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Contents
- Which distance learning university and university of applied sciences is best for a pedagogy distance learning programme?
- Studying Early Childhood Education part-time: These are the options available
- Special Needs Education and Inclusive Pedagogy in Distance Learning: What Are the Possibilities?
- Education Management and School Management: Career Paths for Educators
- Adult Education: Distance Learning Programs Available
- Tuition Fees: The Cost of a Pedagogy Distance Learning Program
- Dual Degree: Bachelor + Professional Qualification Simultaneously
- Teaching Distance Learning: Is It Possible?
- Master's Degree: Admission Requirements and Studying without Abitur
Qualified educators are in high demand. In addition, it is particularly important for educators to continually further their education. A pedagogy distance learning programme is a good opportunity to further your education on a part-time basis in the field of educational sciences and to advance your career, for example by entering into horticulture or school management.
I compare all master's and bachelor's distance learning programmes in the field of educational sciences in detail. I also show what the distance learning programme costs and what is required for a pedagogy degree. Furthermore, I explain how you can earn a double degree alongside your job with a single course of study – for example, a Bachelor of Arts and a State-Recognized Childhood Educator.
All distance learning courses in the field of Education
We have a total of 48 courses in the field of Pedagogy. The first 30 top courses are displayed. Use the filter function or our search to discover more courses in the field.
Educational Science
- University of Hagen
- 6 Semester
- German
In the Bachelor's programme in Educational Science, the focus is on studying educational theories, concepts, and practices. The programme is oriented towards social sciences, as structures and functions of social …
Early Childhood Education
- Centre for Distance Learning in the University Consortium
- 7 Semester
- Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz
- German
- Theories, Models, Areas of Education, Social Science Foundations and Methods, Legal Foundations, Cross-Cutting Qualifications, Electives
Business and Cultural Management in Education and Culture
- European Distance Learning University Hamburg
- 6 Semester
- Hamburg
- German
Career in Education: With this degree programme, you will learn to combine the skills of business administrators with those of educators. Qualify for the management of culture and education in …
Educational Science
- University of Hagen
- 4 Semester
- German
The Master's programme in Educational Science at the FernUniversity Hagen offers a deep academic education in the field of education and upbringing. Students expand their knowledge of pedagogical theories and …
Education and Social Management with a focus on Early Childhood
- Centre for Distance Learning in the University Consortium
- 7 Semester
- Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz
- German
- Foundations of Education and Social Management, Leadership Functions and Leadership Competencies, Management in Educational and Care Facilities, Quali…
Early childhood education
- IU International University
- 6 Semester
- German
At the core of this pedagogy course is engaging with a diverse childhood educational offer. The aim of the distance learning course is to consider different family circumstances and life …
Early Inclusive Education
- Centre for Distance Learning in the University Consortium
- 8 Semester
- Fulda, Hessen
- German
- Education and development, educational institutions and socialization agencies, diagnostics and counseling, pedagogy of diversity, language and motor …
School management and quality development
- University of Kiel
- 4 Semester
- Kiel
- German
- Quality assurance and development, managing organizations - leading schools, diagnosing and evaluating, learning from comparative studies, developing …
Special Education
- IU International University
- 6 Semester
- German
In the Bachelor's degree programme in Special Needs Education, you will learn how to enable people with disabilities and special educational needs to participate in society and compensate for challenging …
Business Education
- Allensbach University
- 4 Semester
- German
Whether you are looking for a lateral entry into teaching or are consistently pursuing your career in personnel development: The degree program "Business Education - Master of Arts" enables you …
Pedagogy
- IU International University
- 6 Semester
- German
In this bachelor's programme, you will learn professional pedagogical practices in various contexts, particularly in relation to the educational and life stages of children, adolescents, and adults. During the course …
Pedagogy, educational counseling, and management
- IU International University
- 4 Semester
- German
This master's programme will provide you with essential leadership skills in educational contexts. Additionally, you will systematically learn about interaction as well as management, consulting, and educational practices in the …
