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Bielefeld University

The master course

Depending on the type of course offered, the master's courses at Bielefeld University represent a (partly interdisciplinary) subject extension or specialisation of the previous bachelor's course. These degree programmes are completed with a Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Master of Education (M.Ed.) (teaching profession).

As a rule, a master's course requires a first university degree (e.g. a bachelor's degree) with a specific subject specialisation. During the master's course, further in-depth academic qualifications should be acquired and, in the case of a career aspiration to become a teacher, the approval requirements for preparatory service (German 'Referendariat').

If you are aiming to become a teacher, all subjects chosen in the Bachelor's degree programme will be continued in the Master of Education (M.Ed.). Differences in the programme structure between the individual school types can also be found in the Master's degree.

In all variants of the Master of Education, a small proportion of "German as a Second Language" must be completed, regardless of the subject or learning area chosen. Teaching Experience Semesters are also a compulsory part of all these programme types.

Academic Master Degree Programme

Academic Master Degree Programme (4 semesters)

Subject
120 credit points
Master's Thesis

If you are aiming for a Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Science (M.Sc.) Academic Master Degree Programme, you can choose a corresponding master course.

Master of Education

Master's Program for Teaching (4 semesters)
at Secondary Schools and Comprehensive Schools (GymGe)

Subject¹
20 credit points
Subject²
40 credit points
Educational Sciences
14 credit points
German as a Second Language
6 credit points
Teaching Experience Semester 25 credit points
Master's Thesis in one of the subjects or Educational Sciences 15 credit points
¹ Continuation of the major subject from the Bachelor's
² Continuation of the minor subject from the Bachelor's

Master's Program for Teaching (4 semesters)
at Haupt-, Real-, Sekundar- and Comprehensive Schools (HRSGe)

Subject¹
30 or 20 credit points
Subject¹
20 credit points
Educational Sciences
24 or 34 credit points
German as a Second Language
6 credit points
Teaching Experience Semester
25 credit points
Master's Thesis in one of the subjects or Educational Sciences
15 credit points
¹ Continuation of the two teaching subjects from the Bachelor's

Master's Program for Teaching (4 semesters)
at Haupt-, Real-, Sekundar- and Comprehensive Schools
with a focus on Integrated Special Needs Education (HRSGe/ISP)

Subject¹
30 or 20 credit points
Subject¹
20 credit points
Educational Sciences or
Educational Sciences
/ Integrated Special Needs Education
24 or 34 credit points
German as a Second Language
6 credit points
Teaching Experience Semester
25 credit points
Master's Thesis in one of the subjects or Educational Sciences
15 credit points
¹ Continuation of the teaching subject or learning area from the Bachelor's
  Important: One of the two subjects must be German Studies or Mathematics

The (first) Master's degree ends with a qualification to teach at Hauptschule, Realschule, Sekundarschule and Gesamtschule. In order to acquire the additional qualification for the teaching profession for special educational support, the additional (second) Master's programme"Educational Science for Special Needs with the Career Perspective Teacher in Special and Inclusive Education" is required. The second Master's programme has a standard duration of four semesters, but only lasts two semesters for Bielefeld Bachelor's and Master's graduates. Special approval requirements apply for this Master's programme:
At least one of the two subjects must be German Studies or Mathematics. The following subjects are also available: English Studies, Biology, Chemistry, Protestant Theology, German Studies, History, Art, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Social Sciences or Sports Science.

Master's Program for Teaching (4 semesters)
at Primary Schools (G)

Major Subject¹
20 credit points
Subject²
(Teaching Subject or Learning Area)
15 credit points
Subject²
(Teaching Subject or Learning Area)
15 credit points
German as a Second Language
6 credit points
Educational Sciences
24 credit points
Teaching Experience Semester 25 credit points
Master's Thesis in one of the subjects or Educational Sciences
15 credit points
¹ Continuation of the major subject from the Bachelor's
² Continuation of the teaching subject or learning area from the Bachelor's

Master's Program for Teaching (4 semesters)
at Primary Schools with a focus on Integrated Special Needs Education (G/ISP)

Major Subject
Educational Sciences
/ Integrated Special Needs Education
29 credit points
Elementary Mathematics
15 credit points
German Literacy
15 credit points
German as a Second Language
6 credit points
Subject¹
(Teaching Subject or Learning Area)
15 credit points
Teaching Experience Semester 25 credit points
Master's Thesis in one of the subjects or Educational Sciences 15 credit points
¹ Continuation of the teaching subject or learning area from the Bachelor's

The (first) Master's degree ends with a qualification to teach at primary schools. In order to additionally qualify as a teacher of special needs education, a further (second) Master's degreein "Educational Science for Special Needs with the Career Perspective Teacher in Special and Inclusive Education" is required. The second Master's programme has a standard duration of four semesters, but only lasts two semesters for Bielefeld Bachelor's and Master's graduates.

Master's Program Educational Science for Special Needs with the Career Perspective Teacher in Special and Inclusive Education
(4 semesters, reduction to 2 semesters possible through recognition)

Special Education Focus "Learning"
50 credit points (reduction to
26 credit points possible through recognition)
Special Education Focus "Emotional and Social Development"
55 credit points (reduction to
34 credit points possible through recognition)
Master's Thesis in one of the special education focuses
15 credit points (recognition possible)

The prerequisite for the Master's degree in "Educational Science of Special Needs with the Career Perspective of Special Needs with the Career Goal of Teaching Special Needs Education" is a Master's degree for the teaching profession at primary schools or for the teaching profession at Hauptschule, Realschule, Sekundarschule and Comprehensive Schools (here one of the subjects must be German Studies or Mathematics). In order to acquire the additional qualification for the teaching profession for special educational support, the additional (second) Master's degree "Educational Science for Special Needs with the Career Perspective Teacher in Special and Inclusive Education" is required. The second Master's programme has a standard duration of four semesters, but only lasts two semesters for Bielefeld Bachelor's and Master's graduates.

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