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 separate proof of language proficiency.

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.

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).

The program of study is divided into two parts:

• Practical philosophy, anthropology, ethics, aesthetics
• Theoretical philosophy

You will focus on deepening your subject-specific knowledge. In the third and fourth semester, you will additionally focus on subject-specific didactics, which will prepare you for your teacher traineeship (Referendariat) and for teaching school lessons.

The Master of Education in Philosophy/Ethics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is a continuation of the Bachelor of Education in Philosophy/Ethics, which sets you on the path towards a teaching profession in a Gymnasium. After completing the master’s degree, you can take the first state examination in Rhineland-Palatinate and acquire the professional qualification required to work as a teacher. The fundamental modules of the master’s degree cover various disciplines in the realm of philosophy as well as in a broad range of subject didactics.

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.

With the Master of Education in Philosophy/Ethics degree, you are eligible to begin your teacher traineeship (Referendariat) in the subject of Ethics at a Gymnasium. During your master’s degree, you will take concurrent courses in Education Studies that will thoroughly prepare you for your teaching career.

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.

The philosophy program in Mainz is practice-oriented and has an international focus, teaching you specific knowledge and skills that will enable you to pursue a career both in academic and non-academic professional fields. These skills include:

• Language skills
• Analytical skills
• Interpretive skills
• Public speaking skills
• Action competence
• Leadership skills
• Foreign language skills

This degree certifies your historical and systematic knowledge surrounding philosophy. It also confirms that you possess the methodical, performative, and interdisciplinary skills professional philosophers need.

Potential professional fields:

• Research (e.g., university, higher education institutions, research institutions, projects)
• Social organizations (e.g., educational institutions, associations, and clubs)
• Public service and administration (e.g., as a specialist consultant or in public relations)
• Advertising, media and journalism
• Education and culture (e.g., theaters, museums, private and public educational institutions, libraries, archives, documentation)
• Business (e.g., business advisory services, consulting, marketing, 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.