Special needs education / Inclusive education
- IU International University
- 6 Semester
- German
With this master's programme, you will learn to actively shape processes of change in education, with a focus on people with disabilities. The course is specifically designed for graduates of …
Adult education
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- German
In this distance learning course, you will engage intensively with the topic of lifelong learning, with a special focus on digitisation in education. Over 4 semesters of full-time study or …
Leadership in Education
- IU International University
- 2 Semester
- German
This master's programme systematically teaches you how to take on responsible processes and tasks in leadership contexts within the field of education and to shape them based on scientifically founded …
Early childhood education, leadership and management
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 6 Semester
- German
This bachelor's degree programme qualifies you for pedagogical work with children as well as for management positions in the field of early childhood education, care, and upbringing. In 6 semesters …
Adult education, counselling and staff development
- IU International University
- 6 Semester
- German
The Bachelor's programme in Adult Education, Counselling and Personnel Development provides you with the necessary expertise in psychological, sociological, business management and educational content to advise adults, close possible knowledge …
E-counselling in pedagogy
- IU International University
- 2 Semester
- German
This master's programme enables you to plan responsible consulting processes for education, profession, and employment in the digital space. You will acquire all the necessary skills for professional interaction in …
Education, Media and Digitalization
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- German
This master's programme is aimed at all graduates with a bachelor's degree who are already working in education or have comparable professional experience. Over 4 semesters of full-time study or …
Education, Management and Leadership
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- German
This part-time master's programme is designed for graduates with a bachelor's degree who are or have been working in the education sector. In the course, you will study management and …
Childhood and youth pedagogy
- European Distance Learning University Hamburg
- 6 Semester
- Hamburg
- German
The Bachelor's degree programme "Childhood and Youth Pedagogy" at the European Distance University Hamburg extends over four years in a part-time format. The course combines theoretical and practical teaching contents …
Psychology of Child Learning and Developmental Disorders
- Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau
- 5 Semester
- Kaiserslautern
- German
- Psychological foundations of learning and academic performance, methods of data collection and analysis, diagnostic and intervention-specific knowledg…
School management
- Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau
- 4 Semester
- Kaiserslautern
- German
- Foundations of learning and change processes, management concepts and leadership theories, key development areas of German educational policy and curr…
Early Childhood Education - Leadership and Management in Early Childhood Education
- DIPLOMA University
- 5 Semester
- German
- General principles of pedagogy in childhood, Special foundations of early and childhood pedagogy, Elementary pedagogical professional practice, Observ…
Childhood education
- DIPLOMA University
- 8 Semester
- German
- Observation, documentation and promotion, education area: language, education area: mathematics, nature and environment, professionalization: educatio…
Inclusion and School
- University of Koblenz
- 5 Semester
- German
- Concept of Human Beings, Anthropological Foundations, Inclusive Pedagogy and Curriculum Development, Models and Concepts for Designing Inclusion, Hist…
Adult education
- Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau
- 4 Semester
- Kaiserslautern
- German
- Introduction to didactic theories and concepts, importance of lifelong learning, program planning, educational marketing, digital teaching, strategic …
Early Childhood Education
- Institute for Collaborative Studies
- 9 Semester
- Soest, Nordrhein-Westfalen
- German
- Introduction to Early Childhood Education, Teaching and Methodology, Psychomotor Education, Fields of Work and Institutional Frameworks I, Artistic-ae…
Education & Training
- Centre for Distance Learning in the University Consortium
- 7 Semester
- Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz
- German
- Organization, country-specific law and professionalization, Scientific foundations and concepts: Education and training, General didactics and methodo…
Pedagogy of Childhood
- University of Neubrandenburg
- 7 Semester
- Neubrandenburg, Deutschland
- German
- Introduction to studies and academic work, basics of early childhood education and developmental psychology, self-reflection and biography work, perso…
Which distance learning university and university of applied sciences is best for a pedagogy distance learning programme?
