Overview
- Overview
-
Overview
The Master's degree programme ‘Geosystems in Transition’ builds on the geographical foundations of a Bachelor's degree programme and places particular emphasis on the networking of specialist knowledge in the field of physical geography. Geosystems are complex spatial units of our environment, consisting of interlinked spheres such as the lithosphere, pedosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and anthroposphere. They are characterised by internal processes and interactions between these spheres and thus shape the living environment on Earth.
Global climate and environmental change brings about changes in all geosystems. Both climatic influences and those caused directly by human activities play a decisive role here. In order to understand the cause-effect relationships, the individual processes and their interactions must be analysed. The degree programme therefore initially focuses on the interdisciplinary, physical-geographical analysis of a specific geosystem. This can be a river catchment area in Germany, for example, which is used to provide students with an in-depth understanding of past, current and possible future conditions. Climatological, geomorphological, hydrological, biological and pedological processes are considered. This knowledge is then transferred to geosystems from other areas in order to compare and evaluate their stability in the face of environmental influences.
In terms of methodology, the degree programme focuses on research-based learning: students collect their own empirical data in the field and in the laboratory, test hypotheses and answer research questions. With this problem-centred learning approach, students test scientific methods in a real-life problem environment and apply them in a solution-oriented manner. The application of geoinformation systems and the handling of geodata are a particular focus. This prepares students to recognise local dynamics of climate and environmental change and, as future decision-makers, to develop solutions that do justice to the complexity of our environment.