Nursing Science, dual, B.A.

General Requirements

A formal requirement is either a general or a subject-specific university entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur)
Admission possibilities for applicants who have completed their vocational training are described under studying without a high school diploma.

There is no restricted admission for the program B.A. Nursing Science - dual.

Program-specific Requirements

• enrollment as a trainee nurse at one of the faculty’s partner schools in the federal state of Bremen
• completion of probationary period of employment
  (In the event the probation period is not completed at time of submitting your application for admission to the study program B.A. Nursing Science, it is possible to submit such evidence at a later date, but not later than 31.03.

General Admission Requirements

A formal requirement is a general or a subject-specific qualification for admission to institutions of higher education (e.g. Abitur)
Admission possibilities for applicants who have completed their vocational training are described under studying without a high school diploma.

“Nursing Science – dual” is not subject to restricted admission.

Program-specific Requirements

• a successfully completed vocational training in health care, pediatric nursing, geriatric care, midwifery or care of people with special needs
• recognition of 40 CPs earned within the scope of the previously acquired first qualification to be evidenced by:
  • written confirmation of having successfully completed the modules offered by the Faculty’s four partner schools of nursing, including individual grades
    or
  • aptitude test (evidence of successful completion of the aptitude test can be handed in later, but latest by 15.03.)

The following vocational schools are cooperation partners of the University of Bremen:

• Bremer Heimstiftung, Schule für Altenpflege Mitte
  Fedelh?ren 78, 28203 Bremen
• Schule für Altenpflege Nord
  Billungstra?e 21, 28759 Bremen
• Institut für Berufs- und Sozialp?dagogik e. V. (ibs), Altenpflegeschule
  An der Silberpr?ge 5, 28309 Bremen
• Private Altenpflegeschule Friedehorst im Berufsf?rderungswerk Friedehorst-Bremen
  Rotdornallee 64, 28717 Bremen
• Ursula-Kaltenstein-Akademie für Gesundheit und Pflege, Fachschule für Altenpflege
  Surfeldstra?e 29, 27576 Bremerhaven
• Wirtschafts- und Sozialakademie der Arbeitnehmerkammer Bremen gGmbH, Fachschule für Altenpflege
  D?lvestra?e 8, 28207 Bremen
• Integratives Bildungszentrum, Ausbildungszentrum für Gesundheits- und Pflegeberufedes Klinikums Bremen-Nord und des Klinikums Bremen-Ost
  Züricher Stra?e 40, 28325 Bremen
• Klinikum Bremen-Mitte gGmbH, Bildungszentrum für Gesundheitsfachberufe (BZfG)
  Bereich Ausbildung, Gesundheits- und Kinderkrankenpflege, Gesundheits- und Krankenpflege
  St.-Jürgen-Stra?e 1, 28177 Bremen
• Krankenpflegeschule am Klinikum Bremerhaven Reinkenheide
  Postbrookstra?e 91a, 27574 Bremerhaven
• AMEOS Institut West Bremerhaven-Geestland, Standort Bremerhaven
  Wiener Stra?e 1, 27568 Bremerhaven
• Bremer Krankenpflegeschule von freigemeinnützigen Einrichtungen e.V.
  St. Pauli-Deich 25, 28199 Bremen

Applicants who completed their initial vocational training in health care, pediatric nursing, geriatric care, care of people with special needs or midwifery at a school other than those listed above or prior to these schools becoming partners of the University of Bremen must participate in an aptitude test before they can be admitted to the degree program B.A. Nursing Science - dual.

In the frame of applications for admission to the B.A. program “Nursing Science – dual” on the part of advanced students, evidence of having passed the aptitude test must be included with the application documents submitted to the Office for Student Affairs. The aptitude test must therefore be taken before admission to the program.

The aptitude test comprises a written as well as an oral examination.
Candidates are deemed to be suitable by passing the aptitude test with grade 3. By the same token, 40 credit points are recognized from their first qualification.

