Majors

The major Atmosphere and Climate focuses on atmospheric processes. These processes are the basis for the quantitative analysis of physical and chemical exchange processes and for weather and climate forecasts. Methods from physics and chemistry are required along with knowledge of mathematics.
Our understanding of the atmosphere and climate system is based on field measurements and laboratory experiments. It is often necessary to process very large quantities of data to analyse, simulate and predict atmospheric processes. Complex numerical models are used to do this. This is the only way to obtain a precise understanding of atmospheric processes and enable weather and climate forecasting.

Interests/prerequisites:

• Strong foundation in mathematics and physics
• Interest in programming
   

Learning objectives:  

• Basic knowledge of physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere
  
• Insight into the design and execution of field and laboratory measurements and the analysis of the resulting data
• Development of programming skills
  

Link to corresponding specialisation in the master's programme: Atmospheric and Climate Science
Contact: Hanna Joos

Human activities strongly affect biogeochemical cycles on Earth. The emission of toxic and, in some cases, novel substances also has substantial impacts on the environment. A complex interplay of physical, chemical and biological processes influences the behaviour of substances in the environment. The major Biogeochemistry specialisation focuses on these processes and material cycles and their consequences for humans and the environment. The learning outcomes include an understanding of processes and systems, the ability to read scientific studies critically, and methodological skills in the laboratory and the field. The major Biogeochemistry is an ideal preparation for the Master’s specialisation Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics.

Interests/prerequisites:

• Knowledge of environmental systems (soils, water, atmosphere)
• Basic knowledge of and interest in chemistry, microbiology and physics
• Interest in material cycles and the behaviour of substances in the environment
   

Learning objectives:

• Understanding biogeochemical and physical processes in the environment
• Understanding material cycles and their significance in the environment
• Knowledge of current issues in biogeochemical research and practice
  

Link to corresponding MSc major: Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics
Contact: Michael Sander

The major Human-environment systems focuses on topics such as energy and food systems, climate change, mobility, waste management, spatial planning, and resource use in sensitive ecosystems. These are important points of interaction between human and environmental systems. The students learn to analyze such interlinked systems, to understand the interactions between different influencing factors and actors and to record the respective system-specific dynamics qualitatively and quantitatively. With their knowledge of the system, students will then seek to formulate approaches for sustainable management. Questions can be dealt with at local, regional or global level. As a rule, aspects of the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities are considered and analyzed using the appropriate methods.

Interests/prerequisites: 

• Interest in identifying challenges and solutions for sustainable human-environment systems
• Interest in developing both qualitative and quantitative methodological competence in human-environment systems
  

Learning objectives:

• Understanding of diverse interactions between social and environmental systems
  
• Competence in qualitative and quantitative methodologies to analyze both the social and environmental components of these linked systems
• Knowledge and skills to identify challenges and solutions for sustainability in social-environmental systems

Link to the corresponding specialisation in the Master's programme: Environmental Systems and Policy
Contact: Jamie McCaughey

The Environmental Biology major deals with the conceptual foundations of modern ecology and evolutionary biology. The programme takes an integrative approach in which scientific concepts are linked to diverse applications in environmental research. Environmental Biology does not focus on any one physically distinct part of the ecosphere. Instead, the major addresses the genetic, evolutionary and ecological processes on which biological change in populations, species and communities is based. These processes occur across a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. The Environmental Biology major prepares students for the specialisationEcology and Evolution and the specialisation Human Health, Nutrition and Environment.

Interests/prerequisites:

• Understanding of evolutionary processes
  
• Basics of ecology
  
• Interest in connecting fundamental research in the natural sciences to applied environmental topics
   

Learning objectives:

• Detailed basic knowledge of ecology and evolution
• Knowledge of interdisciplinary fields like population genetics, ecological genetics, applied systems ecology and epidemiology of infectious diseases
  
• Ability to apply scientific methods to analyse and evaluate ecological and evolutionary questions

Link to corresponding MSc major: Ecology and Evolution
Contact: Sebastien Wielgoss

The forest is an extraordinary ecosystem, it grows extremely slowly and develops a very versatile system with a pronounced temporal dimension. In the specialisation Forest and Landscape, aspects such as soil, vegetation, species composition, disturbances as well as use and management are dealt with, central topics are forest and landscape ecology.
The forest is embedded in a landscape that also consists of agricultural areas, traffic areas or settlements. In the in-depth study of forest and landscape systems, the landscape is viewed from a wide variety of perspectives: The focus is on ecological, but also on social and planning aspects. The interdisciplinary basic knowledge acquired in this major serves as a basis for the in-depth subjects in the Master's degree programme.

Interests/prior knowledge:  

• Knowledge of species
• Basic knowledge of ecology
• Interest in socio-economic systems
  
  

Learning objectives:

• Detailed basic knowledge in the field of forest and landscape ecology
• Ability to apply scientific methods to analyse and evaluate forest and landscape systems
• Knowledge of planning and management-oriented implementation options in the area of forest and landscape
   

Link to corresponding MSc major: Forest and Landscape Management
Contact: Verena Griess, Portal Forest and Landscape