Contemporary Germany - Politics, Society and Culture

Students of this Contemporary Germany - Politics, Society and Culture program at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem can choose one of two study options: a non-research track or a research track with a thesis. In the non-research track, students choose three out of the five specializations, while in the research track, they choose two specializations. The program places great emphasis on providing students with opportunities for acquiring practical experience, for example, through travel courses, student exchanges, simulations and internships.

Key Facts

In addition to mandatory basic and methodological courses, five specialization tracks are offered: Politics and Economy, Law and International Relations, Geography and Urban Studies, History and Sociology, and Literature, Philosophy, Culture, and the Arts.

Germany is the largest economy in Europe, ranks as the world’s most innovative country and has the third largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites of all states. Still, as a leader in global and European affairs, the country is facing considerable challenges related to immigration, climate change, security and energy. This MA program analyzes how political, economic and cultural factors have shaped contemporary Germany, placing these factors within the European and global contexts and examining them from a historical perspective. Students will also consider these developments from the perspectives of Israel and the Middle East.

academic sectors. Alumni have gone on to fill a variety of positions, including with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Defense, have become parliamentary assistants to members of the European Parliament, lobbyists and employees with EU consulting firms, as well as members of the Israeli Delegation to the European Union. In preparation for entering the job market, students are offered an internship with an organization or agency whose work is related to their field of study, while also receiving academic advising for their internship project.

Students take part in the many conferences and workshops organized by HUJI’s European Forum and host researchers from German universities. Research students also enjoy opportunities to travel to international conferences and workshops.

In addition, the program has an active alumni network, through which employment opportunities and other news is shared.

Courses include:

• The courses have to be chosen from the list of basic courses of the teaching program, from tracks not chosen as specialization tracks.

• Colloquium for European Forum Students A

• Workshop and Seminar for Graduate and Research Students

• Methodological seminar in 1stand 2ndyear

• Seminar courses in two specialization tracks

• Seminary paper in one of the seminar courses