Vocational Education in Health Care - subject area Therapy (Bachelor)

Changes in social, economic, health policy and demographic framework conditions are leading to a shift in the fields of activity and the importance of the therapeutic professions. The further development of the therapeutic professions is already apparent in changes to training structures. For example, the changes in undergraduate, dual and part-time degree programmes brought about by legislators enable students to obtain a university degree in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy.

So far, however, therapists have mainly undergone continuing education in order to gain the educational qualification required to teach at schools in the health system, for example. By studying Vocational Education in Health Care - subject area Therapy, graduates will be able to work in vocational education for the therapeutic professions with an academic qualification. Students gain extensive expertise for vocational education activities in therapy by pursuing a Bachelor programme, followed by a Master’s degree.

One central objective of the Bachelor programme is for qualified therapists to gain a teaching qualification, enabling them to pursue this profession. Great importance is attached to transferring theory to practice; small study groups are conducive to intense, interdisciplinary work, particularly in vocational studies.

Our Bachelor programme will qualify you to teach within training and continuing education, and to provide advice, counselling and instruction to staff in the therapeutic professions, patients and their relatives. Adult education institutions will be your main potential employers. If you wish to teach at schools for health and therapeutic professions, you will also need to complete a Master’s degree. Münster University of Applied Sciences offers a Master’s programme in Education of Health Professionals.

The first four semesters of the programme are divided into three conceptual areas. In Therapy and Health Sciences, you will learn the principles of evidence-based practice and therapeutic sciences. In simulated situations, you will learn, for example, how to come to a good clinical conclusion and how to communicate with patients professionally.

In the second area, you will acquire a basic knowledge of Selected Related Disciplines. How, for example, should conflicts be moderated? Which sociological or ethical models are useful for resolving practical problems? How can therapeutic services be classified and evaluated? And which legal framework applies in the health system?

To practice teaching and counselling, you will, of course, also need teaching skills. For this, you will learn the relevant methods, concepts and models in the third area: Education – Theory and Practice.

The fifth semester begins with a 12-week block of teaching practice, which will give you a deep insight into educational work in the health system. The syllabus also includes planning, implementing and evaluating a project of your choice. You will gain further insight into your future professional field if you conduct your project in cooperation with a health-care institution.

You will obtain your Bachelor of Arts degree after writing a Bachelor thesis in the sixth semester.

What characterises our degree programme is that theory and practice are closely interlinked. Our teaching always centres around specific practical situations to which we apply the findings from the different academic disciplines. We also attach importance to ensuring continuous exchange with health care facilities. This way, you can forge links with potential employers whilst still at university.