Candidates are informed in writing of the results of their aptitude test. A passed test is valid for the admission procedure in the academic year the test takes place as well as the following year. In the event of not passing the test, candidates may retake the test once only and not until the academic year following their first attempt.

Candidates are given a reader in preparation for the aptitude test. They choose four subject areas from the reader texts, which then serve as basis both for the written as well as for the oral examination. Both examinations are assessed by professors teaching on the program.

Written examination

The written test takes the form of a proctored examination lasting 120 minutes and is as a rule assessed by a professor. At the start of the written examination, candidates are given two topics to choose from, which are drawn from their four selected subject areas. The examination tasks are encompassing: They do not serve solely to test a candidate’s specialist knowledge, but rather to see whether they are able to analyze and deal systematically with complex contexts.

Oral examination

After passing the written test, candidates participate in an oral examination lasting approximately 30 minutes. As a rule, the oral examination is assessed by a professor together with a second examiner or another committee member.

Candidates arrange their appointment for the oral examination direct with the professor in charge of the examination.

The oral examination bases on the remaining subject areas contained in the reader.

Once they have registered for the examination, the candidates receive an invitation to attend an information event where they learn more about examination contents and organization.

Aptitude Test Registration

Candidates can register for the examination from 20.08.2018 till 30.09.2018. The closing date for registration is a cut-off date (postmark counts). Registration for the aptitude test sent later than the cut-off date (postmark) cannot be considered.

Your registration, including details on your person (name, address, phone number, email) and officially certified evidence of having completed vocational training in nursing care must be sent to the following address:

University of Bremen
Faculty 11 - Human- and Health Sciences
Program Office Nursing Science
Ms. Ulrike Meyerdierks
Grazer Stra?e 2 (room 0230)
28359 Bremen

Under certain circumstances, it may be possible to submit evidence of having completed vocational training in nursing care at a later date. However, the evidence must already be received prior to the date of the written examination.

Enrollment

Provided all other admission requirements have been met, enrollment on the bachelor’s program “Nursing Science – dual” can take place once the aptitude test has been successfully completed or written proof has been received of having successfully completed the four modules overseen by the Faculty’s four cooperating schools of nursing, showing individual subject grades. Advanced students are enrolled in the 5th subject-related semester of studies.

Applications for admission to studies commencing in summer semester must be submitted by latest 15.01.; you can access the online application portal here.

Applications must be accompanied by proof of having successfully completed the aptitude test or of having successfully completed the four modules overseen by the Faculty’s four cooperating schools of nursing, showing individual subject grades. In the event that such proof is not yet available by application deadline, applicants are allowed extra time to submit the proof until 15.03.

Registration deadline for aptitude test 2018

Application period: 20.07.2018 till 30.09.2018.

Information event concerning aptitude test 2018

The next information event for advanced students takes place in October 2018:
12th October 2018,4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (venue and room will be made known in good time)

Aptitude test/written examination

The (proctored) written examination takes place 07th December 2018 statt. (Time, venue and room will be made known in good time)

Information on Preparatory Studies

The University of Bremen provides people who do not have a general or subject-specific university entrance qualification with the opportunity to gain admission to the Nursing Science program by participating in Trial Studies.

Persons who successfully complete the course of Trial Studies are able to apply for admission to subject-related at the University of Bremen only, i.e. admission to higher education studies is only possible at the University of Bremen and in the selected subject(s).

Requirements for Admission to Preparatory Studies

• a successfully completed program of vocational education in the areas of health care and nursing, health care and pediatric nursing, geriatric care, midwifery or care of people with special needs
  and
• Five-year period of gainful employment resp. accordant substitute periods.

Applications for Trial Studies

Applications for admission to preparatory studies must be submitted to the Office for Student Affairs. 

Trial Studies for the Bachelor’s Program Nursing Science - dual

The program’s teaching faculty strongly recommends candidates to take the aptitude test before enrolling in the course of trial studies for the bachelor’s program “Nursing Science – dual”. This is also because, once they have successfully completed the trial course of studies, they have to provide proof of having passed the aptitude test in order to be enrolled in the 3^rd subject-related semester of the degree program.
Moreover, before being admitted to Trial Studies candidates must seek an initial counseling interview with one of the professors.
The professors in the study program act as mentors for students enrolled in Trial Studies, who, once allocated their professor, can request counseling when and as often necessary.

