Vocational Education in Nursing Science, M.A.

Pursuant to the regulations governing admission and restricted admission

The study program Vocational Education in Nursing Science is not subject to restricted admission. All applicants who fulfill the admission requirements may be offered a place. The information on restricted admission refers to winter semester 2014/2015.

Admission to the master’s program Vocational Education in Nursing Science is subject to certain requirements, namely:

• A first degree with 180 CP earned for academic work, or an equivalent academic qualification.

• Altogether at least 110 CP in Nursing Science and a general subject in which the first degree was awarded.

• Foundation knowledge of subject didactics carrying at least 9 CPs earned in one major, or alternatively equivalent academic work.

• Foundation knowledge of Educational Science earning at least 9 CPs, or alternatively equivalent academic work.

• In-classroom experience at a vocational school (including schools in the health care sector) with focus on Educational Science and/or subject didactics, including preparation and written evaluation. At least 6 CPs must be earned for this period of in-school service.

• A completed period of vocational training in one of the following occupations: Health care and nursing, geriatric nursing, remedial therapy, ergo therapy, physiotherapy, midwifery, or speech therapy.

• Knowledge of German in accordance with the language requirements set by the University of Bremen pursuant to the latest version of "Ordnung über den Nachweis deutscher Sprachkenntnisse an der Universität Bremen" from January 25, 2012.

The Master’s Selection Committee decides on what qualifications can be considered as equivalent.

All the above information, which is based on the admission requirements as of 22.10.2014, is subject to alteration. Applicants should note that details of restricted admission and admission regulations can change from year to year. For up-to-date details, please visit www.uni-bremen.de/master.

The program “Master of Arts: Vocational Education in Nursing Science” is spread over four semesters during which students must earn 120 CPs. Studies are structured as follows:

• Discipline-oriented studies in Nursing Science earning 6 CPs.

• Subject didactics of Nursing Science earning 12 CPs and course work on heterogeneity earning at least 3 CPs.

• Discipline-oriented studies and subject didactics of a general education school subject earning 54 CPs.

• Studies in Educational Science earning 18 CPs in addition to a period of in-school practice earning 12 CPs.

• Master’s thesis earning 18 CP.

In order to ensure that graduates from the master’s program share the same level of qualification as set by the German Rectors’ Conference for teacher education in category 5 and the regulations governing master’s programs in teacher education in Lower Saxony, applicants who were awarded their bachelor’s degree at other universities are given a separate customized program structure before studies commence.

In the first subject Nursing Science, students choose a compulsory elective carrying 6 CPs that they attend together with students in the master’s program “Community and Family Health Nursing”. 
In addition to this, they must complete two modules in subject didactics.

Studies in the subject science of the career field nursing comprise the following compulsory elective modules:

• M 4-P-BP Evidence basing in Community and Family Health Nursing
• M 5-P-BP Communication and Cooperation in Community and Family Health Nursing
• M 7-P-BP Health promotion and ethics in Community and Family Health Nursing.

Studies in Educational Sciences in the area of Vocational Education comprise both compulsory as well as elective modules:

• M BP-1 Introduction to Vocational Education
• M BP-2 Learning, development and socialization
• M FP BP School-based research internship.

Elective modules earning 6 CP:

• M EW B.A. 1 Basic structures of pedagogical thinking and action
• M EW B.A. 3.1 Learning and teaching I: Learning
• M EW B.A. 3.2 Learning and teaching II: Teaching
• M EW B.A. 5.1 Counseling, supervision and resolving conflict I: Educational counseling
• M EW B.A. 5.2 Counseling, supervision and conflict resolution II: Supervision and resolving conflict.

Possible second subjects

Students can choose between the following integrated general education school subjects:
German, Mathematics, Politics, and Religion.
Students may also apply to take other subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, English, French, History, Art, Music, Physics, and Spanish.

Students who later wish to seek employment in vocational education in Lower Saxony can currently choose between the following general education school subjects: Biology, Chemistry, German, English, French, Mathematics, Physics, Politics or Spanish.

In the event that graduates seek to be employed at vocational schools in other federal states, they should first check their respective subject combinations to see if these conform to the regulations that apply there.

Students striving to become teachers at vocational schools solely in the health sector (as a rule not public institutions), can choose History, Art, Music or Religion.

Before deciding on an integrated second subject in the area of general education, students are strongly recommended to contact a program advisor to seek guidance on compatible subject combinations as not all federal states accept the same combinations in teacher education offered at the University of Bremen.

