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Faculty of Chemistry and Earth SciencesGeography – Master of Education Extension Subject

Students of Geography focus on differentiated natural, economic and social processes particular to given localities. They consider the diverse interrelationships between such processes and their local effects. 

Information about the Master of Education

The Master of Education is a degree preparing for a future teaching job. In the section "Become a teacher" you will find all the information about the course of the complete teacher training programme from the choice of the subject, the bachelor’s and master’s phase to the teaching practice.
Become a teacher

Facts & Formalities

DegreeMaster of Education
Type of programmeConsecutive
Start of programmeWinter semester only
Standard period of study4 semesters
Fees and contributions151.05 € / Semester
Application procedureProcedure for Master of Education Extension Subjects
Application deadlinesInformation about deadlines can be obtained after you have put together a degree program.
Part-time optionYes

Course Content

Graduates of the degree programme will have obtained specialist and didactic knowledge of geography which in their role as educators, will enable them to configure effective teaching, learning, and educational processes for geography. 

Graduates will possess introductory knowledge, as well as in-depth understanding of selected areas on various levels. They will have good comprehension of physical, human, and regional geography and understand geographical perspectives on the interrelationships between the Earth system and human populations. Graduates are able to evaluate geographical activities on the basis of their environmental, economic, and social suitability (education and training for sustainable development, principles and concepts of sustainability) and weigh up alternative options.

Course Structure

Geography degree programmes offered by Heidelberg University aim to give students an equal grounding in both physical and human geography. Students complete basic modules which entail lectures along with accompanying supplemental seminars and practice classes. Field placements enable students to familiarise themselves with research methods from the fields of physical and human geography. Exercises undertaken during field trips (excursions) supplement the content of basic modules. Geoinformatics, or the processing of geographical data, forms a third component of the degree programme. The course also covers specialist theory and methodology, enabling students to further their knowledge of human and physical geography. Students’ skills in these specialist content areas are evaluated in relation to other geographical subdisciplines in a final oral examination. Alongside subject focussed modules, students also undertake courses in specialised didactics. These two elements of the programme are unified in a “blended module”, which ideally combines specialist geographical content with didactics specific to teaching geography. The spectrum of specialised didactics is supplemented by a module on excursion didactics. This is taken during the practical semester alongside students’ school placement. At the end of the degree programme, students complete a Master’s thesis in geography.

Geography can be studied as a subject comprising 90 credits (standard period of study 3 semesters) or as a subject comprising 120 credits (standard period of study 4 semesters).