Here you will find brief descriptions of the courses in the Chair’s course pool. Please note that the courses offered may vary from semester to semester, depending on the availability of the team. For the current semester’s course offerings, please visit this page
Bachelor
Applying qualitative methods: Designing a qualitative research project | 5 ECTS | Seminar
- Modul Number: 85777
- Examination Number: 57771
- Study program: International Business Studies, Sozialökonomik, Wirtschaftsmathematik
-
Description: Much of what we know about human behaviour and social relations comes from qualitative research. Qualitative research, including interviews, participant observation and participatory methods, allows for in-depth understandings of how and why certain phenomena, events and processes occur and unfold. Why, for example, is right-wing extremism gaining traction across Europe? How does climate change affect rural life in Germany? Why do consumption patterns change in times of crisis? These are just a few of the many questions that qualitative research can help answer. This is a hands-on course on how to design and carry out a qualitative research project. The course will be based on seminars, discussions, fieldwork, group work and supervision. In the course, we will discuss a range of qualitative research methods, including participant observation, interviews, participatory methods, and visual methods. We will also reflect on research ethics and positionality. During the course, you will work in groups, designing and carrying out a small qualitative research project, based on your own interests.
- Teaching and examination language: English
- Lecturer: Dr. Anna Frohn Pedersen
Politics of Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (Module and Examination name on Campo)| 5 ECTS | Seminar
- Modul Number: 85716
- Examination Number: 57161
- Study program: International Business Studies, International Economic Studies, Sozialökonomik, Wirtschaftsmathematik
-
Description: This course introduces students to key topics and debates on labour in global production systems. Drawing on real-world examples, particularly the apparel and textile sectors as a foundational case, students will learn to critically analyse labour conditions in global supply chains. Students will also examine the impacts of different governance approaches and emerging issues regarding just transition and the future of work. Diverse perspectives, particularly those of workers from the Global South, and intersectional dimensions of labour relations will be highlighted throughout. Enrolment requires the willingness to actively participate in the course, work in small groups, and take part in the discussions.
- Teaching and examination language: English
- Lecturer: Adiba Afros, M.A
Sustainable Cities Project: Applying Qualitative Methods | 5 ECTS | Seminar
- Modul Number: 85719
- Examination Number: 57191
- Study programm: International Business Studies, Sozialökonomik, Wirtschaftswissenschaften
- Description: More and more people live in cities, and it is expected that 70% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. As cities expand and urban populations increase, it is becoming ever more important to address the sustainability challenges that unfold from this development. Challenges include pollution, urban poverty, carbon emission, climate adaptability, access to green spaces, affordable housing and waste infrastructures. This is a hands-on, case-based course, where you will create new knowledge on sustainable cities. In the course, you will learn how to conduct a research project and apply qualitative methods, including interviews, participant observation, and participatory methods. Using these methods, you will design and carry out your own research in and around Nürnberg. The topics you can explore in the course span widely and depend on your own interests. Maybe you want to know how sustainability features into city planning, how climate activism plays out in the city, or how people imagine the future city? These are just a few examples. In the end of the course, you will present your research process and write a report where you reflect on the process, your findings and the methods you use during the course.
- Teaching and examination language: English
- Lecturer: Dr. Anna Frohn Pedersen
International Business Relations: The Sustainability Governance of Global Supply Chains| 5 ECTS | Seminar
- Modul Number: 85728
- Examination Number: 57281
- Study programm: Sozialökonomik
- Description: This course examines how global business and supply chains can be governed in ways that contribute to socially and environmentally sustainable development. Students explore key sustainability challenges linked to multinational companies and analyze different governance approaches, including multilateral initiatives, private and voluntary standards, public regulation, and civil society-led initiatives. Using concepts such as effectiveness, legitimacy, and accountability, the course critically assesses instruments such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, sustainability standards, due diligence legislation, and political consumerism. Through case studies, discussions, and student presentations, participants learn to compare governance approaches and evaluate their potential to promote more sustainable and responsible business practices.
