Geschichte der Moderne transkulturell│History of Modernity in Transcultural Perspective (M.A.)

The programme

Europe is facing a double challenge in the 21st century: internally, European societies are working on a mutual understanding of cultural self-images and on a better compatibility of different economic and political systems within and outside the European Union. Externally, they have to reposition themselves in a hitherto unknown dynamic of global interdependencies. In both processes, lines of fracture and conflict that have long been overlooked are once again coming to light. Dealing with these problems requires a sound understanding of their historical background, which this degree programme explores from a cultural studies perspective.

The degree programme problematises Europe and the modernity emanating from Europe as formations that have emerged from both commonalities and diversity since the early modern period. Diversity has enriched Europe, but has also led to conflicts: political, economic, social and religious disputes and clashes of interpretation. Their often violent resolution is a specific feature of European history, from the process of colonial expansion to today's conflicts. At the same time, the exchange with other regions of the world and the cultural diversity within the continent have also produced particularly dense material and immaterial interdependencies. Without them, it is impossible to understand the political and economic upheavals that began around 1800 and the dominance of Europe that lasted well into the 20th century. Against this background, the degree programme also offers access to an understanding of the catastrophes of the 20th century and current political, cultural and economic crises.

This degree programme not only teaches genuine historical skills, but also incorporates approaches from literature, art studies and philosophy. From a transcultural perspective, the programme focuses on the exchange processes between different European and non-European cultural constellations. This perspective makes it possible to thematise European constructions of one's own history, which has often become culturally alien, and to cross the boundaries between disciplines and academic cultures.

Modules

  • History of Modernity in a transcultural and transdisciplinary perspective
  • Cultures of knowledge and the history of ideas
  • History of conflict and violence
  • Political and economic cultures
  • Forms of aesthetic perception of the world
  • Research and practical skills modules

All information about the degree programme at a glance

Qualifications and career opportunities

The degree programme is problem- and research-oriented. It strengthens key skills and imparts interdisciplinary knowledge that opens up career paths in a wide variety of directions. In project seminars, it also imparts practical knowledge, usually in cooperation with non-university institutions such as archives, memorials, museums, international NGOs or exhibition organisers. Frankfurt (Oder) and its German-Polish neighbourhood as well as nearby Berlin form a historical landscape in which the layers of the recent past are densely layered in their legacies.

This degree programme opens up relevant career prospects, for example:

  • in museums, archives, libraries,
  • in historical research,
  • in adult education and political education,
  • in the foreign service,
  • in companies and regional and local authorities,
  • in associations, foundations and political parties
  • as well as in the media sector in general.

Structure of the study programme

The module teaches the theoretical and methodological foundations of transcultural and transdisciplinary historical work as well as basic knowledge of the history of European cultures.

Knowledge is not the result of a progressive increase in knowledge, but rather an ensemble of certainties and intertwined symbolic orders. Reality is constituted and shaped with and in them. The module examines orders of knowledge and their historical self-descriptions and interrelationships. It examines processes of knowledge and idea transfer: between different fields of knowledge, between regions and nations in Europe, between European and non-European cultures and between time periods.

Conflicts between and within states and territories are a particular feature of modern Europe. Relations between states, pre-modern states, modern political parties, associations, social and religious movements are usually fraught with conflicts, including those of a military nature. Experiences of violence, also in the context of colonial expansion, continue to characterise controversial cultures of remembrance as well as literary and philosophical reflections to this day. These often conflicting interpretations of reality are also scrutinised with reference to political philosophy, literature and art studies.

The module provides an overview of the economic and social history of Europe in a global context. It also problematises and historicises the prerequisites and maxims of economic activity: scarcity of goods, prioritisation of certain rationalities, etc. Since principles of economic action have always been and still are ideologically imprinted, they are scrutinised here from a cultural studies perspective. Such principles and maxims also harbour conflicts, which in turn are articulated in politics. The resulting tensions and interrelationships are analysed as components of cultural constellations.

Lifeworlds are not experienced directly, but through mediating instances and processes. The module focuses primarily on art and literature as forms of aesthetic world closure in their historical contexts. It also looks at the presuppositions and dispositives that underlie individual works. These works are analysed for transcultural implications from the perspective of history, art and literary studies as well as philosophical aesthetics.

The research module is geared towards students' individual research interests and also serves as preparation for the masters thesis.

In project seminars, the practical module offers the opportunity for professional field-orientated research practice. Cooperation partners for such projects are archives, exhibition organisers, museums, memorial sites, international NGOs, business associations, etc.

Lecturers in the degree programme

To the professors' websites

Study documents

To the documents

Examination board

If you have any questions, please contact the programme coordinator before submitting an application.

Composition of the examination board

In order to have external academic achievements recognised, please complete the application form and send it together with a copy of the transcript of records by e-mail to the chair of the examination board.

After your application has been reviewed, the recognised achievements will be forwarded directly to the Examination Office for entry in viaCampus by the Examination Board.

 

Please note that internships are generally recognised by the Career Center.

For requests that are not listed here and that require authorisation, please submit an informal application to the chair of the examination board. In addition to your request and a justification, please be sure to include your name, matriculation number and semester of study in the application.

Application and enrolment

Professional requirements

The Master's degree programme requires a first professionally qualifying university degree of at least 180 ECTS credits, which includes at least 30 ECTS credits in history (including legal history, literary history, economic history).

Please note: Please submit a transcript of records (confirmed by your university) to assess whether you obtained 30 subject-related ECTS credits.

 

Language requirements

The ability to study in English is a prerequisite for the successful completion of the degree programme and for reading and discussing relevant specialist literature. For this reason, all students are required to have knowledge of English at the level of UNIcert II or B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Applicants whose native language is not German and who have not obtained their university entrance certificate in Germany must submit proof of sufficient knowledge of the German language in accordance with the DSH examination regulations of the Viadrina Language Centre before starting their studies.

Germans and applicants with a German university entrance certificate ("Bildungsinländer*innen") can enrol online from 1 June to 15 September (for the winter semester) or 1 December to 15 March via viaCampus.

Please submit the following documents to the Admissions Office of the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) by 20 September (for the winter semester) or 20 March (for the summer semester):

  • the completed and signed application for enrolment (available after completing your online enrolment on viaCampus),
  • the language certificate in English, level B2 (UniCert II or equivalent),
  • a transcript of records to certify the relevance of the (forthcoming) university degree,
  • an officially certified copy of the university degree or a certificate from your previous examination office that all academic achievements have been submitted (an assessment of all achievements is not necessary for enrolment. In this case, please submit the following form: Bestätigung der erbrachten Bachelorleistungen zur Einschreibung. The Bachelor's certificate must be submitted to the admission's office by the end of the first semester).
  • .
  • a health insurance certificate*,
  • a self-addressed and sufficiently stamped envelope, size DIN A4, for sending your student ID (chip card) and the documents you have submitted,
  • Certificates of study from German universities showing the semesters you have completed to date,
  • a certificate of exmatriculation from your last German university,
  • proof of payment of the semester contribution (e.g. printout of the online transaction),
  • a copy of an identification document showing your full surname, first name, date of birth, address and date of validity. You have the option of blacking out all other details. This copy of the ID card is used exclusively for identification purposes and also protects against identity theft.

* Notes on student health insurance

For enrolment, proof of your insurance status - either legally insured or exempt from the statutory insurance obligation - is required. To do this, contact a statutory health insurance company and either have yourself insured (e.g. student) or exempted so that your insurance status can be reported electronically to the European University Viadrina. The chip card or a paper certificate are not sufficient.

In order to report the insurance status, the health insurance companies may require the sender number of the European University Viadrina: H0001747.

Students,

  • From the age of 30
  • in continuing education programmes
  • who are enrolled for a PhD
  • are enrolled in college

do not receive a student rate. They can voluntarily insure themselves at the regular rate.

These students do not require electronic proof of health insurance.

Please apply online in the period from 1 June to 15 July (for the winter semester) or from 1 December to 15 January (for the summer semester) at: https://viacampus.europa-uni.de/ and send your documents to the European University Viadrina by 15 July (for the winter semester) or 15 January (for the summer semester). Further information can be found at: https://www.europa-uni.de/de/internationales/Students/Incomings/Applying/Master/index.html.

All required documents which are not issued in German or English must also be submitted as a sworn translation in German or English.

Contact us

Prof Dr Klaus Weber

Academic manager of the programme and chair of the examination board

Felix Töppel M.A.

Student advisory service

Do you have questions about studying at Viadrina?