Subject: Political Science

The didactics of politics and society provides the didactic foundations for shaping teaching and learning processes in the social sciences. As an academic discipline, it examines the objectives, content, learning conditions, methods and outcomes of teaching and learning processes in the social sciences. It draws on its relevant academic disciplines (political science, sociology, economics, cultural studies, law, and media and communication studies) to examine their respective contributions and seeks ways to develop a democratic teaching and school culture, both within and outside schools.

As effective politics teachers, you will be able to select relevant knowledge in a well-reasoned manner and, drawing on the principles of subject-specific pedagogy, analyse, plan, deliver and reflect on your teaching: WHAT (content) am I teaching, FOR WHAT PURPOSE (objectives), WITH WHOM (learning conditions), HOW (methods), WHERE (learning locations and contexts) and what does this TRIGGER (consequences and effects)?

As a future teacher, you can use this key question of subject-specific pedagogy as a guide to develop skills in perspective-taking, presentation, negotiation and diagnosis. It is also intended to systematically facilitate the linking of empirical classroom research with lesson planning and theoretical development.

The subject is broadly integrated across a range of degree programmes and qualifications in an interdisciplinary manner. Consequently, studying political science enables students to obtain various qualifications:

• Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Primary or Lower Secondary School Teaching with a European Teaching Qualification
• Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering Education in collaboration with KIT
• Doctorate and Habilitation

Political Science can also be chosen as part of Module 4 (Fundamental Political Science Issues in Education) within the Bachelor’s programme in Educational Sciences. Specialised courses are offered for this purpose, designed to contribute to an interdisciplinary foundation in the cultural and social sciences.