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Welcome to the Institute of Sociology (IfS) at the University of Münster

Understanding society, analyzing change, and exploring social relationships - that is what sociology at the IfS is all about. We combine theoretically grounded empirical research, innovative teaching, and comprehensive training in research methods. In doing so, we equip students with the skills to examine social processes from a scientific perspective and to reflect on them critically. On these pages, you will find information about our degree programs, our research focuses, and the people at the institute.

Job Posting: Two Research Assistants for the “Conflict, Religion, Institution” Project

The Institute for Multidisciplinary Religious Studies (ImRe) e. V. is continuing to expand its academic and organizational activities. In this context, the Institute of Sociology is advertising two positions as Research Associate (E 13 TV-L) in the externally funded project “Conflict, Religion, Institution,” to be filled as soon as possible:

Further information on the responsibilities, requirements, and application process can be found in the complete job postings.

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Institute’s Colloquium December 2026

On Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (sharp) in room 555, Prof. Dr. Tina Nobis (Wuppertal) will speak on “Racism in (Elite) Sports: Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Findings.” Commentator: Prof. Dr. Maike Tietjens (Münster).

Racism can be understood as a system established over centuries and still powerful today, within which we—as historically constituted subjects—have been socialized, and which permeates all areas of our society (Castro Varela, 2017; Kelly, 2021). Building on this, the presentation examines how racism is present in various arenas of sports. Among other topics, and based on qualitative interviews, the presentation will address how racism is experienced by BIPoC in club sports and elite sports. While the findings show that racism in sports is a painful and profound everyday experience for BIPoC, manifesting in multifaceted forms, the empirically grounded examination of the meso-level—within which this experience is embedded—reveals that these very racist realities are rarely recognized or acknowledged as such. Based on these observations, the paper asks to what extent we, as researchers and educators, are ourselves entangled in the perpetuation of these racist realities, and how anti-racist discourse can be established at universities.
 

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Institute’s Colloquium November 2026

On Tuesday, November 24, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (sharp), Dr. Nikolitsa Grigoropoulou (Bremen) will give a presentation in room 555 as part of the institute’s colloquium on the topic: “The Multifaceted Effects of Discrimination on People’s Lives: Findings from 23 Cultural Contexts.”

The study presented at the colloquium is based on longitudinal data from waves 1–3 of the ‘Global Flourishing Study’ (N = 207,919), which covers 23 different cultural contexts. We examine whether perceived discrimination is associated with subsequent outcomes across 56 indicators of psychological, social, financial, physical, and other domains of life. Random effects meta-analyses were used to pool estimates across countries. The results reveal that frequent perceived discrimination is consistently linked to lower material security, less satisfying relationships, less social support, a weaker sense of belonging to their country, lower satisfaction with their city or place of residence, less freedom to pursue what’s important, alongside increased loneliness and higher risk of traumatic distress, depression, anxiety, suffering, and health problems in the following years. Significant cross-national variation exists, suggesting that the consequences of perceived discrimination are not uniform.
 

Institute Colloquium in Winter 2026/27

This semester, we have four exciting presentations in our institute colloquium, to which we cordially invite all students, institute members, and anyone else interested: 

Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 6:00–8:00 p.m. (c.t.):
Dr. Nikolitsa Grigoropoulou (Bremen): The Many Ways Discrimination Marks People's Lives: Evidence from 23 Cultural Contexts

Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 6:00–8:00 p.m. (c.t.): 
Prof. Dr. Tina Nobis (Wuppertal): Racism in (Elite) Sports: Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Findings.
With a commentary by Prof. Dr. Maike Tietjens (Münster)

Tuesday, January 26, 2027, 6:00–8:00 p.m. (c.t.):
Prof. Dr. Katrin Hahn-Laudenberg (Münster): Controversial Topics in the Classroom: Students’ Perceptions and Teachers’ Beliefs in an International Comparison 

Tuesday, February 2, 2027, 6:00–8:00 p.m. (c.t.):
Prof. Dr. Isabel Raabe (Münster): Deviant Behavior and Social Status: Dynamics of Resistance Behavior in Classrooms

The lectures will take place at the Institute of Sociology in Room 555. 



