Teacher Training in Computer Science
Pathways to the Profession of Computer Science Teacher
Lehramtsstudium Informatik an der TU Dresden © Ludwig Schmutzler (https://studiolud.de)
The direct study program comprises 9 semesters for the teaching profession at secondary schools and 10 semesters for the teaching profession at academic secondary schools and vocational schools. Two school subjects and the educational sciences are studied full-time. More information can be found on the flyers for the respective school type (only in German):
Further information such as the list of possible combination subjects to computer science and the overviews (including module descriptions) can be found at: Study offers.
In addition to direct studies, the TU Dresden also offers lateral entry (part-time qualification) for the subject computer science. This offer is valid for the school types:
- Secondary school (incl. special school)
- Academic secondary School (incl. vocational schools).
The lateral entry program is aimed at people who have already successfully completed a (specialist) degree and would now like to switch to the teaching profession. As a rule, the subject already studied is accepted and a second subject (in this case computer science) is studied. The lateral entry program covers 4 to 5 semesters, with participants attending the TU Dresden two days per week and already teaching at a school on the other three days. More information about this program can be found at Lateral entry program
All student teachters of computer science are invited to join the OPAL learning room "Computer Science Teaching". There you will find information about events (e.g. teacher meetings, further education) as well as information about state examination theses or SHK positions (student assistant) .
Important links
All modules of the computer science teaching degree are organized via OPAL courses. There is a comprehensive OPAL-course with the title "Lehramt Informatik". In this course you will find the links to all offered OPAL-courses, as well as a forum for exchange and other important materials. There you will also find information about teacher meetings, possible jobs as student assistants and much more. The enrollment is worthwhile in any case.
In addition, we also offer a chat in the TUD's own chat system Matrix. Please search there for the title "Lehramt Informatik (öffentlich)" or use the room address "#la-informatik:tu-dresden.de".
Current situation in the computer science teaching degree program
IIn the winter semester 2022/23, a total of 148 direct students are studying Computer Science as a teaching profession. 42 (including 10 new enrollments) are studying computer science for high schools. There are 92 enrolled in the Gymnasium teaching program (of which 19 are new enrollments) and 14 (of which 4 are new enrollments) in the Vocational School teaching program.
In the lateral entry program, 14 persons are active in the new cohort (beginning in the winter semester 2022/23) and 16 persons in the older cohort (beginning in the winter semester 2021/22).
Future developments in the computer science teaching program
A major reform of the teacher training programs is scheduled for 2023. As a result of the new Teacher Examination Regulations (LAPO), a comprehensive revision of all study documents will be necessary. At the same time, we are using this to redesign the overall structure of our modularized teacher training courses in a forward-looking manner. This concerns both the introduction of new modules and the adjustment of the achievable credit points as well as the need to reduce the examination load.
In addition, a Teaching Lab was opened in mid-2020 at the Chair of Computer Science Didactics (funded by the BMBF joint project PraxisdigitaliS with the University of Leipzig). This enables student teachers and later also trainee teachers and teachers in advanced training courses to receive practical training in teaching with modern technologies and didactic methods as well as in innovative contexts. Further information on the PraxisDigitaliS project can be found at
In addition, a Teaching Lab will be opened in mid-2020 at the Chair of Computer Science Didactics (funded by the BMBF joint project PraxisDigitaliS with the University of Leipzig). This will enable student teachers and later also trainee teachers and teachers in advanced training courses to receive practical training in teaching with modern technologies and didactic methods as well as in innovative contexts. Further information on the PraxisdigitaliS project can be found at PraxisdigitaliS
The Chair for Didactics of Computer Science is looking forward to future cooperations with active computer science teachers and especially with actors of the 2nd and 3rd phase of teacher education for the subject computer science.