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Those who learn today at colleges of education hope to be teaching in the future
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When Students become Teachers
Colleges of education exist as independent institutions only in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Colleges of education in all the other states have been merged with universities and are now faculty departments at these institutions.
Colleges of education have the task of training teachers for Germany’s “Grundschulen,” “Hauptschulen” and “Realschulen” as well for special schools for mentally or physically handicapped children. Students at these colleges study teaching methods in subjects appropriate for the type of school they will work in as well as the basics of their chosen subjects. In addition, the curriculum includes subject areas such as General Teaching Methods, Educational Theory, and Educational Psychology. Future teachers planning to work in “Grundschulen” must, in addition to their major subject field, decide on another subject area (specialist instruction or music/arts). Training in Early Education is also included in the curriculum.
Practical internships are a mandatory and essential part of a teaching degree. Four “day internships” (one day a week for the entire semester) are required by all teaching degree programs, as are two four-week-long “block internships,” conducted when classes are not in session. For many students, these internships are a good opportunity to see if they are up to the challenges of teaching. At the end of the degree program, there is an 18-month preparation course and a practical training seminar.
Prerequisites for study at a German college of education are like those at a university: a school diploma equivalent to the German “Abitur.” Those who elect to study art, music or physical education as a subject area must also take a eligibility test.
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