For students who have started their program of study from the winter semester 2025/26, the documents provided on the right as a PDF download apply.

The degree program is designed for 6 semesters. The beginning of studies is possible in both the winter and summer semesters.

The BA degree program in Educational Science is geared towards the professional skills that graduates of the degree program need today and in the future in order to be able to act professionally in educational fields. To this end, basic knowledge of educational science theories and methods is taught.

With the offer of 2 tracks of study as required elective subjects:

1. Adult and Media Education (EPMP)
2. Social Pedagogy

A differentiation and specialization is achieved that is appropriate to the diversity of Education fields of action.

Professional orientation of the Bachelor’s degree program:

Media education:

• Schools and educational institutions
• extracurricular work with children and young people (e.g. media workshops, youth centers, libraries),
• Adult education (e.g. training for parents, professionals, senior citizens)
• Higher education institutions and research institutions (e.g. teaching, project work),
• Media houses
• Broadcasting
• Museums and foundations
• Media ethics
• Protection of minors
• Political education (e.g. state media authorities, educational projects)
• Freelance media consulting (e.g. e-learning, concept development).

Adult education:

• Institutions of adult education/further education with regard to general adult education and further vocational training
• Institutions in the municipal and church sector
• Self-study centers
• Educational and learning guidance organizations
• Appointments and in-company training and further education
• professional reintegration
• Train the trainer
• Further training for Education staff
• Parent and family education
• Human Resources Development/Organizational Development

Social Pedagogy:

• Child and youth welfare
• Social Pedagogy in dealing with diversity
• Deviance and disadvantage, integration and disability assistance
• Social Pedagogy in Healthcare
• Work with the elderly
• Child protection and early help
• Refugee migration work
• Social Pedagogy advising
• international social work
• National, international and transnational social, development and health policy organizations
• Research and teaching at universities, higher education institutions or non-university research institutes

For students who have started their program of study from the summer semester 2019, the documents provided on the right as a PDF download apply.

The degree program is designed for 6 semesters. The beginning of studies is possible in both the winter and summer semesters.

The BA degree program in Educational Science is geared towards the professional skills that graduates of the degree program need today and in the future in order to be able to act professionally in educational fields, and teaches basic knowledge of educational science theories and methods.

With the offer of 2 tracks of study as required elective subjects:

1. Social Pedagogy and General Educational Science
2. Lifelong learning and media education

A differentiation and specialization is achieved that is appropriate to the diversity of Education fields of action.

Professional orientation of the Bachelor’s degree program:

Social Pedagogy and General Educational Science:

• Child and youth welfare
• Social Pedagogy in dealing with deviance and disadvantage
• Social Pedagogy in Healthcare
• Work with the elderly
• International Social Work
• International and transnational social, development and health policy organizations
• Research and teaching at universities, universities of applied sciences or non-university research institutes

Lifelong learning and media education:

• Political adult education
• Parent and family education
• Company training and further education
• Inter-company further vocational training
• Human Resources Development/Organizational Development
• Educational counseling
• Media Education institutions in the municipal and church sector
• Media Education-oriented child and youth media protection
• Television station
• Publishers
• Multimedia producers
• E-learning
• Research
• Digital public relations
• Production of educational media

The Institute of Educational Science is offering a new master’s degree program in Educational Science from the start of the winter semester 2025/2026. The beginning of studies is possible in the winter semester and in the summer semester. The Master’s degree includes the following three tracks of study:

1. Digital education and training (DBWB)
2. Education of children and adolescents (PKJ)
3. Social Pedagogy/Social Work (SP)

The structure of the Master’s degree program in Educational Science is the same for all tracks of study. The first two modules of General Educational Science are offered for all tracks of study, followed by modules three to nine with the specific content of the individual tracks of study. In the seventh module, empirical research methods, research designs and student research projects based on the content of the tracks of study are developed. A compulsory internship of 300 hours is completed in the eighth module. The Master’s degree program is completed in the ninth module with the preparation of the Master’s thesis and the oral Master’s examination.1 Digital Education and Continuing Education (DBWB)

