In order to complete a teaching degree in special education, one must complete the “Bachelor course based on Education Sciences (BrP)” and the subsequent Masters in Teacher Training for Special Education. To complete a teaching degree in special educational specialisation (i.e. for teaching at vocational colleges and secondary schools) one must complete the “Bachelor course based on Rehabilitation Sciences (BfP)” and the subsequent teaching Masters for vocational colleges and secondary schools. In order to start the “Referendariat” it is necessary to have graduated both at Bachelor and at Masters level.
The Bachelor and Masters courses of study are oriented around the development of fundamental professional competences for teaching and tuition, for assessment and advising, and for evaluation and quality assurance. For this, the ability to deal with children and adolescents with heterogeneous learning and developmental requirements is in the foreground.
The Bachelor course of study encompasses the basics of rehabilitation and education as well as an introduction into the course specialisations. One of the course specialisations has to be either "learning" or "social and emotional development", while one further course specialisation can be selected by the student. Furthermore, two teaching subjects are studied along with teacher training modules. One of the teaching subjects must be mathematics or German and the second subject can be selected by the student.
In general, the course of studies lasts for 6 Semesters, and a total of 180 Credits are acquired.
In the Masters course of study, the study of the teaching subjects and course specialisations from the Bachelor course of study are continued and examined in greater detail under didactic and methodological principles. In addition, the students’ knowledge of general special educational studies are broadened in terms of content.
The course of study encompasses general fundamental aspects of the theory and practice of rehabilitation as well as special education course specialisations chosen by the student.
If the Bachelor is being studied as a core subject, a further course specialisation is chosen starting in the second year of study. In the Bachelor in preparation for teaching at vocational schools, there is an additional choice between the introductory studies of a third course specialisation and the study of modules related to rehabilitation education outside of schools.
In general, the length of study is 6 semesters, during which 180 credits are acquired.
If the special education specialisation in the Bachelor was studied as a supplementary subject, then it is continued at an equal proportion as a second subject in the Masters. If it was a core subject, then it will be continued at a smaller proportion as a first teaching subject. In the Masters, the study of the chosen course specialisation is continued and deepened. In the Masters aimed at teaching at vocational schools (2nd teaching subject), a further introduction to a course specialisation or a specialisation in rehabilitation teaching can be chosen.
The course of study generally lasts for 4 semesters, during which 120 Credits are acquired.