Geography

Studies at Universities

Studies: Introductory modules into the subject-specific, work methodology and social sciences principles of geography. Empirical research, sociology and political science, social, economic and settlement geography, urban and regional develop- ment, biogeography/soil science (pedolo- gy), geosystem Earth, geology, climatology and bodies of water, cartography, geo- graphical aerial and satellite image analy- sis, information systems/geo information

systems. Depending on the institution in question, students can chose from various consolidation areas, such as human geog- raphy, physical geography, regional analy- sis. Cross-disciplinary modules on key skills, such as field courses/excursions, laboratory internships. Depending on the institution in question, the programme may be divided into several study sections. ated with the natural sciences, the arts and

humanities, and the social sciences. The traditional major branches of geogra- phy are the more science-focused fields of physical geography and human geography, which focus more on aspects of the social sciences and the arts and humanities. Both fields have developed into relatively independent branches with differing ques- tions and methods. Branches of physical geography include geomorphology (the study of the Earth’s surface structure), soil science (pedology), hydrology, climatol- ogy and biogeography (animal and plant geography / geography of fauna and flora). Human geography and cultural geography primarily deal with industrial geography, settlement geography, as well as demo- graphic and social geography. Course contents also cover statistics, aerial analysis and mapping (cartography). Problems of environmental protection and questions of national, regional and urban planning have opened up new and important responsibili- ties and challenges for geographers.

Regional studies have a stronger philo- logical focus. They combine the study of languages with the political and eco- nomic/industrial aspects of the respective regions.

Important auxiliary and complementary subjects for the study of geography include basic mathematics and science disciplines along with social and economic sciences. The potential breadth of the subject cata- logue makes it important for students to define their core study areas and spe- cialisations at an early stage. A knowledge of foreign languages is indispensable, especially since programmes very often use specialist literature written in English and French, even in the early stages of the studies. Laboratory work and computer- aided simulation models have become increasingly important.

Study Field Outline

The term geosciences/earth sciences refers to those sciences that treat the Earth as a whole. Geophysics concerns itself with the physics of the Earth and its magnetic field, as well as with how (outer) space impacts the Earth. The physical processes taking place in the Earth’s atmosphere are treated by the field of meteorology, which is also responsible for weather forecasting. Long-term changes to the atmosphere are studied by climatol- ogy.

Oceanography/marine science deals primarily with the physics of the oceans, with the main focus directed towards studying the interaction between oceanic and atmospheric currents due to their importance for the weather and climate. In the field of cartography (sea charts), oceanography has points of contact with geography.

Geology studies the development and composition of the Earth’s crust. It exam-

ines physical and chemical changes on the Earth’s (exogenous) surface and the forms of thermal and mechanical impact within the Earth’s (endogenous) surface which have resulted in enormous changes in the course of the Earth’s history. Fossilised animals and plants (palaeontology – the study of the history of the Earth’s crust) and radiometric time measurements serve as dating tools.

Mineralogy is the materials-based geo- science. It researches the chemical, physi- cal and biogenetic properties of materials and the role they play in the processes of the System Earth. Its methods and con- cepts focus equally on researching natural and synthetic materials and their applica- tion. Focuses include, on the one hand, crystallography, and, on the other, petrol- ogy (rock science), geochemistry and the geology of mineral deposits; the latter is of particular significance to mining.

In its capacity as an interdisciplinary, applied natural science focused on envi- ronmental problems (especially the effects

5.8 Geosciences/Earth Sciences

Programmes in this field

Aachen TH • Augsburg U • Bamberg U • Bayreuth U • Berlin FU • Berlin HU • Bochum U • Bonn U • Bremen U • Dresden TU • Eichstätt-Ingolstadt U (Eichstätt) • Erlangen-Nürnberg U (Erlangen) • Flensburg U • Frankfurt am Main U • Freiburg U • Gießen U • Göttingen U • Greifswald U • Halle-Wittenberg U • Hamburg U • Hannover U • Heidelberg U • Hildesheim U • Jena U • Kiel U • Koblenz-Landau U • Köln U • Leipzig U • Mainz U • Marburg U • München U • Münster U • Osnabrück U • Potsdam U • Trier U • Tübingen U • Vechta H • Würzburg U

Studies at Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences

Practical experience/internships: Several weeks of professional practical work dur- ing the studies or the semester vacation (recess) recommended or in some cases prescribed. Programmes at universities of applied sciences offer natural resources and geoengineering depending on the

previous qualifications in a basic and an advanced internship.

