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Biologie – Lehramt an Gymnasien

Erstes Staatsexamen; language: German

The Lehramt an Gymnasien (Teaching at Secondary Schools) programme prepares the students for the teaching profession at Secondary Schools from grades 5 to 13. It consists of two subjects, and additionally the ‚Bildungswissenschaften‘ (educational sciences) and the ‚MINT-orientierter interdisziplinärer Vernetzungsbereich‘ (MINT = STEM). With an in-company internship (called ‚Betriebspraktikum‘) as well as Practical Phases in school (‚Grundpraktikum‘ and ‚Praxissemester‘) the programme is quite practice-oriented.

Additionally, complementary studies for a third subject (‚Ergänzungsstudium Lehramt‘) are possible.

The courses are taught in German.

Curriculum

Subject Studies
Biology is characterised by tremendous technical dynamics and variety. Apart from the classical areas of specialisation of Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, Genetics, Physiology, and Ecology, there are numerous related disciplines such Biochemistry, Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Biomedicine, Bioengineering, and Bioethics. The programme offers an overview of the various disciplines of biology and teaches the fundamentals of the subject (e.g. Structure and Function of Organisms; Cellular Biology; Ecology and Evolution; Development and Human Biology).
As teaching biological interrelations in schools requires solid knowledge of chemistry and physics, those students who have not chosen Chemistry as their additional academic subject must complete a supplementary Chemistry/Physics module.

Subject-related Didactics
Throughout several semesters, the students are continuously taught the methodological fundamentals of good biology lessons in the the modules of Subject-related Didactics. These skills are directly applied in the Practical Semester and are enhanced throughout additional methodological components of the programme.

Sample module overview
Sample module overview

Information on the study programme
Module Handbook
Study Regulations with Semester Course and Examination Schedule
Course Catalogue

Points of contact
Department of Biology
Office for Student Affairs
Departmental Student Advisory Service
Departmental Student's Representative Committee Biology
Departmental Students' Representative Committee Teaching at Secondary Schools
Centre for Teacher Education
Prüfungsstelle Darmstadt der Hessischen Lehrkräfteakademie: Responsible for the recognition and crediting of academic achievements and examination results, e.g. when changing degree programmes

The Bildungswissenschaften (educational sciences) comprise Pedagogy, Psychology, Sociology, Political Studies; including the Grundpraktikum.

Programme regulations Bildungswissenschaften

Sample module overview

The Vernetzungsbereich is a joint offer of the subjects and the Bildungswissenschaften (educational sciences), which is available to students depending on their subject combination.

The Vernetzungsbereich combines subjects from the natural, engineering and social sciences. The Elective and Mandatory Area of the Vernetzungsbereich vary depending on the choice of major in the degree programme (at least one STEM-major or no STEM-major).

Semester Course and Examination Schedule Vernetzungsbereich

Practical training (praktische Ausbildung) as part of the study program consists of a basic internship (‚Grundpraktikum‘) in the first half and a practical semester (‚Praxissemester‘) in the second half of the respective study program. The focus of the basic internship/‘Grundpraktikum‘ is the reflection of one's own suitability for the profession as a teacher in the respective teaching profession. The focus of the internship semester/‘Praxissemester‘ is in particular the reflection of pedagogical action on the basis of the knowledge acquired and deepened during the course of study.

Programme regulations praktische Ausbildung

Semesters 9 semesters (for two academic subjects)
Language German
Start of studies winter semester
Internship For a successful completion of the Teaching at Secondary Schools (Gymnasium) degree programme, the students need to fulfill the following requirements:
  • an in-company internship of a minimum duration of eight weeks in a production, processing, trade, or service company. It must be proven at the latest when registering for the First State Examination. The competent institution is the Hessische Lehrkräfteakademie (state school board) in Darmstadt
  • Additional Practical Training consisting of the basic internship (‚Grundpraktikum‘) and the practical semester (‚Praxissemester‘); see above.
Entrance qualification Foreign/international certificates have to correspond to a domestic university entrance qualification. More…
Admission procedure open admission without special procedures
A separate admission process is required for the second specialisation (subject) within the teacher training programme for upper secondary schools.
Application Online Application
Formal and language requirements for applicants with international qualifications
Good to know Pre-Courses & orientation week
Website for first-year students
Preparatory courses for international students
Studying from A to Z
Costs and budget

At first hand: A student's perspective

Is the programme right for you? Find out!

Possible from (almost) everywhere:

Online Self-Assessment for selecting a course of study
Podcast “fuTUre students”
Kann ich MINT?

Come and see, touch and feel, meet and greet:

hobit: Hochschul- und Berufsinformationstage in Darmstadt (orientation event)
University visits, labs, internships, and more

Perspectives on careers:

Career counselling for prospective teachers
Career guidings with the #studentsofTUdarmstadt
TU Darmstadt Career Service

For enrolment in the Lehramt Erweiterungsfach (complementary teacher training programme), in particular you need to already have a First State Examination or an equivalent qualification such as Master of Education or you must be currently enrolled in a teacher training course (teaching profession at secondary schools, Bachelor of Education, Master of Education).