Leibniz University Hannover Studies Degree Programmes General Overview
History as subject in the Master’s Teacher Training Course for Grammar Schools

History as subject in the Master’s Teacher Training Course for Grammar Schools
(Master of Education)

An old group photo from a wedding. © Bernd Wehrenpfennig
© Bernd Wehrenpfennig

Profile

Course type
Postgraduate studies (Master)
Standard Course Duration
4 semesters
Course Start
Summer semester, Winter semester
Language of Instruction
German
Language Requirements

German HZB: none
International application: German C1
Find out more

Special Requirements

A school internship and a further internship (in a company, a social institution, a sports club, etc.) for at least four weeks must have been completed (compulsory).

Admission
Unrestricted admission
International

Stay abroad possible, but not obligatory.

Short Description

The subject History is offered as one of two subjects within the Master’s Teacher Training Course for Grammar Schools.

The range of courses offered by the History Department covers a compulsory area focusing on history education and a specialist compulsory elective area. The compulsory area includes a supervised school placement and advanced studies in the field of history education. In the compulsory elective area, students are offered courses in advanced modules on the regional and epochal specialisations covered by the chairs at the History Department (e.g. on the history of Africa or Latin America and the Caribbean, or on the Ancient History, Medieval History, Early Modern and Modern History / Contemporary History of Germany and Europe).

The courses in history education and, where possible, in the subject discipline are of a high standard, requiring completion of a Bachelor’s degree. The school placement gives students an opportunity to gain initial insight into school-based teaching practice.

Further information on the website of the History Department (German language only)

Course Content

  • In the compulsory area of the Master’s Teacher Training Course for Grammar Schools, students undertake an in-depth examination of issues relating to history education in addition to school-based studies (classroom observation, lesson planning and first attempts at teaching).
  • In the compulsory elective area, systematically differentiated approaches (global history, social history, cultural history and historical culture) from the regional and sectoral specialisations at the History Department are offered besides epochal and regional courses.
Course Structure

The study programme is grouped into modules comprising several courses, ending with a module examination. The Master’s Teacher Training Course for Grammar Schools involves earning 20 credit points in the first subject and 45 credit points in the second subject in history. The Master’s degree programme concludes with the Master’s thesis module, worth another 25 credit points. Students can choose to write their Master’s thesis in Education Sciences or in the first or second subject.

Recommended Abilities

Students of the subject of History wanting to go into teaching should be equally interested in the specialist subject matter and specialist problems, as well as in issues relating to the individual and social reception and production of history.

The challenges faced in the professional field of “schools and teaching history” call for a great affinity for educational work with children and young people. Rather than acting as “disciplinary specialists in school”, history teachers are responsible for developing teaching/learning arrangements that enable students to learn about history.

Outside school settings, students should be interested in tackling ever-new tasks. They should also be good at organising their work, and should be willing to go to great lengths to procure analogue and digital information. It is essential for students to have a good command of spoken and written German, and a very good ability to read one or more modern languages. A general enjoyment of reading and writing is also essential.

Career Opportunities

After completing the Master’s Teacher Training Course, graduates who want to become teachers must complete a teacher training period before they can enter the teaching profession. Historians can generally be found working in politics, culture and business. Graduates have found work in schools and higher education institutions, institutions of further and continuing education, documentation and publishing, archives, libraries and museums, the Foreign Office, international organisations and the media. • Teaching at grammar schools and comprehensive schools

  • University and science
  • Memorials and museums
  • Libraries and archives
  • (Cultural) journalism, media (press, publishers, radio, television)
  • Political institutions, organisations and facilities
  • Political parties, associations and administrative bodies
  • Media enterprises
  • Historic tourism
Admission requirements and application

Admission Requirements

An undergraduate degree in a related field of study, such as

For master's degree programmes with unrestricted admission, all applicants who fulfil the admission requirements will be admitted a university place. The exact admission requirements can be found in the admission regulations: 

Application Deadlines

First-year students

  • June 1st – July 15th of the year for the winter semester
  • December 1st – January 15th of the year for the summer semester, only when there are vacant capacities

Students resuming their studies and transfer students (application in a higher semester)

  • June 1st – July 15th of the year for the winter semester
  • December 1st – January 15th of the year for the summer semester
Looking for exam information for this course?

Do you have questions about studying? We are happy to help!

Zentrale Studienberatung
Address
Welfengarten 1
30167 Hannover
Building
Zentrale Studienberatung
Address
Welfengarten 1
30167 Hannover
Building