Starting in the winter semester 2023/24, the Faculty of Business & Society will launch a new Bachelor's program model. The model offers first-year students the opportunity to try it out: If they have doubts during the first two semesters as to whether the chosen course of study suits them, they can easily change to another bachelor's course of study at the Faculty of Economics & Society.

In concrete terms, this means that at the beginning of their studies, prospective students enroll in a degree program that they find interesting. The choice is between Management (B. Sc.), Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (B. A.), and the new programs in Economics, Politics, and Law (B. A.), Global Sustainability: Climate, Justice, Transformation (B. A.), and Social Data Science (B. Sc.), which are currently in the accreditation process. Global Sustainability: Climate, Justice, Transformation and Social Data Science are also to be offered entirely in English. This is especially interesting for those who want to study internationally but do not yet want to go abroad for the Bachelor's degree.

Orientation phase: specialization or change?

In the first two semesters - the orientation phase - all students receive a technical and methodological foundation. There are two options for the in-depth phase: Either the chosen course of study proves to be the right one, in which case the path continues there in the specialization. Or the course of study does not meet the student's expectations, in which case the new study model opens up the possibility of changing - without necessarily extending the duration of the course of study. The work completed during the orientation year can be credited toward the rest of the degree program. In the in-depth phase, students benefit from a wide range of elective modules and can thus set individual subject foci.

Broadening horizons: Nano Degrees and Studium fundamentale

In addition to the specialized studies, there are many new and also existing additional offers for professional and personal development: Additional certificates (Witten Nano-Degrees) can be acquired for various cross-curricular specialized topics. By completing certain modules, they give students the opportunity to add an additional thematic focus to their degree. Subject areas are:

• Data Science
• Psychology and systemic coaching
• Global Cooperation/Justice
• Sustainability
• Management and Sustainability
• Family Entrepreneurship
• Law and application of law

The Studium fundamentale trains skills that are essential for a successful career as a competent, responsible and future-oriented specialist and manager.

Why is this study model useful?

The range of courses on offer is huge and, especially without previous study experience, it is not easy to decide on the subject that suits you best. In addition, even with the best information, a promising-sounding course of study may not be the right one in reality. If the course is not right for you, you either have to grit your teeth and stick it out or start from scratch with a new subject. This costs too much time and nerves. This is where the Bachelor's degree model in Business & Society comes in and enables first-year students to switch flexibly and without loss.

More information are available on the Witten/Herdecke University website before the Christmas break.