Health Sciences - Vocational Teacher Education

In the Health Sciences – Vocational Teacher Education program, you will learn not only to understand health from a technical perspective, but also to teach it effectively.

Course Content: Bachelor’s Degree (Vocational Teacher Education, B.Sc.)

You will explore health from multiple perspectives—scientific and medical, social, and educational. In doing so, you will acquire the fundamentals needed to understand physical processes and clinical presentations. At the same time, you will examine prevention and health theories. A key focus is the health education component: you’ll learn the fundamentals of how to convey health knowledge in a way that is understandable, tailored to the target audience, and responsible. In this way, you’ll lay the groundwork for your future career as a teacher.

Course Content: Master’s Program (Vocational Teacher Education, M.Ed.)

In the Master of Education (M.Ed.) program, you will receive targeted preparation to professionally teach your specialization in health sciences and to design and facilitate learning processes in vocational education contexts. You will deepen your understanding of health science content and further develop your teaching skills—particularly in presenting complex topics such as health, illness, and prevention in a way that is aligned with learning objectives and tailored to the target audience. In addition, you will strengthen your pedagogical professionalism, for example in lesson planning, reflection, and guiding the learning process.

Highlights of the program:

• Career Opportunities: A wide range of options after earning a bachelor’s degree in various professional fields
• Promotion of healthy studying: Health-conscious studies, including opportunities for further qualification
• Participation and Engagement: Close and constructive collaboration between the institute and students. Active involvement in shaping one’s own academic journey
• Social Connection and Accessibility: A high degree of openness and a student-centered environment
• Attractive learning environments: Versatile multimedia resources, modern laboratories, and a campus surrounded by greenery
• Clear focus on teacher training: Preparation for teaching at vocational schools (BBS, Berufsschule) in accordance with the guidelines of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK)

Your career options depend primarily on whether you go on to a master’s program after completing your bachelor’s degree—thereby completing the path to becoming a teacher—or whether you choose to pursue related fields in education and health care after your bachelor’s degree.

After the Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.): Roles at the intersection of health and education

The bachelor’s degree is a professionally qualifying degree. Depending on your individual focus, combination of subjects, and any additional qualifications, you may pursue roles that involve imparting health knowledge, developing educational programs, or supporting projects, such as:

• Education & Training in the Health Sector: Contributing to training and certification programs
• Prevention & Health Promotion: Supporting the planning, implementation, and evaluation of projects
• Coordination & Organization: Cross-functional roles in educational or healthcare institutions

After earning the Master of Education (M.Ed.): Entry into teaching at vocational schools

With the Master of Education (Teaching at Vocational Schools), you meet the requirements for admission to the preparatory service (teaching internship). You can complete the teaching internship in any federal state. This qualifies you for a civil service position as a teacher at a state vocational school.

Depending on your personal profile and career goals, other career paths are also possible, such as:

• Teaching in initial, continuing, and professional development programs (e.g., at vocational schools)
• Consulting, program development, or management roles in educational and healthcare institutions
• An academic career (e.g., a doctoral degree)

Vocational Specialization in Health Sciences

You will study subject-specific and subject-specific didactic content in the health sciences with a focus on professional and educational contexts.

At the University of Osnabrück, you can combine the Health Sciences professional track with one of the following general education subjects: biology, computer science, German, mathematics, English, physics, Protestant religion, Catholic religion, Islamic religion, Spanish, physical education, and chemistry.

The program is designed as a full-time, on-campus program. This means that courses generally take place on campus once a week. However, some courses are also offered online and/or as intensive sessions.

Sample Schedule

Here’s what your schedule might look like in the first semester of your bachelor’s program with a major in Health Sciences and a minor in German Studies:

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