The degree program is suitable for anyone who enjoys searching for the answers to tricky questions and wants to help shape the future. This requires both independence and the ability to work as part of a team.

Language, specifically the German language, is an essential tool for teaching. You should thus take pleasure in formulating information in a precise and comprehensible manner. Your goal is to help others develop their skills – a genuine willingness to do so is key. Most students develop the confidence needed in order to speak and teach in front of a group during their studies. Practice and experience will help you accomplish this.

As a future teacher, a passion for teaching is one of the most important qualities you can have.

In order to fulfill the entrance requirements for the master’s degree program in teacher education for Gymnasium you must have completed a teaching-related bachelor’s degree with a specialization in teacher education for Gymnasium in the same subjects at a university in Rhineland-Palatinate or an equivalent degree.

Important information for all students who have not completed a Bachelor of Education (for teacher education for Gymnasium) in Rhineland-Palatinate.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

In justified cases, other degrees may also be recognized for admission to the master’s program. Recognition may be subject to conditions relating to the specific structure of the master’s degree program. If no school internships have been completed, other documented achievements may be recognized as equivalent.

Applicants who have not obtained a university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution or a degree in a German-speaking course must provide proof of sufficient German language skills. These must correspond to the level DSH-2 of the “German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants” and must be proven by the time of enrollment at JGU.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

You can find more information in the examination regulations (in German).

Course sequence

Additional skill sets, which will build upon what you learned in the bachelor’s program, will be targeted during your master’s, such as subject didactics and software engineering. In addition to this, you will gain in-depth knowledge in the area of secure and networked systems. In the compulsory elective area, you have the opportunity to design your studies individually and choose up to two modules from a variety of exciting subject areas, including:

• Operating systems and system software
• Non-standard databases
• Embedded systems
• Data mining and machine learning
• Artificial intelligence
• Big data
• Simulation
• Computer graphics and computer vision
• Multimedia and human-machine interfaces
• Theoretical computer science

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

Our recommendation: As you will typically study two disciplines as well as pedagogy, planning a stay abroad requires individual advising. Since language is such an important tool, we recommend a semester abroad in a German-speaking environment – such as at one of our partner institutions for computer science, like ETH Zurich or TU Wien.

Internships

In the master of education program, you will complete a 15-day internship at a Gymnasium during the lecture-free period (March – April or August – October). The focus here is on teaching in the upper-level secondary school (Gymnasium). This practical experience will complement your theoretical training, help you practice your pedagogical skills in the classroom, and give you direction for your future career.

Further information on this can be found on the website of the Teacher Education Center and on the pages of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate on school internships.

Students interested in completing additional voluntary internships – including those in other professional fields – can find more information on the Career Service website.

In your fourth semester, you will complete an in-depth didactical internship.

With the Master of Education in Computer Science, you will be able to start your teacher traineeship (Referendariat) to become a teacher in computer science at a Gymnasium. During your master’s degree, you’ll take concurrent courses in Education Studies that will thoroughly prepare you for your teaching career. However, there is an increasing demand for computer scientists in almost all sectors. With a master’s degree in computer science, you will also be welcomed in sectors such as commercial enterprises and non-school institutions! Typical professional fields include:

• Consulting
• Support
• Public service
• University and academia
• Automotive
• Aerospace
• Banking and insurance
• Logistics
• Energy supply
• Chemical and pharmaceutical industries

Your expertise in advising and education will, for example, prove highly useful.

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.