BA in Society, Media and Politics
Constructor University Undergraduate Programs
Key Information
Campus location
Bremen, Germany
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 20,000 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
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* additional fees apply
Introduction
The BA in Society, Media, and Politics (SMP) at Constructor University equips students with the social sciences knowledge and skills needed to tackle the complex challenges of our rapidly changing and highly digital world.
Integrating sociology, media studies, and political sciences allow students to address pressing social issues through a research-oriented, student-centered approach. At the SMP Media Center, students learn how to effectively communicate and campaign for their initiatives using digital media tools and platforms, such as podcasts, websites, animations, and more. This provides students with opportunities to explore their creative potential and prepares them with vital digital skills in high demand in today's job market.
Our SMP program is designed for students who have the desire to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond. With a strong foundation in the social sciences, graduates are well-equipped for successful careers in startups, NGOs, large corporations, and top academic institutions worldwide. SMP's focus on creative problem-solving, broader perspective, and out-of-the-box thinking prepares students to become leaders and innovators in the global arena.
Why study at Constructor University
International experience
Train your intercultural skills by studying with talents from more than 100 countries and excellent study abroad options.
Top rankings
Benefit from the highest standards in teaching, interdisciplinary learning, early research involvement, and hands-on education.
Global career
Connect with Alumni to broaden your professional network & start your career with our individual career service support.
Rankings
Recognized as one of the best social and political sciences programs in Germany by the prestigious CHE University Ranking, SMP (formerly Integrated Social Sciences) is an excellent choice for students seeking to make a difference and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Career Opportunities
Today’s professional world requires more than mere disciplinary knowledge from graduates. Students face the prospect of not only technological and societal advancement and amazing individual opportunities but also a growing field of contradictions, conflicts and crises that our societies are confronted with. In this context, the value of young professionals who understand the relevance of a rationally informed and scientifically trained, creative and critical approach cannot be overestimated.
Studying SMP typically opens careers in the media, in non-governmental organizations, public administration, community development, international aid agencies, international business, the cultural sector, international youth and social work, fundraising and many other pursuits.
Our graduates are known to build successful careers in start-ups and NGOs as well as in large companies; they have moved on to the most renowned academic institutions in the world, some of them developing impressive careers in academia, others starting their own companies. This is because creative problem-solving, the ability to judge from a broader perspective and thinking out of the box are faculties that are in very high demand in all positions of leadership. Our students move on to positions that cannot be substituted by machines.
What companies and NGOs also see in our graduates is the power to connect local and specific problems to societal trends and issues in a global and digital context. They are in high demand because they are trained to think problems through from varying disciplinary perspectives. These qualities are of huge advantage for the undertaking of entrepreneurial initiatives, e.g. in the context of social entrepreneurship.
Career-related services at Constructor University provide information, counseling and training, networks, and events. The Career Services Center (CSC) as well as the Constructor University Alumni Office help students in their career development. The CSC provides students with high-quality training and coaching in CV creation, cover letter formulation, interview preparation, effective presenting, project management, business communication and etiquette and employer research as well as in many other aspects, thus helping students identify and follow up rewarding careers after their time at Constructor University. Digital job and internship portfolios help students to prepare for their careers.
SMP (formerly Integrated Social Sciences) has the largest alumni community at Constructor University. And our alumni are known to be especially closely connected – they are united by the common spirit of the study program and support each other in realizing their visions because they value the importance of the contribution we make. The Alumni Office will help students establish a long-lasting and worldwide network which comes in handy when exploring job options in academia, industry, and elsewhere.
Career services center
Today’s business world requires disciplinary knowledge from graduates as well as the ability to apply this knowledge. Career-related services at Constructor University provide information, counseling and training, networks, and events. Constructor University’s students participate in training on project management, business communication, job interview skills, and more. Digital job and internship portfolios help students to prepare for their careers.
Alumni association
Studying at Constructor University gives you connections – often for your whole life.
The Alumni Association E.V. was founded in 2004 by the first generation of graduates. Since then, around 4,500 students have obtained their degrees from this University.
Gallery
Curriculum
The three-year undergraduate program involves six semesters of study with a total of 180 ECTS credit points. The curricular structure follows an innovative and student-centered modularization scheme - the 3C-Model - that groups the disciplinary content of the three study years.
Study program structure
Year 1
The first year provides a comprehensive curriculum that builds upon the students' previous education and offers them a choice of 45 credit points from a variety of disciplines. Of these, 15 credit points must be from their intended major.
In case students wish to change their major, they can do so at the start of the second year, provided they have completed the relevant modules from their intended program in the first year.
