The study of literature and culture in Italian requires a joy for learning the language. Although prior language proficiency is not necessary for enrollment, you will need to provide proof of your abilities before the beginning of the lecture period through a practical language entry examination. Alternatively, you can present the following: CELI/CILS/ele.it certificate (level B1) or an Italian school leaving certificate.

If you did not take the language entrance test at the beginning of your studies, you can still enroll in Module 1 without prior proof of language proficiency. Successfully passing the final exam for Module 1 also fulfills the language entrance test requirement.

As a future teacher, a love of teaching, a good instinct for working with pupils, and a sense of responsibility are important requirements for handling the upcoming variety of pedagogical work in your working life. You should also be interested in the culture and history of Italy and find joy in working with Italian-language literature and other Italophone media forms.

This program is studied as a part of the Bachelor of Education degree program (teacher education for Gymnasium). The degree program always includes two teaching subjects as well as the subject of Education Studies.

Program structure

Your degree program covers the following content: 

• Language practice
  Fundamental and advanced modules on grammar, phonetics, translation, editorial work, and oral communication
• Literature
  History of literature, eras and genres from the Middle Ages until the Modern Age, themed seminars, and lectures on authors
• Linguistics
  Thematic seminars and lectures on structures and usage patterns of the Italian language
• Cultural studies
  Thematic seminars and lectures on cultural topics
• Subject didactics
  Subject-specific, language, and literature didactics

You can choose your own individual specialization within the program of study thanks to the range of various thematic courses available.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for half a year or a whole year? Do you want to get to know another language and culture? Would you like to get a different perspective on your particular degree program? 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 partnerships with foreign universities.

For information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. An overview of cooperating universities that would suit your degree program can be found on our Student Exchange Platform.

In the Italian degree program, you will study for at least one semester abroad in Italy. If you begin your studies in the winter semester, then it is best to plan your study abroad for the 5th semester; if you begin in the summer semester, you can plan to study abroad in the 4th semester.

Internships

In the Bachelor of Education, you will complete three 3-week internships and experience different types of schools firsthand. 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.

For more information, please visit the website for school internships provided by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

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

The teacher education degree program prepares you – and is also a prerequisite – for teaching in secondary schools (Gymnasium) throughout Germany. Not only will you acquire comprehensive knowledge about the subject, you will also learn how to convey this knowledge to your future students in a fun and creative way, while inspiring interest for your subject.

To work as a teacher later on, you must also obtain the Master of Education after completing your bachelor’s degree and then complete a teacher traineeship (Referendariat).

However, you are not restricted solely to classroom teaching after completing the teacher education program. You can also work in a variety of professional fields beyond teaching in public schools.

Another related professional field is foreign language teaching in an adult education center or another extracurricular institution.

In addition, other professional fields in which the competent use of Italian and sound knowledge of Italy are in demand are open to you. The knowledge in the humanities and cultural studies that you will have acquired during your studies also make you an interesting candidate for employers in a wide range of fields, such as:

• Translation (e.g., literary translation into German, specialist translation into Italian)
• Research (e.g., at universities and research institutions, in projects)
• Public service and administration (e.g., specialist consulting, administrative work, coordination and administration of international study programs)
• Media and public relations, editorial work (e.g., publishing, editing, scientific communication)
• Education and culture (e.g., at theaters, museums, private and public educational institutions, libraries, and archives as well as in documentation)
• International relations (e.g., in tourism, trade relations, development cooperation, diplomacy, and international organizations)
• International communication (corporations, organizations, etc.)
• Business (e.g., business advisory services, consulting, marketing, purchasing/materials management, human resources, corporate training)
• Politics (e.g., ministries, foundations, associations and clubs)

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.