Department of Political Science and Social Science Education
At the University of Education Karlsruhe, the Department of Political Science and Social Science Education serves as a leading center for the advancement of civic education and teaching methodology in Baden-Württemberg and throughout Germany. Since the late 1960s, the university has trained teachers, civic educators, and vocational instructors in political science and social science education.
Academic profile
Social Science Education provides a framework for designing and analyzing teaching and learning in social sciences. It examines goals, content, conditions, methods, and outcomes, drawing on disciplines such as political science, sociology, economics, law, and media studies, while promoting democratic educational practices.
Teachers are expected to select relevant knowledge and reflect on their teaching by addressing key questions: WHAT to teach, WHY, WITH WHOM, HOW, WHERE, and WITH WHAT EFFECT. These questions guide the development of professional competencies and link research with teaching practice.
Research
The Department of Political Science and Social Science Education focuses on several key research areas:
- Civic education research in the context of digital transformation
- Human rights policy and human and children’s rights education
- Democracy education
- International collaboration in subject-specific educational research
The department's staff are actively involved in externally funded research projects, including collaborations with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) on “digital sovereignty” as part of the lernen:digital initiative, as well as projects on democratic education in schools and beyond.
The department is closely connected to the Centre for Human Rights and works with partners in Bosnia, the United States, and Denmark. Through its publications and conference presentations, it contributes to advancing the understanding of classroom practice, developing teaching theory, and addressing new challenges for civic education in the digital age.
Teaching
Academic Staff
Student Assistants
Florian Beck, B. A., E-Mail florian.beck@stud.ph-karlsruhe.de
Nina Langendorf, B. A., E-Mail nina.langendorf@stud.ph-karlsruhe.de
Department History
Over the years, three distinguished researchers have served as professors at the Institute of Political Science, now the Institute of Political Science and Social Science Education:
- Prof. Dr. Wolfgang W. Mickel was appointed in 1972 and became one of the most influential scholars in civic education in Germany. He remained active well beyond his retirement, contributing as both a theorist and a strong advocate for educational practice.
- His successor, Prof. Dr. Joachim Detjen, worked in Karlsruhe from 1995 to 1997 before continuing his career at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt.
- Prof. Dr. Georg Weißeno led the department from 1999 until his retirement in 2019.
Updated on 1 April 2026 by Central Web Editorial Office