Book Studies – A Key Qualification in Problem-solving Skills
The Book Studies department in Erlangen offers Bachelor, Master and doctoral qualifications based on modern research in the Book Studies field. This sets the Book Studies courses here apart from the purely practical-based courses offered by most Fachhochschulen (universities of applied science).
This does not mean, however, that all Erlangen Book Studies graduates strive for careers in academia. We believe that teaching students to carry out their work in a formal, academic fashion will allow them to develop analytical thinking skills and the ability to solve problems independently.
Companies in the book industry seek employees with such talents more and more. The book market finds itself facing new and complex challenges; production and distribution firms are forced to streamline their operations and rethink their business models due to increased media competition and the arrival of new forms of multimedia publication.
Understanding this is an integral part of the Erlangen Book Studies course: from the very first semesters students look at specific examples that teach them about book industry theory and modelling. Emphasis is placed on the communicative and social role played by the book.