 

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New Assistant Professorship at the IfS: Prof. Dr. Isabel Raabe

On October 1, 2026, Prof. Dr. Isabel Raabe assumed the newly established assistant professorship in Socialization, Education, and Social Sustainability at the IfS. This professorship will further strengthen research and teaching at the institute on issues at the intersection of socialization, educational processes, and social sustainability.

In the 2026–27 winter semester, Prof. Dr. Raabe will offer two courses: For the master’s programs, she will teach an introduction to network analysis. In the bachelor’s program, she will lead a seminar on family sociology.

We look forward to working with her and wish her a successful start at the IfS!

What’s new at the Institute? New mailing list at the Institute of Sociology!

The Institute of Sociology has set up a new mailing list. Anyone interested is invited to subscribe: students, members of the Institute, as well as alumni and prospective students. The mailing list is intended for sending messages that are of interest to members and students of the Institute of Sociology. These include, for example, announcements about events, workshops, job postings, etc.
You can subscribe to the mailing list here.

Welcome for First-Year Students

New to the University of Münster and just starting your sociology program?

Starting college brings many new experiences—and especially at the beginning, it’s not always easy to find your way around the department. That’s why the Department of Sociology is hosting a welcome event for first-semester students on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The event offers the opportunity to make initial connections, get to know new fellow students, and start your sociology studies together. In addition, the department’s chairs and units will introduce themselves and provide an initial overview of important points of contact.
The welcome event for first-semester students will take place in the courtyard of the IfS. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Lecture Hall SCH 121.5.

Here’s what to expect:
•    Welcome to the Institute – Greeting from the Executive Board
•    Who does what? – Introduction to the departments
•    Good to know – Introduction to the Erasmus and Student Office, the SoPoPool, and the BEMA
•    Getting to Know Each Other & Networking – Time for initial conversations over drinks, music, and snacks
•    Getting Settled In Together – Small group activities to spark conversations and make initial connections

We look forward to a wonderful evening!
 

Results of the Seminar Seat Allocation

The results of the seminar placement process for the upcoming semester are now available online!

The seminar placement process was conducted exclusively for the seminars listed here. No placement process was required for any other courses; in other words, your spot is guaranteed if you have already registered via the HIS/LSF portal. Additional registrations for remaining spots in seminars are still possible through the HIS/LSF portal until September 27, 2026.

If you have any questions or need clarification, the Service Office will be happy to assist you.

Dates for make-up exams and registration procedures

Registration procedure: Register for the retake exam via the service office (ifs.beratung@uni-muenster.de) by September 21, 2026 (strict deadline), providing your student ID number and the specific lecture title.

1st Session: September 24, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Room SCH 121.554
"Growing Up": Participation and Inequality in Socialization Processes, Dr. Eisewicht
Family, School, Youth – Socialization in Childhood and Adolescence, Dr. Heimken
"Contingencies": Introduction to Sociological Theory, Prof. Dr. Renn

2nd Session: September 29, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Room SCH 121.554
Social Structure and Culture in the Transformed World of Work, Prof. Dr. Ernst
Statistics II, Prof. Dr. Legewie
Social Structure, Culture, and Social Practice, Prof. Dr. Tezcan

IfS Summer Party on July 8

As we do every year, we cordially invite everyone to our summer party on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM!

Weather permitting, we will meet in the institute's inner courtyard. We will provide a ready-to-use grill, basic sides (baguette, ketchup, etc.), and an initial selection of drinks. You are welcome to contribute to our potluck buffet: whether it’s a salad, cake, dip, spread, or something else entirely—any contribution is warmly welcomed and adds variety to the celebration. What to bring: Please remember to bring your own food for the grill.

We look forward to a relaxed evening with you!

