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The European Culture and History of Ideas (EUKLID) degree program examines questions of European culture from a historical, intellectual-historical and philosophical perspective. This includes, in particular, questions about its scientific and technological development, its liberal-democratic value system and the interdependence of these factors. The program allows you to give different weightings to the two subjects of philosophy and history.

Philosophy
In the field of theoretical philosophy, research focuses on the philosophy of science, the philosophy of technology, argumentation theory and questions of decision theory with regard to risk and uncertainty. In the area of practical philosophy, the focus is on political philosophy, philosophy & economics, legal and social philosophy and ethics. Courses are often organized jointly with lecturers from other disciplines, e.g. German studies, computer science, physics and biology.

The history
The focus is on the history of technical and scientific civilization across epochs. Approaches to the history of technology are closely interlinked with modern and contemporary history. Research and teaching include cultural, social, everyday and mental history approaches and are oriented towards European history. Topics such as the contextualized history of mobility or environmental and energy history are pursued in teaching in an object-oriented manner with special consideration of practical professional applicability, for example in museums.

Program structure

The program has a standard duration of 4 semesters and a course load of 120 credit points (CP). A maximum period of study is not specified. In terms of content, the program is divided into disciplinary "subjects": The compulsory subject "Interdisciplinary Humanities" and five compulsory elective subjects, two of which you choose and thus set your individual focus. Each subject comprises two modules. You should complete the first module in the first two semesters and the second in the third to fourth semester.

• compulsory subject Interdisciplinary Humanities with the modules (15 CP + 15 CP):
  • Humanities Theories and Methods
  • Cultural-historical Case Studies
• compulsory electives with two modules each (10 LP + 15 LP)
  • Theoretical Philosophy
  • Practical Philosophy
  • Ideas, Concepts, Discourses
  • Political History
  • Cultural History of Technology

Further components of the program are a professional internship between the second and third semester (10 CP) and the master's thesis (30 CP).

The courses offered in a particular semester (lectures, courses, colloquia and advanced seminars) are assigned to the individual modules, and may also be assigned to several modules simultaneously. Although the modules are thematically limited, the specific courses assigned to them can change from semester to semester. This is in line with the humanities tradition. Advanced teaching and learning takes place less in repetitive standard courses on the same topic, but rather in the exemplary deepening of changing topics - especially in individual seminars with their special challenges for content-savvy, critical communication and discussion. In this way, the planned study structure allows you considerable freedom in organizing your studies.

Master's graduates often take up management positions in cultural administration or the cultural departments of large companies as well as curatorial positions in museums and memorials; they also work in media and public relations as well as in publishing and in academic policy advice, e.g. in foundations under public law or in a state or federal center for political education, as well as working in parliamentary offices.

With a good master's degree and academic ambitions in the subjects of philosophy and history, it can also be interesting to plan a doctorate and a subsequent career at a university or research institution.

Characteristic features of the European Culture and History of Ideas M.A. at KIT

• courses with a discursive character and a maximum number of participants of usually 30 students
  
• the program contains many practical elements and follows the principle of "research-based learning"
  
• very good supervision ratio, often small seminar groups, experienced and committed lecturers
  
• eight-week compulsory internship during the degree program as an introduction to professional practice
  
• numerous opportunities to specialize in philosophy and history
  
• involvement of students in research projects
  
• integration into the EUCOR university network enables participation in courses at the universities of Freiburg, Basel, Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse
  

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• Lernraum app
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network
  

Admission requirements

The requirements for admission to the master's degree program in European Culture and History of Ideas are based on the current admission regulations:

• bachelor's degree
  a successful bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in European Culture and History of Ideas or a degree program with a humanities profile at a university, university of applied sciences, university of cooperative education or at a foreign university. The course must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits.
  
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements in the areas of
  • philosophy and history to the extent of 100 CP
    
  • upon application, other achievements can also be recognized, provided they demonstrate in-depth knowledge of humanities content and methods that enable the study of historical and philosophical content.
    

Important: If minimum credits amounting to a maximum of 30 CP are missing, admission may be granted on condition that certain credits are completed within the first three semesters of the master's degree program.

Language requirements and certificates

For the master's degree program in European Culture and History of Ideas, you need sufficient knowledge of the German language. Your German language skills must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Proof of sufficient German language skills

Your school-leaving certificate is sufficient proof of your German language skills if

• you obtainted it at a German-speaking school in Germany or abroad
• you are a graduate of a bilingual secondary school in Germany or abroad and have passed a bilingual German examination, such as the AbiBac or the Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureat (GIB)
• you obtained your degree at a foreign school, but there is another official agreement with the respective country on the recoginition of your school-leaving certificate or language certificate as proof of language proficiency for university studies in Germany

A complete list of foreign school-leaving and language certificates that are recognizes as proof of sufficient German language skills can be found on the webste of the Kultusministerkonferenz (Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany).

If you have not obtained your higher education entrance qualification (HZB) at one of the above-mentioned institutions, you must provide a separate language certificate - regardless of your nationality. Only the following are accepted

• the passed „Prüfungsteil Deutsch“ of the Feststellungsprüfung,
• the passed DSH with an overall result DSH-2,
• the passed TestDaF level 4 in all four parts of the examination (reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression, oral expression)
• a comparable, recognized certificate of sufficient German language skills

To find our which other recognized certificates can be accepted by KIT as comparable, please contact

• as a German or German-equivalent applicant: Studierendenservice
• as an applicant with non- EU citizenship: International Students Office

Please note:
Language certificates are extremely important application documents that can prevent your enrollment if you do not submit them on time. Therefore, check early on in the application process whether you have the necessary language certificates for your degree program and, if necessary, plan to take one of the language tests mentioned above. The deadline by which you must submit language certificates corresponds to the enrollment deadline stated in your admission offer. In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of this deadline. The extension can be granted until the start of the lecture period at the latest.

Weitere Ansprechpersonen:

• KIT-Fakultät für Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften
• Studiengangsseiten EUKLID
• Fachstudienberatung
• Prüfungsausschuss
• Anerkennung von Studienleistungen
• Informationen zum Auslandsstudium
• Fachschaft GeistSoz

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• Course catalog current term PDF (English)
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