Course content 
The Minor “Self-Composed” from the Department of Cultural Analysis offers space for ideas, projects and research methods: instead of following a specified programme, students have the option of focusing on their own projects and driving them forward within the department’s interdisciplinary framework. 

A team of lecturers from the DKV Master’s programmes refers students to suitable mentors – including in some cases from other ZHdK departments or external mentors – for their respective subject area/media field. The dialogue with responsible lecturers and mentors guarantees the link to the Major programme, the professional field and the individual study objectives. 

The Minor “Self-Composed” research/practical activities are supervised and discussed in regular colloquia. Students with related issues can organize themselves in study groups and enlist lecturers for relevant input. Attendance of open courses and elective Master’s modules is also a component of the Minor “Self-Composed”.

Skills
Students are capable of:
–  Independently developing their own project and positioning it within the content areas of the Department of Cultural Analysis;
–  Placing their own project in relation to the study objectives of the major programme and their individual professional goals in a reflected manner.

Admissions requirements
The Minor “Self-Composed” is aimed at ZHdK Master’s students who are able to formulate and provide a rationale for a project within the focus areas of the Department of Cultural Analysis and explain how it links up with their own individual study objectives. The ability to work in a self-organized manner is a prerequisite.

Language skills required.
You need the following languages to take this minor:
–  German or English: to be able to follow a discussion
–  German or English: to actively participate in a verbal exchange
–  English: to understand a text
–  German or English: to write a text

Special features of the course
On entering the Minor programme, students will meet with the head of the Major they have registered for. During this meeting, suitable mentors are defined and, in the next step, the student’s motivation and goals are agreed and set down in an individual study contract.

The Minor can be worth either 15 credits (basic) or 30 credits (basic and advanced, 15 credits each), depending on the scope and the requirements of the respective project. 

→ More about the Minor Self Composed – basic (PDF-Download)
→ More about the Minor Self Composed – advanced (PDF-Download)

During a digital Q&A session, individual questions can be asked about the minor programme, the content and the organisational framework:

Wednesday, 16 April 2025, 19.00-20.00 via Zoom (to the registration)

At ZHdK, students choose a Major. In addition to this core subject, they can choose one or two Minors to deepen or expand their major skills and knowledge across various disciplines. This wide choice of courses is unique in Europe and enables students to develop and sharpen their individual profile.