Distance learning programmes in pedagogy are offered not only at private universities of applied sciences but also at some state universities and universities of applied sciences. But which university is the best? Unfortunately, I cannot answer this question in general terms, as the best university for you depends on many factors:
- Location: The location of the university plays a minor role in distance learning, as you study flexibly from home. However, you may have to travel to some universities for exams or occasional seminars. Therefore, find out about the location and study centres of the university.
- Costs: Costs are a decisive factor for many when deciding for or against a university. State universities are usually almost free, at least for bachelor's programmes. Private universities are more expensive, but they also offer better support and more teaching materials.
- Curriculum: Curriculum and the possibilities for specialization should be the most important factors in choosing your university. If necessary, request the module handbook to get detailed information on the curriculum.
Here are the main universities offering distance learning programmes in pedagogy in brief:
State Universities
University in Hagen: The FernUniversity in Hagen is the only state FernUniversity in Germany and the largest university in Germany after the IU International University. In the 2020/2021 winter semester, a total of 68,996 students were enrolled at FernUni. The university is based in Hagen, NRW, but operates numerous regional centres in Germany and overseas. FernUni offers a very popular bachelor's in educational science and a master's in education and media eEducation.
Centre for Distance Studies in Consortium: The zfh is not a university, but a scientific institution of the states of Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland. As such, zfh cooperates with 21 universities of applied sciences across these three states and markets the distance learning programmes of these universities. That means that if you start a distance learning course through zfh, you'll be registered at a state university of applied sciences in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate or Saarland. ZFH offers numerous distance learning programmes in pedagogy, such as educational management and early childhood education.
https://www.fernstudi.net/en/universities/institute-for-collaborative-studies: The Technical University of Kaiserslautern is a state university that, through its affiliated Centre for Distance Studies and University Education, offers a range of distance learning programmes. In the 2020/2021 winter semester, a total of 14,369 students were enrolled at TUK. The university offers master's programmes in adult education and school management in the field of pedagogy.
Consortium Study: The Institute for Consortium Studies NRW markets the in-service study offers of the universities of applied sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia. Currently, 49 different distance learning programmes are offered, and about 1,900 new students enrolled in a consortium study programme in 2020. In the field of pedagogy, the Consortium Study offers a bachelor's and a master's in early childhood education, as well as a master's in media education.
Private Universities
IU International University: IU International University is a state-recognized private university of applied sciences based in Erfurt/Thuringia. In the 2022/2023 winter semester, over 100,000 students were enrolled at IU, making it the largest university in Germany. IU offers a variety of study models, including part-time and distance learning programmes. Numerous pedagogy programmes are offered in the Health & Social sector, such as a bachelor's in pedagogy.
European Distance University Hamburg: The Euro-FH is a state-recognized private university of applied sciences based in Hamburg. The university was founded in 2003, and in the 2020/2021 winter semester, a total of 8,136 students were enrolled at the university. In addition to bachelor's programmes in psychology, business psychology, and social work, Euro-FH offers a bachelor's programme in business and cultural management.
Fresenius University: Fresenius University is a private, state-recognized university of applied sciences based in Idstein/Hesse. The history of the university dates back to 1848. In the 2022/2023 winter semester, about 18,000 students were enrolled at the university, making it one of the largest private universities in Germany. Through its onlineplus department, the university offers numerous distance learning programmes, including 3 master's programmes in the field of pedagogy.
Allensbach University: Allensbach University is a private, state-recognized university of applied sciences based in Konstanz/Baden-Württemberg. The university emerged from the WHL, the Scientific University Lahr, founded in 1996. In the 2020/2021 winter semester, a total of 351 students were enrolled at the university. Allensbach University is the only university in Germany offering a master's in business education, enabling lateral entry to teaching in vocational schools and vocational high schools.
DIPLOMA University: DIPLOMA University of Northern Hesse is a private, state-recognized university of applied sciences based in Bad Sooden-Allendorf/Hesse. The university was founded in 1997, and in the 2020/2021 winter semester, a total of 8,925 students were enrolled. In addition to psychology programs, the university offers a bachelor's in childhood education and an early childhood education program.
