Bachelor's Programme Secondary School Teacher Training (General Education)
Subject: Biology and Environmental Protection
Curriculum (2015W)
KPH - Edith Stein . Universität Mozarteum . PH Tirol . PH Vorarlberg . LFU Innsbruck
Bachelor of Education (BEd)
Duration/ECTS-Credits
8 semesters/240 ECTS-Credits
(combination of two subjects or one subject and one specialisation)
Mode of Study
Full-Time
Language of Instruction
German
Admission Requirements
Secondary school completion certificate or equivalent and Language Certificates
Supplemental Examination
The supplemental examination in Biology and Environmental Protection is dropped
- if a minimum of four hours in natural sciences, biology or biology in conjunction with other teaching areas per week were successfully attended at a secondary school after the 8th school grade.
- if the knowledge from the fields of natural sciences, biology or biology in conjunction with other teaching areas are already part of the admission procedure prior admission (concerns all admission processes acc. to §65a and §§71b, c, d UA 2002).
Programme Coordination
LFU Innsbruck
Faculty of Biology
Faculty of Teacher Education
Qualification Level
Bachelor (First Cycle)
ISCED-11: Level 6, EQF/NQF: Level 6
ISCED-F
0114 Teacher Training with Subject Specialisation
Study Code
UC 198 454 xxx | UC 198 xxx 454
Application
Apply ONLINEInformation about the admission procedure
Information on the Curriculum
The complete version of the curriculum reflects the currently valid version of the curriculum. It is for informational purposes only and is not legally binding. The legally binding version of the curriculum, including any amendments, may be found in the University of Innsbruck Bulletins.
In order to determine which version of the curriculum is applicable in your case, see the Catalogue of Studies,
available at: https://lfuonline.uibk.ac.at/public/lfuonline_meinestudien.studienblatt
Section: Current Curriculum version.
- English verison of the Curriculum(from October 1st 2024)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin May 7th 2024, Issue 59, No. 730 (modification of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin Feburary 2nd 2023, Issue 18, No. 278 (regulation of the admission procedure)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin January 25th 2022, Issue 14, No. 249 (regulation of the admission procedure)
- English version of the Curriculum (from October 1st 2021)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin August 4th 2021, Issue 99, No. 959 (equivalence list)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 30th 2021, Issue 89, No. 897 (modification of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin May 19th 2021, Issue 67, No. 752 (regulation of the admission procedure- alternative registration term)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin January 20th 2021; Issue 32, No. 356 (regulation of the admission procedure)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 17th 2020, Issue 39, No. 411 (amendment of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 17th 2020, Issue 39, No. 414 (regulation on the admission procedure)
- English version of the Curriculum (from October 1st 2019)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin January 22nd 2020, Issue 12, No. 177 (regulation on the admission procedure)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin August 7 2019, Issue 73, No. 674 (equivalence list)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin May 23rd 2019, Issue 47, No. 471 (modification of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin May 8th 2019, Issue 43, No. 431 (regulation on the admission procedure)
- English version of the Curriculum (from October 1st 2017)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin October 18th 2017, Issue 3, No. 20 (amendment of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 30th 2017, Issue 47, No. 655(modification of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin February 15th 2017, Issue 25, No. 274 (regulation on the admission procedure)
- English version of the Curriculum (from October 1st 2016)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin July 20th 2016, Issue 50, No. 506 (amendment of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 29th 2016, Issue 47, No. 491 (amendment of the curriculum)
- English version of the Curriculum
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin August 19th 2015, Issue 81, No. 573 (amendment of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 17th 2015, Issue 64, No. 492
Studies Induction and Orientation Stage (STEOP)
(1) The following exams have to be taken during the studies induction and orientation phase, which takes place in the first semester:
- School as an Educational Institution and Role of the Teacher, VO 2, 2 ECTS-Credits
- Systematics and Evolution, VO 3, 5 ECTS-Credits
(2) Before the full completion of the introductory study and orientation phase, students can participate in courses amounting to 22 ECTS credits.
Recommended Course Sequence
The exemplary course sequence given below is recommended for full-time students beginning their study programme in the winter semester. The table shows one possible course sequence for the bachelor's programme and is not compulsory. Delays resulting from repeated examinations are not taken into account.
The standard duration of the study programme is 6 semesters or 180 ECTS-Credits, whereby according to the Universities Act of 2002, a workload of 1,500 (real) hours per academic year must be fulfilled, corresponding to 60 ECTS-Credits (one ECTS-Credit is equivalent to a workload of 25 hours).
1.5 ECTS-Credits, 1 h: VO Applied Mathematics and Statistics
2.0 ECTS-Credits, 1 h: VO Inorganic and Organic Chemistry for Biologists
1.5 ECTS-Credits, 1 h: VO Geology, Origin of Life, Geological Eras
2.5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VO Cell Biology and Cell Physiology
2.5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VO Biochemistry
5.0 ECTS-Credits, 3 h: VO Systematics and Evolution
Basics of Educational Science
2.0 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VO School as an Educational Institution and Role of the Teacher
2.0 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: PS School as an Educational Institution and Role of the Teacher
Recommended Courses for the first semester of the other Subject.
2.5 ECTS-Credits, 2h: VO Anatomy and Body Plans of Animals
2.5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: UE Anatomy and Body Plans of Animals
2.5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: EU Learning Outside the Classroom
Basics of Educational Science
3.5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: PR Dealing with the Challenges as a Teacher at School - Teaching Practice I
Course Sequence (incl. Basics of Educational Science)
Qualification Profile and Skills
The Secondary School Teacher Training Programme (General Education) qualifies its graduates as teachers in the selected subjects of general education / specializations for all secondary schools (Neue Mittelschule, Polytechnische Schule, Academic Secondary Schools, Intermediate and Higher Technical and Vocational Schools). This study programme also meets the requirements for teaching in intermediate and higher schools in the South Tyrol *. It consists of a Bachelor’s Programme and a subsequent Master’s Programme. It covers training in general education science, a pedagogical-practical training and a subject-specific and subject-didactic education in the two selected teaching subjects.
