In the Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering degree programmes at the Munich Higher Technical College, ‘General Subjects’ and ‘elective modules’ are listed.
The Munich Higher Technical College, later known as the Oskar von Miller Polytechnic, was housed in what is now Building A of Hochschule München.
1970
Article 9(3) of the Bavarian University of Applied Sciences Act (FHG), as adopted on 27 October 1970, stipulates that a ‘general sciences subject area’ must be established at every university of applied sciences.
1971
In the President’s first statement, the description of the organisational structure of Munich University of Applied Sciences with regard to the subject area of General Sciences states: “The subject area is responsible for the humanities, social sciences and artistic subjects across a wide range of degree programmes.” A provisional list of teaching staff comprises 16 professors, 5 university lecturers and senior lecturers, and 14 lecturers.
The Head of Department is Prof. Dr. W. Schumann.
The directory of courses for the winter semester lists subjects from the fields of linguistics and literature, history and social sciences, philosophy and psychology, art history and musicology, law and economics, natural sciences, computer science and sports science. It also contains information on enrolment, assessment and buildings.
According to the President’s Bulletin of the Munich University of Applied Sciences dated March 1975, following the university elections, all 16 professors from the various subject areas, as well as two other members of teaching staff, are represented on the Faculty Council of Subject Area 13.
1976
The student numbers for each course are listed in a directory of courses for the 1975/76 winter semester.
In FHM Info No. 3 (1977), subject area 13 reports on a survey conducted at Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences regarding students’ attitudes towards the general compulsory electives.
One of the findings is that reducing the number of teaching hours allocated to the general compulsory electives would run counter to the students’ interests.
1978
In the summer semester, 3,736 students are enrolled on courses at the Department of General Sciences.
1980
Among others, the following subjects are offered as general academic courses: philosophy, general history, contemporary history, history of technology, political science, psychology, foreign languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian), rhetoric, literary studies, art history, musicology, economics, biology, geology and geography.
1981
The March 1981 issue of FHM-Info stipulated that all students were required to take a total of 8 SWS of general compulsory electives. The course took place in the reading room at Dachauer Straße 98b over the course of a week.
The Administrative Office of the Faculty 13 was located at Karlstraße 6.
Election of Prof. Dr. Rudolf Penzkofer (General History) as Dean.
1983
In a special edition of FHM magazine for first-year students, the number of general compulsory electives to be taken is stated as a total of 6–8 SWS, in accordance with the new study regulations.
1987
Subject area 13 – General Sciences is publishing its first annotated course catalogue.
The Annotated Course Catalogue lists a ‘Third World’ thematic area, within which courses from various disciplines are designed to impart basic and specialist knowledge about the problems facing developing countries.
This focus is to be continued over several semesters.
Subject area 13: General Sciences is presenting the exhibition ‘GESTEN’ at the ‘Kulturforum der Universität der angewandten Wissenschaften München’ on Karlsstraße; the exhibition stems from a seminar run by the Art History section (Michael Brix).
2001
In the brochure marking the 30th anniversary of Hochschule München, a graduate reflects on the lasting impact of having studied several general compulsory electives.
2003
In the winter semester, Anne Brunner, specialising in ‘Key Skills’, and Isolde Kurz, specialising in ‘Intercultural Communication’, will be appointed to the subject area of General Sciences.
Together with three other female professors, the proportion of women at the university of applied sciences in Munich has risen to 30 per cent.
Under the Bavarian Higher Education Act (BayHSchG), universities and universities of applied sciences enjoy equality.
The latter may now be renamed ‘University of Applied Sciences’, whose remit is the ‘preservation and development of the sciences and the arts through research, teaching, study and continuing education within a free, democratic and social constitutional state’ (Section 2(1)).
The subject area for Arts and Humanities or Studium Generale is no longer provided for by law.
In accordance with the Higher Education Organisation Ordinance (HSchGv) of 16 June 2006, the subject area of General Sciences becomes department 13: General Sciences.
2008
Under the Order amending the Higher Education Organisation Order of 21 February 2008, the Faculty of General Sciences is renamed the Department of General and Interdisciplinary Studies.
2019
The General Study and Examination Regulations of 5 January 2018, as amended by the third amendment of 2 August 2019, stipulate that AW modules are intended to contribute to students’ personal development through interdisciplinary, academically-based education and to foster entrepreneurial, sustainable and intercultural skills.
In doing so, these courses go beyond the range of skills and modules offered by the departments.
