Study program
The importance and the expansion of the capacities of public childcare facilities lead to a greater need for academically trained pedagogical specialists. The Bachelor of Arts degree program in Childhood Education qualifies students, among other things, for pedagogical work with children, for activities in the pedagogical area of primary schools, for management functions and specialist counselling in the elementary sector as well as for supporting families in their educational tasks. You can find more information on the professional profile in the downloads and links section.
With the aim of strengthening international perspectives as well as intercultural and transcultural competence, the internships provided for in the degree program can be completed abroad.
Advantages, perspectives, specialisations
Two main areas of study form the profile of the program:
- Language acquisition, language education and language support
Mono and multilingual language acquisition, German as a first and second language, literacy, acquisition of written language and language support
- Religion as a dimension of education
Dealing with children's questions regarding meaning and existence, reflection on one's own approach to religion, orientation in life’s multi-religious world
General information on the study program
The training and professional experience of state-recognised educators can be credited to the degree program after an examination procedure. As a rule, this recognition leads to a reduction in the time required for the individual semesters.
Introduction
The study program is based on a holistic understanding of child development. Interdisciplinary events promote the exchange with students and teachers from other fields of study. The methodical-reflexive examination of students' ideas and value orientations in the context of a pluralistic-democratic society is a declared goal of the program. Practical and study visits to other universities and educational institutions in Germany as well as abroad are encouraged and contribute to the development of intercultural and transcultural competences.
Program structure
The 7-semester program has a modular structure. A total of 26 modules are taken in four study areas. Each module is completed with an examination. The examinations are usually graded. While the first and last semesters are exclusively studied at the university, the structure of the second to sixth semesters provides for close theory-practice links (see internship).
Acquisition of competences
Comprehensive theoretical, methodological, social and self-reflective competences are acquired in four study areas.
- Fundamentals of childhood education: upbringing, education, socialisation, development, gender, diversity, inclusion and interculturality.
- Educational processes and pedagogical action: Areas of education, especially "language acquisition, language education and language promotion" as well as "religion as a dimension of education".
- Organisation and management: legal and social framework conditions, tasks of leadership and management
- Scientific work: Dealing with scientific knowledge and methods, writing scientific papers, presentation of papers.
Internship
In the course of two ten-week internships in the second and fifth semesters, students get to know fields of work in early childhood education as well as different pedagogical concepts and their practical implementation. They deal with the complex general and occupation-specific requirements for pedagogical professionals as well as grasping, understanding and reflecting on the professional profile of the child educator.
