Political Science

Abstract

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  Profile of the study programme

  One particular focus of the study programme is the comparative analysis of political regimes, attitudes and behaviour. In addition to Western Europe, this routinely includes political systems of Eastern Europe and other world regions. No other Swiss university offers this focus.

  Fribourg Profile
  The course can be completed entirely in German. A few compulsory course components are taught in German or English. However, French-language components are available every semester, which makes the course suitable also for French-speaking students with a working knowledge of German. Module 6 can be taken entirely in French.

  The bachelor programme is divided into five basic modules and one elective module:

  Module 1: Basics and methods
  This module teaches the basics of empirical political science. The compulsory lecture «Introduction to political science» provides an overview of the sub-disciplines of political science. The remaining module components teach quantitative and qualitative research methods, skills in the open-source programming language R for data analysis, and research design and scientific writing.

  Module 2: Democracy and autocracy
  The module centres on the comparison of political regimes and their institutions, actors and political cultures. It also deals with the effectiveness and foundations for the legitimacy of democratic and authoritarian leadership. The regional focus of this module is on Eastern Europe, but other world regions are also routinely taught, including a regular course on Swiss politics.

  Module 3: Europe in a complex world
  This module deals with topics of international conflict and cooperation: war and peace, national interests and security issues, international organisations, (neo )colonial relations, human rights and international law. It also includes components on transnational relations between social actors, such as social movements and international NGOs, as well as transborder political cultures and social exchanges. The regional focus is on Europe and its global relations, but some course components without a European focus are available, and these deal in particular with countries referred to as the «Global South».

  Module 4: Equality and inequality in the political process
  This module includes components on (international) political economy, policy research and social (in)equality from other study programmes, such as Gender Studies. The module also includes optional components on the welfare state and social policy. All the components which comprise this module deal with the distribution of economic resources or social status and an explanation of these phenomena from the perspective of political science. The module further includes aspects of political theory covering issues of justice.

  Module 5: Advanced comparative politics
  The POL05 module looks at comparative politics at a more advanced level, thus setting the focus of the Political Science course. The compulsory lecture examines in greater depth issues relating to the comparative analysis of political institutions, attitudes, and/or behavioural patterns in various political regimes. Participation in an advanced course on quantitative research methods is also compulsory in this module. The seminar paper in this module gives students the opportunity to put their own empirical data analysis (qualitative or quantitative) into practice.

  Module 6/7: Elective Political Sociology or Political Anthropology
  In this module, students attend courses relevant to political science compiled from partner programmes «Sociologie» (mainly in French) and «Sozialanthropologie» (mostly in German).

  Learning outcomes and career openings
  The Political Science course imparts broad knowledge of political institutions, processes, ideas and conflicts in national, European and international contexts – a basis for analysing complex situations in society. Students acquire skills in project management, analysis of political or organisational measures, and the formulation of reasoned recommendations. They also learn how to understand and prepare data and analyse it using the statistical computing software R, as well as how to apply quantitative and qualitative empirical social research methods.
  Graduates work in a wide variety of professions, such as public administration, political parties, parliaments, associations, trade unions, NGOs and international organisations; they also work in media and communications, market research, opinion polling and business consultancy, as well as in science and research. The course offers a sound basis for postgraduate social science studies and a doctorate. In the interests of their career orientation, students have the option of doing an internship in a business or political organisation.

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Minor study programmes to be chosen