As a future teacher, a love of teaching, a good instinct for working with students, and a sense of responsibility are important requirements for managing the diverse pedagogical tasks in your day-to-day career life. It is also crucial that you have a passion for music in general as well as the motivation to teach children and adolescents about music in a variety of ways.

Proof that you have completed a bachelor of education for Gymnasium, with the same teaching subjects. This degree, or an equivalent qualification, may have been acquired at a university in Rhineland-Palatinate, or at another university in Germany or abroad.

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 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.

The subject of music may not be taken in combination with fine arts.

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 master’s degree program’s examination regulations.

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

Course sequence

During the course of your studies, you will attend lectures and seminars in the subjects of musicology (including pop music and jazz), music theory, and music didactics. Further subjects in the required elective area may be selected, e.g. ethnomusicology or sound art. Your degree program focuses on three central topics:

• Artistic practice for school
• Ensemble and music theory
• Musicology and music didactics in dialog

Required elective modules

An individual specialization is also possible in the required elective area: You will select two of the following six required elective modules:

• Musicology
• Music theory and composition
• Pop music and digital media
• Music and other art forms
• Music education
• Artistic-pedagogical projects

At the end of your studies, you will write a master’s thesis in music theory, music education or musicology. Your questions may be discussed in an optional colloquium.

Good to know: The master’s thesis must be written on a topic that differs from your bachelor’s thesis. In the case of a subject combination with music, the master’s thesis must be written on the subject of music. When assigning topics, subject-didactic aspects and references to other subjects may be taken into account.

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.

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 the school subject, but you will also learn how to communicate this knowledge to your future pupils in a fun and creative way and 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.

Thanks to the comprehensive school music program, you will acquire and further develop your artistic skills, enabling you to establish yourself as a professional musician and pursue a career as a freelancer. Additional typical professions include, for example, working as a choir or ensemble director, as an editor in a music publishing house, or as a university lecturer.

Tip: It is also possible to combine teaching with another profession, for example, alongside teaching at a school, you could pursue a career as a freelancer.

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.