Special Needs Education with a focus on Sign Language Pedagogy/Hearing and Communication (Bachelor of Arts, B.A.)
The Special Needs Education with Focus on Sign Language Pedagogy and Hearing & Communication programme provides you with a fundamental knowledge of education, psychology and sociology, as well as skills in German sign language.
Please choose
- Major Field of Study
- Primary school
Table of Contents
At a glance
Course structure and content
The programme provides theoretical and practical foundational knowledge in special education, particularly in the areas of hearing and communication as well as sign language education. You will acquire basic competencies in German Sign Language and gain an understanding of essential pedagogical practices within special education contexts. You will also develop professional skills that enable you to critically reflect on your own professional role, including from cultural studies perspectives such as Deaf Studies, Disability Studies, and Gender Studies. In addition, you will gain the ability to carry out independent academic research.
To participate in Module 5, "Basic Module in German Sign Language," you must pass the language entrance test. This test is always administered at the end of the lecture period of the winter semester. If you do not possess sufficient foundational knowledge of German Sign Language (DGS), you must complete an additional preparatory language course (10 CP) during your first semester.
Subject-Specific and Subject-Didactic Components (97 CP)
Mandatory modules (87 CP)
| Module | Title | Size |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundamentals of Sign Language and Audio Pedagogy | 10 CP |
| 2 | Medical and Paedaudiological Fundamentals | 5 CP |
| 3 | Language and Communication | 5 CP |
| 4 | Language Acquisition and Language Training in a Bimodal-bilingual Context | 10 CP |
| 5 | Basic Module in German Sign Language | 10 CP |
| 6 | Didactical Basics | 7 CP |
| 7 | Advanced Module German Sign Language | 10 CP |
| 8 | Psychological, Sociological and Historical Fundamentals | 10 CP |
| 9 | In-Depth Study of Special Education | 10 CP |
| 10 | Learning and Support Concepts | 10 CP |
Mandatory elective modules (10 CP)
Select 1 of the following graduation modules:
| Module | Title | Size |
|---|---|---|
| 11a | Graduation module in the field of Sign Language Pedagogy | 10 CP |
| 11b | Graduation module in the field of Hearing and Communication | 10 CP |
Teacher Training (16 CP)
Teacher training for students who wish to enter the teaching profession consists of the Educational Sciences Modules (11 CP) and a Language Training Module (5 CP), see Study and examination regulations for the Teacher training Modules.
Major field of study Special Needs Education with Focus on Sign Language Pedagogy and Hearing & Communication with a minor field of study at the Berlin University of the Arts (103 CP)
In this special case, the major field of study is reduced by 10 LP in favor of the minor field of study, i.e. Module 9: In-Depth Study of Special Education (10 CP) is omitted.
Special features
The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at Humboldt-Universität can look back at a successful tradition spanning more than 100 years. Through B.A. and M.A. courses, it provides special needs educators with basic and extra-occupational training for the teaching profession, as well as for fields adjacent to and outside of schools. In addition to these educationally oriented subjects, we also offer the Interpreting Language of Gestures degree programme. In teaching and research, we offer all special education subject areas (education of people with behavioural disabilities, education of people with learning disabilities, education of people with language/speech disabilities, education of the physically disabled, education of the mentally disabled, Education of the Blind and the Visually Impaired and Sign Language Pedagogy and Audio Pedagogy) as well as overall, connecting interdisciplinary fields (psychology, sociology etc.). The department maintains intensive, regular contact with universities in Europe and beyond. These international connections also give rise to regular trips abroad for students.
Knowledge of German Sign Language (DGS) is recommended (but not a mandatory requirement). Approximately 100 DGS hours of previous knowledge would be an ideal prerequisite for a successful start.
Proof of basic knowledge of DGS must be provided by means of an entrance test in order to be admitted to the basic module German Sign Language. For students who do not have sufficient basic knowledge, a preparatory course of 10 LP is offered
Subject-specific admission and enrolment rules
Career opportunities & prospects
At Humboldt-Universität, you can apply for the Master of Education programme "Special Needs Education with a focus on Sign Language Pedagogy/Hearing and Communication" for teaching at integrated secondary schools.
Find out more in the overview of HU study programmes or via the database Hochschulkompass nationwide.
This degree qualifies for support roles in schools, like teaching assistant or school integration assistant.
To become a teacher, a Master's degree, followed by an induction service as a trainee teacher (Referendariat) and a final examination (state examination) are required after completing the Bachelor's degree.
More information on career prospects and alternatives can be found in the Berufenet database.
Study subject counselling
Dr. Sylvia Wolff
Recognition of credits
Contact information for the faculty
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
Institutsgebäude, Georgenstraße 36, 10117 Berlin