Erziehungswissenschaft

Tracks and specialisations

• Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · 120 ECTS

Semester plan

1. Semester 123 ECTS required depending on trackIntroduction to Pedagogy - general basic concepts of educational science · Area: Key Qualifications · Research Methods · Learning, Development and Socialisation (Educational Psychology) · Framework of education - socio-educational basics

   Depending on track: Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach

   • Introduction to Pedagogy - general basic concepts of educational scienceSummary by OWWZ: Introduces educational research fields and the history and foundations of pedagogical thought, examining educational classics and professional education.Semesters 1–2 · Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · winter semester onlyExam (in German): Zwei Klausuren, je 50 %10 ECTS
   • Area: Key QualificationsSummary by OWWZ: Practises academic writing, literature searches, citation and presentations. A project examines public debates related to educational science.Semesters 1–2 · Erziehungswissenschaft als KernfachExam (in German): Hausarbeit oder Stundengestaltung sowie Portfolio im Tutorium, unbenotet5 ECTS
   • Research MethodsSummary by OWWZ: Combines qualitative methods, philosophy of science and study design with descriptive and inferential statistics, preparing students to understand empirical findings and plan their own studies.Semesters 1–2 · Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · winter semester onlyExam (in German): Zwei Klausuren zu Forschungsmethoden und Statistik, je 50 %10 ECTS
   • Learning, Development and Socialisation (Educational Psychology)Summary by OWWZ: Examines learning, development and socialisation across the lifespan. Empirical evidence informs assessment of supportive educational settings and the limits of educational practice.Semesters 1–2 · Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · winter semester onlyExam (in German): Zwei Klausuren zu Lernen, Entwicklung und Bildungskontexten, je 50 %10 ECTS
   • Framework of education - socio-educational basicsSummary by OWWZ: Connects institutional conditions of educational work with the history, concepts and practice fields of social pedagogy, focusing on professionalism and service users’ diverse needs.Semesters 1–2 · Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · winter semester onlyExam (in German): Zwei Klausuren zu institutionellen Rahmenbedingungen und Sozialpädagogik, je 50 %10 ECTS
2. Semester 223 ECTS required depending on trackContinues: Introduction to Pedagogy - general basic concepts of educational science, Area: Key Qualifications, Research Methods, Learning, Development and Socialisation (Educational Psychology), Framework of education - socio-educational basics
3. Semester 35 ECTS required depending on track · 3 required electivesGeneral Pedagogy · 3 required electives from the elective areas below

   Depending on track: Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach

   • General PedagogySummary by OWWZ: Compares theories of education, upbringing and socialisation. Classical texts and systematic questions illuminate the relationship between educational practice and scholarly reflection.Semesters 3–4 · Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · winter semester onlyExam (in German): Klausur (50 %) und Hausarbeit, Stundengestaltung oder Textarbeit (50 %)10 ECTS
4. Semester 420 ECTS required depending on track · 3 required electivesEducational Research · Practical Training · 3 required electives from the elective areas belowContinues: General Pedagogy

   Depending on track: Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach

   • Educational ResearchSummary by OWWZ: Research-based seminars apply methodological skills to educational questions within current projects and examine the scope and limitations of students’ own findings.Semesters 4–5 · Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · summer semester onlyExam (in German): Je Seminar Hausarbeit oder Stundengestaltung, je 50 %10 ECTS
   • Practical TrainingSummary by OWWZ: Connects educational practice with academic theory. Accompanying problem-based learning supports collaborative case analysis, reflection on professional experience and development of practical competence.Semesters 4–5 · Erziehungswissenschaft als KernfachExam (in German): Praktikumsportfolio und Praktikumszertifikat, unbenotet20 ECTS
5. Semester 515 ECTS required depending on trackContinues: Educational Research, Practical Training
6. Semester 610 ECTS required depending on trackBachelor thesis

   Depending on track: Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach

   • Bachelor thesisSummary by OWWZ: Students independently investigate an educational-science question using academic methods and present their results in a bachelor’s thesis.Thesis · Erziehungswissenschaft als KernfachExam (in German): Bachelorarbeit (100 %)10 ECTS

Elective areas

• Zwei von drei Vertiefungsbereichenchoose 20 ECTS · 6 modules

  Depending on track: Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach

  • Educational Processes ISummary by OWWZ: Deepens theoretical and empirical understanding of lifelong education and socialisation, leading students to formulate a research question about supportive educational settings.Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · winter semester onlyExam (in German): Hausarbeit5 ECTSRequired elective
  • Educational Processes IISummary by OWWZ: Students empirically investigate their own question about lifelong education and socialisation, using theory and evidence to examine developmentally supportive settings.Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · summer semester onlyExam (in German): Hausarbeit oder Stundengestaltung5 ECTSRequired elective
  • Social pedagogy of the ages and locations ISummary by OWWZ: Analyses social-pedagogical issues across ages and settings in their social, economic and professional contexts and develops an independent research question.Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · winter semester onlyExam (in German): Hausarbeit5 ECTSRequired elective
  • Social pedagogy of the ages and locations IISummary by OWWZ: Empirically investigates an independent social-pedagogical question, considering the characteristics of different ages and settings alongside social and professional conditions.Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · summer semester onlyExam (in German): Hausarbeit oder Stundengestaltung5 ECTSRequired elective
  • Adult education ISummary by OWWZ: Uses case studies and projects to explore current adult-education theories and findings and apply scholarly concepts to teaching and learning.Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · winter semester onlyExam (in German): Hausarbeit5 ECTSRequired elective
  • Adult education IISummary by OWWZ: Small research projects investigate teaching and learning in adult and continuing education, building independent research skills.Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach · summer semester onlyExam (in German): Hausarbeit, Postergestaltung oder Stundengestaltung5 ECTSRequired elective
• Allgemeine Schlüsselqualifikationen oder Projektchoose 5 ECTS · 1 modules

  Depending on track: Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach

  • Area: Key QualificationsSummary by OWWZ: An independent practical or research project develops planning, project, time and conflict management and reflection. Alternatively, students select a general key-skills course.Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach5 ECTSRequired elective

Topic profile · Track Erziehungswissenschaft als Kernfach

ECTS by topic from the curriculum’s modules; together at most the programme’s ECTS.RequiredElective

• Education science35 ECTS: 35 required35 ECTS
• Educational psychology17 ECTS: 10 required, 7 elective17 ECTS
• Social work12 ECTS: 5 required, 7 elective12 ECTS
• Statistics10 ECTS: 10 required10 ECTS
• Adult and continuing education7 ECTS: 0 required, 7 elective7 ECTS

Curriculum sources

• Modulkatalog zum Studiengang – ErziehungswissenschaftModule handbook · Version PO-Version 2020; Stand (Druck) 06.01.2025 · checked 15 October 2026
• Musterstudienplan – ErziehungswissenschaftStudy plan · Version Seite 1: ab WiSe 2024; Seite 2: ab WiSe 2020 – Stand 07/2020 · checked 15 October 2026
• Studienordnung der Fakultät für Sozial- und Verhaltenswissenschaften der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena für das Kern- und Ergänzungsfach Erziehungswissenschaft in Studiengängen mit dem Abschluss Bachelor of ArtsStudy regulations · Version Lesefassung Stand 25. Februar 2021; Ordnung vom 21. Februar 2020 mit Erster Änderung vom 18. Februar 2021 · checked 17 October 2026