Students on a salt lake

Field of study geology

M.Sc. Geosciences
Students on a salt lake
Image: IGW

Even within the geology major, there are several disciplines, each represented by professorships, similar to medicine:

(1) Applied geology includes resource geology, groundwater, engineering geology, bio-geo interactions, and rock-water interactions. Many of these relationships have a direct impact on supplies and hazards.

(2) Structural geology deals with structures of the Earth such as folds, ductile shear zones, and brittle fractures, e.g., in the structure of mountain ranges worldwide. This usually involves metamorphic, magmatic and sedimentary processes.

(3) Hydrogeology explores the "critical zone" formed by the overlap of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere. In addition to soils, it includes the Unsaturated Zone and the near-surface hydrogeosphere.

(4) General and Historical Geology, focusing on sedimentology, stratigraphy, and Quaternary geology, studies the structure of continental sedimentary basins and the historical evolution of life and its impact on the planet.

Structure

The program comprises 4 semesters full-time equivalent (it can also be studied part-time) and concludes with an MSc thesis (Master's Thesis). The structure of the program takes your interests into account. Its structure allows you to either take a broad and versatile approach or to develop a distinct professional profile. We will be happy to advise you on a sensible combination of courses.

In the first two semesters you will take courses; there is only one compulsory module of 6 LP: The Major Excursion. All other modules, amounting to 54 LP (about nine modules), are compiled from the module catalog (the module codes have been changed in the meantime; the current codes will be entered here in due time):

MSc modules 2016 year 1

Image: IGW

The first digit of the module code indicates the semester in which the module is offered.

Up to 12 LP (two modules of standard size) can be taken from further "context modules" of geology, geophysicspdf, 259 kb · de or mineralogypdf, 406 kb · de not listed here. We strongly recommend thinking outside the box !

Context modules include additional courses that are not offered regularly, but according to the availability of lecturers or current research projects. They are not listed in the module catalog, but in the current course catalog in Friedolin.

In the last two semesters, all students take the following modules:

MSc_modules_2016_year2

Image: IGW

The contents of the two project modules differ in the individual branches of geology: For example, it can be a geological mapping with report, the implementation and documentation of a larger laboratory work, a research internship or the preparation of a review from the geological literature. They all have guided but independent scientific work in common, preparing for the MSc thesis.

The modules are described individually in detail in the module catalogpdf, 488 kb · de.

What distinguishes the study of geology in Jena ?

  • Large proportion and broad spectrum of practice-oriented training
  • Early participation in current research
  • Guided work in laboratories with excellent equipment
  • Large number and variety of geoscientific destinations in the area, but also numerous projects abroad
  • Individual supervision
  • Interdisciplinarity with other subfields of geosciences
  • Independent choice of study content in the elective area
  • Close contacts to business and industry
  • Diverse opportunities to study at a comprehensive university

Sample study plans

For example, a course of study with a major in General Geology may be structured as follows:

Model study plan General Geology

Image: IGW

For example, a course of study with a major in Applied Geology may be structured as follows:

Model Study Plan Applied Geology

Image: IGW

After the study

Geologists typically take up careers in the following areas:

  • Industry (raw materials and energy management), water management
  • Landfill construction, remediation of contaminated sites etc., environmental protection
  • Structural and civil engineering (subsoil investigations etc.)
  • Geological offices of the federal states, Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, authorities, ministries
  • Museums
  • International organizations, NGOs, development aid
  • Universities and geoscientific research institutions
  • Freelance positions (e.g. as surveyors and experts etc.)