Theater in Schools (Teaching degree)
Supplementary teaching program (Lehramt) for Grundschule, Mittelschule, Realschule and Gymnasium
The supplementary teaching program (Lehramt) “Theater in Schools” opens up new opportunities for teachers to inspire and encourage their students in the classroom. This is because the subject “Theater in Schools” goes beyond the boundaries of conventional teaching and offers students the chance to develop their creativity and personality.
Please note: For the winter semester 2025/26, enrollment in the degree program is suspended!
Fact Sheet
- Degree
- Teaching degree
- Admission
- Admission-free with admission requirements
- Duration of studies
- 4 semesters
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Faculty
- Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology
- Start of degree program
- Enrollment suspended for winter semester 25/26
- Number of students
- 1-50
- Special features
-
In principle, it is possible to acquire a Bachelor’s degree in all teaching degree programs (Lehramt).
- Subject combinations for the teaching degree program (Lehramt) for Gymnasium
- Subject combinations for the teaching degree program (Lehramt) for Realschule
- Subject combinations for the teaching degree program (Lehramt) for Grundschule
- Subject combinations for the teaching degree program (Lehramt) for Mittelschule
Program overview
What is the degree program about?
“Theater in Schools” is not a stand-alone degree program, it is a supplementary program for teaching degree programs (for Grundschule, Mittelschule, Realschule, Gymnasium, and FOS/BOS). This means that it is only open to students of teaching degree programs (Lehramt) as a third subject in addition to their other two chosen subjects.
Due to the emergence of new teaching concepts including methods such as open learning and project work, theater is an important part of education today.
In addition, theater in schools can be understood as a form of cultural practice. Examining the performative practices of children and young people based on cultural and educational theory enables current changes in the cultural-social reality of everyday life (e.g. globalization, transculturality, (post-)digitalization) to be reflected upon in school theater in terms of their relevance as transformation mechanisms of cultural-social practice and to shape them aesthetically.
Due to the close involvement of the degree program “Theater in Schools” with the Chair of Educational Science with a focus on culture and aesthetic practice, current research findings, such as those from research on the (post-)digital cultural world of young people, are incorporated into the theory and practice of the seminars. Students gain extensive insights into cultural and educational theory that extends beyond the theater into school and teaching in general.
“Theater in Schools” is run by the Department of Education at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology at FAU in collaboration with Theater and Media Studies. The number of places is limited to 20. Admission is only possible in the winter semester.
The program comprises 4 semesters, 38 to 40 semester hours (SWS) and at least 45 ECTS credits. It concludes with the first state examination with the teaching qualification for “Theater in Schools”. It consists of a total of 8 modules with seminars for education and theater studies and subject-specific seminars in teaching methodology and practice.
In addition to a well founded subject-related emphasis, the program focuses on practical seminars. The theoretical modules focus on
- Drama theory
- Aesthetics of contemporary theater
- Cultural theory
- Subject theory and
- Educational theory.
The practical seminars offer a broad spectrum of specialist knowledge in contemporary theatrical aesthetics, forms of expression, and performative arts (e.g., game theater, performance, site specific, research theater, biographical theater, etc.).
In addition to fundamental training, students increasingly work on projects (supervised and non-supervised) that enable them to deal with the questioning and reflection of theory and practice in an appropriate manner.
The practical seminars are held as block seminars to enable students who are teaching to participate (usually 4 to 5 sessions per semester held on Fridays or Saturdays).
No previous theatrical training is necessary for admission to the “Theater in Schools” program. However, prospective students must be open to experimental forms of theater eduction and be willing to question their perceptions and how they think and act, reflect upon them critically and be willing to use any ambivalence and contradictions that arise in a positive manner in and for an educational context.
Application for a Degree Program
Admission Requirements and Application
Admission
- 1st semester:
- Higher semesters: free with restriction
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants: DSH 2 (written 2 / oral 1) or equivalent
Details and notes
Due to the special requirements of the degree program and to ensure students successfully complete the program, we offer advice to prospective students either in writing or during consultations. No previous experience of theater or theater education is required.
Written applications to the “Theater in Schools” program must be submitted to the Institute of Education by July 15 at the latest for the following winter semester and must include the application form and the following documents:
- Curriculum vitae
- Copies of certificates (certified copies)
- Current certificate of enrollment
- Written elaboration of 2-3 theses of about one page in length on a given topic, which will be published on the homepage of the degree program in the spring.
The decision is made by the selection committee that comprises three lecturers involved in the supplementary program who are authorized to act as examiners. All applicants receive feedback in August.
Applications must be sent to the following address:
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Institut für Pädagogik
Lehrstuhl für Pädagogik mit dem Schwerpunkt Kultur und ästhetische Bildung
Bismarckstr. 1, 91054 Erlangen
