Aisthesis.Culture and Media

Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Semester fee
71 Euro
Start of the program
Winter semester
Standard length of the program
6 Semester
Place of study
Eichstätt
Part-time studies possible
No

"Aisthesis", the Greek word for "perception", is the keyword for an interdisciplinary study of historical and contemporary media cultures. What image do literature, arts and the media paint of the world and reality? The concept of Aisthesis.Culture and Media stands for interdisciplinarity, internationality, theory as well as for practical relevance and learning in dialogue. Lecturers from different subjects offer students a curriculum that combines academic studies with interdisciplinary work in the field of cultural and media studies.

The program in detail

Contents

Aisthesis.Culture and media is a variant of the Interdisciplinary Bachelor’s program. You choose two subjects from the field of cultural and media studies and complete a profound, professionally qualifying course of study in these subjects. The following subjects can be chosen freely: Art History and Visual Culture, Classical Archaeology, Literary Studies such as Classical Philology, English Studies, American Studies, German Studies and Romance Studies, Sociology with a focus on Media and Cultural Sociology, History and European Ethnology. You can also choose one subject each from the group of Political Science, Art Education, Musicology, Music Education and Music Didactics, and Philosophy. Studying two of the above-mentioned subjects provides a basic qualification for the Bachelor's degree.

The specialized studies are supplemented by interdisciplinary basic courses in which lecturers of the participating subjects teach their methods of cultural scientific analysis in a coordinated curriculum. In addition, transdisciplinary seminars are held in which two lecturers from different subjects work together to approach overarching issues. A special benefit of the program is the possibility to also attend courses in Journalism and Communication Studies.

Structure

Aisthesis.Culture and Media

as a variant in the Interdisciplinary Bachelor’s program worth 30 ECTS credits.

Subject 1

The major subject is taken in the scope of 60 ECTS credits and can be chosen from the following range of subjects:

  • English and American Studies (*)
  • European Ethnology
  • German Studies (or one of its sub-disciplines)
  • History (or one of its sub-disciplines)
  • Classical Archaeology
  • Art History and Visual Culture
  • Latin Studies
  • Romance Studies (French Studies, Italian Studies, Spanish Studies)
  • Sociology
  • Art Education (*)
  • Musicology
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science

(*) = aptitude test required

Subject 2

One of the following subjects must be chosen as a minor subject. It must be different from subject 1 and is worth 60 ECTS credits:

  • English and American Studies (*)
  • European Ethnology
  • German Studies (or one of its sub-disciplines)
  • History (or one of its sub-disciplines)
  • Classical Archaeology
  • Art History and Visual Culture
  • Latin Studies
  • Romance Studies (French Studies, Italian Studies, Spanish Studies)
  • Sociology

(*) = aptitude test required

Facilities

In addition to an excellently equipped library and modern seminar rooms, the degree program in Aisthesis.Culture and Media also offers interdisciplinary field trips.

Rankings and assessments

StudyCheck2024

KU students and alumni have voted for their University to be Germany's most popular university in the 2024 ranking of the online portal StudyCheck. This is the third time in a row, as KU was also voted the most popular university in 2021 and 2022. The ranking was based on over 78,000 evaluations for more than 500 higher education institutions and universities. 97 percent of students questioned for the ranking would recommend studying at the KU to others. 

"There is no better praise for a university than almost 100 percent of students and alumni agreeing: I can only recommend studying at the KU! That is why we are very pleased with the ranking’s outcome, because it expresses the high level of satisfaction of our students," says KU President Prof. Dr. Gabriele Gien.

More ranking results

Studying abroad

In the framework of an optional study-abroad period, which is well prepared and supervised within existing networks, you can gain international experience and build up your own networks. We would particularly like to mention the International Network for Art History, based in Paris, in which committed colleagues from universities in Geneva, Florence, Montreal, Los Angeles and Tokyo, but also from renowned educational institutions such as the École Normale Supérieure in Paris or the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa are continuously involved [Link: http://proartibus.org]; in the other participating subjects, equally attractive networks are maintained (please see the websites of the respective subjects).

Practical connection

Within the framework of a field trip module, you can participate in observations of historical or social situations or original works of all areas of cultural studies, in visits to institutions and in field research, in which two subjects are combined in each case. Visits to squares and monuments, churches, castles and museums can be supplemented by visits to theaters and libraries, houses of literature and newspaper editorial offices or media institutions, including centers of social, political and cultural life or commitment.

The required internship prepares students for possible professional fields and can also be completed abroad.

