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Section Sociology

Sociology
Sociology

Sociology deals in theory and empiricism with the interrelations between social action and societal structures. General sociology elaborates general explanatory approaches to the structures and processes of modern societies and their social change. Special sociologies research areas such as labor, economics, migration, gender, organizations, and city/region.

Information on the Sociology Exams

You will find general information here.

The current exams dates can be found here.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Compilation of answers to frequently asked questions concerning the lectures "Fundamental Questions and Main Concepts of Sociology/Grundfragen und Hauptbegriffe der Soziologie", "Social Structure and Social Change/Sozialstruktur und Sozialer Wandel" and the related courses.

If you have questions, please check the FAQs first before contacting individual teaching staff.

Co-opted Lecturers
Self-Conception

Sociology in Bochum combines the perspective on individual actors and social groups (micro-sociology) with the consideration of their social interdependencies, organizations and networks (meso-sociology) and the analysis of general societal structures, institutions and dynamics of change (macro-sociology). The focus hereby lies on the topics of labor, economy, welfare, organization, social inequality, gender, city & region, transnationalization, migration and digital transformation. The sociology unit is characterized by a consistent focus on theory-driven empirical social research. Not only has its strong research and practice orientation earned a high reputation in policy consulting and social practice, but it has also significantly boosted the career prospects of our graduates.

Contact

Section spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Birgit Apitzsch

Section staff: Till Stefes, M.A.

Address

Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Fakultät für Sozialwissenschaft
Sektion Soziologie
GD 1/620
Universitätsstraße 150
44801 Bochum

Contact:

Building GD, Level E1, Room 620
Phone: +49 234 32-22782
E-mail: sektion-soziologie@rub.de

Office Hours of Section Assistant:

Wed 1 pm - 3 pm or by request


Emeritus / Retired Professors

Lecturers

Exam Dates

Exam for the lecture "Fundamental Questions and Main Concepts of Sociology/ Grundfragen und Hauptbegriffe der Soziologie" (080 004)

1st Exam Date

Tuesday, February 06, 2024 - 10 am - 12 pm

Lecture halls: HZO 40 & HZO 50

 

2nd Exam Date

Tuesday, March 26, 2024 - 10 am - 12 pm

Lecture hall: HZO 20

Exam for the lecture "Social Structure and Social Change/Sozialstruktur und Sozialer Wandel" (080 005)

1st Exam Date

Thursday, February 08, 2024 - 10 am - 12 pm

Lecture hall: HZO 40 & HZO 50

 

2nd Exam Date

Thursday, March 28, 2024 - 10 am - 12 pm

Lecture halls: HZO 20

Information on Exams

General Information:

  • For both exams, there are two exam dates each semester. You are free to choose on which of the dates you would like to write the exam(s).
  • Please register for your preferred date via eCampus within the specified period. Registration is mandatory!
  • Unexcused absence despite registration will be counted as a failed attempt. Registration and de-registration is only possible via eCampus during the specified time periods without justification.
  • If you are unable to take the exam due to medical reasons, you will need a doctor's certificate stating that you are unable to take the exam. This certificate must be submitted to the unit no later than one week after the examination date.
  • For more information, please refer to the FAQs.

Module-specific registrations:

  • Student in the One-subject B.A. Social Science, who intend to complete the Basic Module Fundamentals of Sociology/Grundlagen der Soziologie, register for the examination of the course 080 004.
  • Student in the One-subject B.A. Social Science, who intend to complete the Advanced Module Social Structure and Social Change/Sozialstruktur und sozialer Wandel, register for the examination of the course 080 005.
  • Students of Politics, Economy and Society or Culture, Individual and Society who intent to complete the Basic Module Sociology/Soziologie each register for the exam of the course 080 004 and for the exam of the course 080 005 if the module is to be completed in one semester. It is also possible to register for only one of the two exams and take the other in a later semester. The module grade is determined by the grades of the two individual examinations.
  • Students in the Elective Modules who intend to complete the module Fundamentals and Major Concepts of Sociology/Grundfragen und Hauptbegriffe der Soziologie (Soziologie I), register for the examination of the course 080 004.
  • Students in the Elective Modules who intend to complete the module Social Structure and Social Change/Sozialstruktur und sozialer Wandel (Soziologie II), register for the examination of the course 080 005.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Please read the FAQs first before contacting individual teaching staff.


Basic Modules of Sociology


Take the basic module Sociology, consisting of the lecture Fundamentals and Major Concepts of Sociology/Grundfragen und Hauptbegriffe der Soziologie and the lecture Social Structure and Social Change/Sozialstruktur und sozialer Wandel as well as the corresponding optional structured tutoring. For more information on the sociology modules, see the current Sowi-Info.

Take the basic module Sociology, consisting of the lecture Fundamentals and Major Concepts of Sociology/Grundfragen und Hauptbegriffe der Soziologie and the lecture Social Structure and Social Change/Sozialstruktur und sozialer Wandel as well as the corresponding optional structured tutoring. For more information on the sociology modules, see the current Sowi-Info.