SMP students take the following discipline-specific CHOICE Modules in their first year of study:
- CHOICE Module: Introduction to the Social Sciences 1: Politics and Society (7.5 credit points)
- CHOICE Module: Introduction to the Social Sciences 2: Media and Society (7.5 credit points)
In these modules, students learn about key issues of society, media, and politics and receive an in-depth introduction to sociology, media studies, and political science, covering basic concepts and schools of thought in the respective disciplines.
Year 2
In their second year, students continue their education with a selection of 45 credit points from discipline-specific CORE modules. These courses aim to further enhance their critical understanding of the theories, principles, and practices in their major, keeping in mind the latest developments in the field.
SMP students must complete 30 credit points from the following core modules:
- CORE Module: Systems of Social Inequality (5 credit points)
- CORE Module: Comparing Mass Communication Systems (5 credit points)
- CORE Module: Systems of Democratic Governance (5 credit points)
- CORE Module: The Sociology of Conflict and Crisis (5 credit points)
- CORE Module: Crisis, Conflict and Media (5 credit points)
- CORE Module: International Resource Politics (5 credit points)
- CORE Module: Consumer Culture and Society (5 credit points)
- CORE Module: Media, Culture and Digitization (5 credit points)
- CORE Module: Mass Beliefs and Civil Society (5 credit points)
In addition to the mandatory 30 credit points, students have the option to select an additional 15 credit points from core modules to support their interests and/or to pursue a minor in a second field of study.
The courses are structured into three units: "Systems," "Conflict," and "Culture." Each unit comprises three modules, each providing a perspective from one of the disciplines. However, students can mix and match modules from different units to suit their interests.
The "Systems" unit focuses on a more systemic and theoretical perspective, delving deeper into the understanding of society, media, and politics. The sociological module addresses the issue of inequality, the media module examines the inner workings of mass media systems from an international perspective, and the political science module studies democratic governance.
The "Conflict" unit examines conflicts and crises that our societies face on a global, national, and local level. The sociological module focuses on global conflicts and their impact on society, while the political science module analyzes the conflict potential of international resource politics. The "Crisis, Conflict, and Media" module critiques the representation of these conflicts in mass media.
The "Culture" unit comprises a sociological seminar that examines consumer culture on a societal level, a research-oriented seminar on Media, Culture and Digitization that focuses on social media, and a political science module that looks at mass beliefs and civil society.
Year 3
The program's third year focuses on providing students with the tools and experiences necessary for success in their post-graduation careers. To gain valuable hands-on experience and explore their interests, students are required to complete a summer internship.
This year also provides opportunities for students to broaden their perspectives through study-abroad programs in the fifth semester. Finally, in the sixth semester, students deepen their research skills by completing an extensive Bachelor's thesis project.
Throughout their year, SMP students take major-specific and related advanced specialization modules to consolidate their knowledge and deepen their understanding of cutting-edge research in their field.
SMP students can choose four of the following Specialization Modules:
- Specialization: Social Science of Happiness (5 credit points)
Students will delve into the study of happiness, exploring concepts and theories in the sociology of happiness and considering the influence of different factors on well-being.
- Specialization: Applying Social Science in Research (5 credit points)
This module allows students to apply their theoretical and methodological knowledge to real-world research projects with guidance from industry professionals, who encourage students to deepen projects of their interest.
- Specialization: A New Cold War? EU-Russian Relations (5 credit points)
In this seminar, students will examine the complex development of Russo-European relations, exploring the historical context, military cooperation and conflict, and new geostrategic perspectives on economics, information, demographics, and society. Discussions also include an analysis of the media coverage of current issues of EU-Russian Relations.
Further specialization modules can be taken from the following closely related offerings in other majors:
- Specialization: Applying Social Science Research (5 credit points)
- Specialization: China: Politics, Economy, and Society (5 credit points)
- Specialization: Managing Demographic Change in Organisations (2.5 credit points)
- Specialization: The Science of Happiness (2.5 credit points)
Also available for SMP students that meet the pre-requisites:
- Specialization: Psychology of Food (2.5 credit points)
- Specialization: Oppression, Conformity, and Resistance under Dictatorships (5 credit points)
Internship / Start-up and career skills module
At Constructor University, students are provided with a unique opportunity to boost their employability through a mandatory two-month internship worth 15 credits. This opportunity usually takes place during the summer between the second and third year of study, providing students with the chance to gain practical experience in a professional setting. Through this internship, students can apply the knowledge and understanding they have gained from their major to real-world contexts, evaluate the significance of their major in the employment sector and society, reflect on their personal role in employment and society, and make informed career decisions. For students interested in starting their own company, an alternative to the full-time internship is offered in the form of a start-up option, which allows them to focus on developing their business plan.
