Geography

Institute of Geographical Sciences

Master of Science

4 semesters

Study regulations

Examination regulations

Admission regulations

These English versions are for information purposes only. The official German Studienordnung und Prüfungsordnung are legally binding.

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The research-oriented master's programme in Geography will enable graduates – especially those with a bachelor's degree in Geography or equivalent – to enhance their knowledge and skills by focusing on one of three specialisations: "Geographical Development Studies", "Terrestrial Systems" and "Environmental Hydrology." The programme is designed to train students in subject-specific and interdisciplinary theories and methods and to develop their theoretical and practical ability to make sound judgements on generic academic and subject-specific issues.

Geographical Development Studies
"Geographical Development Studies" addresses spatial structures and processes in developing and transformation countries on the basis of  theories, models and methods of the social sciences. Students explore theories of development studies, human-environment relations, regional geography, decentralisation, municipal management, regional planning, as well as development practice, policy and  cooperation.

Terrestrial Systems
Using theories, models and methods of the natural sciences, "Terrestrial Systems" explores spatial structures and processes related to changing natural and man-made landscapes against the background of palaeo and present climates. Students are taught methods of collecting and evaluating proxy data and supplementary methods of palaeo-environmental research. Processes with and without human impact are temporalised and regionalised, rendering the data potentially useful for planning and predictive purposes.

Environmental Hydrology
The study of environmental hydrology is concerned with water above and below the land surface, its various forms, and its circulation and distribution in  time and space; it is based on fundamental knowledge of the water cycle and its governing factors: precipitation, runoff and evaporation. The knowledge, models and methods of the natural sciences are used to explore issues related to humankind's use of water as a resource (problems of water quantity, quality of freshwater bodies, sustainable water use). For instance, the limited water resources in various regions of the Earth are an increasingly important field of research (physical and economic water scarcity). Our wider aim is the applicability of research results for planning and predictive purposes.

The modular master's programme in Geography with its three specialisations (Geographical Development Studies, Terrestrial Systems and Environmental Hydrology) comprises a compulsory core of three modules (20 credits), one specialisation (50-60 credits), and subjects worth up to 20 credits from cognate disciplines.
Within the individual specialisations, an additional disciplinary focus can be achieved by choosing modules in the required options, depending on which course units are offered. In Environmental Hydrology two modules with a total of 15 credits are required options; in Terrestrial Systems, one module with 10 credits.

Students with a first degree and interest in research-oriented postgraduate study in one of the three areas of specialisation.

BSc in Geographical Sciences or equivalent. Further information about admission and selection procedures will be given here soon.

Enrolment fees Immatrikulationsgebühren (in German)

first semester of study : 15 april - 31may (beginning winter semester)

higher semester of study: 1 July - 15 August (beginning winter semester)

beginning summer semester: 1 january - 15 february

 address und information, in German)

German, optionally English

Prof. Dr. Margot Böse
Telefon: +49 30) 838 70373
E-Mail: mboese@fu-berlin.de

Dr. Stefan Schütte
Tel: (+49 30) 838 70235
Email: stefan.schuette@fu-berlin.de

  Institute website