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

Before registering for the Master's examination, the applicant must provide proof of linguistic skills in one additional foreign language (other than English) showing intermediate level skills or skills on the B1 level of CERT.