- Teaching and examination language: English
- Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Almut Schilling-Vacaflor del Carpio
Internationale Studien I | 5 ECTS |
Courses or seminars at foreign universities on the topic of International Studies (can only be taken abroad)
- Modul Number: 83691
- Examination Number: 36901
- Study programm: International Business Studies, International Economic Studies, Sozialökonomik
- Description: The module covers various topics, questions, and issues in International Studies, with the specific content varying considerably depending on the foreign university where the student is enrolled. Possible areas of focus include the development and structure of the international system; problems and processes of regional and global cooperation and integration; theoretical and research approaches to international and transnational relations; fundamental questions of intercultural perceptions and perspectives; and the development of society, economy, politics, and culture in other countries, especially in regions represented by the university’s area studies departments. Comparative approaches may also be included.
Internationale Studien II | 5 ECTS |
Courses or seminars at foreign universities on the topic of International Studies (can only be taken abroad)
- Modul Number: 83692
- Examination Number: 36903
- Study programm: International Business Studies, International Economic Studies, Sozialökonomik
- Description: The module addresses various topics, questions, and issues in International Studies. The specific selection varies considerably depending on the foreign university where the student is enrolled. Possible areas of focus include the development and structure of the international system, as well as the problems and processes of regional and global cooperation and integration.
Transnational Business Governance for Sustainable Development | 5 ECTS | Seminar
- Modul Number: 85724
- Examination Number: 57241
- Study programm: International Business Studies, International Economic Studies, Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Informatik
- Description: Transnational business has contributed to economic growth and to provide consumers with better access to goods and services. However, multinational companies and global supply chains have also been associated with or have contributed to the violation of human rights and environmental damages. In this course, we will focus on the question of how transnational business can be governed in a way that contributes to socially and ecologically sustainable development. In four thematic blocks, we will analyze and discuss different governance approaches that aim to steer transnational business towards sustainability: 1) multilateral governance instruments, 2) private and voluntary sustainability standards, 3) state regulations of global supply chains and 4) civil-society led and multi-stakeholder governance initiatives. To analyze these instruments, we will refer to concepts such as effectiveness, legitimacy and accountability. We will also discuss how different governance instruments can be fruitfully combined and how they can be implemented in different contexts using case studies. This course will consist of input provided by the lecturer, the reading and discussion of academic literature, interactive group exercises, presentations on specific governance instruments by students and an expert talk guided by seminar participants.
- Teaching and examination language: English
- Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Almut Schilling-Vacaflor del Carpio
- Offer: this course will not be offer in the WiSe 2026-27
Politics of Development and the Sustainable Development Goals | 5 ECTS | Seminar
- Modul Number: 85716
- Examination Number: 57161
- Study program: International Business Studies, International Economic Studies, Sozialökonomik, Wirtschaftsmathematik
- Description: Hunger, food insecurity, poverty, environmental degradation, gender inequality, and other issues are problems that affect individuals in different parts of the world. Since the 1990s, there has been a strong international debate on how to tackle these challenges. This class provides an introduction to the politics of development, with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs, being universal, impact all countries worldwide while also highlighting the persistent inequalities between nations. The course explores the political dimensions of the SDGs and the challenges for their implementation, with an emphasis on both the global governance level and the national level. The implementation of the SDGs is one of the major challenges linked to Agenda 2030. Therefore, the commitment of governments to provide programs, legislation, enforcement, and investment is crucial for the successful implementation of the SDGs. However, other actors play an important role. During the semester, we will look, based on an interdisciplinary perspective, into governance structures, institutions, and power relations shaping the discussion and the success in areas such as poverty, health, the environment, and gender. In addition to intergovernmental cooperation, the course examines the contributions of various nonstate actors, including foundations, NGOs, and companies, in these efforts. Special attention is given to case studies. Enrolment requires the willingness to actively participate in the course, work in small groups, and take part in the discussions.
- Teaching and examination language: English
- Lecturer: Júlia de Sousa e Berruezo, M.A.
