Degree
Master of Arts
Semester fee
71
Euro
Start of the program
Winter semester
Standard length of the program
4
Semester
Place of study
Eichstätt
Part-time studies possible
No
"Aisthesis", the Greek word for "perception", is the keyword for the 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 Master’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 listed subjects in the Master’s program qualifies for a profession in the field. In addition, it also enables students to subsequently pursue a doctoral program.
The specialized studies are supplemented by interdisciplinary basic courses in which lecturers of the participating subjects teach their methods of cultural scientific analysis by using application-oriented examples on a professional level. Furthermore, two lecturers from different disciplines jointly approach interdisciplinary issues in transdisciplinary seminars. 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 Master’s degree program worth 25 ECTS credits.
Subject 1
One of the following subjects is chosen as a major and is worth 30 ECTS credits:
- English and American Studies
- Early German Literature
- Modern German Literature
- German Linguistics
- European Ethnology
- History
- Classical Archaeology
- Art History and Visual Culture
- Latin Studies
- Romance Studies (French Studies, Italian Studies, Spanish Studies)
- Sociology
- Art Education
- Philosophy
- Political Science
Subject 2
One of the following subjects must be chosen as a minor subject. It must be different from subject 1 and is worth 25 ECTS credits:
- English and American Studies
- Early German Literature
- Modern German Literature
- German Linguistics
- European Ethnology
- History
- Classical Archaeology
- Art History and Visual Culture
- Latin Studies
- Romance Studies (French Studies, Italian Studies, Spanish Studies)
- Sociology
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
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.
Studying abroad
In the framework of a 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 program structure of the Interdisciplinary Master’s program enables all students to complete an internship.
Career possibilities and professional fields
Career prospects
The graduates have various career options depending on their individually chosen subject specializations. The study variant Aisthesis.Culture and Media imparts additional qualifications. Already at an early stage of their studies, students are also made familiar 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 journalism. For research-intensive positions, the doctoral program, which is also offered at the KU, is often required.
Alumni testimonials
“I started my studies at the KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt in 2013 with the flexible Bachelor’s degree program in “Culture and Media”. Subsequently, I added postgraduate studies from 2016 to early 2020 with the Master’s program in “Aisthesis.Culture and Media” with Art History as a major and Modern German Literature as a…
“I started my studies at the KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt in 2013 with the flexible Bachelor’s degree program in “Culture and Media”. Subsequently, I added postgraduate studies from 2016 to early 2020 with the Master’s program in “Aisthesis.Culture and Media” with Art History as a major and Modern German Literature as a minor subject. Now, I am a doctoral candidate and work as a lecturer at the Chair of Art History.
The special features of the study variant "Aisthesis", which I was very enthusiastic about during my studies, are the interdisciplinary section and the transdisciplinary studies connected to it on the one hand, and the interdisciplinary deepening of cultural and media studies perspectives on the other hand. Thanks to this concept, I did not have to limit myself to my major subject when deepening my focus. Instead, the networking with various disciplines such as Philosophy, Literature or History gave me the opportunity to explore topics beyond the boundaries of my major subject. This dialogical concept was deepened by a practical reference: for example, in 2017 I took part in a very interesting field trip to Venice for the Biennale and to Kassel for the Documenta, in which these international exhibitions were examined from a sociological and an art-historical perspective.
In addition to the option of spending a semester abroad, you also have the opportunity to complete internships. I did a three-month internship at the Kunsthalle and the Museum Würth. The department I worked for is responsible for various events in the cultural and public sector, such as multi-faceted art education and the media presence of the art houses and branches. In the course of this internship, I was able to gain insights into various areas of work, gain experience in the preparation, conceptualization and hanging of an exhibition, and familiarize myself with the extensive collection through research work.
My Master's thesis on the reception of the biblical myth of Eve in recent art and exhibition history, which I completed in 2019 in my major subject of Art History, was also based on an interdisciplinary approach: For example, I established references to literary studies and placed my topic in a cultural and media studies context. My current research focus is on "New visual media, digital image cultures, global pictorial signs - art history and visual culture.”
What students say about the program
"What I particularly like about my Master’s program in 'Aisthesis.Culture and Media', in addition to the contents covered, is that you can choose from such a wide range of subjects for your major and minor subjects. This allows me to tailor the program to my specific interests. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary…
"What I particularly like about my Master’s program in 'Aisthesis.Culture and Media', in addition to the contents covered, is that you can choose from such a wide range of subjects for your major and minor subjects. This allows me to tailor the program to my specific interests. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary approach of the degree program offers an additional opportunity to deal with a topic from several perspectives. 'Aisthesis. Culture and Media' is therefore not the same for everyone, but the study profile is what you make of it.”
The KU
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.
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
![[Translate to Englisch:] Biergarten](/fileadmin/22/Studiengaenge/Bilder_fuer_Studiengangwebseiten/Biergarten.jpg)
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.
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
Coordinator Welcome Services and International Campus
Building
Domplatz 8
|
Room: DP8-203 | Campus Eichstätt
Subject Advisor
Prof. Dr.
Michael F.
Zimmermann
Chair of Art History
Building
Universitätsallee/Zentralbibliothek
|
Room: UA-137
Application
Requirements
Bachelor
Details: see examination regulations
Details: see examination regulations
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.
Links
scroll upReport on transdisciplinary field trip to Venice Art Biennale 2019
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