Earth System, Resources, Biodiversity
Are you interested in the Earth System and sustainability? Do you want to better understand climate change and its causes? Would you like to support the sustainable exploration of resources? Do you enjoy studying natural sciences and practical work?
Then study GeoSustainability at the GeoZentrum Nordbayern at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen Nuremberg!
Fact Sheet
Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
Admission: No Admissions Restrictions
Duration of studies: 6 semesters
Teaching language: completely in German
Faculty: Faculty of Sciences
Start of degree program: Winter semester
Special features:
During the study program, there is the opportunity for an exchange semester in the fourth semester as part of the mobility period on offer. This can be in Germany or abroad.
In addition to theoretical lectures, the program includes seminars and numerous practical courses. These include laboratory work, rock identification, and field exercises.
Link to the current module handbooks and examination regulations:
https://www.gzn.nat.fau.eu/study/downloads/#sprungmarke2
The GeoSustainability degree program provides a deep insight into the Earth System and its processes, as well as the most important geoscientific challenges, such as climate change, sustainable resources, and biodiversity. The global climate and ecosystems are undergoing constant change. New resources will be needed for the transformation of energy systems and technologies will need to be further developed. We provide and develop sustainable solutions to these challenges. In order to understand the processes of the Earth System, natural and geoscientific principles are taught both theoretically in lectures and seminars, and practically in field and laboratory exercises. The teaching is based on the current state of research and provides valuable insights into current important research topics.
The completion of the bachelor’s degree program in GeoSustainability qualifies students for our master’s degree program M.Sc. Geosciences.
Program overview
What is the degree program about?
The GeoSustainability degree program is a modern and diverse geoscientific program focusing on key sustainability issues.
The course focuses on the processes and interactions of the Earth System and the composition, structure, evolution, present and future state of our planet and its habitats. All geoscientific processes of the Earth System in the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere are analyzed. This includes all geological, chemical, physical, and biological processes that have taken place and are taking place from the formation of the Earth to its present appearance.
In the first two semesters, students study the challenges of sustainability in the Earth System, focusing on resources, climate and biodiversity. Students are introduced to the basics of natural sciences and geosciences. The third and fourth semesters serve to consolidate and specialize. During this time, the geoscientific basics are deepened and applied through laboratory and field exercises. In addition, practical training, seminars, lectures and exercises are offered to further consolidate knowledge and subsequently specialize in specific areas. A special feature of the fourth semester is a mobility phase. This means that students can spend this semester at a university in Germany of abroad if they are interested. We support them in this. In the fifth and sixth semesters, students develop solutions to geoscientific challenges in the research phase, for example by modelling biodiversity.
The program focuses on resources, climate, biodiversity and processes of the Earth system. Depending on your interests, you will specialize in one of these areas during your studies.
Enthusiasm for the Earth System, climate research, sustainability research, and, ideally, rocks. You should also have general interest in natural sciences – such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology.
For more information about career opportunities in the geosciences, please visit our Career Prospects page: https://www.gzn.nat.fau.eu/study/profession-geoscientist/.
Here, you can also learn more about career paths of our Alumni: https://www.gzn.nat.fau.eu/prospective-students/career-paths-after-graduation/.