Information Sessions on “Antinomies of Social Dynamics” (M.A. in Sociology)

On July 1, 2026, at 12:15 p.m., you can learn more about our Master’s program in Sociology, “Antinomies of Social Dynamics,” at an online information session via Zoom:
https://uni-ms.zoom-x.de/j/99497851566
Meeting ID: 994 9785 1566
Passcode: 656300

On July 2, 2026, at 12:15 p.m., another in-person information session on this master’s program will take place (location: Conference Room 553a at the Institute of Sociology).

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Information and Discussion Session on Sociology Theses

On Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m., we invite you to an information and discussion session on sociology theses in Room 555. The event will address frequently asked questions about sociology theses and provide an opportunity to talk with faculty members. It is primarily aimed at students in their advanced semesters, but students in the middle and early stages of their studies are also welcome.
Dr. Lena Dreier, Tassilo Rinecker, M.A., Prof. Dr. Levent Tezcan, and Dr. Björn Wendt

New Services Related to Sociology Theses

Starting this semester, the IfS is offering advising for thesis projects and has compiled a range of information and tips for writing a sociology thesis. Office hours are held every Thursday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Room 546a during the lecture period. Individual appointments can also be arranged upon request both during and outside the lecture period. 

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Summer Debate: The Rise of the Far Right

The summer debate will take place at the Institute on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The event will be hosted by:
Prof. Dr. Nihad El-Kayed
Dr. Nagehan Tokdogan
Axel Pfleger
Tassilo Rinecker

The event begins at 4:00 p.m. in Lecture Hall 121.5.

New Erasmus Partnership with the Universitat de València

Starting in the winter semester 2027/28, a new Erasmus partnership has been established for undergraduate students with the Universitat de València. As one of the oldest and largest universities in Spain, it is also among the most active European institutions in international exchange programmes. The Sociology degree programme is broadly structured and practice-oriented, combining sociological theory with empirical social research, social policy, and various fields of application.

The Erasmus application deadline of the Institute of Sociology (IfS) for the winter semester 2027/28 and the summer semester 2028 is 31 January 2027.

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Institute Colloquium, July 2026

What is the connection between right-wing extremism and poor infrastructure? Dr. Katja Salomo will present her research at the institute’s colloquium on July 1, 2026 (2:00 p.m. sharp; Room 554), in which she examines how infrastructure, gender, and right-wing extremism are interrelated in different regions of eastern and western Germany.
 

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Institute Colloquium June 2026

Any definition of the concrete is always incomplete, insofar as only society as a whole—as something unattainable—could provide the horizon for a complete definition. Any sociological selectivity can therefore never be justified (solely) by the thing itself, because there is no essence of the individual phenomenon and because there is no “essence” of society. Only the premise of a constitution of the particular that operates negatively through differentiation is therefore still compatible with a “contemporary,” namely anti-essentialist, conception of empirical social analysis. Social theory is consequently justified and realized empirically, but only as a negative monadology.

Prof. Dr. Joachim Renn will give a presentation as part of the Institute Colloquium on June 3 at 2:00 p.m. in Room 554.

Information Sessions on “Diversity and Social Inequality (M.A.)”


The new master’s program “Diversity and Social Inequality” launched at the Institute of Sociology at the University of Münster in the 2025/26 winter semester. With its clear practical focus on addressing diversity in organizations, the program approaches the currently highly controversial topic of diversity from a scientific and empirical perspective. Graduates of the program will be able to supplement normative-political discourses on diversity with empirical findings and to evaluate and support existing and planned measures aimed at strengthening diversity in organizations.

On May 4, 2026, at 12:15 p.m., you can learn more about the program at an online information session via Zoom:
https://wwu.zoom.us/j/68982272288?pwd=UldNcU92SEc2T1hxUG01VHZyN1A5dz09
Meeting ID: 689 8227 2288
Passcode: 567602

On May 6, 2026, at 12:15 p.m., another in-person information session will take place (location: Conference Room 553a at the Institute of Sociology).

