Organismic Biology, Evolutionary Biology and Palaeobiology (OEP-Biology)

The MSc in Organismic Biology, Evolutionary Biology and Palaeobiology is a two-year research-oriented, international study programme taught in English, aiming at providing students with a broad understanding of all aspects of Organismic Biology. Evolutionary biology and biodiversity research connect various disciplines such as systematics, phylogeny, palaeobiology, physiology, ecology, molecular biology, ethology and many more. Strong emphasis is given to practical research experience in the field, in the laboratories of the participating research groups and in the large collections of the Zoological Museum Alexander Koenig, the Goldfuß-Museum of Palaeontology and the Botanical Gardens of the University of Bonn. Teaching in OEP-Biology is theory-oriented, aiming at enabling students to think critically, analytically and strategically. The MSc OEP-Biology course programme is consequently modularised according to the ECTS. A total of 120 credit points (CP), approx. 30 per semester, which will be accumulated during two years of study. During the first semester, three obligatory modules provide basic knowledge in biodiversity and evolution (10CP), Fundamentals of evolutionary biology (10CP) and general principles of scientific communication (5CP). The obligatory part of the programme further includes attendance in the biological colloquium (2CP). In the fourth semester, students work on their Master's theses (30CP) in one of the participating laboratories or collaborating institutions. Finally, students defend the results of their Master's theses in a defence colloquium (3CP). During the last time block of the first semester and the whole second and third semester, students additionally have to choose elective modules (between 2.5CP and 10CP), including practical courses (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) as well as lectures and seminars in the morning (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.) and late afternoon (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.) Elective modules from the following three elective areas can be chosen: A-modules include method-oriented modules, B-modules include modules with less than 50% fieldwork and C-modules include modules with more than 50% fieldwork. Between two and six modules (minimum of 15CP and maximum of 30CP) out of each elective area can be chosen in the elective part of the programme (total of 60CP).