Report on transdisciplinary field trip to Venice Art Biennale 2019

Kunstgeschichte_Videoausschnitt_Venedig_Exkursion

Please note: By clicking on the image area, you give your consent for video content to be reloaded from YouTube, for YouTube/Google cookies to be stored on your IT system and for personal data such as your IP address to be passed on to Google. If you click on another video after having finished watching the video content, YouTube will open in a new tab of your browser and will collect more data from you. Further information is provided in our data protection notice and under Google Privacy.

Career possibilities and professional fields

Career prospects

Possible future career options depend on the two chosen subject specializations. The study variant Aisthesis.Culture and Media imparts additional qualifications. Already at an early stage of their studies, students are also familiarized with how other disciplines approach cultural and media subjects of investigation. By being introduced to and learning about the issues and methods of cultural, social and historical studies as a whole, they are qualified for work in interdisciplinary teams and networks. This can also increase their chances on the job market.

In a reality shaped by the internet and social media, subjects in the cultural sciences and the humanities are particularly successful – as are their graduates – if they address cultural and media processes in a scientifically substantiated and interdisciplinary networked manner. The professional fields for graduates of the study profile Aisthesis.Culture and Media range from employment at universities, research institutions and museums, cultural offices and exhibition houses to the wider field of public relations and specialized journalism. For research-intensive positions, the doctoral program, which is also offered at the KU, is often required.

Alumni testimonials

Michelle_Sturm_Mueller

"After I finished school with my Abitur in 2013, I wanted to find a degree program that was tailored to my interests in art history and literary studies – and after a short search, I came across the Bachelor’s program in Culture and Media at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, which is now called…

"After I finished school with my Abitur in 2013, I wanted to find a degree program that was tailored to my interests in art history and literary studies – and after a short search, I came across the Bachelor’s program in Culture and Media at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, which is now called Aisthesis.Culture and Media. The interdisciplinary course of studies gave me the opportunity to choose my main focus from a broad range of subjects and to then shape my profile area individually. I particularly liked the interdisciplinary networking of different sub-disciplines; I gained a diverse insight into the various subjects and was able to combine perspectives from art history, literature and journalism.

In the course of my Bachelor’s studies, I increasingly focused on Art History within the offered range of possibilities and at the same time on the medial and cultural coverage of this subject in current research discourses.

What I liked best about studying Art History, apart from the excellent personal supervision, was the practical relevance that was guaranteed by various field trips and museum visits: for example, during my studies I took part in one field trip to Rome and one to London. Furthermore, different courses organized interesting museum visits to the surrounding area on a regular basis, for example to Munich or Nuremberg.

In addition to the option of spending a semester abroad, students have the possibility to complete various internships. For example, I did a three-month internship at the art collections and museums in Augsburg, which gave me valuable insights into the research work of the museums, and tasks such as writing contributions to catalogs and designing and hanging an exhibition.

Because I liked the study profile and the professional supervision at the KU Eichstätt so much, I decided to apply for the Master’s program Aisthesis.Culture and Media based on my profile while I was still writing my Bachelor's thesis in 2016. I completed the Master’s program in early 2020. Since then, I have been working as a lecturer for the Chair of Art History and am currently concentrating on the subject area "New visual media, digital image cultures, global pictorial signs – art history and visual culture".

- Michelle Sturm-Müller(lecturer and doctoral candidate in Art History, former student of the Aisthesis.Culture and Media program variant)

What students say about the program

Foto Baaske Lea

"What I particularly like about the study variant Aisthesis.Culture and Media is the discourse between the subjects involved in the variant. In the interdisciplinary courses, I can exchange ideas with students and lecturers from other subjects and contribute my own expertise. This allows us to gain an insight into other…

"What I particularly like about the study variant Aisthesis.Culture and Media is the discourse between the subjects involved in the variant. In the interdisciplinary courses, I can exchange ideas with students and lecturers from other subjects and contribute my own expertise. This allows us to gain an insight into other interesting subjects without neglecting the own chosen major and minor subjects."

- Lea Baaske(student (English Studies/Art History))

The KU

Sommerresidenz Luftbild

Campus

Short distances on campus at the KU save time and avoid stress. The KU is a campus University with modern facilities. The buildings on campus are located close to the Eichstätt old town. Although the University and its campus has grown, it is still characterized by short distances: In Eichstätt, everything can be reached within ten minutes’ walking distance. On campus, green spaces such as the Hofgarten are the perfect places to relax. The garden of the Kapuzinerkloster is also used by different student initiatives for their projects. The canteen is located at the heart of the Eichstätt campus and has a sun deck and cafeteria that leave nothing to be desired.