Take the basic module Fundamentals of Sociology, consisting of lecture Fundamentals and Major Concepts of Sociology/Grundfragen und Hauptbegriffe der Soziologie, the reading course Sociologie as well as the corresponding optional structured tutoring. The advanced module Social Structure and Social Change/Sozialstruktur und sozialer Wandel is also included in the advanced program, which comprises the lecture Social Structure and Social Change/Sozialstruktur und sozialer Wandel, a seminar related to social structural research, and structured tutoring. For more information on the sociology modules, see the current Sowi-Info.

There are two different elective modules in sociology, each of which is 5 CP. They each consist of a lecture and structured tutoring.

There is the module Fundamentals and Major Concepts of Sociology/Grundfragen und Hauptbegriffe der Soziologie, which includes the lecture Fundamentals and Major Concepts of Sociology/Grundfragen und Hauptbegriffe der Soziologie and the lecture-accompanying structured tutoring (5CP). OR: There is the module Social Structure and Social Change/Sozialstruktur und sozialer Wandel, which includes the lecture Social Structure and Social Change/Sozialstruktur und sozialer Wandel and the lecture-accompanying structured tutoring (5CP).

For each module, regular attendance of the lecture AND structured tutoring is mandatory for elective modules students. For more information on the elective modules, please visit the elective modules website.


Lectures


Yes. Participants of the lectures Fundamentals and Major Concepts of Sociology/Grundfragen und Hauptbegriffe der Soziologie and Social Structure and Social Change/Sozialstruktur und sozialer Wandel as well as the reading course have to register for their respective courses in CampusOffice.

Yes. Moodle, an online learning portal of RUB, provides students with preparatory literature and other materials for a course. In the respective courses, the Moodle courses and the respective passwords are disclosed. The Moodle courses usually contain the slides of the lecture, the literature and further information.

Lectures develop basic content of social science studies and should be taken no later than the second semester. To participate in certain advanced modules, the basic sociology courses must be completed. Further information on semester recommendations and participation requirements can be found in the current Sowi-Info in the respective module descriptions.

No. Students of the two-subject bachelor's programs Culture, Individual and Society and Politics, Economy and Society do not have to attend the lectures in one semester and can also write the exams on different dates. Students of the one-subject bachelor's program Social Science do not have to take the two modules Fundamentals of Sociology (GrundSoz) and Social Structure and Social Change (SozStrukt) in one semester.


Reading Course


The reading course is part of the module Fundamentals of Sociology (GrundSoz) and is mandatory for students of the one-subject bachelor's program Social Science. This course is intended to provide students with better insights to sociological texts and fundamentals.

Based on classical and introductory texts, the reading course will deepen the contents of the lecture. Presentations will be given in each session, covering the biography of important theorists as well as a selected text, or small groups will be facilitated and provided with discussion input. The texts will be posted in the Moodle course and are to be read intensively by all participants - prior to each session.

Participants in the reading course must register in CampusOffice. There is a distribution procedure in CampusOffice for multiple courses to allow for equal group sizes.

Yes. The reading course relates to the literature in the concurrent lecture course, so attendance in the same semester is strongly recommended.

Students of the one-subject bachelor's program Social Science complete the reading course with an ungraded transcript. The credit is awarded by presenting a paper with an accompanying handout or by small group facilitation and discussion input, as well as regular attendance and participation in the reading course.

No. The reading course focuses on more general sociological contexts and does not serve as a preparation for exams. Structured tutoring will primarily discuss follow-up questions from students and practice exercises.


Structured Tutoring


Structured tutoring addresses students' comprehension questions about the lecture and works on the exercises. Further, it prepares the students for the exams.

Structured tutoring is only mandatory for students in the Elective Modules. For students of the Social Science participation is strongly recommended for exam preparation.

Yes. Participants in structured tutoring must register in CampusOffice. There is a distribution process in CampusOffice for multiple structured tutoring courses to allow for equal group sizes.


Sociology Exams: Registration Procedure and Structure


Yes, be sure to register! The exam registration is done via CampusOffice and will be unlocked there as an exam for the lecture. The activation of the registration will be announced in the lecture and in the corresponding Moodle course. Registration is possible until one week before the respective exam date. If you do not register, you will not be able to take the exam.

You should deregister from the exam at least one week before the exam date exclusively via CampusOffice without giving reasons. Deregistration after the registration/deregistration deadline is possible until before the exam, but only if a credible, valid reason is given (e.g. illness). Without timely deregistration and in case of late appearance, the exam will be counted as a failed attempt.

If you are unable to take the exam due to illness, you will need a medical certificate (certificate of incapacity to take the examination/Prüfungsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung). The original of this certificate must be submitted to the section staff (see above) no later than one week after the examination date.

The exam consists of topic-based questions that must be answered in continuous text. For both lectures, there will be a choice of seven questions, of which six questions must be answered in each case. One of the ways you can prepare is by attending the structured tutoring and with legacy exams, which can be found in the Moodle course.

The exam consists of topic-related questions that must be answered in continuous text. There are seven questions to choose from for both lectures, six of which must be answered. One of the ways you can prepare is by attending structured tutoring and by taking the previous exams, which can be found in the Moodle course.

Students are given one hour for each written exam.

The exam can be written three times in total, i.e. can be repeated twice.

The correction takes at least (!) six weeks. Plan your studies accordingly. Generally, the results are published in CampusOffice in time for re-registration for the second exam date.