PhD Chemistry Didactics

Doctoral Study on Chemistry Didactics is the culmination of the three-tier university education. Is a targeted grounding in research activities focused on teaching and learning chemistry, which is based on deepening the knowledge of the chemistry didactics and of the relevant area of chemistry, pedagogy, psychology, computer science and other disciplines, to learn the methods of scientific work in the mentioned fields and will significantly contribute to a comprehensive improvement of the work of chemistry teachers at various levels of the education system, experts on curriculum creation and its evaluation in accordance with current scientific knowledge and research. The branch includes a range of topics, e.g. the transformation of scientific knowledge of chemical processes into chemistry teaching and learning, research and development of school chemical experiments, ICT applications in chemical education, environmental and toxicological aspects of chemistry education etc. A mandatory part of the study relates to the acquisition of deep knowledge of chemistry didactics (educational theory and practice in chemistry), selected areas of specialized chemistry and pedagogical methodology and especially chemistry didactic research. Individual study plan allows getting more specific knowledge and skills, in particular through elective courses.

Applicant Profile

Graduates of master programs Chemistry Teacher Training for Lower and Upper Secondary School, or graduates of the master study program Chemistry, and programs relatives who have completed additional pedagogical studies or otherwise obtain a teaching qualification in accordance with applicable regulations.

Entrance Exam

By the interview is verified applicant’s level of knowledge, the depth of his theoretical knowledge, prerequisites for independent creative scientific work in the field Chemistry Didactics. The applicant shall submit a brief plan of his dissertation project and provides proof of any previous professional experience and publications. The admission interview will verify the knowledge of a foreign language (English, German or Russian).

Absolvent Profile

Graduates of doctoral study Chemistry Didactics have extensive knowledge of the complex usable in teaching, scientific research and management activities in the field of general and vocational chemical education. They are able to creatively solve problems in education; they are able to design and implement research, especially in the field of chemical education. Graduated can work as highly skilled university departments engages with the professional training of chemistry teachers (and other science subjects), i.e. at the departments of chemistry and the departments of chemical education (natural sciences education), research institutes and organizational-administrative institutions dealing with general and specialized chemical education, adequate workplace at decision sphere (methodologies further training chemistry teachers, staff, school inspection, managers at different levels of education), national and international institutions and organizations focused on research in general and specialized chemical (science) education. Graduates can also work in publishing, focusing on the production of textbooks and companies oriented to the development and teaching aids. Doctoral studies represent a significant shift in the qualification of teachers of the secondary schools, where the teaching of chemistry is a general-education course, but also in vocational schools, where the teaching of chemistry as professional courses. Obtaining research and teaching qualifications Ph.D. becomes the default position for further professional growth (e.g. assoc. professor and full professor procedures).

Recommended Studying Literature

BARKE, H.-D., HAZARI, A., YITBAREK, S. Misconceptions in Chemistry. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer, 2009
BORG, W.R., GALL, M.D. Educational Research. New York: Longman, 1989
ABELL, S. K., LEDERMAN, N.G. (Eds.) Handbook of Research on Science Education. Oxford: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2007
BILEK, M. (ed.) Research, Theory, and Practice in Chemistry Didactics. Research and Research Oriented Studies. Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Chemistry Education. Hradec Kralove: Gaudeamus, 2014. [on-line] http://edu.uhk.cz/didchem/pdf/chemie.pdf [cit.15.10.2012]

ADMISSION PROCEDURE:

Application deadline: 30th June (for starting studies in September)
Applicants have to send

• filled-in application form
• a copy of the university diploma certifying that the applicant completed Master studies (this document has to be translated into English and verified by a notary)

The extent and contents of the entrance examination:
Entrance interview.

All documents must be sent to:
International Relations Office
University of Hradec Králové
Faculty of Science
Rokitanskeho 62
500 03 Hradec Kralove
The Czech Republic

and to the e-mail: study@uhk.cz