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Low German - Dual-Subject Bachelor's Programme
The career goal of school is being planned and is therefore subject to the approval of the subject Low German as a teaching subject via the Regulation on master's degrees for teaching careers (Nds. MaVO-Lehr).
The subject Low German deals with the Low German language and literature as well as its acquisition and teaching in probably school and non-school contexts.
Low German can be studied within the framework of the two-subject Bachelor's degree:
- as a first or second subject (60 credit points)
Low German can be studied either in connection with a non-teaching career goal or probably as a professional teaching qualification*.
Further information on teaching careers at the University of Oldenburg
It is not possible to combine Low German and German Studies as a Dual-subject Bachelor.
* Information on the planning status can be obtained from the academic counselling service.
Orientation and Goals
In the Bachelor's programme, students acquire receptive and productive language skills in Low German on the one hand and knowledge of the basic questions, methods and theories in the subject Low German on the other.
They learn the ability to work scientifically, including the ability to transfer and criticise, and the basic ability to actively and theoretically deal with exemplary areas of Low German philology, understood as linguistics and literary studies. The aim of the study programme is also the ability to apply the acquired knowledge in educational contexts. In doing so, students acquire the basic knowledge of didactic concepts and their history as well as initial competences for teaching subject content against the background of the perception of different learning groups.
Study Design and Contents
Basic structure:
Six-semester two-subject Bachelor's degree programme with 180 credit points:
- Subject Low German (60 KP)
- Second subject (60 KP)
- Professionalisation area (45 KP)
- Bachelor's thesis module (15 KP)
Subject Low German (60 KP)
Basic curriculum (30 KP)
- ndt010 Language and Culture (10 KP)
- ndt020 Literature and Culture (10 KP)
- ndt033 Acquisition and Teaching (5 KP)
- ndt040 Low German I (Language Practice for Beginners) (5 KP)
Advanced Curriculum (30 KP)
- ndt110 Low German II (Advanced Language Practice) (6 KP)
- ndt210 Low German Language (6 KP)
- ndt310 Low German Literature (6 KP)
- ndt410 Older Low German Language and Literature (6 KP)
Focus Areas
The study of Low German comprises four areas: language practice, linguistics, literary studies and subject didactics.
In language practice, you practise reading and understanding non-fiction and literary texts and following Low German radio and television programmes. You acquire the ability to communicate orally in everyday situations and to express your opinion in discussions. You learn to write short messages as well as to discuss a problem in writing.
Linguistics offers an overview of the changes in Low German from Old Low German through Middle Low German to New Low German. Further focal points are the dialectal structure of today's Low German in the areas of pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar, the contact of Low German with High German and Frisian in the context of multilingualism as well as the protection of regional and minority languages in North Germany.
In literary studies, you will gain an overview of the history of Low German literature from its beginnings in the 9th century to the present and of the text types and media in which the Low German language has become productive. You will learn about the history of language as a conditional factor of literature, deal with the relationship of Low German to High German literature and thus develop a concept of Low German literature. You will learn to analyse this as multilingual literature, for example, and to situate it historically and culturally.
The subject didactics of Low German works at the interface of second language and foreign language didactics. Here you acquire language and literature didactic competences and methods. These include, on the one hand, the linguistic skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading, writing and language mediation and, on the other hand, literary reading. In addition, support and mediation methods are discussed and developed with a view to the sociological and pedagogical conditions of learning groups in schools.
Teaching and Learning
Seminar, lecture, exercise
Foreign Language Skills
Low German language skills are not required.
Knowledge of a foreign language is strongly recommended for the degree programme.
In order to study this course at the University of Oldenburg as a student from outside of Germany, you need an adequate knowledge of German.
German Language Proficiency
- DSH: Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (Level 2) or
- TestDaF: Test – Deutsch als Fremdsprache (with level 4 in all four areas)
The proof of language proficiency must be presented for the enrolment.
Applicants who need a preparatory German course before commencing their studies must present their knowledge of English with their application.For other proof possiblities see: Language requirements
Careers and Areas of Employment
Further qualification is possible through a Master's programme.
The University of Oldenburg offers the subject masters of German Studies or German as a Foreign Language / German as a Second Language.
In addition, the following extracurricular fields of activity are conceivable after the Bachelor's degree:
- Extracurricular education, adult education
- Media and publishing (press, radio, television, books)
- Cultural sector (theatre, literary societies)
Planned school subject Low German
It is planned to establish Master of Education degree programmes following the Bachelor's degree programme with the aim of becoming a teacher at Gymnasien or at Haupt- und Realschulen, which will open up outstanding opportunities for the newly established subject of Low German at Lower Saxony schools.** Information on the planning status can be obtained from the academic counselling service.
Target Group/Admission Requirements
For further details see: Application for international students
Application/Admission Procedures
This is an open admissions degree course, and application is only possible in the winter semester.
The application deadline for the winter semester is 15 October.
If applicable, the application deadline depends on the first subject, if it is admission restricted.
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International applicants: There are different application procedures