In the Bachelor’s Programme Secondary School Teacher Training in the subject of Biology and Environmental Protection knowledge in the following examination subjects is imparted: botany, zoology and general biology, fundamentals of systematics, fundamentals of native plant and animal taxonomy, knowledge about the cell as basic building stone of life and starting point for development and evolution, basic knowledge of genetics as precondition for understanding molecular and evolutional biology and fundamentals of physiology on the level of cell, organ and organism. The contents imparted in the examination subjects Ecology and Earth Sciences serve the acquisition of basic knowledge in the field of ecology and earth sciences as a basis for a well-grounded environmental education. in the subject of Human Biology aspects of nutrition, psychosomatics, sexual and health education as well as use of resources and environmental pollution are focused on.
The programme has a special emphasis on imparting didactic skills for teaching biology-relevant contents:
- for designing motivating, interest-boosting and pupil-centred classes;
- for dealing with teaching and learning materials for modern biology classes (microscopy, experiments, knowledge of modern research methods).
- for planning and holding classes in the outdoors.
- for arousing the pupils’ interest in nature.
- for supporting action-based, differentiated and independent working.
- for enabling research-orientated learning in class.
* South Tyrolean teacher education students have to fulfil specific prerequisites, if they want to teach in South Tyrol. For information contact the Office for South Tyrolean Affairs.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Bachelor’s Programme Secondary School Teacher Training in the teaching subject of Biology and Environmental Protection can pass on the acquired knowledge to secondary school pupils in a competent and subject-specific way and thus arouse their interest in various aspects of biology. They have a well-grounded knowledge in all key areas of biology (in particular consideration of the curricula of secondary schools), can apply this knowledge in the respective contexts and link biological disciplines with the basics of natural sciences in an interdisciplinary way. They master biological working techniques in the laboratory and in the field and understand the basic principles of scientific research (planning, execution, report, presentation). They understand the principles of sustainability and can convey a sense of responsibility for nature and environment and impart corresponding opportunities for action.
Graduates can prepare biological contents in consideration of the individual needs of the pupils and help them to understand learning content and to apply this knowledge in the same context as well as new contexts. They are able to incorporate current research findings in biology into their lessons, to link biological contents to the pupils’ world of experience and impressively illustrate them with interesting experiments and practical tasks in the classroom and during field excursions. They have a fundamental knowledge of the didactic theories and models for teaching biology and can effectively use this knowledge for their teaching. They are able to critically questions and evaluate their own actions.
Future Prospects: Occupational Profiles and Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Bachelor’s Programme Secondary School Teacher Training (General Education) are admitted to the corresponding Master’s Programme and can provisionally start their teaching service in the chosen general education subject in secondary schools to complete the Induction and Orientation Phase.
Extension Programme
Within the scope of the Study Programme, a Extension Programme corresponding to 60 ECTS-Credits may be passed. Admission to the Extension Programme requires the admission to or the having passed of one of the selected Study Programmes. Detailed information: https://www.uibk.ac.at/studium/angebot/es-informatik/
Information about examination regulations, assessment and grading
Examination regulations
The examination regulation is an integral part of the curriculum, detailed information can be found under the paragraph examination regulations.
The grade distribution table is a statistical representation of the distribution of all successfully completed examinations in a given programme of study or subject (based on all registered students for the programme or subject). The grade distribution table is updated in regular intervals.
| A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austrian grading scheme | Definition | %-age | ||
| 1 | EXCELLENT: Outstanding performance | 28.3 | = 100% | |
| 2 | GOOD: Generally good, but with some errors | 29.1 | ||
| 3 | SATISFACTORY: Generally sound work with a number of substantial errors | 24.8 | ||
| 4 | SUFFICIENT: Performance meets the minimum criteria | 17.8 | ||
| 5 | INSUFFICIENT: Substantial improvement necessary; requirement of further work |
Overall classification of the qualification
Not applicable
Explanation: An overall classification (mit Auszeichnung bestanden/pass with distinction, bestanden/pass, nicht bestanden/fail) – is awarded only for examinations that conclude a programme of study and consist of more than one subject (an examination of this type is not specified in the curriculum of this programme of study).
Forms (in German only)
- Evidence of the Bachelor's Thesis according to the Curriculum
- Examination Records
- Record "Basics of Educational Science"
- Recognition of examsAND Supplementary Sheet
- Recognition of examsANDSupplementary Sheet (Basics of Educational Science)
(Courses out of Basics of Educational Science) - Recognition of (Prior) formal learning outcomes (RPL-Project)
- Declaration of Academic Honesty (optional)
- Cover Sheet Bachelor's Thesis
- Application for Admission to the third and fourth repetition of a course examination
Contact and Information
Examination Office
Location Innrain 52d
Authorised repesentative for subject training and didactics
assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr. Florian Michael Steiner
Dean of Studies (from 01.03.2024)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Markus Ammann
Information portal for Biology Students of the University of Innsbruck
biopage.info
Informations for students from South Tyrol*
Office for South Tyrolean Affairs
*For students from South Tyrol, there are special requirements if they want to teach in South Tyrol.
Informations for students with disabilities
Disability Office
Information about the Programme
- General Information from the Faculty of Teacher Education
- Administrative Procedure - Graduation