Program Overview

University of Fribourg Teacher Education for Secondary Level I Program

Abstract

The University of Fribourg offers a course in Teacher Education for Secondary Level I, aimed at people wishing to teach in Cycle d'Orientation/Orientierungsschulen classes. The program consists of a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education Level I, comprising 180 ECTS credits, followed by a Master of Arts en enseignement pour le degré secondaire I/Master of Arts für den Unterricht auf der Sekundarstufe I.

Profile of the Study Programme

The program is offered in French, German, or bilingually. It provides students with basic scientific knowledge of their chosen teaching subjects and professional skills required to teach pupils in the three final years of compulsory education.

Objective

The program prepares students to teach three to four subjects featured in the curriculum of secondary level I schools in Switzerland. The bachelor's degree does not qualify students to teach; a Master of Arts en enseignement pour le degré secondaire I/Master of Arts für den Unterricht auf der Sekundarstufe I is required to teach in secondary level I education in Switzerland.

Subject Training

The bachelor course provides candidates with basic scientific knowledge of their chosen teaching subjects as well as professional skills required to teach pupils in the three final years of compulsory education. The subject training is done in the different faculties, while the professional training, educational skills, didactics, and teaching practice are taught in the teacher training facilities.

Professional Training, Educational Skills, Didactics, and Teaching Practice

The main emphasis is on introducing students to areas of scientific knowledge which play a role in teaching through coursework and to the practical aspects of teacher training through teaching practice in CO classes.

Languages in Which the Course is Taught

Students may take the course according to a French or German-language study plan, or else according to a bilingual study plan.

Structure of Studies

The program consists of 150 ECTS credits (academic training) + 30 ECTS credits (teacher training), spread over 6 semesters.

Admission

The following Swiss school-leaving certificates grant admission to bachelor programs at the University of Fribourg:

• Swiss academic Maturity Certificate
• Federal vocational or specialised Baccalaureate + supplementary examination of the Swiss Maturity Commission (passerelle)
• Bachelor Degree from a Swiss university, from an accredited Swiss university of applied sciences (HES/FH) or from a Swiss university of teacher education (HEP/PH)

Foreign upper secondary school-leaving certificates are recognised only if they correspond substantially to the Swiss Maturity Certificate. They must qualify as general education.

Degree Conferred

The program confers a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education.

Access to Further Studies

The bachelor program qualifies students for the Master of Arts en enseignement pour le degré secondaire I/Master of Arts für den Unterricht auf der Sekundarstufe I. The Master of Arts en enseignement pour le degré secondaire I/Master of Arts für den Unterricht auf der Sekundarstufe I is conferred after completion of the complete course of study (bachelor + master). This degree also qualifies students for the Diplôme d'enseignement pour le degré secondaire I (DEDS) / Lehrdiplom für die Sekundarstufe I (LDS). The DEDS/LDS is a state diploma recognised by the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (CDIP/EDK). This sole diploma gives graduates authority to teach at secondary school level I.