Hey hey, my name is Mirja and I’m currently in my seventh semester of the bachelor’s program in Teacher Education with the subjects German and English as well as in my fifth semester studying the extension subject History. After that, I would like to study the master’s program in Teacher Education in Mannheim as well. I started my studies in the fall semester 2021/
2022 and I’m happy to answer any questions about the program specifically about History as a subject. However, I am sure I would also be able to answer general questions about the subjects German and English as well as questions about the concept of the extension subject.
I am Chiara and have been studying the Teacher Education program with the subjects German and English at the University of Mannheim since the fall semester 2020. Don’t hesitate to ask me if you have any subject-specific questions or general questions about the program!
Hey, I’m Tim and I’ve been enrolled in the Teacher Education program with the subjects History and Informatics at the University of Mannheim since the fall semester 2022. I am happy to help you and answer your subject-specific or general questions on the program of the University of Mannheim.
My name is Michelle and I started studying the bachelor’s program in Teacher Education with the subjects Political Science and Sociology in the fall semester 2022. At the beginning of my studies, I had so many questions about the program in general, about how it works, and everything related to it. I’m here to help if you find yourself in a similar position.
I’m Pia and I started my studies in the bachelor’s program in Teacher Education with the subjects Mathematics and Philosophy/
Ethics at the University of Mannheim in the fall semester 2020. In the fall semester 2022, I started to study the extension subject French in the master’s program. If you are interested in studying one of these subjects or if you have questions about the program in general, I’m happy to help and answer the questions you might have.
I am Jan and I am studying the program in Teacher Education with the subjects Economics and Business Administration and History at the University of Mannheim since the fall semester 2023/
2024. You are welcome to ask me any subject-specific questions, but I can also help you with general questions about the program, since I know from personal experience that there is a number of things to pay attention to.
Why we chose this program
If you choose the bachelor’s program in Teacher Education, you are already envisioning your professional goal: You want to become a teacher! The program aims to prepare you for your time in schools. It will help you structure and organize your lessons and deliver your content precisely and clearly.
When you apply for the program, you choose two main subjects that you want to teach in the future. You can choose between the following subjects: German, English, French, History, Informatics, Italian, Mathematics, Philosophy/
History
The bachelor’s program in Teacher Education with the subject History generally deals with historical developments and their significance for society at that time and their relevance for today. The University of Mannheim focuses on the cultures and societies in Europe and the US, and on economic, legal and social history. Students gain an insight into all historical periods from ancient history to modern history and the seminars offer many opportunities to get to know and work on your own areas of interest.
I study the bachelor’s program in Teacher Education with the subject History because I think it is important to understand how and for what reasons our present-day society has developed. This allows us to draw conclusions about current developments and their possible consequences for the future. Secondly, it is important to me to pass this knowledge on to future generations to ensure that they understand the relevance of it. The fact that the subject of History is closely linked to other disciplines like literature, politics, business, and law only emphasizes the importances of it and shows the diverse scope of fields it serves.
Informatics
Informatics provides you with the basics of logical thinking and problem-solving. You will dive into complex challenges, train to work precisely and systematically, and learn to question every assumption. You will deal with many interesting topics ranging from algorithms and data structure to networks and artificial Intelligence. The contents of this program differ considerably from what is taught in schools, especially in Theoretical Computer Science. You will notice that programming tasks quickly become increasingly complex and that you might need to dedicate several hours per week to one of many tasks you have to hand in. But this is exactly why getting into the world of data and data structure is so fascinating.
Mathematics
In Mathematics, you will learn the basics of mathematical thinking along with other students who study Mathematics in Business and Economics. You dig into problems, learn to work correctly and completely, and to question everything. You focus on various interesting topics. As many students tend to be frustrated at the beginning of their studies: Studying Mathematics is completely different from math lessons at school! So if you enjoyed maths at school, find out beforehand what studying Mathematics is like so that you are not disappointed.
Philosophy/
Ethics When you study Philosophy/
Ethics, you will learn about many philosophers and philosophical ways of thinking. You will read many philosophical texts, so reading should not be a problem for you. During the course of your studies, you will always have the opportunity to choose between different seminars, allowing you to shape your studies in line with your interests. Political Science
In Political Science you will first focus on the basics of the German political system as well as on data collection and evaluation. After that, the subject is divided into three areas: Political Sociology, International Relations, and Comparative Politics. You will attend the same lectures and seminars as students who study the bachelor's program in Political Science.
Languages
If you choose a language, you will focus on Literary Studies. You will analyze literature in the respective language. The content of the seminars is chosen by the lecturers. If you study a language, you will also learn about Linguistics and Media Studies, and work on language practice. Linguistics is slightly more complex than Literary Studies as it is a completely new field for first-year students. You will analyze the language, for example, its components and the structure of words or teen slang. Language practice courses are usually taught by native speakers. In Spanish, it is divided into Comprensión (comprehension, speaking), Expresión (writing, style), and Fónetica (the study of speech sounds). English Studies include courses like Phonetics, Essay Writing, Translation, and Foundation Course.
