Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Biogeosciences​

Study/examination regulations

The criteria on the basis of which the students' performance is assessed are defined in the study regulations and the examination regulations of the Bachelor's program in Biogeosciences. 

The examination and study regulations are available to students as a download on this page. In addition, students can make use of subject advising services in general cases and consult with the module supervisor in special cases.

Detailed contents of the individual modules can be found in the module descriptions and are presented by the responsible lecturers at the beginning of the semester.

Study regulations

• Study regulations from March 9, 2009External link
• 1. modification of the study regulations from April 18, 2012External link
• Reading version of the study regulationspdf, 24 kb · de

Examination regulations

• Examination regulations from March 9, 2009External link
• 1st modification of the examination regulations from June 29, 2011External link
• 2nd modification of the examination regulations from April 18, 2012External link
• Reading version of the examination regulations pdf, 57 kb · de

The examination committee Bachelor Biogeosciences is composed as follows:

• Prof. Dr. Kai Uwe Totsche (Chairman)
• Prof. Dr. Erika Kothe
• Prof. Dr. Kirsten Küsel
• Prof. Dr. Thorsten Schäfer (deputy chairman)
• Dr. Dirk Merten
• Dr. Katrin Krause
• cand. Bachelor Biogeosciences Peter Wiemuth (student member)

Resolutions and supplementary communications of the Audit Committee

Implementation of project modules (Bachelor and Master)

All project modules must be completed within the times specified in the study plan. Deviation from these times is only possible in exceptional cases and must be justified to the person responsible for the module in advance. The project module must be registered before it begins and the supervisor of the work must be named. An extension of project modules is generally excluded. If these regulations are not adhered to without consulting the person responsible for the module, the project module is considered not to have been carried out.

Bachelor thesis registration

Please fill out the application completely and have it signed by both your first and second reviewer. Please write your name and the names of the first and second reviewer legibly! The application signed by the applicant and both reviewers has to be handed in at the examination office of the Faculty of Chemical and Geosciences at least two weeks before the start of the Bachelor thesis.

Application for admission to the bachelor thesis in the course of study Biogeowissenschaften de

Resolution of the Audit Committee (dated 04.09.2013)

A core team is determined, which significantly supports the study program Biogeosciences in research and teaching.

At least one reviewer of the bachelor thesis must come from this core team!

The core team is composed of

• Prof. Dr. Georg Büchel
• Prof. Dr. Anke Kleidon-Hildebrandt
• Prof. Dr. Erika Kothe
• Prof. Dr. Kirsten Küsel
• Prof. Dr. Falko Langenhorst
• Prof. Dr. Juraj Majzlan
• Prof. Dr. Thorsten Schäfer
• Prof. Dr. Kai Uwe Totsche
• Dr. Katrin Krause
• Dr. Dirk Merten

Extension of the bachelor thesis

According to §12 paragraph 4, final papers can be extended by 3 weeks upon application to the examination board.

The informal application is to be submitted in writing by the candidate to the BGW Examination Committee (for the attention of Prof. Totsche). The consent of the first examiner must be obtained in advance and documented on the application. The reason for the extension must not be the candidate's own fault. Informal applications must be submitted no later than 2 weeks before the deadline for submission of the thesis as specified in the admission letter. The application should preferably be submitted via the Hydrogeology Secretariat.

After examination of the application, the candidate and the examination office will be informed about the decision.

gez. Kai Totsche (28-06-2012)

"If you are still unsure whether you should do a semester abroad, no matter where - do it! You will gain an incredible amount of experience during that time, how to cope with teaching methods that are completely different from what you are used to, or how to communicate with hands and feet because no one understands you."

(Judith Schepers after her stay in Aarhus, Denmark)

Motivation of the study abroad

Studying abroad offers many opportunities such as learning another language, getting to know another culture and other people. You can discover new places and gather many impressions, and last but not least, a stay abroad can also improve your professional opportunities.

Ideally, a semester abroad can be taken without extending the duration of your studies.

Youtube: Go out - (d)ein Semester im Ausland.External link

Information about studying abroad in the Biogeosciences program

For the Bachelor of Biogeosciences, the 5th semester is suitable for studying abroad. For the Master's degree, the second semester is suitable; alternatively, project module or Master's thesis can be completed abroad under certain conditions.

Attention: Start planning your semester abroad 15 months before the planned stay if you want to apply for funding.

With regard to the modules taken abroad, students must consult with the subject advisors (Prof. Dr. K.U. Totsche and/or Dr. D. Merten) in advance. Otherwise, no recognition of the work done abroad can be granted. For the possible recognition, detailed information about the university visited, the contents and workloads of the modules are required. The content of the modules taken abroad must match the content of the Bachelor's degree program in Biogeosciences, but must not correspond to the courses offered in the Bachelor's degree program as part of the elective courses in the 5th semester. It is essential that you have the agreed modules to be taken confirmed by your departmental advisor by signature before your stay abroad. If possible, use the Learning Agreement (see below). 