The digital transformation is fundamentally changing our educational landscape – in educational institutions, in adult education, in social institutions and in continuing professional development. The track of study takes this on board and deals with the lifelong and life-wide education of people in different age phases in research and teaching. The content of the program of study is shaped by the intertwined perspectives of adult education (headed by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Lerch and JProf. ‘in Dr. Julia Koller) and Media Education (headed by Prof. ‘in Dr. Jasmin Bastian and JProf. ‘in Dr. Ulrike Krein). Students are taught the basics of educational science as well as practical and application-oriented knowledge at the interface of adult education and media education. In addition to scientific and empirical training in different educational fields, we place particular importance on competence orientation (including digital design of teaching-learning processes, educational management and advising). Both serve to prepare our students for a wide range of tasks (including digital teaching, instructional design, program planning, seminar design) in an exciting and increasingly borderless appointment field at the interface of adult education/continuing education and media education.
We essentially contribute to:

• basic theory development (e.g. digital education, media literacy, media and adult education professionalism, lifelong education, media ethics, criticism of digitalization)
• Linking scientific knowledge and empirical educational research (e.g. teaching-learning research, biographical research, organizational research)
• Analysis of developments relevant to adult education and Media Education (e.g. pedagogical optimization, learning and teaching in the digital transformation, gainful employment in transition, change management, media consulting)
• sound methodological and didactic preparation of students for later educational work (e.g. blended learning, e-learning, mobile learning, biographical methods)

In which areas can you work later?

This qualifies our graduates for exciting tasks in some newly developing fields (e.g. learning development, learning management) as well as in traditional areas of adult and media education.

In media education, these are:

• Schools and educational institutions
• extracurricular work with children and young people (e.g. media workshops, youth centers, libraries)
• Adult education (e.g. training for parents, professionals, senior citizens)
• Higher education institutions and research institutions (e.g. teaching, project work)
• Media houses
• Broadcasting
• Museums and foundations
• Media ethics
• Protection of minors
• Political education (e.g. state media authorities, educational projects)
• Freelance media consulting (e.g. e-learning, concept development)

In adult education, these are:

• Institutions of adult education/further education with regard to general adult education and further vocational training
• Self-study centers
• Educational and learning guidance organizations
• Appointments and in-company training and further education
• professional reintegration
• Train the trainer
• Further training for Education staff
• Parent and family education
• Human Resources Development/Organizational Development
• Institutions in the municipal and church sector

Contact person for the track of study:

• Prof. Dr. Sebastian Lerch; Jun.-Prof.’in Dr. Julia Koller
• Prof.’in Dr. Jasmin Bastian; Jun.-Prof.’in Dr. Ulrike Krein

2. education of children and adolescents (PKJ)

Education of childhood and adolescence focuses on the processes of upbringing, education and socialization in childhood and adolescence. The track of study focuses primarily on the extracurricular education of children and young people, which represents a differentiated field of pedagogical action. In terms of research, it ties in with recent childhood and youth research. Here, childhood and youth are seen on the one hand as historical-social constructions and on the other hand as independent phases of life, whereby children and young people are seen as actors who actively shape their living environment. In addition to the individual development and educational processes of children and young people, the historical, social and political framework conditions of the life phases of childhood and adolescence are also addressed. International developments are also addressed, for example in connection with the climate crisis, migration, globalization, social inequality and democratization.

In the track of study Education of Childhood and Adolescence you can deal with the following contents:

• Theoretical and methodological foundations of childhood and youth research
• Life situations and living environments of children and young people
• Education professionalism in working with children and young people
• Fields and organizations of Education work with children and young people
• Psychosocial development, crisis management and educational action

In which areas can you work later?

The track of study qualifies students for a wide range of extracurricular activities, in particular in institutions of extracurricular child and youth education. Education can be found, for example, in the fields of early education, supervision and upbringing, child and youth work, extracurricular political and cultural education, family education, child and youth policy, associations that are committed to children, young people and families, as well as in cooperation with schools. There are also fields of work in the field of educational research at universities, higher education institutions and non-university (practice-oriented) research institutes.

