Blauer Schriftzug auf weißen Grund

Would you like to learn more about the professors and staff of Political Science? You can find detailed information about the six professorships and chairs of political science, as well as about the professorship Didactics of Social Sciences on the corresponding subpages.

The ERASMUS coordination (Dr. Sascha Werthes and team) gldly informs you about your possibilities to spend a semester abroad on their pages and in a personal conversation. International students currently staying in Trier will also find any relevant information considering their Political Science study here.

You have completed your studies and would like to stay in contact with Political Science? We are happy about any contact with our alumni - here you can go directly to the pages of the Alumni Association of Political Science in Trier.

 

You want to start a study program or you are looking for information about your current program? Study Programmes & Organization offers a page for each program and all the information you need. In addition: useful abbreviations on the topics of starting your studies and course assignments.

You didn't find what you were looking for on the pages about your degree program? In this case, is it perhaps a less course-specific topic such as BAföG certificates, stays abroad or recognition of achievements? Then you should contact our contact persons!

Since 2020, the Trier Institute for Democracy and Political Party Research (TIDuP) has been dedicated to the questions of the transformation of and challenge to the legitimacy and performance of democracies in the 21st century. Information on projects as well as current events and publications can be found on the corresponding subpages of TIDuP.

Current news from Political Science can be found under this paragraph. Course-specific or course-relevant content is also displayed on the respective course page.
The Annotated Course Catalog (KVV) of the Students' Council of Politics & History for the winter term 2023/24 can now be found here.

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Dear prospective students, dear freshmen,
dear friends of Political Science

Trier Political Science welcomes you all to the university and especially to our subject!
We are very pleased that you are interested in studying political science, or even better: that you have already enrolled. On this page we would like to introduce ourselves as a subject and have compiled the most important information for a successful start to your studies.

Study Political Science in Trier

Whether political theory or political economy, international relations or comparative government, methodology or didactics of social sciences - Political Science at Trier offers its students a comprehensive insight into the broad spectrum of political science research and teaching.
Bachelor students can choose Political Science at Trier as a major or minor subject. Political Science can be studied in combination with all other subjects at the University of Trier - even the combination Political Science/Public Law (minor) is possible! Master's students can choose between a general political science program, the English-language programs International Economics and Public Policy (IEPP) and European and East Asian Governance (EEAG), as well as the master's programs Democratic Politics and Communication (DPK) and International Relations and Diplomacy (IBID).

For student teachers, Political Science is offered under the name Social Studies.

Teachers' Education - Study Social Studies in Trier

If you decide to study Political Science in Trier with the aim of becoming a teacher, you will study the subject under the name Social Studies in combination with your chosen second subject and the subject Educational Sciences. Within the framework of teacher training, Political Science at the University of Trier can be combined with 15 other subjects.
The interdisciplinary didactic teaching offers optimal conditions and opportunities to profit from the practical experience of lecturers who are active in the teaching profession. In addition, student teachers in Trier acquire subject-specific didactic knowledge and skills explicitly tailored to social studies through the courses offered by the Chair of Social Studies Didactics.

Teaching and Research in Political Science at Trier

The topics in research and teaching offered by the Department of Political Science at the University of Trier are diverse. In the area of government studies, interest is focused on the one hand on the political and economic system of the People's Republic of China, new approaches to political economy and the international comparison of policy experimentation (Prof. Dr. Heilmann). On the other hand, the French political system, French European politics and the political economy of European integration will be focused on (Prof. Dr. Schild). In addition, the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany, party and coalition research as well as federalism (Prof. Dr. Jun) are in the interest of governmental studies in Trier. Political Theory and History of Ideas (Prof. Dr. Ritzi) focuses on (contemporary) theories of democracy and post-democracy, participation research, and the highly topical area of digitality. In the field of International Relations and Foreign Policy (Prof. Dr. Fröhlich), research and teaching focus on international organizations (especially the United Nations); actors, structures and processes of global governance and globalization as well as theories and practices in diplomatic fields of action. Empirical Democracy Research (JProf. Dr. Matthieß) at Trier focuses in particular on the behavior and attitudes of citizens and political actors in the context of German and European politics - electoral promises, representation, responsiveness as well as trust and legitimacy are examined.