MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN EDUCATIONAL SCIENCE

In the winter semester 2024/25, there will be a new Master's degree programme entitled „Education and Inequality“. Applications for this will take place during the regular application period for the winter semester (06.04.2024 to 15.05.2024).
It is no longer possible to apply for the Master's degree programme "Educational Sciences". This programme will start for the last time in the summer semester 2024 (incl. lottery procedure from 01.-05.04. 2024).

THE PROGRAMME

The research-oriented Master's degree programme Educational Science concentrates on educational questions and problems in their social context.
In addition, the students chose one of the following two study foci:

Research on Education, Socialization and Professionalization
School Research and Research on Teaching and Learning

The study focus Research on Education, Socialization and Professionalization concentrates on institutions and processes of education and socialization from childhood to adulthood as well as on the associated professionalization processes. The study focus offers the possibility to distinguish oneself in the field of general educational research in relation to different fields of action, institutions and organizations.

The study focus School Research and Research on Teaching and Learning addresses the school as an institution from a macro (school system), meso (school as an organization) and micro perspective (teaching and learning). The study focus allows a research-oriented setting of priorities on content and tasks of school, teaching and learning.

On the basis of a broad and in-depth knowledge, M.A. Educational Science graduates are able to develop and implement research projects independently and present the results in written and oral form.

JOB PERSPECTIVES

Research: Both study foci aim primarily at the qualification for research activities at universities and non-university research establishments or for activities closely related to research at government departments, educational administration and other establishments that have advisory, planning or controlling functions in the field of education. Besides for research activities at universities and research institutes closely related to universities, the Master's programme qualifies for working in private research establishments, foundations and regional research institutions with a focus on educational research or empirical educational research.
Educational system (administration, monitoring): Furthermore, government departments, municipal administrations and other tiers of the public administrative sector with tasks in the educational system represent an occupational field. Further educational fields are national and international organisations that operate research-oriented quality assurance, evaluation, advancement as well as educational monitoring in the school system and university education or offer research-based consultative functions for processes of planning and development.
Pedagogical fields of action beyond school in the context of research- and data-based quality assuring and conceptual activities for larger providers, organisations and associations, for example, in adult education, different fields of social work and elementary education represent further occupational fields. Not least, international cooperation in the field of educational development and promotion represents an occupational field for graduates of the Master's programme Educational Science.

STRUCTURE OF THE MASTER'S PROGRAMME

The Master's programme starts in the winter and summer semester. The standard period of study is four semesters. The Master?s programme is suited for part-time study.
The Master's programme comprises 120 credits as follows:
a. 78 credits for the major
b. 12 credits for key competences
c. 30 credits for colloquium and master's thesis.

The 78 credits for the major are itemized as follows:

1. Foundations and overview of the study foci (26 credits)
Three mandatory modules ensure at the beginning of the studies a mutual basis in the field of scientific-theoretical and research-methodical foundations of educational science and offer an essential overview of the two study foci Research on Education, Socialization and Professionalization as well as School Research and Research on Teaching and Learning. This allows a well-informed election of the study focus.
2. Election and study of a study focus (30 credits)
In both modules of the respective study focus, the students initially (second semester) gain in-depth insights into current studies, theory debates and methodical approaches of their study focus and learn to compare and evaluate them as well as, with regards to their own research plans, to reflect and make use of them. In the centre of the third semester is an approximately eight-week research project that can be completed at the Institute for Educational Science.
3. Research methods (compulsory/ optional compulsory: 22 credits)
In addition to a compulsory module Educational Theory and Research Methods, the students choose approximately 14 credits of the module programme of the Center of Methods in Social Sciences. In doing so, the emphases can be put on qualitative as well as on quantitative research methods.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

Applicants must have a bachelor‘s or equivalent degree in Educational Science or a closely related field. For studies not yet completed at the time of application, a minimum of 150 credits (ECTS points) is required. For further information, please refer to the Application for the Master`s Degree Programme Website.

Formal requirements are as follows:

Proof of achievements in the educational science of at least 60 credits (including a basic knowledge of empirical research methods of at least 8 credits).
Applicants whose native language is not German must provide proof of DSH 2, TestDaF (4x4) or telc C1.