Geosciences (Master of Science)

The geosciences play a central role in key issues of global importance for the Earth system. Climate change has dramatic consequences for physical, geochemical, ecological processes on Earth's surface with strong economic and social implications. This includes the development and management of the land surface, the exploration and exploitation of natural resources under dramatically increasing population pressure (water, soil, energy resources, metallic and non-metallic raw materials), the assessment of geohazards, and the development of new materials and processes, particularly in the areas of energy efficiency and environmental protection. In recent decades, geosciences have developed into a natural science with modern physical-chemical measurement methods and strong theoretical and mathematical-physical model thinking. This includes the analysis and modelling of processes that take place on the surface and in deeper areas of Earth on different time and space scales. The aim of the Master's “Geowissenschaften” at Leibniz University Hannover is to provide strong scientific backgrounds with state-of-the-art methods to face the forthcoming problems of economic and social importance related to climate change. The Master's degree programme in Geosciences contains only one compulsory module, which is a seminar on communication of scientific results at conferences. All other modules are elective modules. Students can select modules among four specialisation topics: Soil/Water (Soil Science, Distribution of Soil Units and Soil Use, Soil Pollution, Soil Processes and Modelling, Environmental Mineralogy, Hydrogeology and Water Management) Sedimentary systems and tectonics (Neotectonics and Tectonic Geomorphology, Sedimentary Archives and Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction), most courses in this specialisation are held in German Applied geology and geophysics (Sedimentology, Deposits and Raw Materials, Geophysics, Engineering Geology, Numerical Modelling of Geological Processes), most courses in this specialisation are held in German Mineralogy/Geochemistry (Soil Mineralogy, Isotope Geochemistry, Mineral Deposits, Magmatic and Hydrothermal Processes, Crystal Physics and Spectroscopic Analysis of Minerals) In addition, individual projects (with up to 21 credit points) and excursions can be chosen in each specialisation. It is also possible to attend courses from other degree programmes that complement the geosciences programme (with a maximum of 20 credit points). The submission of a Master's thesis (with 30 credit points) completes the degree programme.