Kindheitspädagogik / Early Childhood Education (B.A.)

The bachelor's degree course Early Childhood Education offers a first, broad occupational qualification for fields of activity in early childhood education.

What will I learn?

During the degree course the students are imparted an understanding of the child with its individual knowledge and talent but also the dangers and the limitations it faces in its development. The students acquire skills which enable them to apply modern pedagogical and didactic approaches to early childhood education and to develop them.

In the areas of organisational development, further learning and evaluation, students will be in a position to take appropriate steps to improve the pedagogical quality of learning processes and institutional conditions.

The course of study comprises 15 modules, including the thesis module plus modules in the reference area. The modules are divided into a core area, a specialisation area, empirical research methods and an ancillary area. Students also acquire interdisciplinary skills in the course of the studies, complete practical trainings (professionalisation) and write a Bachelor's thesis.

The core area

Contains two modules of the general educational sciences, in which the basics of educational theory and research are imparted.

The specialisation area

forms the subject-specific specialisation in the areas of early childhood education. The curricula of this area focuses on essential competencies and contents which are necessary for a profound academic understanding of spheres of activity in early childhood education.

The following modules are compulsory:

• Development and Heterogeneity in Childhood
• Institutional Conditions for School and Pre-School Education
• Fundamentals of Special Needs Education Focus Areas
• Diagnostics and Intervention
• Formative Processes among Children and Family Education
• Law, Quality- and Social Management
• Fundamentals, Diagnostics and Intervention in Case of Speech Disorder
• Psychosocial Medicine
  
  

The education in research methodology

Comprises two more modules. The broad methodological training deals with the introduction to qualitative as well as quantitative research methods.

The three practical trainings in professional areas

Three practical trainings in professional areas - 100 practice days all in all - and corresponding accompanying events strongly connect theory and practice in the form of a professionalisation module during the training programme. 

The ancillary area

In the ancillary area electives are on offer. Here students can set their focus on aspects and additional elements from a range of other subjects. The ancillary subjects form a "modular construction system" which can be combined. In some subjects there is only one module. In others there is a basic module and a topic module. 

The following subjects are available as ancillary subjects:

• Protestant Theology
• Psychology
• Sociology/Political Sciences (Social Sciences)
• Business Administration
• Art Education
• Musical Education
• Sport Pedagogy
• Pedagogy with refugee children and families

Furthermore, extradisciplinary skills are gained throughout the course.

Dissertation module

The degree course ends with the Bachelor's thesis which proves that students are able to work scientifically and independently on a complex problem from the field of early childhood education within a set time limit.

After the bachelor's degree, further study and specialisation are possible.

• Inclusive and Elementary Education (M.A.)

Graduates of the BA in Early Years Education programme have the opportunity to apply for state accreditation as an early childhood educator in addition to their bachelor’s degree. Further details can be found on the faculty website.

Graduates are working in all areas where children are looked after, are educated and brought up outside the family. According to the subject profile and the personal profile possible occupational areas are:

• Day nurseries,
• daycare centers,
• preschools (to a limited extent),
• after school care centers,
• all-day care in schools,
• healthcare homes,
• mother-child health spa business,
• paediatric wards in hospitals,
• children's homes,
• children's villages,
• early intervention facilities,
• child and youth services,
• intensive educational measures,
• language support,
• special facilities such as childrend's homes. 

Many of the former graduates are  working in day nurseries and daycare centers which are currently highly requested. With their Bachelor degree graduates have the job title of childhood educator.