Physics, Master of Education

Physics

... looks into questions such as ...

What are dark matter and dark energy?
Which are the components our matter consists of?
How do galaxies evolve?
What characterises a good physics teacher?
How can an embryo be made visible by ultrasound?

„
Physics satisfies my curiosity and lets me see the world through different eyes.
“

Marina Falke, Bachelor's degree read more ...
„
I often find the explanations of everyday phenomena baffling that you usually don’t give any thought to.
“

Anna Hellermann, Bachelor's degree read more ...

Marina Falke is a first-year student of Physics. She is pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree, 2-subject programme. Marina's second subject is Media Studies.

What made you choose this degree programme?

Even back at school, physics was the most fascinating subject for me. I’d like to understand how the world works. Physics satisfies my curiosity and lets me see the world through different eyes.

In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?

The physics lectures are exactly like I imagined them – perhaps even more entertaining and hands-on than expected. The mathematical part, however, is more difficult than expected. It requires a lot of effort, according to my fellow students in 1-subject programmes.

Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?

It feels really good to understand new theories and everyday phenomena and to be able to explain and calculate them. Solving a problem that I’ve been working on for ages in a group is fun, too.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

Explaining to my fellow students in physics why I would voluntarily combine Physics and Media Studies. And for my fellow students, the greatest challenge was mathematics for physicists 1; in order to finish my Master’s degree, I will have to struggle through this subject too.

What would you like to become after completing your degree?

I can’t really say yet. My original plan was to pursue a career in science journalism, but I can also imagine an academic career in physics. But there’s still time to start looking for a job.

Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?

You will need a lot of curiosity and stamina. Being quick on the uptake doesn’t hurt, either, when you study physics. First and foremost, you will have to reserve a lot of time for mathematics and theoretical physics. But it’s totally worth it!

Anna Hellermann is a first-year student of Physics. She is pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree.

What made you choose this degree programme?

Even as a little girl, I wanted to do something with astronomy. I had actually discarded that plan once I realised that I would have to study physics for that purpose, because I’d thought: “You won’t make it, anyway.” Eventually, I decided to give it a try. Fortunately!”

In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?

Difficult to say, because I didn’t know what awaited me to begin with, as I’d not had physics at school for a long time. I suspected that maths would turn out to be very abstract – that suspicion was confirmed. On the other hand, I find several fields of physics much more interesting than I’d ever expected.

Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?

I have not encountered much yet, but so far it’s definitely experimental physics. I often find the explanations of everyday phenomena baffling that you usually don’t give any thought to. I often enjoy calculations where maths is actually applied and leads to concrete results.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

Maths. It has nothing in common with maths that you know from school, and I still find it difficult to learn the way of thinking that you need to understand my assignments. It is like a wholly new language!

What would you like to become after completing your degree?

I’m not quite sure yet, because there are many options open to physicists, many of which, however, I don’t fully understand yet. So far, my dream has been to work as an astronomer in research.

Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?

Don’t let them put you off. Even if you didn’t choose advanced maths and physics courses at school, it doesn’t mean that you cannot study Physics. That had been my worry, but it turns out in Physics you’ll start from scratch anyway, so that everyone’s got a chance to catch up. Those who studied physics at school might have a small head start, but it doesn’t take long until the content of the curriculum goes beyond what you’d learned at school. What’s important is that you enjoy it – if you don’t, you might find the heavy workload discouraging.

Degree programmes

Profile

Degree:	Master of Education
Start:	Winter- and summer semester
Duration:	4 semesters
Classroom language:	German

Detailed information for international applicants

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What's it all about?

This degree programme is unique, because ...

a physics teacher is both an expert on physics and on teaching physics.

It provides the opportunity to specialise in the following fields

Didactics of physics
Astronomy & astrophysics
Biophysics
Solid-state physics and material science
Nuclear & particle physics
Plasma physics

Course schedule

Module handbook

Who is suited?

Those who wish to enrol in this degree programme,

have:

substantial understanding of physics

enjoy:

teaching and interacting with young people

struggle through:

the scientific internship

This degree programme is suited for graduates in the following subjects

Physics, B.A.(2)

Graduates from this degree programme frequently work

in teaching positions at grammar schools (Gymnasium) and comprehensive schools (Gesamtschule)
in research, academia and continuing education
as consultants and analysts
as postdoc researchers in Physics and in Didactics of Physics

And else?

An internship ...

is mandatory. It is done in the 3rd semester.
Duration: 1 semester (internship semester)

Studying abroad ...

can be done voluntarily.

Where do I find help?

Academic advisory office

Prof. Dr. Heiko Krabbe
Building, Room: NB 3/125
Phone: +49 (0)234 / 32-28705
Email: studienberatung-lehramt@physik.rub.de
Website academic advisory office

Contact students

Fachschaft Physik
Building, Room: NB 02/174
Phone: +49 (0)234 / 32-23991
Email: fachschaft@physik.rub.de
Website Fachschaft