The course of Trial Studies lasts a full year, during which students take part in the regular lecture courses for their chosen study program “on a trial basis”. During this period they complete coursework and take examinations (proof required):

• studies/coursework carrying at least 30 Credit Points (CP)
• successful completion of at least 3 modules in their chosen subject area.

The following applies to students on the trial course for the bachelor’s study program “Nursing Science – dual”:

• Students must complete either the module GS1 Academic Work and Integrity (6 CP) or 
  module 2 Diagnostics (6 CP).
• Students are free to choose the third module themselves (please note number of CPs!).

Towards the end of their preparatory studies, students take part in a compulsory counseling interview with a professor in their chosen study program to talk about their experiences. (Were studies successful? Did deficits in the student’s prior knowledge of the subject become apparent? How can such deficits be remedied? And discussion of tips and useful information regarding future studies). The respective study programs then indicate whether further studies are to be recommended.

The interviewing professor issues a report on the compulsory counseling talk in accordance with Art. 6, sec. 1.

Successful Completion of Trial studies

The course of Trial Studies is deemed to have been successful once proof exists of the prescribed coursework and examinations as well as the counseling interview having been successfully completed and the responsible examination committee issuing an accordant certificate.

The certificate contains the title of the study program that preparatory studies refer to and a list of the modules taken. It also states that the successful completion of the course program of trial studies represents subject-bound qualification for admission to the respective study program at the University of Bremen.

Enrollment Subsequent to Trial Studies

Provided all other requirements are met, successful completion of Trial Studies leads to enrollment in the third subject-related semester of the bachelor’s program “Nursing Science – dual”.

Official enrollment must be applied for before the application deadline of 15.01. Applications for enrollment must be accompanied by certification of having successfully completed the course program of trial studies. The credit points earned during preparatory studies are recognized for the regular study program.

Structure of Studies

The B.A. “Nursing Science – dual” is spread over 9 semesters, resp. 4.5 academic years, during which students must earn a total of 180 Credit Points (CP). The study program comprises two phases:

Phase 1

Phase 1 of the study program runs parallel to students’ vocational training programs and commences on completion of the probationary period prescribed for the program of vocational training. During the remaining 5 semesters of Phase 1 studies, students must earn 20 credit points (CPs) from studies at the University of Bremen and a further 40 CPs from four specified modules in the frame of their specialist vocational training: i.e. students must earn 60 CP in the first phase, which ends with the state examination in Health Care and Pediatric Nursing, resp. Geriatric Nursing, and award of a license to exercise the profession.

Phase 2

Phase 2 – following completion of vocational training – comprises full-time university studies spread over 4 semesters, during which students must earn 120 CP. Phase 2 ends with the bachelor‘s thesis and award of the academic degree “Bachelor of Arts Nursing Science”.

Before they commence full-time university studies, students have to choose one of the following study areas:

• Clinical Nursing Expertise
  116 CP + 24 CP from General Studies
• Education
  51 CP + 39 CP from modules on education or subject-didactics resp.
  General Studies + 30 CP from the integrated second subject.

The study program for advanced students with a completed subject-related vocational training and recognition of their professional qualifications (see program-specific requirements) is spread over 5 semesters (full-time studies) and carries 140 CP. Before commencing their studies, advanced students choose between the study options (Clinical Nursing Expertise and Education, respectively).

Study schedule “B.A. Nursing Science – dual” with the specialization Clinical Nursing Expertise

The following specimen study schedule is a recommendation only. Students may elect to undertake modules in a different sequence.

Study schedule (beginners) BA Nursing Science-dual study focus Klinische Pflegeexpertise
Study schedule (beginners) BA Nursing Science-dual study focus Lehre
Study schedule (advanced) BA Nursing Science study focus Klinische Pflegeexpertise
Study schedule (advanced) BA Nursing Science-dual study focus Lehre

Compulsory and compulsory elective subjects / modules

During the phase of vocational training, i.e. in the first five semesters, the compulsory modules of university studies in the bachelor’s program encompass introductory seminars on foundations of theory and methods.

