diff --git a/configuration/pom.xml b/configuration/pom.xml
index d75b26b..23d3a63 100644
--- a/configuration/pom.xml
+++ b/configuration/pom.xml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
         <dependency>
             <groupId>log4j</groupId>
             <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-            <scope>provided</scope>
+            <scope>compile</scope>
         </dependency>
                 
     </dependencies>
diff --git a/configuration/src/main/java/de/muehlencord/shared/configuration/Configuration.java b/configuration/src/main/java/de/muehlencord/shared/configuration/Configuration.java
index a55cfcf..0ba9ea6 100644
--- a/configuration/src/main/java/de/muehlencord/shared/configuration/Configuration.java
+++ b/configuration/src/main/java/de/muehlencord/shared/configuration/Configuration.java
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package de.muehlencord.shared.configuration;
 
+import java.util.Map;
+
 /**
  *
  * @param <T> the type of the parameter
@@ -78,4 +80,11 @@ public interface Configuration<T, V extends T> {
      * @throws ConfigurationException if the configuration is invalid
      */
     public void validateConfiguration() throws ConfigurationException;
+    
+    /**
+     * returns the map of parameters and values
+     *
+     * @return the map of parameters and values
+     */
+    public Map<Parameter<T>, V> getParameterMap();    
 }
diff --git a/configuration/src/main/java/de/muehlencord/shared/configuration/DefaultConfiguration.java b/configuration/src/main/java/de/muehlencord/shared/configuration/DefaultConfiguration.java
index 612b665..0f74ec9 100644
--- a/configuration/src/main/java/de/muehlencord/shared/configuration/DefaultConfiguration.java
+++ b/configuration/src/main/java/de/muehlencord/shared/configuration/DefaultConfiguration.java
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ public class DefaultConfiguration<T, V extends T> implements Configuration<T, V>
     /**
      * the parameter map
      */
-    private Map<Parameter<T>, V> parameterMap;
+    private final Map<Parameter<T>, V> parameterMap;
     /** mapping from name to parameter */
-    private Map<String, Parameter<T>> parameterNameMap;
+    private final Map<String, Parameter<T>> parameterNameMap;
 
     /**
      * creates a new instance of a configuration
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public class DefaultConfiguration<T, V extends T> implements Configuration<T, V>
      *
      * @return the map of parameters and values
      */
-    protected Map<Parameter<T>, V> getParameterMap() {
+    public Map<Parameter<T>, V> getParameterMap() {
         return parameterMap;
     }