For students starting in wintersemester 2018, the curriculum will be the following: 10 compulsory modules with 48 credits are dedicated to acquiring basic skills in and fundamental knowledge of Earth and Climate System Science. For instance, in these modules, students study feedback mechanisms over the land surface by operating and analysing soil-vegetation-atmosphere models as well as agricultural and economic models.

Especially innovative components of the programme are:

The debate seminar in the 2nd semester
Training in data assimilation as a key technology in weather forecasting, climate simulations and reanalyses of regional climate
Operation and analyses of regional climate models
Application of remote sensing for Earth system observations and climate studies
The synthesis of aspects of natural science with economic models

A master’s thesis, written in the fourth semester, completes the program.

In addition to the 10 compulsory modules, the students choose 7 elective modules based on their personal and professional interests and areas of specialization. Elective modules can be integrated flexibly into the second or third semester. It is also possible to take modules from other Master’s programs in Hohenheim or at other German or foreign universities to intensify the interdisciplinary research. As the third semester contains only elective modules, this semester is well suited to organize a visiting semester at another university in Germany or abroad.

Examples for offered elective modules of the University of Hohenheim:

Special Topics of Earth System Science
Remote Sensing of the Earth System
Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
Measurement, Modelling and Data Assimilation II
Spatial Data Analysis with geographic information systems (GIS)
Statistics for Natural Sciences
Global Change Issues
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Analytics
Poverty and Development Strategies