Die organisatorische und finanzielle Planung des Auslandsaufenthaltes obliegt den Studierenden, das Internationale Büro der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität bietet Ihnen jedoch umfassende Beratung.  Bitte planen Sie einen Vorlauf von etwa 15 Monaten ein, da die Bewerbungsfristen für eine mögliche Finanzierung ca. 1 Jahr vor dem möglichen Auslandsaufenthalt liegen.

Attention: Please inform yourself first very comprehensively about the offered modules via the internet before you contact the subject coordinators!

In many cases the receiving university requires a Learning Agreement. This can be downloaded via Erasmus information of the Friedrich Schiller UniversityExternal link. Please use this form to have the modules chosen abroad countersigned by the subject advisor.

Please also take into account that in many countries it will be more difficult for you to successfully complete modules due to a foreign language of instruction. Therefore, you should plan more courses than only the 30 LP.

Video - Going abroad during your studies External link(Arnold Wonneberger about his study abroad at the Arctic University of Norway)

• Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norwegen (Sommersemester 2021)
  • Lena Wenkebach

• Ben Gurion University of the Negev; Be`er Scheva; Israel de (Wintersemester 2019/20)
  
  • Jonas Ruppert

• Study abroad at NTNU Trondheim winter semester 2019/20 de
  • Samuel Sellmaier

• Study abroad at Charles University Prague im WS 17/18 de
  • Niklas van Wickeren

• Study abroad at Oulun Ylioposto (University of Oulu) in Finnland im 5. Semester (2017) de
  • Clara Gansert

• Study abroad at Sevilla/Spanien im Herbst 2016 de
  • Martin Roggenbuck

• Study abroad in Denmark im 5. Semester of Bachelor study de
  • Judith Schepers

• Study abroad in Norway im 5. Semester of Bachelor study de
  • Janina Leinberger

• Stay abroad 2011/2012 in Finland in the 5th semester of the bachelor studies de
  • Sina Bold

• Stay abroad 2011/2012 in France in the 5th semester of the bachelor studies de
  • Lena S.

• Stay abroad in Ecuador in the 5th and 6th semester of the bachelor program de
  • Lena Carstens

• Stay abroad in Granada/Spain in the 5th/6th semester of the Bachelor's program de
  • Marius Hasenheit

• Stay abroad in the 3rd semester of the master's program in Oulu/Finland de
  • Laura Degenkolb

• Stay abroad in the 5th semester of the bachelor program in Oulu/Finland in WS 2008/2009 de
  • Corinna Höhl

Already in my childhood I was very interested in nature and the environment. Therefore, it was clear early on that I would also orient myself in this direction when choosing my field of study. I finally decided to study biogeosciences because of the broad interdisciplinary education. From my point of view, this is particularly important, because in order to understand the processes taking place in the environment, it is always necessary to consider the interactions between the individual environmental compartments.

During my studies and in various internships, I became interested in the topic of contaminated sites. In the treatment of contaminated sites, geological and hydrogeological as well as chemical, but also microbiological knowledge is required. Since this is also a very interdisciplinary discipline, I deliberately chose to work in this field when choosing my career.

My task as a specialist for water supervision/soil protection/legacy at the environmental protection department of the city of Jena is first and foremost the protection of surface waters. In order to protect the waters from harmful interference, I provide water-legal approvals with the corresponding conditions that enable the harmless use of the waters.

Another focus of my work is the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive in cooperation with the responsible water body maintainer. The aim is to achieve a good chemical and ecological condition of the water bodies of the second order in the urban area of Jena.

Furthermore, I am involved in the preparation of flood protection concepts for the districts of Jena threatened by floods within the framework of the European Flood Risk Management Directive. In addition to preventive soil protection, I am also responsible for the elimination of harmful soil changes at the lower soil protection authority. This includes, above all, the supervision of urban remediation measures. I also manage the Thuringian Contaminated Sites Information System (THALIS) for the urban area of Jena and provide information on the registered suspected contaminated sites in accordance with the Thuringian Environmental Information Act.

I became aware of the study program Biogeosciences through my work as a student assistant at the "Jena Experiment". There I could participate in the field work as well as in the scientific evaluation of the results. Afterwards I informed myself about natural science courses of studies, which integrate a practical application and later offer various occupational fields. The bachelor's and master's degree program in biogeosciences in Jena provides a very structured way to do this. Jena is not only a multicultural center, but also a traditional and current industrial and scientific location (my region of choice), which is why I decided to study there.

Due to the integration and interaction of different natural sciences, a broad spectrum of knowledge is imparted during the studies. Opportunities to further educate or specialize in individual subject areas and to learn personal professional skills should be taken advantage of through term papers, internships, and hi-vis jobs or other small temporary jobs. This is also a good way to master the transition from university to work.

After graduation, I decided to do in-depth scientific research in isotope geochemistry, with practical application in the remediation of contaminated mining sites. Currently I am working in an engineering office (BIGUS GmbH Weimar) in the field of environmental engineering. The main focus there is the environmental assessment of contaminated sites and the supervision of work in contaminated areas, such as the specification of work and safety plans.

After graduation, it is not only technical qualifications that are decisive. An applicant's personal interest, motivation and commitment also play an important role in getting the job of his or her choice.