Teaching of Citizenship Education (in combination)

Prof. PhDr. Erich Mistrík, CSc.

Prof. PhDr. Jozef Lysý, CSc.

Doc. PhDr. Branislav Malík, CSc.

Doc. PaedDr. ThDr. Monika Zaviš PhD.

PhDr. Slávka Drozdová, PhD.

Mgr. Michal Bizoň, PhD.

Mgr. Barbora Jaslovská, PhD.

Mgr. Miroslava Lemešová, PhD.

Mgr. Katarína Minarovičová, PhD.

Mgr. Jozef Miškolci, PhD.

Mgr. Veronika Valkovičová, PhD.

Study advisor(s) (tutor(s)):
doc. PhDr. Branislav Malík, CSc., branislav.malikuniba.sk

Student study advisor for the study programme: 
Vanessa Pašková, paskova45uniba.sk

Coordinator for international mobility and Erasmus+:    
Prof. PhDr. Erich Mistrík, CSc., mistrikfedu.uniba.sk

The study programme Teaching of Citizenship Education (in combination) fits the description of the study field 38. Teacher Training and Educational Sciences in its structure and content.

The knowledge, skills and competences acquired within this study programme are in line with the supporting themes of the core knowledge of the field of study according to Article 1.4 and with the content of the field of study and according to Article 4.1 on the areas and scope of knowledge, skills and competences that form a graduate profile of a first-degree study programme. The content of the study programme shall cover 80 % of the content of the field of study. Essential components of every combined teacher training programme are the social-scientific, pedagogical and psychological foundations of teaching, which are based on the core descriptions of the field of study of teaching and educational sciences.

Within compulsory and as well as compulsory elective subjects of the subjects of the subject approbation of Teaching of Citizenship Education (in combination) the student acquires the content and structure of the scientific disciplines that form the subject basis of the study programme - political science, philosophy, law, economics, sociology, ethics, aesthetics. Subjects that must be mastered in theoretical depth are conducted as lectures; subjects that focus on the development of ways of thinking about a given issue and are more closely related to social practice, are conducted as seminars. At the same time, lectures in political science and philosophy subjects develop in the student the thought background of citizenship education in primary and secondary schools. Seminars in law, economics, and other disciplines offer the student skills for developing legal, economic, and other layers of consciousness in future students. They also provide a basis for the deepening of issues in global and topical contexts during future graduate studies.

The Introduction to the Study serves to provide an introduction to the structure of citizenship education as a school subject, as part of lifelong learning, and as a society-wide issue, but with an emphasis on formal schooling and education. The course demonstrates the intrinsic relationships among the various disciplines in civics and prepares students to perceive the intrinsic connections among the various disciplines of study as they progress through their studies.

Compulsory electives include social-psychological training and training in communication and presentation skills for teachers. These practical exercises develop those competences of students that will be necessary for coping with different social situations in the classroom, for managing and controlling group dynamics in the classroom.

In the so-called teacher foundation courses, the student acquires the pedagogical, psychological and general knowledge necessary for understanding child development, the basics of school education and the organization of the school system and the internal life of the school.

Students of the first level study are prepared for the continuation of the second level of higher education, because they know the functioning of the school, they have mastered the pedagogical and psychological foundations of school education and child development, they have mastered the theoretical foundations of their subject specialization and they have practiced the ways of thinking about diverse topics of citizenship education. They are prepared to deepen their knowledge, to manage the group dynamics of the classroom and to develop these competences in the didactics of citizenship education in the second cycle of studies.

Thanks to the number and composition of compulsory elective courses, the study programme allows a high variability of study paths depending on the student's interest and the diversity of his/her needs and possible motivation. Recommended study paths are a part of the study plan. The study programme, by its composition of subjects, enables students to acquire transferable competences which influence their personal development and can be used in their future career and life as active citizens in democratic societies. For example, the ability to work with information, presentation skills, communication skills, the ability to use professional knowledge in practice.

STUDY PLAN - full-time form

STUDY PLAN - external form

The admission requirement for applicants to the bachelor’s degree programme in Teaching of Citizenship Education (in combination) is the completion of a full secondary education with a secondary school leaving certificate. The required proof of educational qualifications is a certified copy of the school leaving certificate. Applicants are admitted without an entrance examination.

Study programmes offered by the Faculty of Education at Comenius University have set limits for the number of applicants who will be enrolled in studies based on the results achieved during secondary school studies and the entrance examination (in some of study). The expected number of admissions is indicated in the published offer of study programmes for respective academic year on the faculty's website.

In the case of a larger number of applicants than the expected number of admissions to a given study programme, the faculty reserves the right to select applicants according to the average of their marks in the matriculation examination. Applicants are admitted to a predetermined number of places.

