B.A. Jewish Studies Teacher Training 50%

On the basis of the legal requirements of the state of Baden-Württemberg, from the summer semester 2016 onwards, enrolments for the first semester of the teaching degree at the Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies will only take place in tiered degree programs with a Bachelor's/Master's degree structure (polyvalent two-subject (50%) Bachelor's degree program with teaching degree option and the planned Master of Education).

With this change, all students in the potentially teacher-relevant 50% Bachelor's degree programs at the Hochschule für Jüdische Studien and Heidelberg University will study in polyvalent (subject) Bachelor's degree programs, which will give them the opportunity to decide whether to pursue a subject Master's degree or a Master's degree in teaching during their Bachelor's degree program. The combination of the B.A. Jewish Studies 50% (teacher training option) with another 50% subject relevant to teacher training at Heidelberg University is required.

The curriculum of the polyvalent Bachelor's degree program introduces students to the basics of Jewish Studies, as does the Bachelor's degree program in Jewish Studies, with which the Bachelor's degree program with teacher training option shares most of its modules: students deal with the sources of Judaism, i.e. the sacred texts and their interpretation over time, with the history of the Jewish people, with Jewish philosophy, Jewish art and Jewish literature as well as the other sub-subjects. The difference to the Bachelor's degree course in Jewish Studies lies in the fact that students are specifically prepared for the tasks awaiting them as Jewish religious education teachers: this takes place through the educational science parts (for which the educational sciences at Heidelberg University are responsible) as well as through the didactic elements in the courses offered by the Chair of Jewish Religious Education and Didactics at the Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies.

The Bachelor's degree program in Jewish Studies 50% (teacher training option) qualifies students for further studies leading to a Master of Education or for further studies leading to a Master of Arts in Jewish Studies.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements for the course are a general higher education entrance qualification or a comparable qualification.

Good career opportunities

The new degree course brings undeniable advantages for Jewish communities as well as for future religious education teachers:

• The course gives students the opportunity to make a decision during their Bachelor's degree towards a Master's degree in Jewish Studies or a Master's degree in Jewish Religious Education.
• Jewish religious education teachers in the civil service relieve the burden on Jewish communities and enable them to draw on qualified teaching staff.
• Jewish religious education teachers with civil servant status have a secure employment relationship and a better standing in the school and among the teaching staff.
• The growth of the Jewish community in Germany contrasts with a growing shortage of qualified Jewish teachers. The career opportunities for qualified teachers are therefore excellent.