Profile
The bachelor's programme Early Childhood Education and Family Studies focuses on two topics: institutional education and care for children aged 0–14 as well as family education. The combination of these topics provides the educational and methodological background to enable you to
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support families in their parenting skills and
- conceptualise services for children as well as parents.
Current research results provide the basis for strategies in professional practice.
The programme is designed to emphasise both subject-specific knowledge and core competences with a strong practice- and project-orientation. It links theory and practice, especially in observation and research assignments within seminars and in a supervised internship semester.
You learn scientific theories and methods to
- systematically observe and document matters,
- develop relationships with children and their attachment figures in a way which is beneficial for the children’s development,
- analyse social environments,
- organise and manage institutions for childhood and family education
- and, thus, actively shape educational processes.
You acquire the necessary skills to contribute to the legally expected childhood education and care in cooperation with families. The qualification includes fundamentals of academic methodology, development of an academic habitus and individual practical research.
In semester 4, you have the option to spend a semester at a different university – in Germany or abroad. It is also possible to spend the internship semester abroad.
The study programme meets the legal requirements of the law on the approval of social professions in Germany of 2015 (SobAG). In case of professional and personal aptitude, you are awarded state approval.
Career Options
The bachelor's programme Early Childhood Education and Family Studies qualifies you for practical education for children aged 0–14 and families.
Possible professional fields are:
- day care centres for children, possibly with a special focus
- family centres and family education centres
- open all-day schools (OGS)
- organisations for open work with children
- leisure centres for families
- vocational training, further training and continuing education, e.g. for early childhood educators and child minders
- counselling services
You can work in all institutions of public or private welfare agencies or churches.
As a graduate from the bachelor’s programme, you can also decide to do a master’s degree. Such a postgraduate degree qualifies you for professional academic fields (research and teaching) and/or for advanced executive and development tasks.
