Study Business and Economics for Teacher Education

Language proficiency
In addition to German language skills (see “Application and selection”), you have to provide proof of you have to provide proof of English language proficiency. To prove your level of proficiency, you can submit the grades you achieved in English classes taken during the final years of German upper secondary education, or take a language test, which you may, if necessary, also complete during your degree program (read more about proof of language proficiency). 

Possible master’s programs

• Master’s program in Teacher Education (M.Ed.)
• Master’s program in Economics (M.A.)
• Master’s program in Culture and Economy with Economics as combination major (M.A.)
• Master’s program in Mathematics in Business and Economics (M.Sc.)
  (for students who combined Mathematics and Economics and Business Administration in the bachelor’s program in Teacher Education).

Students of the bachelor’s program in Teacher Education: Economics and Business Administration study Economics and Business Administration, a second equally-weighted subject, Education Sciences, and Teaching Methodology.

In the bachelor’s program in Teacher Education: Economics and Business Administration focus on Economics, addressing issues such as:

• What are the economic consequences of Brexit?
• What caused the 2008 financial crisis?
• Why is the independence of the European Central Bank important?

The aim of such economic analyses is to explain how economies work and develop. Other subjects include Business Administration, covering topics such as management, external accounting, and finance as well as law.

You may choose one of the following subjects as your second subject: 

• German
• English
• French
• History
• Informatics
• Italian
• Mathematics
• Philosophy/Ethics
• Political Science
• Spanish

In the field of Teaching Methodology, you will engage with the practical foundations of teaching Economics and Business Administration.

• Which methods can I use to teach pupils about a subject and to develop their skills?
• Which content-related, methodological, or social approaches support effective teaching and learning?

In interdisciplinary classes, you explore the challenges that come with teaching multicultural and multilingual groups.

Distribution of ECTS credits
You will complete 70 ECTS credits in Economics and Business Administration, 70 ECTS credits in your second subject, 19 ECTS credits in Education Sciences, 15 ECTS credits in Teaching Methodology, and 6 ECTS credits in your bachelor's thesis.

Outstanding quality in research and teaching
Studying in Mannheim means studying at one of the most renowned institutions for Economics and Business Administration in Europe. Independent national and international rankings, including the CHE university ranking, and rankings by the Handelsblatt and Junge Karriere, have confirmed the outstanding quality of the research and teaching at our university on a number of occasions.

A bachelor’s degree in Teacher Education: Economics and Business Administration gives you different career options. The traditional option is to work at a school. If you want to become a teacher, you must also complete a master’s degree in Teacher Education (M. Ed.) to be eligible for the preparatory service. After completing the preparatory service, you will be qualified to teach at secondary schools (Gymnasium) or vocational schools.

Please note: With Economics and Business Administration as a subject in Teacher Education, you are notqualified to teach at vocational schools. The program in Economic and Business Education, however, provides the qualification required for teaching at vocational schools.

But graduates of the program in Teacher Education: Economics and Business Administration also enjoy good job prospects beyond the school sector. Potential career paths include roles in controlling, finance and accounting, as well as management consulting.

If you wish to study Economics and Business Administration, you should

• be interested in economic concepts and relationships,
• enjoy tackling complex problems,
• have an affinity for mathematics,
• possess good English language proficiency,
• and demonstrate motivation, independence, and self-discipline.

The bachelor’s program in Teacher Education: Economics and Business Administration is currently selective. The following selection criteria are taken into account:

• grade average achieved in your university entrance qualification,
• the grades achieved in Mathematics, English, German, and a subject relating to Social Science, as well as
• relevant work experience and extracurricular activities.