Biology B.Sc., Vocational School Teacher

 

Biology is the science of living nature. It investigates how living things are built and how they function at different levels (cells, organism, ecosystems) in their specific physical and chemical surroundings.

Biology has gained importance as an applied science in the past years based on classic disciplines of special and general biology such as botany, zoology, microbiology, morphology, systematics, celluar biology, developmental biology, physiology, and ecology.

Examples of areas where it has gained importance include bionics, biotechnology, bioresources, biomedicine, and bio-information systems.

Biology determines our society like never before, because new possibilities are always being discovered, to not only analyze life processes with modern methods, but to interrupt and influence them.

Topics and methods dealt with in school will also be discussed at the university. However biology here extends far beyond what biology in school covered.

Additionally, the teaching and learning methods at the university differ from lessons in school: lecturers present a large amount of disciplinary and methodological aspects in lectures.

Subject-specific methods are gathered in tutorials and internships by implementing experiments, working with equipment, specimens, and (living) organisms, and written reports are established in the form of test protocols.

In seminars, complex problems and current research findings are worked out and presented using (English language) original literature and independent contributions on previously determined topics.

 

Degree Content

The disciplinary modules deal with basic content and methods of general and organic chemistry, plant and animal morphology, genetics, cellular biology, plant, animal, and human physiology, microbiology, bionics, biotechnology, and ecology, from which selected focuses are expanded in another module - including through a multi-day trip. The pedagogical module facilitates the foundation of teaching and learning biology and focuses on the subject-specific work techniques in biology class, particularly experiments.

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 can be found at International on the Departments website or by contacting the Departmental Advisors.

 

Combination Possibilities

Training for vocational school teachers includes studying two subjects. In course of study Model I, both subjects are equally studied. In course of study Model II, one of the subjects is studied in a broader scope.
Detailed information on both course of study models

The subject Biology is an instructional subject and only offers combination possibilities in course of study Model I:

• Balanced combination of the instructional subjects: chemistry, German, English, Catholic religious education, mathematics and physics. A combination with the subjects political science and economics/political science is not possible.
• Balanced combination with the vocational subjects: electrical engineering, structural engineering, mechanical engineering, textile technology, and economics.

 

Decision Aids

Should I become a teacher? Do I want to work as a teacher? If you are asking yourself these questions, there are a few services to help you get to know yourself:

RWTH Aachen Self Assessment
All About Teacher Training
Career Counseling for Teachers
Fit für den Lehrerberuf

 

Prerequisites

Personal Prerequisites

In addition to great interest in biological problems, and how scientific research works, students must bring basic skills in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, or at least the preparedness to quickly acquire these skills. Students must also have confident mastery of the German language both in writing and reading. Furthermore, sufficient English skills as the language of science are also required. The desire, to extend one's own enthusiasm, knowledge, and abilities to children, youth, and young adults, must also be strong. Overall, a high level of preparedness and ability to learn, for critical self-reflection, and for independent work is extremely important, as in all studies.

Enrollment Prerequisite

The RWTH Aachen "Lehramt" Self Assessment is an enrollment prerequisite for this course of study. You will need to submit your participation certificate when you enroll, but not in order to apply.

 

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).

 

Master's Degree Prospects

After successfully completing the Bachelor degree, you can continue with the Master of Education (4 semesters). With this degree, you can start your teaching practice (This phase used to be called "Refendariat" instead of "Vorbereitungsdienst".)

Since your Bachelor degree opens up various futher education possibilities, you can - depending on your subject combination - persue other Master's programs. The respective exam board will decide whether or not you are qualified for a Master's that is not in the field of education.

 

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 Bachelor Teaching Training for Gymnasien, Gesamtschulen, and Berufskollegs

Special Regulations: Subject Specific Exam Regulations (de) (The current version applies to all first year students.)

 

Faculty

The Biology course of study is offered by the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Natural Sciences.