Master's in Social Sustainability and Demographic Change - Desirable knowledge and skills

Basic knowledge in the following areas is recommended for the course:

Social policy

• Basic knowledge of the German social system (social insurance, welfare and pension systems) and types of welfare state
• Overview of the main lines of current social policy of the major parties
• Insights into the crisis discourse on the German welfare state

Psychology

• Basic knowledge of the motivational factors influencing human behavior
• Insight into basic strategies for changing everyday behavior

Social gerontology

• Basic knowledge of biological age(ing)
• Basic knowledge of psychological aspects of age(ing)
• Insight into social design tasks in the context of social and demographic change

Sociology

• Knowledge of central basic concepts (e.g. social inequality, socialization, organization, subject, power and domination, culture)
• Basic knowledge of social structures, developments, social theories and diagnoses (e.g. social change, modernization, social transformation)
• Basic knowledge of theory and empiricism with regard to special application contexts (e.g. social structure analysis, life situations and phases of life, migration and integration, social space, education and work)

Philosophy

• Basic knowledge of positions in ethics and natural ethics (e.g. ethics of duty, utilitarianism, virtue ethics)
• Basic knowledge of political philosophy (e.g. distributive justice, global justice)
• Insights into epistemology and phenomenology

Demography

• Basic knowledge of demographic change
• Methods of social research
• Basic knowledge of survey methods (e.g. observation, interview, questionnaire) and their consolidation
• Basic knowledge of evaluation methods (e.g. descriptive statistics, content analysis) and research design (e.g. experimental designs, individual case analysis) and in-depth knowledge of these methods

A certain basis of key competencies such as communication and social skills in the various areas is important and expected.

Social competence

• Strategic and socio-educational skills
• Ability to work in a team
• Ability to empathize
• Professional ethical competence

Communication skills

• Discourse and discussion skills
• Conversation skills
• Group moderation

Self-competence

• Self-motivation
• Willingness to perform
• Willingness to take responsibility
• time management
• Stress resistance
• Stamina
• Ability to self-reflect

Methodological competence

• Networked thinking
• Case management
• Counseling skills
• Social group work
• Concept development
• Organizational and coordination skills