Ethnology

The focus of the Bachelor's program in Ethnology is the reflective engagement with cultural theory concepts, which are essential for the critical interpretation of the forms and diversity of human strategies of action and institutions. Students of Ethnology initially engage with various economic systems, kinship structures, religious concepts, political and communicative forms, as well as with the significance of material culture, production, and consumption. The ethnological knowledge acquired during the course of study plays a key role in understanding plural or hybrid identities, migration processes, new forms of urbanity, or phenomena of tourism. The primary method of empirical investigation is field research. Qualitative research methods are critically examined and tested in application. Students practice the design and implementation of their own projects as well as the documentation and analysis of ethnographic material. The degree program is complemented by interdisciplinary content, the promotion of language skills, and practical, career-qualifying elements. In the advanced stages of study, the program includes either an internship or an independent field research exercise (duration: eight to ten weeks) carried out in Germany or abroad. The respective project is carefully prepared over the course of one semester and supervised by a faculty advisor. The practical module trains students in the design, implementation, and evaluation of projects. In addition, students acquire individual regional and methodological expertise and engage critically and practically with ethnological methods.