How do international politics work? Students simulating a United Nations General Assembly session.

With themes ranging from the analysis of political systems to empirical social research and survey methods, the Faculty of Social Sciences offers students a wide variety of options for research and specialisation.
In the Bachelor degree courses, the principles of political science and sociology are initially taught together, after which each subject is dealt with separately in greater depth. Master programmes are available in Political Management, Public Policy and Public Administration, and International Relations and Development Policy. The Master in Sociology offers specialisation in comparative sociology, advanced research methods in the social sciences, or work, occupations and organisations. In future, students will be able to take a Master's in Development and Governance (in English) and Survey Methodology.

The Institute for Political Science is the largest institution of its kind in Germany. Research centres on the issues surrounding governance and legitimacy in the globalised world. It investigates the background, forms and consequences of modern structures and processes of governance at various political levels. The NRW School of Governance complements the practice-based Master programme in Political Management, Public Policy and Public Administration and provides the organisational framework and staff resources to promote excellence in this field.

The scope of research and teaching at the Institute of Sociology is outstanding in Germany. Under the heading of The New World of Work and Social Integration, the Institute combines three main areas of research: work, occupations and organisations; comparative sociology; and methods of empirical social research. The work in this area is applied, internationally comparative, and empirical; it is therefore concerned with the practical issues and problems associated with conveying, applying and developing methods in the social sciences.

The Institute for Work, Skills and Training (IAQ) is responsible for internationally acclaimed work in employment and education research. Its main themes are Working Time and Work Organisation, Learning and Education in Structural Change, Evolution of Employment Systems, and Flexibility and Security.

The applied research of the Institute for Development and Peace (INEF) makes the link between theory and political practice. The Institute's work centres on global trends and global governance, the relationship
between development and peace in developing countries, the interdependence of econ¬omy, environment and security, and development perspectives for developing countries in the global economy.