Semester 1-3: Specialization in your field of study
The first three semesters are dedicated to your individual specialization, in particular a diversified methodological training. You choose courses in your selected focus area and apply your acquired knowledge and skills during a field trip towards the end of the second semester. During a training research course, you pursue your own project and get actively involved in the organization and logistics of research, data acquisition and analysis, knowledge production and knowledge transfer.

Semester 4: Master’s thesis
The fourth semester is dedicated to the Master’s thesis, which you will prepare in close consultation with your supervisor.

The MSc program offers the opportunity to specialize in one major subject area of Physical Geography by giving students the opportunity to take advantage of an individually tailored Master’s program; this will enable a specific qualification in a chosen field of interest. In-depth modules and the possible topics for the Master’s thesis mirror the three research pillars at our institute in Erlangen:

Climate Research:

Research at our institute covers an unusually wide spectrum of climate science. It comprises the “reading” of climate proxy data (e.g., tree rings, soil properties), the access of climate phenomena from space, and the simulation of climate processes with the help of supercomputers. These areas are mirrored in the teaching program, yet the pivotal part of the climate research specialization is the practice of modern, physical climatology: numerical modeling of mechanisms and processes, with a focus on the atmosphere and cryosphere of Earth; the analysis of large climate datasets through state-of-the-art statistics; and direct meteorological measurements form an exciting framework that unifies empirical evidence and the value of computer models.

The courses put these methods in the light of topical issues, for instance, understanding the interplay of climatic subsystems in the challenging environment of high mountains (atmosphere, glaciers, hydrology); practicing seasonal predictions; or sharpening the senses for future climate projections.

Geoinformatics:

The Master’s program offers a well-founded modular methodological education with an emphasis on different remote sensing and GIS techniques. Our classes are closely linked to applications in the research foci in glaciology and climatology as well as in biogeography and spatial ecology. You will learn to process and analyze various Earth observation data types, ranging from optical multi- and hyperspectral data to radar data. The classes will introduce you in hands-on exercises and practical applications to analysis techniques such as radar interferometry and machine learning algorithms. We provide cross-links to numerical modelling and field measurements.

Our course program is tailored to cater to current and future demands and challenges regarding the processing of large data amounts (“big data”). All classes provide the opportunity to acquire versatile programming and scripting skills that enable efficient data processing as well as the customization and development of new algorithms. This combination of geoinformatics modules with thematic knowledge links modern data analysis and acquisition techniques with an in-depth process understanding that is required and demanded for data interpretation in the respective research fields.

Environmental Analysis:

Our institute comprises excellent facilities for acquiring multiple kinds of data on the environment. The generation of environmental data is a key qualification in basic and applied research to study effects of climate change on different components of the physical environment, including soils and sediments, water, and plants or other organisms. In the teaching program, we offer various lab courses in the soil lab, the tree-ring lab, and the stable isotope lab.

Currently, the degree program offers specializations in Climate Research, Geoinformatics, and Environmental Analysis.

You gain in-depth knowledge and methodological skills in fields such as GIS (Geographic Information System) and remote sensing, geo databases, climate modelling, ecological modelling, time series analysis, vegetation ecology, dendroecology, and soil science lab methods.

The program is taught in English and prepares students for the international job market. It has a clear research focus and qualifies participants for a doctoral degree at a university or for scientific work in research institutions or governmental agencies. Graduates also qualify for a large variety of exciting and challenging positions in consulting, management, or public services.