MSc Physical Geography: Environmental History

The current debate about the reasons and effects of climate change illustrates the need for experts who can understand and explain the complex interrelations that lead to environmental changes through time. Meeting this demand, the M. Sc. “Physical Geography: Environmental History" is a research-oriented master programme in physical geography focusing on the understanding and reconstruction of environmental and climatic history. This master programme is innovative and unique in Germany due to its distinct interdisciplinary approach including courses in physical and human geography, archaeology, geosciences, palaeobiology and environmental physics. To ensure high academic quality and practical orientation, the programme draws on both, expertise within the University of Bremen as well as on partnerships with regional scientific institutions in Bremen and Lower Saxony. All classes are taught in English. Students holding a B. Sc. degree in Geography with a focus on Physical Geography, in Geo- or Earth Sciences with a focus on Sedimentology or Quaternary Geology or in Archaeology focusing on Geoarchaeology are welcome.

The M. Sc. “Physical Geography: Environmental History" focusses on the reconstruction of environmental and climatic history as scientific expertise in this field is paramount today. The programme provides physical-geographical knowledge and skills that will enable you to analyse, interpret and evaluate the complex effects of natural and anthropogenic environmental changes on nature and society.

The program can be downloaded here.

Introduction to the M.Sc. study programme, as well as general class schedules for the running study year are available.

1. Semester - Introductory Phase

The introductory phase takes into account the different levels of knowledge and provides basic courses in the form of compulsory lectures and seminars as Consecutive Core Subjects in the disciplines of climatology, environmental physics, geosciences, limnogeology, prehistoric archaeology and vegetation history and archaeobotany. Three out of six Consecutive Core Subjects starting in the first semester and ending at the end of the second semester are elected. The compulsory course Research Process I offers training in presentation techniques and provides a detailed overview of cutting-edge research publications related to the respective fields of the master programme.

General Studies

General Studies encompass all courses dedicated as such in the study programme of the University of Bremen. A special offer are the eGeneral Studies. Within the master programme General Studies are intended to fill occasional gaps between the required 30 CP and the actually obtained CP, i.e. less than 30 CP in the third semester. Note that the examination office can only take credit for lectures with their full CP. For example, in case 3 CP are missing and you study a 6 CP course, it is not possible to hand in these 6 CP for the missing 3 CP.

Guidelines to prepare a Master Thesis

The guidelines summarize the procedures to be followed by students planning to write a thesis for their master degree. They discuss prerequisites, administrative and organizational issues as well as time constraints. Moreover, students find guidance about structure and elements generally contained in a Master Thesis.

These guidelines come along with helpful appendices (also available as a docx file from your supervisor):

Appendix 1: Application for admission to the Master Thesis (in German as "Antrag auf Zulassung zur Masterarbeit" with English translation)
Appendix 2: Grading scheme for a Master Thesis
Appendix 3: Layout of the title page
Appendix 4: Example for a table of contents

Rules and regulations are provided for download here. Please note that the English translations (EN) of all regulations are guidelines and not legally binding. Only the German regulations (DE) are legally binding.

Contact

Email: msc-pg-infoprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de

Responsible Person for the Master Course

Ben Marzeion is the responsible person for the master course in “Physical Geography: Environmental History”.

Student Adivsory Service

Student councelling including advice for the study abroad is provided by Michael Thiele. Additional information from the general stduent advisory service you find here.

MSc Physical Geography: Environmental History

Aims of the Study Programme

Module Handbook/ Structure of the Study Programme

General Studies, Internship, Study Abroad

Master Thesis

Application

Rules & Regulations

Responsibilities and Guidance