Contact persons of the track of study:

• Prof. Dr. Tanja Betz
• JProf’in Dr. Lilli Riettiens
• Prof. Dr. Stefan Weyers

3. Social Pedagogy/Social Work (SP)

In recent years, the number of people employed in social work has increased significantly. Social work is a professional field that is growing (not only) due to current socio-political developments and offers a wide range of employment opportunities. The M.A. degree program qualifies students for a wide range of Social Pedagogy fields of work in Germany and abroad.

In the track of study Social Pedagogy/Social Work you can deal with the following contents:

• Theoretical approaches and foundations of Social Pedagogy
• Fields of work and organizations of social work
• Social Pedagogy
• (International/transnational) research in Social Pedagogy

In which areas can you work later?

The track of study qualifies students for a wide range of Social Pedagogy fields of work. For example: child and youth welfare, international/transnational organizations and networks in the field of social assistance, education, migration and health, social services for refugee aid, (international) youth work, social pedagogy advising, elderly care, international student exchange, diversity management.

Contact person for the track of study:

• Prof. Dr. Alexandra Klein
• Prof. Dr. Marc Weinhardt
• Prof. Dr. Matthias Witte
• Junior Professor Dr. Constantin Wagner

The Institute of Educational Science is offering a new master’s degree program in Educational Science from the start of the 2015/2016 winter semester. The beginning of studies is possible in the winter semester and in the summer semester. This is selective in both the winter semester and the summer semester and includes the following four tracks of study:

1. Lifelong learning and media education
2. Education of children and adolescents
3. Social Pedagogy with a focus on internationality/transnationality

The structure of the Master’s degree program in Educational Science is the same for each track of study. The first two modules of General Educational Science are offered for all tracks of study, followed by modules three to six with the specific content of the individual tracks of study. In the seventh module, empirical research methods, research designs and student research projects based on the content of the tracks of study are developed. In the eighth module, students can choose between different credits. The Master’s degree program is completed in the ninth module with the preparation of the Master’s thesis and the oral Master’s examination.1 Lifelong learning and media education

Our self-image of research, teaching and educational practice is characterized by a strong connection between theory and practice as well as a high degree of orientation towards professional practice. In addition to scientific and empirical training in different fields of educational science, we also place particular importance on competence orientation (including digital design of teaching-learning processes, educational management and advising). Our students benefit from our expertise through the two, partly interdependent, perspectives in research and teaching. They receive theoretical foundations, practical and application-related knowledge at the interface of adult education and media education. Both serve to prepare our students for a wide range of tasks (including digital teaching, teaching design, program planning, seminar design) in an exciting and increasingly borderless appointment field at the interface of adult education/further education and media education.
Essentially, we contribute to:

• basic theory development (e.g. digital education, media literacy, adult educational professionalism, lifelong education)
• Combination of scientific knowledge and empirical educational research (e.g. teaching-learning research, biographical research)
• Analysis of significant developments in adult education and media education (e.g. pedagogical optimization, learning and teaching in digital times, gainful employment in times of change)
• well-founded preparation of students for their future educational work (e.g. methods of educational work, design your life)

In which areas can you work later?

Institutions of adult education/further education with regard to general adult education and vocational further education, self-learning centers, educational and learning guidance organizations, vocational and in-company training and further education, vocational reintegration, train the trainer, further education of educational staff, Parent and family education, Human Resources Development/Organizational Development, Media Education institutions in the municipal and church sector, youth media protection, media education-oriented child and youth work, television stations, publishing houses, multimedia producers and e-learning, research, digital public relations, production of educational media.

Contact person for the track of study:

• Prof. Dr. Sebastian Lerch; Junior Prof. Dr. Julia Koller
• Prof. Dr. Jasmin Bastian; Junior Prof. Dr. Ulrike Krein

2. education of children and adolescents

Education of childhood and adolescence focuses on the processes of upbringing, education and socialization in childhood and adolescence. The track of study focuses primarily on the extracurricular education of children and young people, which represents a differentiated field of pedagogical action. In terms of research, it ties in with recent childhood and youth research. Here, childhood and youth are seen on the one hand as historical-social constructions, and on the other as independent phases of life – and children and young people as actors who actively shape their living environment. In addition to the individual development and educational processes of children and young people, the historical, social and political framework conditions of the life phases of childhood and adolescence are also addressed. International developments that are significant for education and upbringing in modern societies are addressed, for example developments in connection with migration, cultural pluralization, globalization and democratization.

