Degrees Being Phased Out
The department is currently in the process of phasing out its non-consecutive M. A. (Magister Artium) degree in Political Science as well as the non-consecutive "Civics" study program leading to the German state examination for high-school teachers. Please note that as of Winter 2008/9, first-year students are no longer admitted to these programs!
Current Degrees
Our Department offers a B. A. (Bachelor of Arts) in Political Science. Political Science as a major can be combined with a minor in one of the other social sciences or in a fairly large number of other disciplines. Political Science can also be chosen as a minor in other B. A. programs.
The Department offers a consecutive M. A. (Master of Arts) in Democracy Studies that focuses on the study of democracy on the national, regional and international level, both from a theoretical and an empirical perspective. Students wishing to enroll in this M. A. program must have completed a first university degree, studying Political Science at least as a minor field of studies, and should have acquired solid command of the methods and statistics of empirical research in the social sciences.
Since the winter term 2017/18, the Department offers a further consecutive M. A. program in "Political Economy and International Relations", focussing on the limits of what politicians can do in view of a pluralism of competing interests at home and pervasive interdependence abroad. How much leeway do politicians have in shaping the "law of the land"? Students interested in participating in this M. A. program must have completed a first university degree, studying Political Science at least as a minor field of studies, and should have acquired basic command of the methods and statistics of empirical research in the social sciences.
We are participating in the study program of a tri-national M. A. in European Politics which is offered in cooperation with the University of Dijon (France) and the University of Opole (Poland). Students will study one semester each at Dijon, Mainz and Opole, and will then complete their degree at the participating university of their choice. Besides undertaking an intensive study program in European Politics, in this program students also receive training in the two respective foreign languages. At Mainz, part of the study program is offered in English for those participating students with little previous knowledge of German.
We also offer a Ph. D. in Political Science.
The International Dimension
The Department of Political Science currently maintains exchange agreements with more than 20 partner universities in Europe under the EU’s Erasmus programme. This includes both a student exchange programme through which students may spend a semester or an academic year abroad, and a staff exchange programme. The department also participates in international activities facilitated through the many bilateral co-operation agreements Johannes Gutenberg University has with partner universities in non-EU countries. All these programmes enhance our international perspective in learning and teaching. Besides, students have the opportunity to improve their language skills at the department, as we always offer several courses taught in English.