Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

European Ethnology

Degree

Combined bachelor without teacher training option, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.).

Standard time for completing course

6 semesters

Start of study and Entry Restriction

Cf. course catalogue

Combinations and Course Structure

European Ethnology is offered as

Core subject: 120 CP*, with a secondary subject to be selected
Second subject: 60 CP with a bachelor’s core subject without teacher training option (not available with the core subjects Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Deaf Studies, Geography, History, Mathematic, Philosophie/Ethics, Physics, Special Needs Education and Sport Science)

*One credit point (CP) is calculated to equate to a workload of 25 to max. 30 hours for preparation, follow-up and attendance at classes.

Skills and qualifications

For a successful completion of the degree, you should be:

  • motivated to examine social developments and to question your own assumptions and perspective,
  • curious to delve into hitherto unknown areas of life and research, to re-examine what seems familiar and to engage with people, whose lives and lifestyles might be different from yours,
  • interested to learn and apply ethnographic and qualitative research methods (participant observation, interviews, etc.) as well as methods of investigation that involve historical, visual, textual and object-related analyses,
  • ready to engage in intensive reading of at times complex and complicated studies and theories and to produce your own written work. A sound knowledge of English is of great advantage.

Content of studies

European Ethnology is a subject area at the intersection of folklore, ethnology and history, the aim of which is the development of an approach analysing and comparing cultures. The focus is the everyday culture of modern European societies; ‘culture’ here means the constant process of practical negotiation of the rules by which people, groups and societies interact, communicate and delimit themselves.
The course examines how people organise their co-existence, what relationships they cultivate with their social and natural environment, and what image people have of these connections. The thematic focus of classes thus includes everyday cultural, historical, comparative and reflective perspectives. In particular, the course provides the skills to analyse and interpret cultural, ethnic, religious and gender-related phenomena and conflicts in the context of social, historical and socio-political developments. In addition, students acquire fundamental specialist knowledge, methods and work techniques.

The best way to find information about the exact course content is at www.euroethno.hu-berlin.de/institut/fach or using the annotated university calendar, which is online at u.hu-berlin.de/vorlesungsverzeichnis. Module descriptions, the course curriculum and other details can be found in the course and examination regulations, available online at www.amb.hu-berlin.de, no. 37/2014. The Counselling Services are also available to help you (see below).

European Ethnology as a core subject with 120 CP

Mandatory Modules (90 CP)

Module 1: Introduction to European Ethnology I (10 CP)
Module 2: Introduction to Social and Cultural Theory (10 CP)
Module 3: Fundamental Perspectives of Ethnographic Research (10 CP)
Module 4: Research Areas of European Ethnology (10 CP)
Module 7: Consolidating Theory and Methods (10 CP)
Module 8: Learning By Research (15 CP)
Module 9: Final module with bachelor thesis (15 CP)

Mandatory elective modules (10 CP)
One module must be completed.

Module 5: Current Research in European Ethnology (10 CP)
Module 6: Practical and professional Fields of European Ethnology (10 CP)

General elective modules (30 CP)

In addition to specialised study, Students acquire subject-specific, non-specialist and interdisciplinary key qualifications of 30 CP. The general elective modules can be chosen from the module catalogues of other subjects or central institutions (see: http://agnes.hu-berlin.de/). Internships in subject career areas such as museums, media, cultural management, urban development agencies, neighbourhood management etc. can be recognized as well. See also Sprungbrett - Internship Office and Counselling (fakultaeten.hu-berlin.de/de/sprungbrett/).

European Ethnology as a second subject with 60 CP

Mandatory Modules (50 CP)

Module 1: Introduction to European Ethnology I (10 CP)
Module 2: Introduction to Social and Cultural Theory (10 CP)
Module 3: Fundamental Perspectives of Ethnographic Research (10 CP)
Module 4: Research Areas of European Ethnology (10 CP)
Module ZF:Consolidation for minor subject students(10 CP)

Mandatory elective modules (10 CP)
One module must be completed.

Module 5: Current Research in European Ethnology (10 CP)
Module 6: Practical and professional Fields of European Ethnology (10 CP)

General elective course offerings for Students coming from other courses of studies

Module 3: Fundamental Perspectives of Ethnographic Research (10 CP)
Module 4: Research Areas of European Ethnology (10 CP)
Module 5: Current Research in European Ethnology (10 CP)
Module 6: Practical and professional Fields of European Ethnology (10 CP)

Master’s degree

You can apply for the European Ethnology master’s programme at HU (www.amb.hu-berlin.de, no. 38/2014). Information on this and other potentially suitable master’s courses can be found in the ‘Course catalogue’.

What distinguishes the study of European Ethnology at HU?

European Ethnology is an empirical cultural science that deals with the cultures of everyday life in modern, European societies. ‘Culture’ refers to the ongoing processes and practices of negotiating those norms and rules according to which people, groups and societies engage with each other, come to a shared understanding or various forms of social, cultural, political differentiation. The discipline examines how people organise their communal life, how they relate to their natural and social environment and what their own understanding of these relationships is. Berlin, including its urban-rural hinterland, provides an exciting and inspiring site, a kind of laboratory for European ethnologists to work through a range of themes: city, space, environment, migration, gender, power, education, medicine, religion, media, knowledge, museums, popular culture and many others. Besides theoretical discussions, the programme also includes individual ethnographic research within the context of project seminars as well as the B.A. thesis. On occasion, research results are produced and published in the form of books, catalogues, exhibitions, films, etc.

Students at the Institute for European Ethnology enjoy the wide variety of seminars, possibilities for flexible arrangements, practical interlinkages with ongoing research projects and cooperation between students and staff at eye level. .

Addresses

Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Department of European Ethnology: Mohrenstr. 40/41, www.euroethno.hu-berlin.de, Tel. +49 30 2093-70840/70841
Course Advisory Service and recognition of studies and qualifications: Prof. Binder (Mrs.), ifeeauss@hu-berlin.de, R. 218, Tel. +49 30 2093-70845 and studienberatung.euroethno@hu-berlin.de, R. 030, Tel. +49 30 2093-70869
Applicationswww.hu-berlin.de/studium/compass/wie
Links to job market: careers information centre (http://www.arbeitsagentur.de/web/content/DE/BuergerinnenUndBuerger/ArbeitundBeruf/Berufswahl/Berufsinformationszentren/index.htm) , employment market reports (http://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de/Navigation/Statistik/Arbeitsmarktberichte/Akademiker/Akademiker-Nav.html), Federal Employment Office Berufenet (http://berufenet.arbeitsagentur.de/berufe/)

Version: September 2021
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Contact for questions or feedback regarding this page: studienberatung@uv.hu-berlin.de

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