Studying Early Childhood Education part-time: These are the options available
The majority of the distance learning programs I introduce here are based in the field of early childhood education because the demand for well-educated childcare workers is very high. Therefore, these programs are aimed at state-certified educators or anyone looking to work in the child care field.
Childhood educators or early childhood educators work mainly in daycares and daycare centers, schools and family centers, as well as in advisory and early intervention positions. Therefore, the programs provide all the necessary knowledge needed for functional and leadership roles in these areas.
In the educational early childhood education distance learning program, you will deal with issues such as legal considerations regarding child care and the basics of quality and educational management.
The following table provides an overview of the main distance learning programs in early childhood education:
Special Needs Education and Inclusive Pedagogy in Distance Learning: What Are the Possibilities?
Special needs education or special pedagogy is a subfield of educational sciences that primarily address people with behavioural disorders or impairments such as cognitive, emotional, physical, or speech impairments.
Special educators educate, support, and empower children and teenagers with cognitive impairments or emotional behavioural issues. They also work with seniors or in hospitals with patients requiring assistance.
Unlike early childhood education, there are currently almost no distance learning programs that exclusively focus on special needs education. A bachelor's program is currently offered by IU International University, a private university. The program lasts for 6 semesters. The study period can be shortened, for example, for qualified caregivers. IU also offers a Master in Special Needs Education/Inclusive Pedagogy.
The bachelor's program includes, among others, the following topics:
Academic work, social history, philosophy, ethics, social economy, introduction to special education, social psychology, special education diagnostics, pedagogy, sensory impairments, focus on learning and language, focus on socio-emotional, physical, and mental development, social policy, sociology, quantitative research methods, qualitative research methods, special education support and treatment concepts, inclusion, personal skills, social law, medicine for non-medical professionals, public law, relationship management and counseling, target group work and case management, educational and support management, quality management in social work, seminar: Current topics in special needs education, elective subject A, seminar: Methods and didactics in special needs education, diversity management, elective subject B, supervision, internal supervision, coaching, conflict management, and mediation, bachelor's thesis
What sets IU's distance learning program apart are the various specialization options. During the program, you can specialize in areas such as nursing management, hospital management, health care management, or social institution management. In terms of discipline, choose one of the following specializations: special needs education during rehabilitation, special needs education for work with seniors, special needs education in hospitals, special needs education in working with children and teenagers.
For details on the Special Needs Education distance learning program at IU, click here...
Here's an overview of the 4 special needs education distance learning programs:
| Course | University | Duration | Course contents | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education, Bachelor of Arts Distance learning program | IU International University | 6 Semester | Academic work, social history, philosophy, ethics, social economics, introduction to special needs education, social psychology, special needs education diagnostics, pedagogy, sensory impairments, lea… | from 15063 € total from 259 € monthly | |
| Special Education, Bachelor of Arts Distance learning program | AKAD University | 6 Semester | Key qualifications for studies and profession, history, foundations and theories of special education, basics of pedagogy, human sciences, social policy, social law, inclusion, action concepts and met… | from 13284 € total from 219 € monthly | |
| Special Education and Inclusive Education, Bachelor of Arts Distance learning program | DIPLOMA University | 8 Semester | Methodology, historical and theoretical foundations of special education and inclusive education, fields of action of an inclusion-oriented special education, ethical and socio-philosophical foundatio… | from 10767 € total from 157 € monthly | |
| Special needs education / Inclusive education, Master of Arts Distance learning program | IU International University | 6 Semester | Pedagogy of Diversity, Leadership, Research Methodology, Seminar: Participation, Self-Determination, Intersectionality, Conversation Leadership, Counseling, Mediation, Project: Educational Management … | from 14143 € total from 329 € monthly |
Education Management and School Management: Career Paths for Educators
Most of the degree programs for educators I present here also prepare for activities in education management. Some of these programs are dedicated exclusively to this topic. This includes not only master's programs aimed at teachers who want to take the next career step into school or educational management but also bachelor's programs that prepare right from the start for the management of schools, daycare facilities, or social services. Besides, participants usually learn not only subject-specific knowledge but also basic principles of business administration and legal issues.