Studierende vor der Zentralbibliothek

What sets the KU apart

Studying at the KU is more than just acquiring specialist knowledge. We broaden our horizons together and take on responsibility in and beyond the individual degree programs. The KU has a particular focus on topics such as personal development, sustainability, social skills and social commitment.

It offers its students the possibility to study and work in a welcoming atmosphere and benefit from outstanding support and comprehensive service offers, a well-stocked library, a broad range of sports and leisure activities and a large global network of approx. 300 partner universities. Our team at the International Office helps you to plan your semester abroad and the KU Career Service provides comprehensive advice and support for embarking on your professional career.

Do I have to be Catholic in order to study at the KU? Do I have to deal with Catholic contents during my studies?

No, the KU is open to students of all faiths and beliefs.

At the KU, just as at all state universities, there is freedom of research and teaching. This means that our degree programs focus on the subjects for which you have enrolled – free from external influences.

As a student at our University, you will notice what our understanding of being a Catholic University means for us in one thing in particular: The University’s focus is on the individual person. The talents and potential of all those who teach, study, work and carry out research at the KU form our most important foundation – regardless of their religion or beliefs, nationality, ethical, cultural or social background, disabilities, gender, sexual orientation or age.

This is why we promote your best possible academic education through personal support and an ideal staff-to-student ratio. At the same time, the KU is more than just a place for earning your degree: We attach particular importance to imparting social skills and advancing our students’ sense and value orientation in addition to providing them with a high level of academic and methodical qualification.

Our aspiration for our University is to build bridges between science and society and to make knowledge available for society as well as to integrate impulses from outside the University into our research and teaching practice. We aim to make a valuable contribution to social coexistence, to the free democratic basic order and to preserving creation. 

Isn’t Eichstätt quite small for a university town?

With a population of around 15,000, it is probably the smallest university town in Europe. For our students, this means living and learning in a friendly and informal atmosphere. Whether it is on the way to a lecture in the morning, at the canteen for lunch or in the pub in the evening, you will often come across people you know. It is easy to meet people in Eichstätt! By the way, the KU’s “living room” is the Theke, a bar run by students for students. Here, people meet for parties, jam sessions, karaoke evenings or a cozy round of table football.

A small town also means short distances: The library, the swimming pool, the cinema or the supermarket – everything can be reached in a few minutes on foot or by bike. The town is located right in the heart of the Altmühltal natural park – a real paradise for climbers, canoeists, hikers and cyclists just around the corner.

Should you still reach a point when you feel too cooped in, you can breathe big city air easily near Eichstätt. Ingolstadt with its 135,000 inhabitants is only a few kilometers away and offers a variety of shopping and nightlife options.

The location

Ortsschild Eichstätt
University town of Eichstätt
Willibaldsburg
Willibaldsburg
Bootsfahrer auf der Altmühl
Canoeing on the Altmühl river
[Translate to Englisch:] Biergarten
Relaxing and celebrating in beer gardens

Eichstätt and the surrounding Altmühltal natural park are not only a popular destination for culture enthusiasts and nature lovers, but also for cyclists, climbers, canoeists and fossil collectors. Located between Munich and Nuremberg, the city impresses with its Baroque setting and southern flair combined with modern and prizewinning architecture as well as a broad variety of cultural offerings and leisure activities. 

The Baroque park at the heart of the campus and the nearby banks of the Altmühltal river are the KU’s “green living room”. Another big advantage: all University facilities are just a short walk away from each other.

More on the study location Eichstätt

Advisory Service

Some offers and study conditions are different for international students – our International Office is happy to provide help and support. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our team. We are happy to accompany you on your way to the KU and hope that we can welcome you in person soon!

David Guevara
David Guevara
Coordinator Welcome Services and International Campus
Building Domplatz 8  |  Room: DP8-203 | Campus Eichstätt

Subject Advisor

Michael F. Zimmermann
Prof. Dr. Michael F. Zimmermann
Chair of Art History

Application

Requirements
General university entrance qualification (Allgemeine Hochschulreife)
Language requirements
DSH 2
Application period winter
May 01 - Jul 15
Admission restriction
No
Selection procedure
No

The application process for international applicants is now completely digital. You can register online in our application portal and carry out and submit your application. After you have carried out the application and uploaded your documents, you do not need to send your documents to us again by post. You do have to submit certified true copies only if you are admitted at the time of enrollment.

Depending on the course of study, you may be asked for information on internships, professional experience, etc. Please upload the relevant documents in the upload area for all the information you provide, even if these are not mandatory fields!

Before you start the application process, please read the additional information on this page, in particular the information on the respective (German) language requirements and university entrance qualifications.