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Special Needs Education - Master of Education Programme (Special Needs Education)
With the four-semester Master of Education (Special Needs Education), you will continue your education to become a teacher - building on the dual-subject bachelor's degree programme. In the school-type based Master of Education programme, you will acquire extensive knowledge and experience in both educational science and school practice. You will broaden your curricular knowledge in the teaching subjects chosen.
Orientation and Goals
This Masters Degree is for those to obtain a career in Special Needs Education. This degree provides opportunities to delve into two key concentration areas of special education and to implement relevant and meaningful research-based school projects. Furthermore, you will engage in practical competencies: two internships to learn about effective teaching strategies and diagnostics, an insight into the culture of a school and practise with developing lesson plans.
Study Design and Contents
The standard period of study for the Master of Education (Special Needs Education) is four semesters.
The master's program, which consists of 120 ECTS credits, is divided into the following studies:
- special needs education (42 ECTS credits)
- a teaching subject in accordance with the Regulations on Master's Degrees for Teachers in Lower Saxony (MasterVO-Lehr) in the current version (30 ECTS credits)
- educational sciences (12 ECTS credits)
- practical phase (12 ECTS credits)
- Master's thesis module (24 ECTS credits)
Teaching and Learning
During the master's degree programme you will learn how to conduct independent research with professional supervision. The modules 'Schul- und Unterrichtsforschung und ihre Forschungsmethoden' and practical teaching modules are an important part of this. In the practical phase, you will be supported by a strong network of experienced mentors from the schools.
Reasons for Studying
- Strength in education: Over 40% of students at the University of Oldenburg are studying for a teaching degree
- Strength in research: Final papers can be integrated into research projects; special doctoral programme in teaching and learning research
- Strength in supervision: Intensive supervision through a network of experienced mentors in the practical phase
Foreign Language Skills
In order to study this course at the University of Oldenburg as a student from outside of Germany, you need an adequate knowledge of German.
German Language Proficiency
- DSH: Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (Level 2)
- TestDaF: Test – Deutsch als Fremdsprache (with level 4 in all four areas)
The proof of language proficiency must be presented for the enrolment. For other proof possiblities see: Language requirements
Careers and Areas of Employment
The Master of Education in Special Needs prepares students for a teaching position as a special needs educator within the school system (regular and specialized). After completing this course of study, it is both possible and necessary to enter the preparatory service (Referendariat) to be qualified to work as a special needs teacher at a government-funded school.
Graduates can also seek employment in private and religious-affiliated schools, tutoring and specialised support, or international schools.
This degree also qualifies the graduate to pursue further academic qualifications (Doctorate).
Target Group/Admission Requirements
Admission requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject area.
A relevant subject area is a previous degree in special education in combination with a teaching subject in accordance with the Lower Saxony Master's Degree Regulations (Nds. MasterVO-Lehr), provided that it has covered the following teaching-related admission requirements:
- A total of at least 45 credit points in subject-specific knowledge and subject-specific didactics in two special education subjects, including at least 6 credit points in subject-specific didactics/teaching and
- A total of at least 27 credit points in subject-specific knowledge and subject-specific teaching methodology for the teaching subject, including at least 6 credit points in subject-specific teaching methodology/communication and
- At least 63 credit points in educational sciences, including a successfully completed special education social internship and a successfully completed special education school internship in accordance with the examination regulations of Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg relevant to the respective undergraduate programme of the chosen subject combination, and
- A final thesis (including colloquium) worth at least 11 credit points.
- For a subject combination with geography, at least 30 credit points in subject science and subject didactics, of which at least 6 credit points must be in subject didactics and at least 24 credit points in subject science.
For details on provisional admissions, see the admission regulations (ger).
Application/Admission Procedures
The prerequisites above apply to the application.
This is an open admissions degree course. Application is only possible in the winter semester for 1st and higher semester.
The application deadline for the winter semester is 15th August.
Only for higher semester: The application deadline for the summer semester is 15th February
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