Studies: All the degree programmes in this field initially deliver the geosciences, physi- cal, biological, chemical and mathematical principles. In the geosciences programmes, this includes modules like the Earth, min- eralogical and petrological basic knowl- edge, geo information systems, geochemis- of foreign contaminants), geoecology

deals with energy and material cycles between the Earth’s atmosphere, the soil (pedosphere), the geological subterranean sphere (lithosphere), the hydrosphere and the biosphere.

The geosciences-focused field of hydrol- ogy studies hydrological processes and systems on a natural sciences basis. It also takes into account aspects of modern environmental science and develops eco- logically-orientated and interdisciplinary approaches. The training is based on an independent full Diplom degree course in hydrology. Mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry are the key auxiliary sci- ences for the geosciences/earth sciences. Applied Geology deals with the interaction between geology and man (humankind). It studies close-to-surface soil and rock layers from applied, practical perspectives, including, not least, the production of risk analyses. It also studies the development potential (zoning/development) of land areas or the use of soil and rock. Studies focus on the mechanical properties, fol- lowed by chemical aspects, and how, in

respect of concrete questions, these are spatially distributed in limited areas. Geotechnics deals with soils and rocks for civil engineering purposes. As a link between applied geology and civil engi- neering, the field serves to implement geo- scientific knowledge in earth and founda- tion engineering, in rock engineering and in underground and special underground civil engineering (galleries, tunnelling and caverns).

Geo information systems represent a novel, interdisciplinary research area that serves as a bridge between computer sci- ence and the geosciences (Earth sciences). This area deals with the development and application of methods to produce computer-aided solutions to specific problems in research, industry, politics and administration in which the spatial reference of information is important. The acquired findings are used in geo informa- tion systems (GIS), for example SatNavs, and so facilitate the optimal exploitation of spatial/locational data, e.g. in environmen- tal protection, traffic management or civil engineering.

try, sedimentology, tectonics, palaeontology and earth history, hydrogeology, geophys- ics. As studies progress and depending on the programme in question, students can set various focuses and specialisations.

In geosciences programmes, for example, this includes modules like astrophysics, geochemistry, geo infor- mation systems, geology, geophysics, hydrogeology/environmental geology, engineering geology/geoengineering, mineralogy, petrology/mineral deposits research, palaeontology.

In geoecology programmes, the focus is on landscape ecology, soil science (pedology), hydrology, mineralogy/ geochemistry, bio information systems/ geo information systems.

In geoengineering and applied geology programmes, students consolidate their knowledge in applications-orientated fields plus branches of geoengineering like sampling, methods of calculation, soil and rock mechanics, drilling engineering, special underground mining, civil engineering (galleries, tunnelling and caverns).

In meteorology programmes, the training includes modules in theoreti- cal, experimental and applied meteorol- ogy, including climatology, with experi- mental and numerical internships plus a cross-disciplinary elective subject. Excursions (often including abroad), map- ping internships and field exercises repre- sent an important part of the programme and complement the lectures and practical courses. Modules in general and subject- specific key qualifications round off the training.

Programmes in this field

Aachen TH • Bayreuth U • Berlin FU • Berlin TU • Bochum TFH • Bochum U • Bonn U • Braunschweig TU • Bremen Jacobs University • Bremen U •

Clausthal TU • Darmstadt TU • Dresden TU • Erlangen-Nürnberg U (Erlangen) • Frankfurt am Main U • Freiberg TUBergAk • Freiburg U • Göttingen U • Greifswald U • Halle-Wittenberg U • Hamburg U • Hannover U • Heidelberg U • Jena U • Karlsruhe U • Kiel U • Köln U • Leipzig U • Mainz U • München TU • München U • Münster U • Potsdam U • Trier U • Tübingen U