Graduate of the 1st degree of study programme Teaching of Citizenship Education (in combination) in the field of study 38. Teacher Training and Educational Sciences acquires the theoretical knowledge, skills and competences at the level required for the 1st study degree.  The student acquires the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant and as a professional worker in school clubs, in state and public administration, and in non-governmental organisations focusing on education and training in the field of education for citizenship. The graduate is prepared to continue his/her studies as a teacher of citizenship education (in combination) at the 2nd study degree.
The profile subjects of the study programme serve to orient the student theoretically and to broaden and deepen his/her knowledge from secondary school in the areas of philosophy, political science, ethics, aesthetics and sociology. The profile subjects complement the compulsory elective subjects of Group A of the study programme, which focus on the foundations of law, economics, and religious studies. Graduates develop their skills in social psychology training and attitudes in the Values and Education course.
Theoretical knowledge of the graduate
The graduate knows the basics of social science disciplines that participate in education for citizenship: the basics of political science, philosophy, ethics, aesthetics, sociology. He/she knows the social structure of society, the needs and specifics of different social groups.
As part of the teacher's foundation, he/she acquires knowledge of psychology and pedagogy, and is familiar with the organisation and objectives of schools. He/she knows the problems of child and adolescent development. He/she knows the basic tools of diagnosis, pedagogical intervention, correction and prevention.
He/she knows the legal provisions necessary for the functioning of a citizen, the functioning of the economy and culture, and the basics of religious studies.
Graduate skills and competencies
The graduate can communicate and cooperate effectively with the external environment and has developed learning skills. He/she can identify and work with the diversity of learners in the classroom. He/she can knowledgeably guide students/students to respect the diversity of cultures, worldviews, and religious traditions.

The graduate can apply his/her knowledge of global and development studies, culture, and multiculturalism in an appropriate manner. The graduate develops his/her values and attitudes within the framework of democratic principles of the functioning of society.

The graduate can present and use information and communication technologies. The graduate has competence in academic writing.

An essential part of the profile of a graduate in citizenship education (in combination) is the profile of a graduate of the compulsory component of the common social-scientific, pedagogical and psychological basis of teaching, the so-called 'teacher's basis'.

By successfully completing the first degree of the study programme Teaching of Citizenship Education (in combination), the student earns a bachelor's degree (B.Sc./Bc.) and a qualification corresponding to level 6 according to the Slovak Qualification Framework (SKKR). The proof of qualification is a university diploma (level 1), a state examination certificate and a supplement to the diploma.

On the basis of Decree No 1/2020 Coll. of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic on the qualification requirements for teaching and professional staff, in accordance with §2, paragraph 1 and Annex No 6, point 1, a first degree graduate meets the qualification requirements for the performance of the professional activity of teaching assistant.

In accordance with the SKKR, a graduate of the first level of the SP (level 6 of the SKKR) will obtain a qualification and will be qualified for the following employment and occupation:    

1. teaching assistant
2. professional worker in school clubs
3. professional worker in state and public administration with a focus on education and training.

The first cycle study programme is aimed, among other things, at continuing at master's level and obtaining full qualification for employment as a pedagogical worker in the category of teacher of subjects belonging to his/her subject approbation (education for citizenship, e.g. civic education) at lower and upper secondary level (or primary school teacher, secondary school teacher), teacher educator and pedagogical assistant. The competences, knowledge and skills of a graduate of the bachelor's degree, including transferable competences acquired during the studies, enable the graduate to be employed in professions requiring an appropriate level of communicative competences, personal, social and professional competences, knowledge, skills and competences of the graduate corresponding to level 6 of the Slovak Qualification Framework.

The Department of Ethics and Civic Education also cooperates with NGOs that focus on civic education. The Institute for Active Citizenship in cooperation with the Department is implementing a pilot project for an innovative civic education programme in schools. As part of the validation of a new approach to teaching sex education as relational sex education, the Department is working with the InTyMyta (Planned Parenthood Society) to validate methodologies in the Fundamentals of Sexuality Education course. Members of the Department have been cooperating for many years with Slovak NGOs that focus on civic education, education and culture (e.g. Citizen, Democracy and Responsibility, Milan Šimečka Foundation, People in Perl, UNESCO, Institute for Active Citizenship, Open Society Foundation, Pontis Foundation, Indícia, Dobrá škola).

Under the Erasmus+ programme, citizenship education students can do part of their studies at the following partner universities abroad:

• Finland: Oulu University, Department of Teacher Education, Oulu

• Czech Republic: Masaryk University, Faculty of Education, Brno

• Latvia: Daugavplis University, Educational Sciences, Daugavpils

Faculty of Education at Comenius University cooperates within the framework of practical teaching with primary and secondary schools based on the Contract on cooperation and provision of practical teaching for students of the Faculty of Education at Comenius University concluded in accordance with the valid legislative provisions.

• Malik_VUPCH_SK.pdf
• Mistrik_VUPCH_SK.pdf
• Zavis_VUPCH_SK.pdf
• VTC_Malik_1_bc_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Malik_2_bc_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Malik_3_bc_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Malik_4_bc_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Malik_5_bc_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Mistrik_1_bc_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Mistrik_2_bc_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Mistrik_3_bc_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Mistrik_4_bc_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Mistrik_5_bc_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Zavis_1_bc_mgr_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Zavis_2_bc_mgr_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Zavis_3_bc_mgr_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Zavis_4_bc_mgr_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Zavis_5_bc_mgr_PdF.pdf