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Institute Colloquium May 5, 2026

New Institute Colloquium on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in Room 555 of the IfS!
Our guest speaker is Prof. Dr. Martin Kroh from Bielefeld University, who will speak on the topic “Family Norms and Collective Orientations.”

In public debates, families are often regarded as the foundation of social cohesion. However, various theoretical approaches and empirical findings suggest that a strong family orientation may go hand in hand with weaker collective orientations. Based on data from the World Values Survey covering 116 countries between 1981 and 2023, this paper examines how strong family orientation affects collective orientations under different contextual conditions.

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IfS mailbox

Please drop off your term papers, essays, and other written assignments in the central mailbox at the main entrance of the institute. This mailbox is emptied daily, and all mail is stamped with a date stamp and forwarded to the addressees.

 

Updated explanation for homework assignments

The “Declaration on Independent Writing of Term Papers” has been updated. Please include the new text with your term papers and assignments: See here.

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Farewell lecture Matthias Grundmann

On January 28, Prof. Dr. Matthias Grundmann retired after 25 years at the Institute of Sociology.

Anyone who missed the lecture on “Socialization and the Quadrature of Social Circles” or would like to hear it again can access it as an e-lecture.

New professor for migration, diversity, and social cohesion

The Institute of Sociology is delighted to welcome Prof. Dr. Nihad El-Kayed, who took up her position as Professor of Migration, Diversity, and Social Cohesion on January 1, 2026. In January, she will already be offering a block seminar entitled “Social Structures, Hierarchies, and Inequalities – Theoretical and Empirical Approaches.” Registration and further information are available directly from Prof. Dr. Nihad El-Kayed.

New Erasmus partnership with Ankara University

Starting in the winter semester 2026/27, there will be a new Erasmus partnership between the IfS and Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi. The Middle East Technical University in Ankara is one of the most renowned and largest universities in Turkey. The language of instruction is English.

Information about studying at ODTÜ can be found here. Information about the Department of Sociology can be found here.

The application deadline is January 31, 2026. All questions can be answered by the Erasmus Advisory Service.

Career Advice

New at the institute of sociology:

Sociology students can take advantage of career advice in the institute of sociology from the Employment Agency Münster-Ahlen.
Further information can be found here.

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Welcome-Event for First-Semester Students 2025

New at the University of Münster? Just started studying Sociology? Especially in the beginning, it can be quite challenging to find your way around a new institute. To make your start a little easier, we would like to warmly welcome all new students on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.!

Join us for the First-Semester Welcome Event in the courtyard (in case of bad weather: SCH 121.5) and get to know the lecturers, the SoPoPool, BEMA, and the student office.

Planned schedule:
1) Welcome by the Managing Director
2) Introduction of the departments
3) Presentation of BEMA, SoPoPool, the erasmus office, and the student office
4) Informal part with drinks, music, and snacks

From the winter semester 2026/27, there will be a new Erasmus partnership between the IfS and the Uniwersytet Gdański in Poland.

The Institute of Sociology in Gdańsk is one of the most renowned sociological institutions in Poland and offers a wide range of courses in Polish and English (especially in the field of social sciences).

The application deadline is January 31, 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact the Erasmus Advisory Service at IfS Münster.

| New Chair | Methods

Prof. Dr. Nicolas Legewie returns to the Institute

On June 1, 2025, Prof. Dr. Nicolas Legewie will take over the professorship for Methods of Empirical Social Research at the Institute of Sociology at the University of Münster. He has already stood in for the professorship in the winter semester 2023/24 and in the summer semester 2024 and can now be reached again at his previous e-mail address (nlegewie@uni-muenster.de).

We are delighted to welcome him back and look forward to working with him in the future!

Regulation on dealing with suppressed numbers

For the protection of the employees, FB06 does not accept calls with a suppressed phone number. If it is not possible for you to transmit your number for technical reasons, please contact the person you wish to speak to in advance by e-mail.