In following full-time university studies, i.e. from the sixth to ninth semester, the focus is on advanced compulsory modules, especially in the areas of intention, evaluation and quality assurance as well as settings of nursing services. Depending on the focus, these thematic areas are complemented by education science and methods training.

Besides the compulsory modules listed in the study schedules, there is also a compulsory elective area in which students are to earn a further 9 CP in Clinical Nursing Expertise courses chosen from the pool of General Studies, resp. 12 CP in Education, chosen from the vocational pedagogical compulsory electives modules.

Both in the study concentrations Clinical Nursing Expertise as well as in Education, there are several elective modules which students are free to choose themselves. In the case of these so-called elective modules and in contrast to compulsory modules taken to lift their grades, students can choose to take more modules than foreseen in the study schedule.

Modules

Clinical Nursing Expertise

Compulsory modules

• M 1.0     Theoretical Foundations
• M 2        Diagostics
• M 3        Intervention
• M 4        Evaluation and Quality Assurance
• M 5        Settings of nursing services and Target groups
• M 6        Project modules
• M 13 A   Epidemiology I
• M 16      Organizational development
• M 63      Statistics
• GS 1      Academic work and integrity
• GS 3      Methods of empirical social research

as well as modules in vocational training

Elective modules

• Offerings in non-subject-related General Studies, resp. interdisciplinary courses or subject-related courses in the General Studies offerings in FB 11
• Electives area "Clinical Nursing Expertise"
  • M 8        Ethics
  • M 9        Foundations of Social Sciences
  • M 10      Professionalization national and international
  • M 11      Models and Theories of Health and Sickness
  • M 13 B   Epidemiology II
  • M 21      Social structure, Social Problems and Life Circumstances
  • M 22      System and Law of Health Care Provision
  • M 23 A   Health Economics I
  • M 31      Theories and Foundations of Prevention and Health Promotion
  • M 32      Health Risks and Resources over the Life Course

Study Concentration Education

Compulsory modules

• M 1.0     Theoretical Foundations
• M 2        Diagnostics
• M 3        Intervention
• M 4        Evaluation and Quality Assurance
• M 5        Settings of Nursing Services and Target groups
• GS         School Internship
• GS 1      Academic Work and Integrity
• GS 3      Methods of Empirical Social Research
• FD 1      Theory and Practice of Subject Didactics
• FD 2      Curriculum Development and Research

as well as modules in non-university vocational training and modules of integrated general school subjects.

Compulsory Elective Modules

from non-university vocational training /Educational Science

• BBP-1.1   Foundations of Vocational Training and Further Education
• BBP-1.2   Accompanying learners and their learning process
• BBP-1.3   Identifying, Assessing and Evaluating Learning Progress
• BBP-1.4   Activity Fields of Education Management

Elective modules

• Electives area in the study concentration Education, subject science “Nursing Science”
  • M 8        Ethics
  • M 9        Foundations of Social Science
  • M 10      Professionalization national and international
  • M 13 A   Epidemiology I
  • M 22      System and Law of Health Care Provision
  • M 23 A   Health Economics I
  • M 32      Health Risks and Resources over the Life Course
  • M 63      Statistics

Each module carries a certain number of Credit Points (CP). Modules are teaching units spread over one or two semesters and structured in contextual categories. These units can comprise different teaching formats such as lectures, tutorials, seminars, or internships.

Module descriptions

Modules in non-university vocational training 

PA2PA3PA4?PA5?

Compulsory modules in Clinical Nursing Expertise
M1.0M2? M3?  M4? M5M6? M16? GS1GS3?

Compulsory modules in Education
M1.0 M2? M3 M4 M5? GS Schulpraktikum? GS1 GS3 FD1? FD2 FD3

Tutorials
Tutorium Einführung in das Studium und das wissenschaftliche Arbeiten?
Tutorium Studienorganisation und -techniken?
Tutorium Bachelorarbeit?