- Offer: this version will not be offered WiSe 2026-27, check Labour in Global Production
Master
Business and Human Rights in Latin America | 5 ECTS | Seminar
- Modul Number: 57463 | 35930 Pol MR (B) Menschenrechte/ Menschenrechtspolitik (Prüf.-Nr: 20242)
- Examination Number: 74631
- Study programm: International Business Studies (Latin America Area), Sozialökonomik, Politikwissenschaft, Nahoststudien (Middle Eastern Studies), Development Economics and International Studies, Wirtschaftsmathematik
-
Content:Human rights have been comprehensively recognized by Latin American states, including social rights, Indigenous peoples’ rights, environmental rights, and new types of rights, such as the rights of nature and to “buen vivir” (good living). However, the implementation of all kinds of rights in the region has often been weak and important challenges remain. The rights of Indigenous peoples, peasant communities and family farmers have in many cases been negatively affected by the extractive industries and large-scale agricultural production. The rights of workers in formal and informal sectors are also often insufficiently protected and problems of child labor and modern slavery persist in the region. In this course, students will first acquire knowledge on international human rights and their legal recognition and implementation in Latin America. Second, we will analyze and discuss relevant governance instruments for protecting human rights in the context of business activities. Among them are human rights impact assessments (HRIA); human rights due diligence (HRDD) systems; free, prior and informed consent processes (FPIC); and human rights-related lawsuits in national and international courts. For analyzing these instruments in a context-sensitive way, we will have a closer look at actor constellations, institutional environments, policy processes and contestation and conflict dynamics. Based on the gained insights, we will explore different paths for transformation towards a better protection of human rights in the context of business activities in Latin America.
-
Teaching and examination language: English
- Lecturer: Sacha Feierabend, M.A
Globalized Economies, Socio-Environmental Conflicts and Environmental Justice In Latin America | 5 ECTS | Seminar
- Modul Number: 54329
- Examination Number: 43291
- Study programm: International Business Studies (Latin America Area), Sozialökonomik, Politikwissenschaft, Development Economics and International Studies, Wirtschaftsmathematik
- Content: This seminar examines the political, economic, and institutional dynamics shaping natural resource extraction and socio-environmental conflicts in Latin America. The course is organized around three main debates: the articulation of the Latin American region into the globalized economy, the role of institutions in natural resource governance, and foundational and current debates around socio-environmental conflicts and environmental justice.
- Teaching and examination language: English
- Lecturer: Ana Paula López Minchán, M.Sc
Power, order and institutions in world politics | 5 ECTS | Seminar
- Modul Number: 52700
- Examination Number: 27001
- Study programm: International Business Studies, Wirtschaftsmathematik
- Description: This course introduces students to key concepts and theories of International Relations and examines how power shapes contemporary world politics. It covers major theoretical perspectives, including realism, liberal institutionalism, constructivism, and critical approaches, and applies them to current political developments. Particular attention is paid to changing global power relations, international institutions, North–South relations, and the role of both state and non-state actors, including civil society, Indigenous peoples, and businesses. Through discussions, academic writing, and group projects, students learn to critically analyze contemporary international politics and apply theoretical concepts to empirical cases.
- Teaching and examination language: English
- Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Almut Schilling-Vacaflor del Carpio
Between the Global and the Local: Sustainability in Practice | 5 ECTS | Seminar
- Modul Number: 57484
- Examination Number: 74841
- Study programm: International Business Studies (Latin America Area), Sozialökonomik
- Description: Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, with far-reaching consequences for human rights, intergenerational equity, and global justice. This course explores how globalized systems of production and consumption contribute to climate injustices—and how various actors, territories, and impact chains are entangled in this complex landscape. Corporations, as key players in the global economy, hold a central role in this debate. In response to growing pressure, many have adopted sustainability governance frameworks. Yet these efforts often fall short, especially when confronted with the urgency of a just transition and the intricacies of global supply chains. This course offers a critical and hands-on approach to understanding and engaging with these issues. Through case studies, collaborative research, and practical tools, students will: Understand the dynamics of climate injustice and its global dimensions; Map the networks of actors and territories involved in climate-related conflicts; Evaluate corporate sustainability efforts in light of justice and accountability; Reflect critically on the power and limitations of corporate sustainability strategies in the climate fight. This course equips students with the analytical frameworks and methodological tools to investigate climate justice issues in depth, and to contribute meaningfully to debates and actions for a more equitable and sustainable world. Throughout the course, we investigate the roles of different actors—states, corporations, civil society, and frontline communities—and the territories and impact chains that connect them, between the global and local. We pay particular attention to the concept of a “just transition,” examining what it means for corporations to take responsibility in a way that is socially inclusive and environmentally sound.
- Teaching and examination language: English
- Lecturer: Dr. Julia Stefanello Pires
- Offer: not offered WiSe 2026-27
Social, ecological and economic sustainability in a globalized world: Paths for transformation (Latin America) | 5 ECTS | Seminar