The following table compares a range of distance learning programs in school and educational management:
| Course | University | Duration | Course contents | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business and Cultural Management in Education and Culture, Bachelor of Arts Distance learning program | European Distance Learning University Hamburg | 6 Semester | Introduction to Studies and Academic Work, Quantitative Methods, General Business Administration, HR, Leadership and Organization, Business Law, Marketing, English for Business, Information Management… | from 13392 € total from 279 € monthly | |
| Education and Social Management with a focus on Early Childhood, Bachelor of Arts Job-integrated distance learning program | Centre for Distance Learning in the University Consortium | 7 Semester | Foundations of Education and Social Management, Leadership Functions and Leadership Competencies, Management in Educational and Care Facilities, Quality Management and Evaluation, Cross-Cutting Qualif… | from 1365 € total | |
| Education, Management and Leadership, Master of Arts Distance learning program | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences | 4 Semester | Module Group: Introduction to Self-Organised Learning Project, Pedagogy as a Science, Didactic Models and Principles, Lifespan Pedagogy, Media Pedagogy and Media Didactics, Education in an Interdiscip… | from 11880 € total from 295 € monthly | |
| Leadership in Education, Master of Arts Distance learning program | IU International University | 2 Semester | Professionalisation of leadership in educational fields, diversity-sensitive leadership and organisational management of educational institutions, communication skills, counselling, mediation, quality… | from 10099 € total from 475 € monthly | |
| School management, Master of Arts Distance learning program | Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau | 4 Semester | Foundations of learning and change processes, management concepts and leadership theories, key development areas of German educational policy and current educational developments, action strategies an… | from 6240 € total |
Adult Education: Distance Learning Programs Available
Under the keyword adult education, here, I compile all study programs dealing with adult education in particular, but also more generally with educational sciences and new media.
Graduates of the bachelor's degree program in educational science at FernUni Hagen, for example, work in adult and political education institutions, in corporate training and development, in chambers, labor administration, and associations, in educational management, educational counseling and research, as well as in promotional institutions and organizations involved in bilateral and multilateral vocational and vocational training cooperation. You can see that the potential jobs for graduates of pedagogy programs in adult education are much more diverse than, for example, in the field of special education.
The following table lists the main distance learning programs in the field of adult education:
| Course | University | Duration | Course contents | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult education, Master of Arts Distance learning program | Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau | 4 Semester | Introduction to didactic theories and concepts, importance of lifelong learning, program planning, educational marketing, digital teaching, strategic and operational management, digital teaching and l… | from 5840 € total | |
| Adult education, Master of Arts Distance learning program | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences | 4 Semester | Module group: Introductory project on self-organized learning, Pedagogy as a science, Didactic models and principles, Lifespan pedagogy, Media pedagogy and media didactics, Education in an interdiscip… | from 11880 € total from 295 € monthly | |
| Adult education, counselling and staff development, Bachelor of Arts Distance learning program | IU International University | 6 Semester | Scientific work, pedagogy, Social conditions of pedagogy, Introduction to lifelong learning, Concepts and fields of work in pedagogy, History and theories of lifelong learning, Quantitative and qualit… | from 15063 € total from 259 € monthly | |
| Education, Media and Digitalization, Master of Arts Distance learning program | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences | 4 Semester | Module Group: Introductory Project for Self-Organised Learning, Pedagogy as a Science, Didactic Models and Principles, Lifespan Pedagogy, Media Pedagogy and Media Didactics, Education in an Interdisci… | from 12600 € total from 315 € monthly | |
| Educational Science, Bachelor of Arts Distance learning program | University of Hagen | 6 Semester | Introduction to Educational Science, Education and Society, Education, Work and Profession, Education, Media and Communication, Empirical Educational Research – Qualitative Methods, General Didactics … | from 2229 € total | |
| Educational Science, Master of Arts Distance learning program | University of Hagen | 4 Semester | Scientific positioning of education and media, Empirical educational research, Education, Diversity and inequality, General educational science, Elective modules: Societal framework of media and educa… | from 1431 € total |
Tuition Fees: The Cost of a Pedagogy Distance Learning Program
The prices for the pedagogy study programs we introduce here vary greatly. This is mainly because some of the study programs are offered by private universities, such as the special education distance learning program at IU. On the other hand, programs at state universities are extremely affordable – although access is often much more challenging, or the programs are even subject to admission restrictions.
