwerk Europa. Wie ein Kontinent durch Mobilität und Kommunikation zusammenwächst. Wiesbaden: Springer.
• Haas, Hein de, Stephen Castles & Mark Miller J. (2020): The Age of Migration. International Population Movements in the Modern World. New York and London: Guilford Press.
• Collins, R. (2004): Interaction Ritual Chains. Princeton University Press.
• Hochschild, Arlie R. (2016): Strangers in their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right. New York: New Press.
• Illouz, Eva (2007): Cold Intimacies: The Making of Emotional Capitalism. London: Polity Press.
• Adriaans, Jule & Liebig, Stefan (2021): Einkommensgerechtigkeit in Deutschland und Europa, in: Datenreport 2021. Ein Sozialbericht für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Berlin: DIW. 
• Böhnke, Petra & Konietzka, Dirk (Hrsg.) (2024): Handbuch Sozialstrukturanalyse. Wiesbaden: Springer.