Bachelor

If you are interested, please make sure that you have successfully completed the following courses:

• The course “Academic Research Techniques” (Grundlagen wissenschaftlichen Arbeitens) (required)

• One course offered by an IGN member (e.g. ZuWi II, Kapitalismus & Kritik etc.)

Students of the BA Wirtschaftsrecht are also eligible to write their BA theses at the Institute for Social Change and Sustainability, as long as the thesis topic resonates with the topics of their BA programme.

In terms of academic sub-disciplines, Bachelor theses at the IGN normally fall into the following research areas:

• Political Sociology

• Environmental Sociology

• Eco-Political Theory

• Theory of Modern Society

• Social Movement Research

• Actor Analysis and Political Party Research

• Policy Analysis

• Democracy Research

• Transformation Research

• Environmental History

Possible research topics include, for example:

• Citizen participation

• Social movements & political parties

• Democratic systems and sustainability

• Populism

• Sustainability discourse

• Sustainable consumption

• Alternative lifestyles

• Sharing economy

• Post-growth society

• Social capital

• Social networks & collaboration

To get a better understanding of the IGN’s research areas and approaches you may also refer to our academic profile.

If your envisaged topic matches the research interests of the IGN, you may submit a proposal. Please follow the Institute’s guidelines regarding structure and content of the proposal.

Once completed, please send your proposal to Michael Deflorian, the Institute’s Bachelor thesis coordinator. He will check your proposal and, if approved, forward it to a suitable IGN supervisor.

The allocated supervisor will then arrange a first supervision meeting, during which he or she will discuss your topic and its realization in more detail. Only then you will receive your supervision agreement. As a matter of principle, supervision agreements will be valid for four months (starting from the date of the acceptance)!

When planning your thesis writing, please notice:

According to our experience, students need four to five months from their first idea to the submission of their thesis. Especially concerning deadlines for MA programmes, keep in mind that:

• Theses that are submitted after 30th of November are unlikely to be marked before the end of January

• These that are submitted after 15th of July are unlikely to be marked before the end of September

The supervision will take place via regular supervision meetings.

Considering future applications for international jobs or MA programmes, we also offer students the opportunity to write their thesis in English.

Please see the attached document.

If you have any further questions regarding Bachelor theses at the IGN, please contact Michael Deflorian.

Basic information about bachelor theses at the WU is provided by the Bachelorguide and the Student Service Center.

The aim of the IGN Best Dissertation Award is to  

• Foster the interest of WU students in the social-scientific research of sustainability issues

• Encourage students to engage with topics that are central to the research of the IGN

• Collect dissertations that can serve as best-practice examples for the teaching of academic writing

• Motivate early stage researchers to continue their academic work in suitable MA programmes and beyond

The award consists of a bookvoucher and the publication of the thesis on the IGN website. Considered will be dissertations that are submitted until September 30th every year. The award winning thesis will be selected by a jury comprised of researchers at the IGN.

The decision will be based on the following criteria:  

• The thesis clearly deals with current research topics of the IGN

• The thesis demonstrates social-scientific craftsmanship, especially in terms of stating a research problem, formulating concrete research questions and addressing them in a systematic manner

• The thesis proves intellectual originality, and innovative skills of analysis and argumentation 

• The thesis is marked with “Very Good”  

Recipients will be awarded during an academic event of the IGN in the autumn of every year.