Keep in mind that in addition to semester fees, there are frequently additional more or less hidden costs. Costs include travel expenses for attendance at on-site events and overnight stays. You may also have to purchase a lot of additional literature, incurring further costs. Occasionally, universities also charge fees for exams.
The following table compares the costs of a variety of bachelor's programs in educational sciences:
Dual Degree: Bachelor + Professional Qualification Simultaneously
Did you know that at many universities, which I will introduce here, you can obtain a dual degree? Dual degree means that in addition to the Bachelor's degree, you also earn a qualification such as a state-certified educator or a state-certified social pedagogue.
A dual degree is possible in the following study programmes:
- Childhood Education, Diploma: In addition to the Bachelor's degree, you can become a State-recognized Child Educator.
- Early Childhood Education, Koblenz University: Students have the opportunity to obtain state recognition as a Social Pedagogue in an optional 8th semester.
- Special Education, IU: Students are awarded the title of State-recognized Special Educator upon successful completion of the practical project in Special Education.
Teaching Distance Learning: Is It Possible?
Currently, there is no distance learning programme for teaching. The distance learning programmes I am presenting here are mainly aimed at educators, but also at teachers who may wish to work in School Management or Educational Management.
With the Bachelor's or Master's degrees you obtain from these distance learning programmes, you prepare yourself for various roles in the field of Educational Sciences or Pedagogy: research-related activities, leadership positions in educational and social institutions, as well as roles as lecturers, trainers, and coaches - and in a way, eventually, as teachers after all.
However, there are three exceptions: Firstly, the Master's distance learning programme in Business Pedagogy at the Allensbach University. Admission to this Master's programme requires an initial degree in business studies or another bachelor's degree. Upon completion, the Master's programme enables access to teaching at vocational schools and vocational high schools, particularly in the state of Baden-Württemberg. After completing the programme, you can qualify for the preparatory service for teaching at vocational schools.
Secondly, FHM offers a Master's in Vocational Pedagogy, aimed at those working in the healthcare sector.
As of WS 2023/2024, the DIPLOMA University also offers a Master's in Vocational Pedagogy, designed to qualify as a teacher for vocational schools.
Master's Degree: Admission Requirements and Studying without Abitur
Almost all the Master's programmes we are comparing here result in a Master of Arts (M.A.), which is the most common Master's degree in the field of Social and Educational Sciences. The Master's programmes typically last 4 semesters in full-time study. However, most programmes are designed for working professionals, and the study period can quickly extend to 8 semesters in a part-time study mode.
All these programmes require an initial university degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts, usually equivalent to 180 ECTS. After completion of the programme, you should have at least 1 year of relevant work experience.
The following table compares the admission requirements of the most important Master's distance learning programmes in the field of Educational Sciences:
| Programme | University | Admission Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| School Management and Quality Development | University of Kiel |
|
| School Management | Technical University of Kaiserslautern |
|
| Adult Education | Technical University of Kaiserslautern |
|
| Education and Media eEducation | FernUni Hagen |
|
| Psychology of Child Learning and Developmental Disorders | Technical University of Kaiserslautern |
|
| Inclusion and School | University of Koblenz-Landau |
|
| Business Pedagogy | Allensbach Hochschule |
|
About the Author Christian Wolf
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