Catholic Religious Education M.Ed., Vocational School Teacher

 

Program Components

Two subjects are also combined in Master's teacher training studies. The combination possibilities for the teacher training subjects are identical with those in the corresponding Bachelor courses of study.

Master's teacher training studies includes not only the two subjects but other elements as well:

• Educational studies
• Practical semester
• German for School Students with an Immigration Background (DSSZ)

 

Degree Content

The course of study is broken down into five obligatory modules.

Subject-Didactic and Practical School Studies

During the first academic year students only take module M1, which encompasses subject-didactic studies. These begin with an introductory course, in which students are confronted with subject-didactic fundamentals with an eye towards their future lessons. The school internship follows. The experiences made during the internship are analyzed and evaluted in the form of a portfolio and an individual conversation. This link between subject-didactic training and school practice supports students in drawing on their knowledge from individual theological disciplines for all topic fields of religious education, specific both to the type of school and age-appropriate. They learn how to plan and carry out lesson units that are target-group appropriate and to evalute them and critically reflect afterwards.

Technical Studies

Two additional modules have a technical orientation and fall under biblical (M3) and systematic (M5) theology. Here, exegetic and systematic work methods are used to tackle current research areas and to attain a scientific thoughtfulness or to practically address aspects of religion lessons from a technical perspective. Students choose two courses from a selection in these modules. The technical advancements enables them to continuously and independently include relevant developments in thelology new to Catholic theology as a school subject and to include corresponding research results in the teaching process.

Reference to Other Religions

The last module, M4, particularly takes up other religions in two courses. Using a religious studies approach, other religions are looked at and certain aspects will be analyzed in detail, in order to transfer the theological skills acquired in the Bachelor to other religious contexts.

The Institute of Catholic Theology offers an overview of the modules on its webpage about the Master of Education.

Study Abroad

The Faculty has several international partner universities with which it has well-established links, such as collaborations in teaching and research as well as exchange programs such as ERASMUS+. An overview of all RWTH Aachen exchange programs can be found at: Overview of Exchange Options. Information on the feasibility of stays abroad provides the Departmental Advisors.

 

Prerequisites

First University Degree

An initial university degree is required to begin a Master's teacher training program. An initial degree from a university of applied sciences is also acceptable to be admitted to studies for one of the “big vocational subjects” in combination with one of the respective “small vocational subjects” The exact technical educational background required is summarized in the examination regulation. The examination board is responsible for determining if admissions requirements have been fulfilled.

Language Requirements

General Language Requirements
In order to be admitted to teaching practice students must provide documentation of skills in two foreign languages. The university entrance qualification typically fulfills this. Students, who did not learn German as a native speaker and acquired their university entrance qualification in German, only need to submit proof of knowledge of one additional language.

Only one foreign language is required for students pursuing a combination with at least one professional subject for teacher training at a vocational school.

Subject-Specific Language Requirements
Students who begin Master's studies must have Latin skills at at least Level Latin 2. These language requirements are binding. This means that they cannot be viewed as a condition and learned at a later point.

 

Subject-Related Practical Training

Training to become a teacher at vocational school includes relevant practical training lasting twelve months. The subject-related practical training is not part of teacher training studies, meaning the twelve months are not included in the study period. The practical training must be completed before beginning the teaching practice period. The majority of the practical training should be completed before finishing studies.
More about subject-related practical training

 

Career Prospects

You can find information from the NRW Ministry of Schools about the career prospects for various fields of teaching through 2039/40 in the brochure Prognoses on the Job Market for Teachers in North Rhine-Westphalia (de).

 

Examination Regulations

Exam regulations regulate academic goals and prerequisites, the course of study layout, and exam procedures. The appendix to the regulations contains the description of the modules, from which the course of study is composed.

General Regulations: Comprehensive Exam Regulations of RWTH Aachen Master Teaching Training for Gymnasien, Gesamtschulen, and Berufskollegs

Special Regulations: Subject Specific Exam Regulations (de)

 

Faculty

Studies in Catholic religious education are offered by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities .