In order to give our students from the very start the chance of gaining a concrete insight into possible professional spheres, we have developed various options for doing practical work.
A certain degree of open-mindedness towards very different professional areas and enterprises is a specific characteristic of a degree in social sciences. Typical areas are found in planning, organising and implementing projects, linking up institutions and organising co-operational ventures, where appropriate right across Germany, Europe or worldwide.
We give you support in your first two years of study when you wish to gain your first work-based experiences, either alongside your studies or spaced out over a period of time. A range of employers and assignments are available for these purposes. Here is a list giving examples of some of those where our students are already working in this period of their studies or those with whom we are at this moment working in order to create placements:
- Chamber of Trade and Commerce in Wiesbaden / Welcoming Guide
- Johannes Foundation of the Diocese of Mainz
- Rheinland-Pfalz Ministry for Families, Women, Young People, Integration and Consumer Protection / Department for Refugee Policy, Migrant Reception, Return
- Voluntary Coordination of Catholic Welfare Organization (Caritas) in Mainz
- Intercultural Centre for Education and Encounters in Oberstadt
- Juvente Foundation
- German Red Cross
- Regional Centre for Political Education
- Social Service of Catholic Women
- Psycho-Social Centre for Fleeing and Trauma in Mainz
- Environmental Project Saarland
- Conference Organizing
- German Football Association in Frankfurt
- Mainz 05 Football Club
- Second German Television Channel
- Political Parties
- Clubs
In year 3 of the course, which you spend abroad, you have the possibility of doing a 6 month work placement.
In the fourth and final year of studies a project in conjunction with a vocationally relevant organisation is planned.
The ideal process looks like this:
- When you arrive here you already have some initial experience of doing voluntary work.
- During the first semester you get settled at university.
- From the second and third semester onwards you decide where you wish to spend your first work placement in the region
⇒ either in parallel to your studies 1-2 half days per week
⇒ or in one block when no lectures take place - A single work placement during the vacation anywhere in Germany, where possible before the year abroad in the third year of the degree. You can stay in one place or try out different types of work!
- Year abroad: should you opt for a combination of one semester studying and one semester doing practical training: a practical semester gaining work experience anywhere in the world.
- In year 4 you should work in conjunction with a suitable organisation on a concrete project; the final piece of written work could reflect on the combining of theory and praxis.