For this program of study, you need good English language proficiency in order to be able to read and understand specialist literature in English. However, you will not be required to provide proof of your language skills.

Knowledge of Ancient Greek or Latin could also be useful for your studies.

In order to analyze texts from bygone eras, a good grasp of the German language in both written and spoken form is important, as are strong reading skills.

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 multifaceted pedagogical work in your professional life.

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

1st to 3rd semester:

• Academic fundamentals
• Historical and systematic overview of the subject

4th to 6th semester:

• Presentation of in-depth philosophical topics by focusing on specific philosophers and their writings

Teaching methodology in the 1st, 2nd, and 6th semesters:

• Philosophy of education and development
• Teaching methodology, lesson planing, and evaluation
• Teaching and learning

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.

The second year of study is recommended for a stay abroad.

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.

The humanities and cultural studies knowledge that you will have acquired during your studies also make you an interesting candidate for employers in a wide range of fields, such as:

• Academia (e.g., at universities, universities of applied sciences, research institutes, project work)
• Social organizations (educational institutions, associations, and clubs)
• Public service and administration (e.g. as a specialist consultant, in public relations)
• Advertising, media and journalism
• Education and culture (e.g., at cultural institutions, private and public educational institutions, libraries, and archives, or in documentary work or adult education)
• Business (e.g., in business advisory services, marketing, purchasing and materials management, human resources, corporate training, media and public relations)

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.