The Module Area of Humanities and Social Sciences combines the subjects of cultural anthropology, sociology, philosophy, and history. Courses will directly address the unresolved relationship between nature and culture. With the help of theoretical learning instruments the module expands on the analysis and understanding of this relationship. Students need to learn abstract thinking in order to understand novel concepts, and must be able to actively develop procedural strategies. Our objective: graduates who can perform in a competent, critical and responsible manner in different fields of endeavour. As these professional fields are subject to cultural, social, religious, economic and political influences, our graduates must be able to perform in various challenging situations. For this reason, the aim of courses in this Module Area is to develop exceedingly broad social competencies. Practical projects help our students to acquire these pivotal skills.

Modules offered in this area:

Discourses on Culture and Heritage
Culture as presented, analysed and discussed in this module, is mainly seen as a dynamic construct, which on the one hand helps to define mankind’s norms and values, and knowledge and techniques on the other. Students should be able to analyse cultural topics and issues, as exemplified in UNESCO’s instruments on culture and heritage, and to relate them to the scientific background of Cultural Studies.

Intercultural Competence
Intercultural Competence is a core prerequisite in today’s international business world. Intercultural Competence is the ability to act in unfamiliar environments in a way that respects the values and norms of those concerned. To achieve this, students need to be sensitised to the significance of cultural influences, to become aware of cultural differences and similarities, and to encourage others to interact and communicate efficiently with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. 

Culture and Globalisation
Globalisation provides an important context for our contemporary understanding of culture. It is a product of cultural activity and also exerts a major influence on the development of cultures. For students to accurately assess this interdependency and to apply it to intercultural challenges, it is important for them to understand the central political and historical dimensions of international and intercultural relations.

Legal Aspects of Heritage
The objective of this module is to develop an understanding of the general functions, possibilities and instruments of law, in both national and international contexts. The module is designed to provide an overview of the instruments available in the field of environmental law, as well as to provide support in solving regional, national and international environmental problems and business processes. It also gives detailed insight into the function of international conventions in terms of protecting our common and endangered cultural and natural resources.

Social Change and Continuity
This module introduces students to the pivotal issues of social change and continuity, including theories of social change, modernity and social structure, equality and inequality, and gender inequality in particular. The module enables students to analyse the changes in organisations and working institutions, as well as in labour markets and the policy-making sector. Students are also introduced to epistemological questions and learn the basic empirical methods of the social sciences.