The study program “Master of Arts: Vocational Education in Nursing Science” builds on the undergraduate program “Bachelor of Arts Nursing Science” (Cooperative training program) as well as Nursing Science – dual program together with “Education”. It is a continuation of dual studies in the subjects of Nursing Science and Vocational Education/ Educational Science.

The master’s program in Nursing Science aims at training the advanced competences requisite for the professionalization of the nursing profession in the area “Community and Family Health Nursing”. In contrast to the bachelor’s program, alongside teaching competence, subject didactics in the career field of nursing also focuses on training skill sets in “innovation” and “reflection”. Taking into account the complex as well as often unpredictable challenges inherent to every pedagogical action, the program aims above all at educating teachers to be “reflecting practitioners” who are not content to fit into entrenched school routines. In this respect, the school-based research internship, which is part of the master’s program in Vocational Education in Nursing Science, plays an exceptionally important role.  In accordance with principles of research-based learning and allowing students to work independently, during their internship the students apply scientific methods to investigate a research question related to school and classroom practice in the career field of nursing.

The program “Master of Arts Vocational Education in Nursing Science” foresees two internships:

• A 6-week vocational pedagogical internship in the first school subject  after the first semester which earns 6 CP

• A 6-week school-based research internship after the third semester that ends with a written examination and carries 12 CP

• An internship focusing on subject-didactics in the integrated general education school subject: Here, form and CPs depend on the subject in question.

The students are mentored by their professors during their internships.

It is mandatory that all students have prior experience in and knowledge of nursing. As the state of research in Nursing Science is advanced most in Anglo-American countries, the literature is mostly in English. Students should therefore have a good command of English.

FB 11 is actively involved in interdisciplinary teaching and research collaborations with other study programs such as Public Health, Educational Science/Vocational Education and the second subjects, as well as with the Institut für Public Health und Pflegewissenschaft (IPP).

The “Master of Arts Vocational Education in Nursing Science” prepares students for teaching positions at schools in the health sector (initial training for careers as healthcare and pediatric nurses, geriatric nurses, midwives, remedial therapists, ergo therapists, physiotherapists, and speech therapists) as well as in non-school areas of vocational training and further education at vocational schools.

A master’s degree is prerequisite for recruitment to the Referendariat (one or one and a half years) preceding full employment as a teacher at vocational schools.

Students should note that in Bremen there is no possibility to enter into a Referendariat or to be employed at a public vocational school in the field of nursing science.

Under the provisions of an agreement concluded between the University of Bremen and the federal state of Lower Saxony on 13.07.2015 ("Vereinbarung über die Anerkennung eines Master of ArtsBerufspädagogik Pflegwissenschaft"), it is however possible to enter into a Referendariat in Lower Saxony, provided: The Master of Arts in Vocational Education in Nursing Science is awarded in connection with the Bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science awarded by the University of Bremen – dual (with recognition of 40 CPs earned in a non-university area). Provided sufficient capacity is available, graduates may be offered a Referendariat at vocational schools in Lower Saxony.

In the event graduates wish to have their qualification recognized in other federal states, and especially in Lower Saxony, they should note that only certain combinations of subjects are possible (see "possible second subjects") and that – should they have been awarded their bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science (Cooperative training program) with recognition of 70 CPs earned in a non-university area – it may be necessary to complete additional academic work.

For more detailed information please contact your program advisor (Student counseling).

Teaching Formats

The curriculum foresees both the more traditional form of seminars as well as seminars with a high degree of research-based learning, partly in connection with a project, partly with orientation to the practice.

Language of Tuition

German

A current overview of all contacts can be found on the German version of this website. 

The departmental student committee (StugA) coordinates student activities and represents the interests of students in the area of nursing science on official level. Should you have any questions or think something is not running as well as it should, don’t hesitate to get it off your chest and send a message to our email address stuga-pflewiprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de.

By the way, fresh blood and new ideas are always welcome. If you are prepared to stand up for others and interested in actively joining in, the StugA is right for you.

Please send E-Mails that are interesting for all students of Nursing Science (B.A. and M.A.) like job offers, Internships, official announcements etc. to (Mailing-List): pflegewissenschaft-infoprotect me ?!mailman.zfn.uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de

If you have any questions or suggestions we will be happy to help you!

You can find current module descriptions (Modulhandbücher or -beschreibungen), study schedules (Studienverlaufspläne) and other course-specific information on the German version of this site.