Global Change Ecology (MSc)

The Global Change Ecology (MSc) programme, established in 2006 as part of the Elite Network of Bavaria, addresses the most important and far-reaching environmental issues of the 21st century: global change of climate, biodiversity as well as ecosystem functioning and their services. The study of human reaction and the development of adaptation strategies are also included. Effects of the interaction with other globally relevant developments such as regionally specific land use changes and loss of biodiversity that can intensify the negative effects of global change are also a vital part of course content. The interdisciplinary and entirely new problems of global change demand innovative and highly efficient approaches in research and teaching. Competencies at the University of Bayreuth, as well as in the Bavarian research community, along with business, public administration and international organisations are therefore pooled together in the programme. Changes in climate, transformation in land-use and population pressure all bring about drastic changes in the behaviour of ecological systems, making it increasingly difficult to judge. Due to the complex interaction between social and ecological processes, fields in natural science are supplemented by disciplines in social science. The goal of this programme is to educate and train students to work in science and the environment, in politics, and in business as highly qualified experts and decision-makers. With a well-founded scientific background and expert knowledge, such individuals must be able to analyse complex issues, recognise new problems, and work out and adopt solid solutions. This programme is embedded into the teaching environment at the Department of Earth Sciences at UBT. The University of Bayreuth (UBT) is a young university but has a long history in research and teaching in environmental system sciences. It provides an excellent profile and background in Ecology and Environmental Sciences as determined by the expert commission "Science in Bavaria 2020". The academic departments provide special opportunities for the elite degree programme, along with ongoing research projects that examine questions of global change. 14 Chairs and Professorships in geoecology and geography contribute to the teaching in this MSc programme. This is complemented by teachers of the faculties of biology, economics and law as well as external ones from the University of Augsburg and partners from practice and allows the offering of a wide range of teaching on theories, concepts, and methods relevant to holistically address global change in climate, land use, biodiversity, and ecosystems. The Global Change Ecology MSc programme is designed to be completed within four semesters and comprises a total of 120 credit points (ECTS). Its structure combines a clear framework with substantial flexibility, enabling students to tailor their studies to their academic background, methodological needs, and emerging research interests.  Teaching is organised in modules, typically worth 5 ECTS each. Students are expected to complete approximately 30 ECTS per semester. The curriculum is built around three central “Theories & Concepts” module areas (T&C), which run in parallel throughout the programme: Global Climate Change and Ecosystems Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions Global Policies, Economies, Civil Society and the Environment Students must complete at least two modules (10 ECTS) in each area as part of their foundational training to gain broad interdisciplinary competence while retaining the freedom to deepen their expertise. Orientation (O, 5 ECTS) This interdisciplinary module in the first semester introduces the philosophy, conceptual foundations, and central research questions of the programme. It provides an overview of current global change research and helps assess students’ prior knowledge, ensuring a shared academic basis despite diverse educational backgrounds. Methods (M, 15 ECTS)