Educational Science (M.A.)

The research-oriented Master's degree programme Educational Science concentrates on educational questions and problems in their social context.

The students chose one of the following two study foci:

1. Research on Education, Socialization and Professionalization
2. School Research and Research on Teaching and Learning

The study focus “Research on Education, Socialization and Professionalization” concentrates on institutions and processes of education and socialization from childhood to adulthood as well as on the associated professionalization processes. The study focus offers the possibility to distinguish oneself in the field of general educational research in relation to different fields of action, institutions and organizations.

The study focus “School Research and Research on Teaching and Learning” addresses the school as an institution from a macro (school system), meso (school as an organization) and micro perspective (teaching and learning). The study focus allows a research-oriented setting of priorities on content and tasks of school, teaching and learning.

On the basis of a broad and in-depth knowledge, M.A. Educational Science graduates are able to develop and implement research projects independently and present the results in written and oral form.

Both study foci aim primarily at the qualification for research activities at universities and non-university research establishments or for activities closely related to research at government departments, educational administration and other establishments that have advisory, planning or controlling functions in the field of education. Besides for research activities at universities and research institutes closely related to universities, the Master's programme qualifies for working in private research establishments, foundations and regional research institutions with a focus on educational research or empirical educational research.

Furthermore, government departments, municipal administrations and other tiers of the public administrative sector with tasks in the educational system represent an occupational field. Further educational fields are national and international organisations that operate research-oriented quality assurance, evaluation, advancement as well as educational monitoring in the school system and university education or offer research-based consultative functions for processes of planning and development.

Pedagogical fields of action beyond school in the context of research- and data-based quality assuring and conceptual activities for larger providers, organisations and associations, for example, in adult education, different fields of social work and elementary education represent further occupational fields. Not least, international cooperation in the field of educational development and promotion represents an occupational field for graduates of the Master's programme Educational Science.