Teacher Training Programme with Diploma Thesis - Subject English

Studies Induction and Orientation Stage (STEOP)

The Studies Induction and Orientation Stage (STEOP) requirements cease to be effective as of academic year 2014/2015 and no longer apply for students of this study programme.

Students who enrolled for this programme before 1 October 2014 (academic year 2014/2015) can repeat not successful completed courses which were designated in the curriculum as “STEOP courses” four times (= five examination attempts). As per Universities Act § 77 (2), previous attempts are to be counted among the number of total examination attempts permitted.

Recommended Course Sequence

Didactics and Training in the Selected Subjects:

First Part of Studies (33 Semester Hours)

• Language Skills and Awareness: 12 h
• Linguistics and Culture:6 h
• English Literature and Culture: 6 h
• American Literature and Culture: 6 h
• Subject Didactics: 3 h

Second Part of Studies (23 Semester Hours)

• Language Skills and Awareness: 4 h
• Linguistics and Culture: 4 h
• English Literature and Culture: 4 h
• American Literature and Culture: 4 h
• Subject Didactics: 7 h

First/Second Part of Studies

• Elective Modules: 8 h

Pedagogical Training and School Teaching Practice

First Academic Year: Orientation Unit, Introductory Practicum, Reflection Unit

Second Academic Year:Fundamentals of Learning and Teaching and Basic Skills 1

Third Academic Year: Basic Skills 2, Basic Practicum,Subject Related Practicum 1 and 2

Can be taken any semester:ElectiveModule (Pedagogy internship outside of the school setting).

Qualification Profile and Skills

The Secondary School Teacher Accreditation Programme aims at a preparatory vocational and scientific education for the certification of secondary school teachers with subject-specific, didactic, and pedagogical qualifications as well as school teaching practice. A scientifically sound basic education provides graduates with the necessary competences in order to work in their future occupational fields in a flexible and professional manner.

The Secondary School Teacher Accreditation Programme for the subject of English aims at providing future English teachers with the ability to work in their professions in a competent, flexible and professional manner. Since competent teaching in class is only possible if the teacher has an excellent command of the language, intensive language teaching is central to the training and not only limited to special language courses, but also considered in other examination subjects, all courses of which are held in English language. These other subjects are English Linguistics and Culture, American Literature and Subject Didactics.

The knowledge of linguistics promotes a deeper understanding of the structure and development of the English language in its different manifestations (“New Englishes”). The examination of English Literature and Culture promotes the understanding of the development of the English and post-colonial cultures, while the subject of American Literature and Culture deals mostly with North-American Literature and Culture. In the subject didactic courses students – in addition to the general didactic instruction and teaching experience – are prepared for their future as teachers. Like for other foreign languages this training takes place within the scope of the “Innsbruck Model of Foreign Language Teacher Education” (IMoF).

The pedagogical education and school teaching practice

• imparts graduates with a well-founded knowledge of secondary school teaching and learning in order to efficiently manage their teaching practice and help to assist and support the learning and educational processes of their pupils;
• enables graduates to evaluate and further develop their teaching practice based on proven methodology;
• allows graduates to understand school as an institution and organization in order to actively shape and develop school.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Graduates are academically educated experts in fostering personal development processes, arranging learning situations, accompanying learning processes, and assessing learning outcomes.

They acquire a sound knowledge in the areas that are listed in the qualification profile. They are able to demonstrate their competences in these areas and where they overlap with other subjects and disciplines by formulating arguments and supporting theories in a scientifically correct manner as well as solving problems in an innovative manner.

Future Prospects: Occupational Profiles and Career Opportunities

Graduates of a Secondary School Teacher Accreditation Programme are in particular teaching at lower and upper secondary schools. The qualifications acquired in the Teacher Accreditation Programme provide access to other vocational fields in the study programme, the educational sector, social and youth work, and communication.

Postgraduate and further Studies at the University of Innsbruck

• Doctoral Programme Literature and Cultural Studies
• Doctoral Programme Linguistics and Media Studies

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.

Recognitions (in German only)

• Recognition of examsANDSupplementary Sheet (for Didactics and Training in the Selected Subjects)
• Recognition of examsANDSupplementary Sheet for Pedagogical Training and School Teaching Practice(Course Examinations: Pedagogical Training and School Teaching Practice)

Forms (in German only)

• Examination Records (First Diploma Examination)
• Examination Records (Second Diploma Examination)
• Cover Sheet for the Diploma Thesis
• Declaration of Academic Honesty
• To block a Thesis
• Pedagogical Training and School Teaching Practice - First Part of Studies
• Pedagogical Training and School Teaching Practice - Second Part of Studies

Contact and Information

Examination Office
Location Innrain 52d

Authorised representative for subject training and didactics (from 01.03.2024)
Mag. Dr. Ulrich Pallua

Dean of Studies (from 01.03.2024)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Markus Ammann

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 (in German only)

• Deadlines
• General Information
• Diploma Thesis (Teacher Training Programme)
• Examination Regulation (Mozarteum University Salzburg- University of Innsbruck)
• Guidelines for electronic submission and publication of academic theses and Instructions from the ULB