• An interest in passing on your acquired knowledge to your pupils
• Communication and presentation skills
• Very good written and spoken German and English language skills
• A strong willingness to read texts
• An interest in current events and in social and political processes, as social studies goes hand in hand with current world events
• Regular consumption of news (print or digital), as this is the only way that you will be able to contextualize current events against the backdrop of theories and approaches in political science

The entrance requirements for the master’s degree program in teacher education for Gymnasium include having earned 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.

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.

Course sequence

The program of study is comprised of three parts:

Politics and political education

Deepen your knowledge of the political systems in the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as its central institutions, processes, and political stakeholders.

You will also expand your knowledge of subject didactics through a subject didactics lecture, designed specifically for the Social Studies M.Ed., and by choosing from a broad range of seminars related to subject didactics.

Specialization

Learn more about specific sub-fields in political science of particular interest for you as an aspiring teacher, such as the relationship between politics, society, and economy, or the political system of the EU.

Cross-sectional problems in a political context

Delve into problems that relate to multiple sub-fields within political science. Sub-fields of political science include domestic politics, the analysis and comparison of political systems, international relations, political theory, economy, and society. Many courses in these modules also go beyond these sub-fields and involve disciplines related to political science, such as sociology, economics, law, philosophy, or history.

When selecting your subject-specific and subject-didactic seminars in the master’s program, you can choose to focus on topics that interest you (e.g., climate politics, social politics, international conflicts, populism, political theories…).

You also have the option to complete additional bilingual training in order to be certified to teach social studies in English.

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 on this 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 career as a teacher at a Gymnasium in Germany. Not only will you gain a 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.

After completing your teaching degree, you are certainly not limited to a teaching position or to subject-specific lessons. You can also work in various other professional fields outside of the school system:

• Consulting for ministries, governmental agencies, parliaments, or political parties
• Political consulting for agencies, think tanks, associations, or civil society organizations
• Press work for newspapers, radio, digital services, and in companies
• Data analysis for scientific institutions, political consulting agencies, and companies
• Political education, especially for independent institutions and in adult education
• Advising on issues of international cooperation for governmental or non-governmental organizations
• Academic career at universities and research institutions

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.