Teacher Education

In 2008, the University of Agder admits students to the following teacher education programmes in Kristiansand:

• General Teacher Education, full-time programme (also in Grimstad)
• Specialist Teacher Education in Music, Dance and Drama, with emphasis on drama
• Specialist Teacher Education in Music, Dance and Drama, with emphasis on music
• Pre-school Teacher Education, full-time programme (also in Grimstad)
• Integrated Master in Mathematics Didactics
• Integrated Master in Nordic Language and Literature
• Integrated Master in Physical Education Science
• Postgraduate certificate in education, full-time programme and part time programme, for professional and vocational teachers.

Educational goal in teacher education – from framework to course descriptions

The Teacher education programmes shall through lectures, research and professional development provide the students with the professional and educational knowledge and necessary practical training for planning, accomplishing and evaluating teaching, learning and upbringing. The study programmes shall consider the pupils’ and pre-school children’s individual skill levels, and correspond to the goals defined for the varous levels of instruction. The study programmes shall promote the students’ personal development and work ethics, develop reflection skills, arouse an interest in professional and educational development work relevant to the work in schools and pre-schools, and give an understanding of the connection between the teacher profession and society’s educational system. (Act no. 54 relating to universities and colleges)

Act no. 22 of 12 May 1995 relating to Higher Education Institutions states that the Ministry can set a national framework for certain study programmes in general, like Teacher education. The educational institutions are committed to the Act and the national framework when developing programme descriptions for the different types of teacher education. The institutions are themselves responsible for the development of the study programmes. The programmes interpret and define the aims for each subject, and further decide the contents, literature, teaching methods and assessment methods connected to each subject. The institutions' development of their Teacher Education programmes shall be closely connected to the teacher profession and consider the totality of and interplay between practical work and theory, and between the subjects. The course descriptions are based on the framework, decided by the Ministry 03.04.03.