Biology - Secondary Teacher Education (Gymnasium)
Dual-Subject Bachelor + Master of Secondary Education (Gymnasium)
Students studying towards a degree in Secondary Teacher Education (Gymnasium) will first study the six-semester-long degree program dual-subject Bachelor. You are required to choose a further subject in addition to this subject. Subsequently, you have to take the four-semester-long degree program Master of Secondary Education (Gymnasium) in the same subjects, for which you must (re)apply. The Master of Education degree is a prerequisite for admission to the period of school-based training called the Referendariat.
In recent decades, biology as the science of living nature has developed from an observational and descriptive science into an experimentally oriented discipline.
Facts
Standard period of study:
Bachelor: 6 semesters
Master: 4 semesters
Language of instruction:
German, partly English
Admission:
Bachelor: restricted admission Numerus Clausus
Master: open admission
Start of studies:
Bachelor: winter semester
Master: winter semester and summer semester
Degrees:
depending on the weighting of the subjects Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
In recent decades, biology as the science of living nature has developed from an observational and descriptive science to an experimentally oriented discipline. The biology department in Osnabrück is divided into the subject areas of biodidactics, biophysics, biochemistry, botany, genetics, microbiology, neurobiology, ecology, plant physiology, animal physiology, behavioral biology and zoology.
A course of study in Secondary Teacher Education (Gymnasium) is divided into several stages. After graduating with a dual-subject Bachelor’s degree, you are required to take a Master in Secondary Education (Gymnasium), for which you have to (re)apply. The Master of Education degree is a prerequisite for admission to the period of school-based training called the Referendariat.
In the dual-major Bachelor’s degree, you will either study two core subjects or combine a major with a minor subject. Information about possible subject combinations, the content of the program and general program schedules can be accessed at Secondary Teacher Education (Gymnasien).
Exemplary study plans
Major subject - 84 Credit Points (CP):
| Sem. | |||||
| 1 | Basic module Biology: Lecture - 18 CP | Basic module Biology: Experimental exercises - 5 CP | Minor subject - 42 CP Professional skills development area/ Practicals - 16/14 CP2 | ||
| 2 | Small excursions1 1 CP | ||||
| 3 | Basic module - 7 CP | Basic module - 7 CP | Additional lecture - 4 CP | Basic module Biology didactics/part 1* 4 CP | |
| 4 | Basic module - 7 CP | Basic module - 7 CP | Basic module Biology Didactics/Part 2* 3 CP | ||
| 5 | Basic module - 7 CP | Extension module - 12 CP | Supplementary module type 1 2 CP | ||
| 6 | Bachelor's thesis - 12 CP The Bachelor's thesis can only be written in the main subject. | ||||
* Students who are not aiming for a teaching degree can complete another basic module from the range
of biology instead of the basic module "Biology didactics".
1 3 small excursions in the field, museums, zoos, institutes or companies, each lasting at least 1/2 day (4 times 45 min). The excursions may be completed from the 1st to the 5th semester.
2 The contents and the number of points depend on the study objective (details in the course-specific examination regulations).
Color codes:
| Basic modules - 30 CP | Compulsory elective area - 32 CP | Excursion - 1 CP |
Master: Master of Secondary Education (Gymnasium)
Students aiming to become Secondary Teacher Education (Gymnasium) subsequently complete the Master's degree program. The Master's degree is a prerequisite for admission to the traineeship.
| Sem. | |||||
| 1 | Second subject (previously main subject) (Biology) - 12 CP | First subject (previously minor subject) - 48 LP | Core curriculum Teacher training KCL - 23 CP | Internships - 14 CP | |
| 2 | |||||
| 3 | |||||
| 4 | Master's thesis - 20 CP & colloquium - 3 CP | ||||
Core subject - 63 Credit Points (CP):
| Sem. | |||||
| 1 | Basic module Biology: Lecture - 18 CP | Basic Module Biology: Experimental Exercises 5 CP | 2nd core subject - 63 CP Professional skills development area/ Internships - 16/14 CP2 | ||
| 2 | Small excursions1 1 CP | ||||
| 3 | Compulsory elective area - 32 CP
or: |
| Basic module Biology Didactics/Part 1* 4 CP | ||
| 4 | Basic module Biology Didactics/Part 2* 3 CP | ||||
| 5 | |||||
| 6 | Bachelor's thesis - 12 CP The Bachelor's thesis can be written in the 1st or 2nd core subject. | ||||
* Students who are not aiming for a teaching degree can complete another basic module from Biology instead of the basic module "Biology didactics".
1 3 small excursions in the field, museums, zoos, institutes or companies, each lasting at least 1/2 day (4 times 45 min). The excursions may be completed from the 1st to the 5th semester.
2 The contents and the number of points depend on the study objective (details in the course-specific examination regulations)
Color codes:
| Basic modules - 30 CP | Compulsory elective area - 32 CP | Excursion - 1 CP |
Master: Master of Secondary Education (Gymnasium))
Students aiming to become a Secondary Education (Gymnasium) teacher subsequently complete the Master's degree program. The Master's degree is a prerequisite for admission to the traineeship.
| Sem. | |||||
| 1 | 1st core subject (Biology) - 30 LP | 2nd core subject - 30 LP | Core curriculum Teacher training core curriculum - 23 CP | Internships - 14 CP | |
| 2 | |||||
| 3 | |||||
| 4 | Master's thesis - 20 CP & colloquium - 3 CP | ||||
General information about university admissions may be accessed at Admission Requirements. Applicants in possession of international certification must demonstrate sufficient levels of German Language Proficiency.
Dual-Subject Bachelor
The German Higher Education Entrance Qualification (Abitur) entitles students to commence a first degree qualification at Osnabrück University. The term “first degree qualification” refers to a period of study that culminates in a student’s first professionally-relevant university degree (Bachelor’s degree or First Legal State Examination). Information about the conditions that apply for people seeking to embark on an undergraduate degree without the higher education entrance qualification may be found at Studying without an Abitur.
This program is subject to admission restrictions. General information on selection procedures is available under How Places are Awarded. For an overview of the numerus clausus in previous years, please check the Selection Restrictions.
Master of education
To apply for the Master's degree program Secondary Teacher Education (Gymnasium), you must have a qualified 2-subject Bachelor's degree. In addition, you must provide proof of the professional orientation "Teacher Education" in your Bachelor's degree. Further information can be found in the admission regulations for the Master's degree course.
This subject is free of admission.
All information pertaining to the application process may be found at Application, Admission and Enrollment.
Dual-Subject Bachelor
German and international applicants with German certification can find all information about the application and the application deadline for the desired semester under Bachelor's degree programs (two subjects) - restricted admission.
Please note: Different application conditions and deadlines may apply for Applicants with Non-German Certification!
Master of Education
German and international applicants can find all information about the application and the application deadline for the desired semester under Master's degree programs (two subjects).
The examination regulations do not prescribe an obligatory period of study abroad. However, a number of Options for Studying Abroad are available to you within a range of exchange programs. The International Office will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Studying at Osnabrück University means you will be subject to semester fees. Depending on how much of your study credit (standard period of study plus tolerance semester) you have used up, you may also have to pay long-term study fees. Additional information on this topic may be found at How Much does Studying Cost?
Our Central Study Counseling Service will be happy to provide you with all the information you need about studying, admission requirements and the structure of your chosen program.
If you have any questions about the course, access requirements and course content, please contact the Osnabrück Biology Student Advisory Service.
Links
This degree program has been accredited by the German Accreditation Council.