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Faculty of Physics and AstronomyAstronomy – Master of Education Extension Subject

Students in the Physics academic programme focus on natural processes that are accessible to experimental exploration, measurement, and mathematical representation, and which are subject to universal laws.

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.
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Facts & Formalities

DegreeMaster of Education
Type of programmeConsecutive
Start of programmeWinter and summer semester
Standard period of study3 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.

Course Content

The degree programme offers students the opportunity to study astronomy as a school subject in addition to the two main subjects they are studying as part of their teacher training (teacher training for teaching in a German secondary school - “Gymnasium”). Graduates of the programme understand the general educational and pedagogical aspects of astronomy, its role in subject groups such as “science and technology” and teacher training in “computer science, mathematics, physics”, as well as the subject’s connections to other school subjects.

Graduates are able to offer physical interpretations of astronomical and cosmological phenomena, and will have mastered fundamental methods for working and expanding knowledge and understanding in the fields of astronomy and cosmology. They also possess a solid understanding of fundamental concepts and models. Graduates are able to communicate using relevant specialist terminology and can present specialist astronomical content in an understandable and coherent way. They also understand the historical development of select astronomical concepts, theories, and terms, and appreciate the historical and social significance of astronomy and cosmology.

In addition, graduates possess knowledge of fundamental concepts within both physics and didactics, enabling them to plan lessons suitable for school pupils. They are able to reflect on issues from contemporary research and have experience in planning and conducting experiments and analyses.

Course Structure

The degree programme equips students with comprehensive knowledge of experimental and theoretical physics, and the mathematical and physical foundations which underpin these fields. These include (vector) analysis, spherical trigonometry, linear algebra, differential comparisons, mechanics, electrodynamics, quantum theory, thermodynamics, aspects of hydrodynamics, plasma physics, stellar dynamics, and statistical physics.

In addition, the degree programme covers astronomical observations, data collection and analysis, the construction of telescopes, cameras, and detectors, orientation to the night sky, photometry and spectroscopy. The degree programme also focusses on basic knowledge and the physical interpretation of celestial phenomena and objects. This includes coordinate systems, distance measurement, planetary systems, as well as observation techniques in the different areas of the electromagnetic spectrum, neutrinos and gravitational wave detectors.

The degree programme also considers the composition and development of stars and galaxies, interstellar matter and the circulation of cosmic matter, star clusters and their development, cosmological models, inflation and background radiation, dark materials and dark energy, Hubble’s law of expansion, cosmological structures, and the distribution of galaxies.

Furthermore, students gain the ability to plan and conduct skills-orientated astronomy lessons which make use of experiments and computers. Graduates also learn how to reduce new scientific knowledge from the field of astronomy for didactic purposes, and are aware of relevant pedagogical research and understanding.

Physics can be studied as a subject comprising 90 credits (standard period of study 3 semesters).