Your goal: to teach physics at the Gymnasium
The study program prepares for the job as physics teacher at high schools. On the basis of in-depth specialist knowledge teachers organize the learning processes of their pupils. In addition to physics, you study another subject (mathematics, computer science or geography), the two subject didactics and general educational science. An overview is given in the information brochure „Lehramt Gymnasium in Bayreuth studieren“ (German only).
A special feature of the Bayreuth Bachelor's degree program is that it concludes with the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in the first, mainly studied subject. If you choose physics as the "first" subject, later work as a physicist in industry or academia is also possible. Also, you can easily switch to the Master degree program of the 'first' subject, if you do not want to work at school.
In the Master's phase of the teacher training program, you then focus on the 'second' subject. Thus, the difference between "first" and "second" subject disappears. After three semesters, you can take the first state examination and are then eligible to join the legal clerkship for teachers. In the fourth semester, you can write your Master's thesis and receive the title Master of Education (M.Ed.).
The study course
Physics with the aim of teaching at high schools (Gymnasium) can be studied in Bayreuth in combination with the disciplines mathematics, computer science and geography. The combination with geography requires a little more personal responsibility to do justice to the important role of mathematics in physics studies. We recommend that you contact study counseling before beginning your studies (see below).
No matter which other discipline you combine with physics, the contents of the discipline and discipline didactics are almost the same, only their temporal staggering varies slightly. You first study classical physics (mechanics, electrodynamics, thermodynamics, optics) from both experimental and theoretical perspectives. Labs and exercises help to apply and deepen the learned content. Around the third year, you arrive at atomic, nuclear and particle physics as well as quantum mechanics. Finally, you learn how molecules and solids are built up. In the didactics of physics, you deal with the question of how physics lessons can be conceived, which methods and media are used, how experiments are presented, and how conrete lessons can be planned and analyzed.
For students starting their studies from the winter semester 2020/2021 onwards, the modules in advanced experimental physics have changed:
- Start of study before winter semester 2020/2021: Modules EPB2, EPC1, EPC2
- Beginning of studies from winter semester 2020/2021: Modules EPQ, PPA3, EPM1, EPM2
The respective other combination of modules can also be recognised upon application. However, it is not possible to mix between these two combinations. The EPQ module will be offered from the summer semester 2022, the PPA3 module from the winter semester 2022/2023.
In the module handbook, you will find proposals on the course of studies and further details on the contents of the physics courses.
Laboratories and Internships
In addition to the practical physics laboratories that take place at the university, you also complete internships outside the university during you studies, some of them more ideally before starting you studies. All information can be found on the pages of educational science.
Elite program „MINT-Lehramt PLUS“
As part of the elite network Bavaria, gifted and high-performing teaching-oriented students of biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics will be given educational and developmental opportunities, which will substantially exceed those offered by regular teacher education courses. You can enrich your teaching studies with a variety of additional offers. On the one hand, you have a wide range of courses available from the master's degree programs. You can also advance into current areas of research in the disciplines and discipline-related didactics using forms of teaching specifically designed for the elite program. Characteristic are the interdisciplinary exchange and an embedding in international research with a variety of open spaces for personal focus.
The elite program „MINT-Lehramt PLUS“ in the Elite Network Bavaria is offered in two variants: as an additional courses and as a separate master's program. Details can be found on the program's website.
Study Counseling
contact: lehramt.physik@uni-bayreuth.de
Prof. Dr. Markus Lippitz
Experimental physics, Programme Advisor
Room: 3.0.04 (BGI, EG)
Phone: +49 (0)921 / 55-3800
Email: markus.lippitz@uni-bayreuth.de
Prof. Dr. Axel Enders
Head of Physics Didactics and member of the examination board
Room: 2.1.02.663 (NW II, 2. OG)
Phone: +49 (0)921 / 55-3330
Email: axel.enders@uni-bayreuth.de
Christoph Reihl
Faculty advisor for teaching and learning
Service unit PULS
Room: 3.2.00.345 (building NW II)
Phone: +49 (0)921 / 55-3224
Email: puls.mpi@uni-bayreuth.de
Further Information (only available in German)
- Modulhandbuch Lehramt Physik (Stand: 01.09.2023)
- Examination and Study Regulations for teaching-related study programs: Bachelor programme , Master degree (previous versions)
- Information of the department of education sciences
- Websites of the Bavarian Ministry of Education and Culture
- Lehramtsprüfungsordnung I (LPO I)
- Current information on the physics teacher training programmes (eLearning course)
Further counseling services
For all pupils who are interested in studying physics, the German Physical Society offers free access to an Online Mathematics Bridges Course OMB+.
| Characteristics of the program | ||
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) | Master of Education (M.Ed) |
| Start | winter term | winter or summer term |
| Duration | 6 semesters | 4 semesters |
| Language | German | German |
| Admission requirements | General or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification or professional qualification Language skills: German B2 | Successfully completed teaching-oriented Bachelor's Degree Program at the University of Bayreuth (or equivalent) Language skills: German B2 |
| Admission restrictions | none | none |
| Enrollment | April to October here | August to October (winter term) March to April (summer term) here |