In the track of study Education of Childhood and Adolescence you can deal with the following contents:

• Theoretical and methodological foundations of childhood and youth research
• Life situations and living environments of children and young people
• Action concepts for children and youth education
• Institutions and organizations for children and youth education

In which areas can you work later?

The track of study qualifies students for a wide range of extracurricular activities, in particular in institutions of extracurricular child and youth education. Education can be found, for example, in the fields of early education, supervision and upbringing, child and youth work, child and youth welfare, extracurricular political and cultural education, family education, child and youth policy, associations that are committed to children, young people and families, as well as in cooperation with schools. There are also fields of work in the area of educational research at universities, higher education institutions and non-university (practice-oriented) research institutes.

Contact person for the track of study:

• Prof. Dr. Stefan Weyers
• Prof. Dr. Tanja Betz
• Junior Professor Dr. Julia König
• JProf’in Dr. Lilli Riettiens

3. Social Pedagogy with a focus on internationality/transnationality

This track of study responds to the increasing importance of globalization and Europeanization processes, which affect Social Pedagogy at its core. The professional development of Social Pedagogy shows that internationally qualified specialists are increasingly needed and that international qualifications are of central importance. This also affects the local fields of practice of Social Pedagogy, which have to adapt to changing target groups and problem situations in a special way. At the same time, career prospects are increasingly opening up in international and transnational fields of work, organizations and networks.

In the track of study Social Pedagogy with a focus on internationality/transnationality, you can deal with the following contents:

• Theoretical approaches and foundations of Social Pedagogy in an international/transnational context
• Fields of work and organizations of social work in international/transnational fields
• Social Pedagogy
• (International/transnational) research in Social Pedagogy

In which areas can you work later?

The track of study qualifies students for a wide range of Social Pedagogy fields of work. For example: child and youth welfare, international/transnational organizations and networks in the field of social aid, education, migration and health, social services for refugee aid, (international) youth work, social pedagogy advising, elderly care, international student exchange, diversity management.

Contact person for the track of study:

• Prof. Dr. Alexandra Klein
• Univ.-Prof. Dr. Cornelia Schweppe
• Prof. Dr. Matthias Witte
• Junior Professor Dr. Constantin Wagner

Since the summer semester 2024, the adult education team has been offering the new Train the Trainer certificate in cooperation with the Center for Lifelong Learning (ZWW) at JGU Mainz.

The flyer presents the central contents, the structure of the various courses and the conditions for participation. The certificate is open to everyone in the master’s degree program in Educational Science at JGU Mainz!

Here you will find the relevant examination regulations and the module catalog for the certificate.
You will soon find more detailed information on our web page, as well as more detailed information on registration modalities.

We are very pleased about the lively interest and your participation in this opportunity to gain an interdisciplinary qualification. You can log in for the events via JOGU-StINe.

Prof. Dr. Sebastian Lerch
(Management)

Georg Forster Building, Room 02.212
Phone: +49 (0) 6131/39 – 26619
selerch@uni-mainz.de

Madeleine Kaul
(Certificate Coordination)

Georg Forster Building, Room 02.208
Phone: +49 (0) 6131/39 – 26613
tttzertifikateb@uni-mainz.de

The further education Master’s degree in Coaching – Training – Advising. Process support for individuals, teams and organizations is an innovative and flexible master’s degree program designed specifically for working professionals. It enables students to expand their counseling skills in various fields of activity while continuing their appointments.

The degree program is supervised by the Chair of Adult Education/Continuing Education (Prof. Dr. Sebastian Lerch/Jun.-Prof. Dr. Julia Koller) and the Center for Lifelong Learning (ZWW) (Dr. Beate Hörr/Sonja Lux M.A.) and will start in WS 2024/25.

Please note that this is an extra-occupational and fee-based course.

Further information on content and structure, examination regulations, module catalog, costs and admission requirements can be found here.