Constructor University Track
The Constructor University Track, an important feature of Constructor University’s educational concept, runs parallel to the disciplinary modules across all study years and is an integral part of the study program. It reflects a university-wide commitment to in-depth training in scientific methods, fosters an interdisciplinary approach, raises awareness of global challenges and societal responsibility, enhances employability, and equips students with extra skills desirable in the general field of study. Additionally, it integrates (German) language and culture modules.
Methods and Skills modules
Methods and skills such as mathematics, statistics, programming, data handling, presentation skills, academic writing, and scientific and experimental skills are offered to all students as part of the Methods and Skills area modules. Students are required to take 20 credit points in the Methods/Skills area.
SMP students take the following Methods modules:
- Methods Module: Academic Writing and Academic Skills (5 credit points)
- Methods Module: Qualitative Research Methods (5 credit points)
- Methods Module: Data Collection and Empirical Research Methodologies ( 5credit points)
For the remaining 5 credit points SMP, students can choose between the following two Methods modules:
- Methods Module: Applied Statistics with R (5 credit points)
- Methods Module: Applied Statistics with SPSS (5 credit points)
Big Questions modules
The modules of the Big Questions area intend to broaden the students’ horizons with applied problem-solving between and beyond the disciplines. The offerings comprise problem-solving-oriented modules that tackle global challenges from the perspectives of different disciplinary backgrounds and that allow, in particular, a reflection of the acquired disciplinary knowledge in economic, societal, technological, and/or ecological contexts.
Math students take 2-4 (10 credit points) modules from a big portfolio of Big Questions modules.
SMP students 2-4 courses from a big portfolio of modules.
Community Impact Project
In their 5th semester, students must take a 5 credit points Community Impact Project (CIP) module. Students engage in on-campus or off-campus activities that challenge their social responsibility, i.e., they typically work on major-related projects that make a difference in the community life on campus, in its neighborhood, in Bremen, or on a cross-regional level.
Language modules
Constructor University supports its students in acquiring and improving these skills by offering a variety of language modules at all proficiency levels. Emphasis is put on fostering the German language skills of international students as they are an essential prerequisite for non-native-speaking students to learn about, explore, and eventually integrate into their host country and its professional environment.
All students take four language courses in the first and second years.
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
Education is a substantial investment in your future, at Constructor University we strive to make it an affordable reality for students from across the world. Therefore, we offer students personalized financing offers to help cover their tuition fees. They consist of one or more types of financial support in the form of scholarships and/or grants and tuition deferrals. You only start repaying the deferred tuition fees once you successfully entered the job market. That way you can focus completely on your studies. We are convinced that a Constructor University education will form the perfect foundation for your future career – that is why we are happy to invest in you.
Scholarships
- All students are considered for an academic achievement scholarship based on their school grade point average (GPA). EU and EFTA students are eligible for a minimum guaranteed scholarship of € 4.000.
Academic Achievement Scholarships (per academic year)
€ 4.000 (Minimum guaranteed amount for EU and EFTA students)
€ 6.000
€ 8.000 (Maximum scholarship amount irrespective of nationality) - The number of these scholarships is not limited and no separate application is required.
- Students are informed about their scholarship amount immediately following admission.
Tuition Deferral Program
In cooperation with our partner Brain Capital
- Deferral of tuition fees is calculated automatically and available to you shortly after admission.
- You decide whether you want to take advantage of this personalized financing option.
- Granted independently of your financial situation.
- Flexible repayment plan based on your future income and personal circumstances.
Apply for need-based aid
In addition to our academic achievement scholarships and our tuition deferral program, students can apply for our personalized, need-based financial aid program.
- The amount of the grant (need-based discount) is determined based on your and your family’s financial situation
- The amount of the grant does not need to be repaid.
Our Student Financial Services team is happy to assist you!
External financing options
These scholarships are not administered by Constructor University Bremen. For further information about the requirements and the application process, please contact the appropriate institution directly.
External Scholarships and Stipends
- We have compiled a list of German foundations that offer scholarships and stipends to national and international students: listing of External Scholarships and Stipends
- DAAD Scholarship Database
- MyStipendium.de: Search engine to help you find the stipend which matches your profile
- Elternkompass: Beratung und Hilfe bei der Suche nach einem geeigneten Stipendium (German students only!)
- MLP Stipendienprogramm – für MINT-Studenten ab dem 3. Fachsemester
Student Loans
- BAföG: Grants and student loans given to German students based on their family’s financial situation.
- KfW-Studienkredit: The student loan of the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) is the most popular student loan among our German students.
- studienkredit.de: Here you will find more information regarding educational loans in Germany.