Standards of Decision-Making Across Cultures (M.A.)

Discover the diversity of decision-making processes in East and South Asia in the interdisciplinary degree program Standards of Decision-Making Across Cultures! Acquire in-depth knowledge, methodological know-how and key competencies for culturally sensitive decision-making. Choose your major, organize a semester abroad, and broaden your intercultural perspective. Immerse yourself in sinology, history, philosophy, religious studies, economics, and more.

Please note: This degree program will be discontinued with effect from the winter semester 2026/27; students will be admitted or enrolled for the last time at the start of the winter semester 2025/26.

Fact Sheet

Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Admission
Qualification assessment
Duration of studies
4 semesters
Teaching language
completely in English
Faculty
Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology
Start of degree program
Winter semester
Number of students
1-50
Special ways to study
Elite degree programs, International degree program
Special features

This degree program is thaught exclusively in English.

Program overview

What is the degree program about?

Standards of Decision-Making Across Cultures (SDAC) is an interdisciplinary degree program that allows students to acquire in-depth academic and methodological skills and additional key skills on decision-making processes in East and South Asia. A Bachelor’s degree in a variety of disciplines is a requirement for the Master’s degree program. Students can choose their specialization from the courses offered at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg and organize their own semester abroad.

Students acquire in-depth knowledge of topics and methods as well as additional key skills in decision-making processes in East and South Asia. During their degree program, students gain major insights into decision-making processes, for example in entrepreneurial, political and cultural situations. They develop a new cross-cultural perspective on decision-making processes, apply their knowledge in an interdisciplinary context,and learn to approach research questions from an academic perspective and to cultivate their own independent thinking. These qualities enable them to take a sensitive approach to intracultural and intercultural decision-making processes.

The acquired knowledge from the areas of Chinese studies, history, philosophy, religious studies, economics, social and cultural anthropology and the history of science enable graduates to think in a communicative and critical way and to work independently in a solution-oriented, critical, analytical and application-oriented manner in various professional contexts that require expertise in the humanities, area studies and social sciences. The specific subject knowledge provides openings for graduates in professions in the cultural, political and economic sectors as well as in intercultural working environments in which the named sectors overlap. Graduates are capable of taking a critical and culturally sensitive stance when taking part in real decision-making processes, both in an international context and in the specific Asian-European context. Their skills and knowledge about acting in an international context qualify them for leadership positions.

The degree program runs over four semesters. Students must acquire a total of 120 ECTS credits. The Master’s thesis is due at the end of the fourth semester. The study plan includes lectures (including the IKGF lecture series), seminars and tutorials. All courses are taught in English.

The degree program consists of the following modules:

  • Module 1: Theory of decision-making in various cultural contexts
  • Module 2: Concepts of Chinese cultural orientation and decision-Making
  • Module 3: Comparative Philosophy / Fate, freedom, and prognostication I
  • Module 4: Influences of cultural-religious variants on decision-making processes / Fate, freedom, and prognostication II
  • Module 5: Specific approaches of selected academic disciplines – Europe
  • Module 6: Rationalities of decision-making
  • Module 7: Contexts of decision-making in China
  • Module 8: Specific approaches of selected Academic disciplines – East Asia
  • Module 9: Developing of transcultural sensitivities
  • Module 10: Master’s thesis

Application for a Degree Program

Application for internationalsOverview of admission requirements, deadlines, and application procedures

Admission Requirements and Application

Admission

  • Master: Qualification assessment

Application deadline

  • Winter semester: 15.07.
  • Summer semester: nicht möglich

Language skills

  • English language skills at least at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or comparable skills (UNIcert C2) must be demonstrated if the school degree or bachelor’s degree was not obtained in English. Deutschsprachige Ausländer müssen ihre Deutschkenntnisse mit mindestens A1 des GER nachweisen (kann innerhalb des ersten Jahres des Studiums erbracht werden).
  • German language skills for international applicants: No DSH, English (level B2, CEFR)

Content related master requirements

The Master’s degree program is open to graduates with a Bachelor’s, Master’s, Diplom, Magister or State Examination degree in a subject that focuses on philology, social sciences, historical sciences, pedagogy, philosophy, religious studies, ethnology, economic sciences, law, psychology, or medical science are eligible for the Master’s degree program.

Applicants with one of these degrees are admitted only after a successful selection interview if they have an overall grade of at least 2.00 in the German grading system.

If they have an overall grade of 2.01-2.5, they have to prove further qualifications that are relevant to the Master’s degree program, such as proof of passed modules on scientific or research-related work (min. 6 ECTS points), proof of having passed modules with explicitly cross-cultural topics (at least 6 ECTS credits), proof of professional internships in a non-western or non-occidental organization (at least 3 months full-time) before qualifying for admission after a successful selection interview.

Apply now for a degree programThe first step towards your studies begins with the online application.

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