Timeline
The following timeline contains historical information on how the current subject areas “political science”, “sociology” and “journalism and communication studies” where founded and developed over time as well as information about since completed subject areas and study programs. As sources for the timeline served different books about the history of the university, focusing on the department and its precursors as well as the exhibition “Politik und Gesellschaft im Pferdestall” (politics and society in the “Pferdestall”) in the building at Allende-Platz 1. Occasion for these projects was the university’s 100th anniversary in 2019.
This is an illustrative overview and is not intended to be exhaustive. There were many other exciting events and developments, which will be added here over time.
Timeline:
| Year | Event |
| 1919 | Founding of the University of Hamburg |
| 1923 | The Institute for Foreign Policy was founded under the working title “Research Center for the Causes of War” within the Faculty of Law. It continues to exist there today under the name Institute for International Affairs |
| 1926 | First professorship of sociology, with practical and methodological orientation, at the (former) Faculty of Law and Political Science |
| 1931 | Introduction of the possibility to conduct a doctoral degree with a major in Sociology, if the minor subject areas were taken at the Faculty of Philosophy |
| 1933 | Relocation of the subject area sociology from the Faculty of Law and Political Science into the Faculty of Philosophy |
| 1934 | Conducting a doctoral degree and habilitation solely with the major sociology was enabled |
| 1951 | Introduction of the first professorship in science of politics, focusing on the science of politics with an emphasis on democratic theory and the history of ideas, and offering a doctorate as a possible degree. Initially, the chair was not institutionally anchored and was not affiliated with any faculty |
| 1954 |
Reassignment of the subject area sociology into the Faculty of Law and Political Science Breakdown of the Faculty of Law and Political Science into a Faculty of Law and a Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences. Division of the Faculties into 15 departments |
| 1957 |
Establishment of a chair in sociology, economic and social history, with a focus on postwar sociology and a social-technocratic approach Establishment of the Seminar for Social Sciences, with a view to bringing together research in sociology and political science. Integration into the Faculties of Philosophy and of Economics and Social Sciences |
| 1961 | Introduction of a magister’s degree program in sociology and the science of politics |
| 1962 | Establishment of a second professorship in science of politics, with a focus on normative philosophy and theory |
| 1963 |
Introduction of a diploma’s degree program in sociology Renaming the professorship science of politics into chair for political science |
| 1966 | Introduction of a diploma’s degree program in political science |
| 1971 |
Establishment of the professorship political theory and history of ideas Founding of the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy |
| 1973 | Establishment of the (political sciences) professorship for internal affairs |
| 1975 | Establishment of the fourth (political sciences) professorship for international relations |
| 1977 |
Division and specialisation of the Seminar of Social Sciences into the subject areas sociology, political science, and social and economic history Formal establishment of the Institute of Political Science |
| 1982 | Establishment of a degree component and minor in journalism |
| 1983 | Renaming of Bornplatz 1 in Allende-Platz 1 |
| 1984 | Establishment of continuing education and professional study degree program in criminology at the Department of Law II |
| 2000 |
Resolution of the Department of Law II and transfer of the subject area criminology into the social sciences The subject area philosophy is transferred into the Faculty of Humanities |
| early 2000s |
Introduction of the major journalism and communication sciences Introduction of study program “Gender and Queer Studies” at the Institute of Sociology |
| 2005 |
Introduction of a master’s degree program in journalism and communication sciences Establishment of the focus area sustainability and climate research within sociology Integration of the subject area social and economic history into the Department of Social Sciences |
| 2006 | Discontinuation of the study degree program “Gender and Queer Studies” |
| 2009 | The Institute of Political Science changes its German name from Institut für Politische Wissenschaft to Institut für Politikwissenschaft |
| 2010 | Integration of political science as program area into the Department of Social Sciences |
| 2016 | The Institute of Political Science is now called the subject area political science |
| 2022 | Discontinuation of the master’s degree program international criminology |
| 2025 | Completion of the partial renovation of the building “Alter Pferdestall” at Allende-Platz 1 with four seminar rooms and learning spaces |