English (M.Ed.)

Course description

The course provides in-depth, specialised didactic education in English, covering on the one hand, literary and cultural studies, and on the other, linguistic didactic education in literature and culture as preparation for teaching at secondary schools (high schools, comprehensive schools).

Students are trained in the specialised didactics of English and additionally, both in linguistics and in literary and cultural studies. The latter two areas are equally important in terms of courses to be registered in. The education in specialised didactics constitutes an intensification of the basic knowledge acquired in the Bachelor's degree programme. Depending upon the courses offered, it offers specialisation in various fields of didactics, such as language and media didactics and didactics of literature and culture. In addition, a close connection between theory and practice has been forged by means of the integration of a five-week school internship or a four-week research fellowship including the appropriate preparations and follow-up. In the field of linguistics, it is possible to specialise either in the study of contemporary English or in historical linguistics. In the fields of literature and cultural studies, students can choose between British or Anglophone literature and North American-oriented literature. In the field of linguistics, the research focus is on syntax theories, semantics research and the historical analysis of language transformations in connection with the study of medieval English literature and culture in its European context. In the fields of literature and cultural studies, the research focus is on postcolonial Anglophone literature. In the field of romantic and contemporary literature, the research focus is on gender studies and cultural theory (English linguistic literature and cultural studies) and on the cross-over between media and literature and theories of transnationality (American Studies).

This specialised degree programme takes a total of 25 credits, which have to be acquired by attendance in the basic and didactic modules: One Master basic module each must be attended in linguistic studies and in literary studies (for a total of 14 credits); one advanced module and one internship module must be attended in specialised didactics (11 credits). The Master’s thesis can be written in the specialisation subject (for example, after completion of the basic module) or in specialised didactics.

Stay abroad during your studies

When registering for the Master's thesis, students are required to provide evidence of a three-month study-related stay abroad and proficiency in another foreign language (B1 CEF).

Language requirements during studies

Applicants for the English program whose native language is not English must have very good knowledge of the English language. Very good English skills must be demonstrated with standardized or accredited certificates at least at level C1 or higher according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The following serve as proof in particular:

• UNIcert®: mind. Zertifikat UNIcert® III;
• NULTE-Zertifikate: mind. Niveau C1;
• Cambridge English Scale: mind. 180 Punkte;
• „International English Language Testing System" (IELTS Academic): mind. Band 6.5;
• „Test of English as a Foreign Language, internet-based test” (TOEFL iBT): mind. 110 Punkte;
• Global Scale of English (Pearson Academic): mind. 76 Punkte;

Applicants who have spent at least two years studying or working in an English-speaking country within the last three years prior to receipt of the application for admission are exempt from the obligation to provide proof of a test.