The courses are not always held in the respective language. In English, this applies to each of the courses. In Romance Studies, all language practice courses are held in the respective language. However, the orientation events and some seminars are often held in German as all Romance Studies students of the University of Mannheim attend these courses. You will find information about the language of the seminars on the student portal. If you want to teach a language (other than German), you need to spend a semester abroad. This will help you improve your language skills. As a teacher, you need to be able to communicate confidently in the respective language, as you want to convey a sense of security to your students.
Business and Economics
In Business and Economics, you will get an insight into the world of Business Administration as well as Economics. You learn about the basics of both disciplines and in higher semesters you can choose which courses in the field of Economics you are interested in. This also gives you the chance to get to know fellow students from different programs. However, studying in the field of Economics, Mathematics should not be something that scares you. In comparison with other subjects of the program, studying Business and Economics requires a considerable amount of self-control and learning effort.
Besides visiting courses in your main subjects, you will also attend courses in Education Sciences and Teaching Methodology. This psychological part of the program also contains classic psychology elements, for example, the concept of conditioning. In the field of Teaching Methodology you will learn about subject-specific teaching methods and expand your knowledge in general didactics (the principles of learning and teaching).
The program gives you the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge in two subjects at the same time. This means you don’t have to choose between two subjects that you are interested in, but you can combine them.
Studying at the University of Mannheim
What’s special about the program?
The University of Mannheim is an excellent place to train to become a teacher. There is a great variety of courses and guest lecturers from universities abroad regularly hold seminars.
You also have the opportunity to spend part of your studies abroad. There are many partner universities where you can study. You can choose which country and university you would like to go to. However, you have to go through an application process. There are different deadlines depending on the continent and country. You should gather information and plan your time abroad in advance.
There is a wide range of offers for mandatory elective courses as well, so you can organize your studies based on your individual interests.
Students and lecturers are in close contact. Due to the often quite small number of students in a course, the atmosphere is friendly, and the teachers are also able to offer individual support to the students.
Extracurricular activities
The campus is lovely, as you will study in one of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Germany. The departmental student committees and student organizations offer a variety of events every semester. Probably one of the most famous events is the Schneckenhofparty, which takes place every Thursday on the university campus. You can also meet new people at poetry slams, flunky ball tournaments, and other events. The University of Mannheim has a great sports offer that covers all kinds of team and individual sports as well. Most courses are free. Moreover, there is a gym nearby that you can use for a small fee.
Mannheim is not only known for its old town flair, but also for the warmness and cordiality of its multicultural citizens. There are many people of different nations in Mannheim, which is why there is such a great offer of oriental dishes. Furthermore, there are many places to discover, such as the Rhine promenade and the Luisenpark. There are many cafés where you can study or simply enjoy your time. Mannheim also has a diverse range of clubs to suit everyone's tastes and preferences.
Another big plus is that Mannheim is easy to reach and train and bus connections are great. You can easily visit your family and friends at home or take a few days off and be at Frankfurt Airport in half an hour. In Mannheim you will feel quickly at home.
After graduation
Further study
After finishing the bachelor’s program in Teacher Education, you can choose between different master's programs. However, if you want to become a teacher, you will have to continue with themaster’s program in Teacher Education. This usually takes four semesters and includes a practice-oriented semester. There is a separate application process for the master's program. This means that you can transfer to another university after finishing your bachelor's degree. However, if you feel comfortable in Mannheim, we would advise you to stay here. Every bachelor’s program in Teacher Education has a different structure and can vary in its modules. If you transfer to another university, there is a chance that you might have to do repeat courses of the bachelor’s program or that you do not meet their admission requirements.
If you want to study more than two subjects, it is possible to add another one as an extension subject in the master's program. This is a separate master's program which means you are studying two master's programs at the same time. The main advantage: You can study your extension subject on the side without any pressure of deadlines.
The internship semester in the master's program can, for example, partly take place in a school abroad. Stays abroad between the bachelor's and master's program are also possible and can be funded and credits may partially be recognized. Spending the internship semester abroad prepares students for their professional life and creates unforgettable personal experiences.
Career opportunities
After you graduate, you will start the preparatory service (Referendariat), which takes eighteen months in Baden-Württemberg. Of course, you may do this in another city or even another federal state. Once you have completed these steps, you can teach at secondary schools (Gymnasium) and vocational schools.
You can also pursue a doctorate and start a career in research.
What you need to know
Clichés
Needless to say, every profession has its stereotypes. For example, many people claim that teachers are on vacation all the time, but this is not true. The Teacher Education program at the University of Mannheim alone is time-consuming and very demanding. In addition to teaching at school, a lot of time is spent preparing lessons, creating and correcting exams, and going on school trips. That’s why it’s important not to be misled by such statements. After all, you’re not doing this job for the vacation, but because you want to teach children and adolescents.
Challenges
Further information
Would you like to learn more about the programs in Teacher Education at the University of Mannheim?
Then have a look at the program descriptions:
- Bachelor’s programs in Teacher Education for Gymnasium:
German – English – French – History – Informatics – Italian – Art- Mathematics – Music – Philosophy/Ethics – Political Science – Spanish – Economics and Business Administration - Master’s program in Teacher Education for Gymnasium
- Bachelor’s program in Economic and Business Education
- Master's program in Economic and Business Education