Compulsory elective modules in vocational training /Educational Science in the study area "Education"
BBP-1.1, BBP-1.2, BBP-1.3, BBP-1.4
(see B.A. Vocational Education: Module Guide ETI)

Elective modules in the electives area "Clinical Nursing Expertise", subject Science of Nursing Science
Modules in the B.A. Nursing Science - dual
M8?M9?M10? M16?

M 11, M13B, M21, M22, M23A, M31, M32 (see Module Guide)

Elective modules in the electives area "Education", subject science of Nursing Science
Module des B.A. Nursing Science - dual
M8? M9  M10? M16?

Modules of the B.A. Public Health/Gesundheitwissenschaften
M 11, M13B, M21, M22, M23A, M31, M32 (see Module Guide)

The area of General Studies encompasses learning units in which students can study career-relevant courses and general skill sets. General Studies are only part of the curriculum of study programs with an academic specialty and account for

• in Clinical Nursing Expertise, 9 CP from the compulsory modules Academic Work and Integrity, 6 CP from Methods of Empirical Social Research, and a further 9 CP from the pool General Studies
• in Education, 9 CP from the compulsory modules Academic Work and Integrity, 6 CP from Methods of Empirical Social Research and school internship.

In General Studies, students acquire study techniques and general key qualifications as well as career orientation. Examples of courses are academic work and integrity, literature search, foreign languages, writing, presentation and facilitation techniques, project management, time management, media competence, and career-relevant studies: Internships, foreign languages, career orientation.

All students have to undertake an internship in the course of their studies. The structure, content and aims of the internship vary depending on students’ subject area.

The internship serves to make students familiar with work situations and demands in the respective career field within or outside the university. On the basis of what they have learned so far, they learn how to define and analyze the typical problems and tasks involved in their chosen career field and how to formulate and implement solutions.

The internship is a module in itself. Depending on the career field, it is undertaken in institutions of health care or in vocational schools, or school or non-school institutions of vocational training and further education. In order to draw maximum benefit from the internship, students attend pre- and post-internship seminars.

On the project modules in the area of Clinical Nursing Expertise, students independently prepare a self-chosen research and implementation project, which they undertake during an approximately ten-week internship and then evaluate in a subsequently held seminar.
The internship can be carried out in the various potential activity fields of the future graduates.

In the school internship module foreseen in the subject area Education, students experience at first hand the type of situations they will be faced with in vocational education and in dealings with participants as well as institutions of vocational education. In a process of research-based learning, they develop an experience-based view on the theoretical discussions surrounding vocational education and, in turn, a reflected view on the forms and manifold practice of vocational training. The internship is spread over a period of approx. six weeks.

Students can choose “Nursing Science – dual” as a single major for their academic profile.

Enrollment in the single-major bachelor’s program is only possible in the area of”Nursing Science – dual”; the contents of other subjects are integrated in the curriculum.

The bachelor’s program in the area of Education encompasses compulsory studies in Subject Didactics and Educational Science. Students can choose between the integrated general second school subjects German, Mathematics, Politics, and Religion. Upon special application to their examination committee, they may also choose other subject such as Biology, Chemistry, English, French, History, Art, Music, Physics, and Spanish.

Students seeking recruitment as teachers in vocational education in Lower Saxony must currently choose as their second general school subject: Biology, Chemistry, German, English, French, Mathematics, Physics, Politics, or Spanish.

Students seeking recruitment as teachers in vocational education in other federal states must check with the local authorities to find out which subject combinations are required.

Students seeking recruitment at schools in the sector of health care (which as a rule are not state-run institutions), can also choose History, Art, Music, or Religion.

Students in the subject area of Education are recommended to consult their program advisors to find out about subject combinations before deciding on their integrated second general school subject.

Internship

All students have to undertake an internship in the course of their studies. The structure, content and aims of the internship vary depending on students’ chosen subject area.

