Professional experience in special needs education is not required for lateral entry into the degree program. This only needs to have taken place upon entry to the Master's degree program.

In addition to your two years of professional experience in a related field (speech therapy, psychomotor therapy, social pedagogy, occupational therapy, educational science, special education, psychology), prospective students of the curative education course without a teaching diploma can take part in a study program "Quereinstieg Heilpädagogik (HQ)", which provides them with the necessary prior knowledge to take part in the Master's course. A distinction is made between lateral entrants with more than two years of regular school experience and those with less than two years of regular school experience. Both variants of the HQ course extend over an additional two semesters, i.e. one year.

With a Master's degree in Special Education, graduates are qualified to work in integrated special education in mainstream classes as an IS teacher, as an IF teacher for integrative support in mainstream classes, as a teacher in small classes, as well as in special education schools and centers.

Prospective special education teachers are recommended to work a maximum of 50 percent of their time during the Master's degree course in special education in order to have sufficient time for the course, which includes both classroom teaching and e-learning, self-study as well as preparation and follow-up time.

The Master's degree program in Special Education provides sound knowledge in intervention, diagnostics, prevention and cooperation and focuses on five main areas of study: Individual diagnostics and systemic analysis, support and teaching, counseling and reflection, information and communication as well as cooperation and coordination.