In order to teach a foreign language and work with Italian literature, it is, of course, imperative that you have proper language proficiency and the drive to refine your language skills.

As an aspiring teacher, a love of teaching, a good instinct for working with pupils, and a sense of responsibility are all important requirements for handling the upcoming variety of pedagogical work in your future career. You should also be interested in the culture and history of Italy and enjoy working with Italian literature as well as other categories of Italian media.

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.

If you are applying with a university degree that corresponds with at least 140 credit points of the bachelor’s examination, you may be admitted to the master’s degree program under the condition that you make up the missing course credits and examinations by the end of the first academic year.

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, please apply by the set deadline with a certificate listing all of your coursework and examinations completed to date, including your grade point average; this certificate must be issued by the responsible higher education institution (notarized copy).

In certain 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.

If you have not obtained your university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution or a degree in a German-speaking degree program, you must provide proof of sufficient German language proficiency. These must correspond to the DSH-2 level of the “German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants,” and must be submitted by the end of the first semester after enrollment at JGU.

Please note: The official statement on entrance requirements stipulated in section 2 of the examination regulations forms the legally binding basis for selection, admission, and enrollment.

You can find the examination regulations for the master’s degree program here.

You will study Italian as a part of the “Master of Education” degree program (teacher education for Gymnasium). This degree program always covers two teaching subjects as well as the subject of Education Studies.

Course sequence

Your degree program covers the following content:

• Language practice: Advanced module on grammar, phonetics, translation, editorial work, and oral communication
• Literature: Literary history from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age, including genres, eras, thematic seminars, and author-specific lectures
• Linguistics: Thematic seminars and lectures on the structures and patterns of use of the Italian language
• Cultural studies: Thematic seminars and lectures on key cultural issues
• 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.

The Italian program of study allows for a stay abroad in a country for at least three months, which is a once in a lifetime chance to refine your language proficiency in a natural environment and to create authentic cultural experiences.

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 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.

The teacher education degree program prepares you − and is a prerequisite − for a teaching career at a Gymnasium throughout Germany. Not only will you gain comprehensive knowledge of your specific school subject, but you will also learn how to convey this knowledge to your future pupils in a fun and creative way that will get them excited about the subject.

In order to work as a teacher at a Gymnasium, you must complete a teacher traineeship (Referendariat) after earning the Master of Education degree. The first, university-based phase of your teacher education ends with the recognition of your B.Ed. and M.Ed. degrees as the First State Examination. The second phase, the teacher traineeship, generally lasts 18 months in Rhineland-Palatinate and concludes with the Second State Examination.

After completing your teaching degree, you are certainly not limited to a teaching position or to subject-specific lessons. You can also work in a variety of professional fields beyond teaching in public schools.

This includes, for example, foreign language teaching at adult education centers or other alternative education institutions, such as in continuing education, or in one of the following fields:

• Research and academia (e.g., at universities, research institutions or in research projects)
• Education and culture (in association with museums, theaters, adult education, libraries, archives, and various types of foundations)
• International organizations, NGOs, economic organizations
• Information and communications management
• Media and journalism, editorial work, publishing, copy-editing, marketing
• Politics, administration, business (marketing, press and public relations)
• Leisure, tourism, and event management

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.