The internship serves to make students familiar with work situations and demands in the respective career field within or outside the university. On the basis of what they have learned so far, they learn how to define and analyze the typical problems and tasks involved in their chosen career field and how to formulate and implement possible solutions.

The internship is a module in itself. Depending on the career field, it is undertaken in institutions of health care or in vocational schools, or school or non-school institutions of vocational training and further education. In order to draw maximum benefit from the internship, students attend pre- and post-internship seminars.

During the school internship module foreseen in the area Clinical Nursing Expertise/Nursing Science, students acquire a broad knowledge of the type of situations and tasks they will be faced with as academically trained caregivers and in dealings with other nursing staff and career groups. They also develop practice-oriented questions for their studies.

In the module Orientation Internship belonging to the subject area Education, students experience at first hand the type of situations they will be faced with in vocational education and in dealings with participants as well as institutions of vocational education. In a process of research-based learning, they develop an experience-based view on the theoretical discussions surrounding vocational education and, in turn, a reflected view on the forms and manifold practice of vocational training.

Semester Abroad

The internationalization of the study program is fostered by recognition of international degrees and module examinations as well as the possibility to spend one or more semesters abroad or to undertake an internship abroad.

As the state of research in Nursing Science is advanced most in Anglo-American countries, the literature is predominantly in English. Students should therefore have a good command of English.

Graduates of the dual study program B.A. Nursing Science acquire the skill sets requisite for scientific reasoning and reflection on nursing issues as well as for professional practice. Students on the dual study program acquire the scientific and application-oriented qualifications that open up attractive and flexible chances on the labor market.

The activity field of graduate nurses is above all bedside nursing. One can say they learn to carry out old tasks in new formats. Trained in scientifically founded nursing care, they assume responsibility for the process and the result of evidence-based care in multi-professional teams.

Within the study program “Nursing Science – dual”, students choose between two possible subject areas – either at the beginning of the 2^nd study phase (full-time university studies) or when commencing studies as advanced students. Their choice paves the way for specialist skills, which they are later able to hone in consecutive masters’ programs in Nursing Science at the University of Bremen in the following fields of activity.

Subject area Clinical Nursing Expertise/Nursing Science

Graduates from this program acquire competences that prepare them for careers in clinical areas. Students are trained in the scientific care of patients with complex nursing needs and tasks such as:

•     Nursing diagnostics and assessment
•     Team-based implementation of the nursing process
•     Scientifically based planning of interventions
•     Instruction, training and counseling of patients and their relatives and nursing staff,
•     Specific nursing care- and case-management
•     Participation in research projects on nursing practice
•     Evaluation and quality assurance in (non-)clinical areas

Building on bachelors’ studies, the University of Bremen offers the two-year master’s program "Master of Science Community and Family Health Nursing" angeboten.
 

Subject area Education in the career field of nursing

Graduates from this subject area are prepared for in-house educational activities in vocational training and continuing education at schools in the health care sector. Studies open up especially the possibility to work in the area of cooperation among learning locations of in-house and vocational school training. This is because, besides scientific grounding in nursing practice, studies center on pedagogical work in the school and non-school field of nursing education and subject-related education in their second general school subject. Integrative studies in Nursing Science, a second general school subject and educational science build the foundations for the practice of planning and implementing career-based educational processes at schools in the health care sector. Although the Nursing Act states that a bachelor’s degree is sufficient qualification to teach at specialist vocational schools for nursing and pediatric nursing, the in-depth knowledge and competences requisite in these fields can only be acquired in the consecutive master’s program.

Building on the bachelor’s program, the University of Bremen offers the two-year master’s study program "Master of Arts Vocational Education in Nursing Science". This master’s program opens up access to teaching careers in the healthcare sector.

Please note: In Bremen it is not possible to be recruited to an in-school internship period of teaching practice (Referendariat) or subsequent employment at state-run vocational schools.

A current overview of all contacts can be found on the German version of this website. 

You can find current module descriptions (Modulhandbücher or -beschreibungen), study schedules (Studienverlaufspl?ne) and other course-specific information on the German version of this site.