Final thesis
We supervise a wide range of sociological topics and issues. Literature reviews, qualitative empirical work, and study design development are all welcome at our chair.
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To ensure that you are familiar with the requirements of our chair, you should have completed at least one exercise course, seminar, or research course at Chair 05. Please also note the general information on final theses on the department homepage.
Bachelor thesis
In a Bachelor thesis (final module, 12 ECTS), students should work on a specific sociological problem. Writing a thesis documents the ability to work independently on a sociological problem using scientific methods and to present the results obtained in a professional manner.
The project module (6 ECTS) consists of an accompanying exercise course in which students are introduced to writing a longer academic paper. In addition, the current status of students' theses is presented and discussed.
- Time allowance
- 10 weeks
- Length
- 80,000 pages (approx. 40 pages)
You are expected to work independently on a topic of your own choosing for your Bachelor thesis. We recommend thinking about a topic well in advance.
Empirical work, including the collection of your own data, is possible.
If you would like to plan empirical work, it is a good idea to develop a study design. This format is based on the logic of a project proposal.
If you plan to work on and discuss a (theoretical or methodological) topic based on the literature, the format of a theoretical thesis is recommended.
Once you have decided on a research topic, please contact a supervisor well in advance (i.e., in the semester before the semester in which you wish to write your thesis).
Please note staff office hours and vacation periods!
Prepare yourself for the briefing of your project. Consider the following points:
- Have you attended relevant courses taught by Prof. Villa or the Chair 05 academic staff?
- What is your approximate research question?
- Which methods (or combination of methods) would you like to work with?
- Do you have a rough preliminary outline?
- Which literature would you like to work with?
Before submitting a binding registration, an exposé must be discussed in person with the chosen supervisor and mutually agreed upon as the basis for the Bachelor thesis. The exposé should be submitted approximately two weeks before registration.
The exposé should present the following information and content in text form (not just bullet points) in approximately 5 pages:
- Name
- (Working) title
- Brief introduction to the topic
- Sociological relevance of the topic
- Precise formulation of the research question
- Brief description of the approach and possible methods (if already developed)
- Literature
Submit your exposé as a PDF to your supervisor.
Fill in your details on the registration form available on the PAGS website and send it by email as a PDF document to your supervisor.
At the beginning of the project module, each student is required to present their project in approximately 10-15 minutes. Afterwards, the group will provide detailed feedback and discuss next steps.
Have the courage to address any remaining gaps—the presentation will not be included in the grading of your thesis!
The following points should be addressed:
- Research question
- State of research/theory
- Planned approach to data analysis (possibly initial results)
- Open questions and problems
Students are required to submit two bound copies of their Bachelor thesis (printed double-sided) including a signed declaration of originality by the submission deadline to PAGS. Please note the detailed instructions from PAGS regarding submission, and direct all organizational inquiries (including extensions) to PAGS.
In addition, Bachelor theses must be submitted to the supervisor as a PDF via email.
File names:
Last name_First name_Bachelor thesis.pdf
etc.
Assessments will be completed approximately 6 weeks after submission. Essential information from the report will be sent to you via email.
Master thesis
In a Master thesis (final module, 24 ECTS), students should develop a sociological question based on the relevant state of research, present it precisely, and use methodological tools and methods.
The project module (6 ECTS) consists of an accompanying exercise course in which students present and discuss the current status of their Master thesis.
- Time allowance
- 18 weeks
- Length
- 140,000 characters (approx. 80 pages)
You are expected to work independently on a topic of your own choosing for your Master thesis. We recommend thinking about a topic well in advance.
Empirical work, including the collection of your own data, is possible.
If you would like to plan empirical work, it is a good idea to develop a study design. This format is based on the logic of a project proposal.
If you plan to work on and discuss a (theoretical or methodological) topic based on the literature, the format of a theoretical thesis is recommended.
Once you have decided on a research topic, please contact a supervisor well in advance (i.e., in the semester before the semester in which you wish to write your thesis).
Please note staff office hours and vacation periods!
Prepare yourself for the briefing of your project. Consider the following points:
- Have you attended relevant courses taught by Prof. Villa or the Chair 05 academic staff?
- What is your approximate research question?
- Which methods (or combination of methods) would you like to work with?
- Do you have a rough preliminary outline?
- Which literature would you like to work with?
Before submitting a binding registration, an exposé must be discussed in person with the chosen supervisor and mutually agreed upon as the basis for the Bachelor thesis. The exposé should be submitted approximately two weeks before registration.
The exposé should present the following information and content in text form (not just bullet points) in approximately 5 pages:
- Name
- (Working) title
- Brief introduction to the topic
- Sociological relevance of the topic
- Precise formulation of the research question
- Brief description of the approach and possible methods (if already developed)
- Literature
Submit your exposé as a PDF to your supervisor.
Tragen Sie in das auf den Seiten des PAGS erhältliche Fill in your details on the registration form available on the PAGS website and send it by email as a PDF document to your supervisor.
Then send a printed copy by mail to the Chair 05 office.
20 minutes
In the oral exam, you will have approximately 7-10 minutes to present the following points:
- Topic
- Research question
- Sociological relevance of your topic
- Structure of your thesis
- (Ideally: Preliminary findings)
The presentation is followed by a sociological discussion in which we ask questions about your thesis, possibly about the topic, the choice of method, the theoretical references, and possible results. The aim of the examination is for you to show us that and to what extent you can independently reflect on, argue, and discuss the structure and content of your thesis.
Students are required to submit two bound copies of their Bachelor thesis (printed double-sided) including a signed declaration of originality by the submission deadline to PAGS. Please note the detailed instructions from PAGS regarding submission, and direct all organizational inquiries (including extensions) to PAGS.
In addition, Bachelor theses must be submitted to the supervisor as a PDF via email.
File names:
Last name_First name_Master thesis.pdf
etc.
Assessments will be completed approximately 6 weeks after submission. Essential information from the report will be sent to you via email.
