Dual-subject (BA NN & BA Geography)
Program Description
The content of the geography degree program is as diverse as the fields in which geographers are active. Whether in research, teaching, physical geography, economic geography, or urban planning, the Bachelor's program provides foundational knowledge and essential methods. Alongside core questions in geography, the program also addresses challenges related to scientific theory. It introduces natural and social science research methods from a geographical perspective and teaches the techniques and tools necessary for scientific work.
Specifically, the program covers tasks and methods of regional research, subfields of applied geography such as urban development, economic development, leisure and tourism, environmental planning and policy, nature conservation, and environmental protection. It also explores topics relevant to planning and policy, fundamental processes of the Earth's systems—including geology, geomorphology, and soil science—as well as water and climate sciences like climatology and hydrology. Additionally, it examines living organisms through vegetation geography and ecozones, introduces basics of social geography (focusing on social processes from a spatial perspective), and covers fundamentals of economic geography, including location theories and economic principles. The curriculum also includes methods and techniques of cartography, spatial visualization, and the basic structures of global society-environment relationships. Principles and goals of sustainability, regional development policy, and other relevant topics are also integral parts of the program.
In short, the broad spectrum of topics addressed in the program encompasses human-environment interactions, migration, and globalization in all their facets.
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Geography can be studied as a major, core, or minor subject within a dual-subject Bachelor's degree program. The specific number of credit points required depends on the chosen scope of study. The remaining credits for the degree are earned through the second subject, professional skills development, internships, and the Bachelor's thesis. The Bachelor's thesis can be completed in either the major or core subject of the dual-degree program.
Students are free to choose between three qualification profiles within the 2-subject Bachelor's degree program:
- The goal of obtaining an independent, professionally qualifying degree that can directly lead to a career
- A qualification designed as preparation for the Master of Education, equivalent to the 1st State Examination in Secondary Teacher Education (Grammar School/High School)
- A subject-specific qualification that provides access to advanced Master’s degree programs (Master of Arts / M.A. or Master of Science / M.Sc.).
The standard duration of the dual-subject Bachelor's program is 6 semesters (3 years) and includes a total of 180 credit points. Depending on the chosen subject focus (major, core, or minor), a specific portion of the credit points is earned in geography.
The illustrations linked from the top two bars depict exemplary study plans for geography as a major or core subject. Each "building block" in the diagrams represents a thematic module. A module may include several courses, such as lectures, seminars, or excursions.
The individual components of the modules, their credit points (CP), and the recommended semester for completion can be found in the study plan (PDF, 712 kB), differentiated by major, core, and minor subjects. Unlike the binding examination regulations and module descriptions, the curriculum serves as a non-binding recommendation for structuring the degree program in accordance with the examination regulations. It also provides some information about the content and scope of the courses.
Participation in several excursion days is mandatory during the course of the degree program (see curriculum). The Institute of Geography regularly offers various day and multi-day excursions, which are announced via email. There is usually a registration period during which you can sign up for excursions through Stud.IP. Typically, day excursions incur only minimal costs, while multi-day excursions are partially subsidized by the institute.
After each excursion, the excursion leader submits the participant list to the Geography Office, where attendance is recorded. Once all required excursion days have been completed during your studies, students can contact the secretary’s office with their module assignments to arrange for the official documentation.
Additionally, it is possible to have up to two excursion days credited by participating in several (fee-based) guided tours of the TERRA.vita Nature and Geopark. To do so, you must register for the guided tours, complete the routing slip, and have the date, duration, and topic of the tour confirmed by TERRA.guides. A minimum of six hours of guided tours from TERRA.vita is required to count as one excursion day. Please submit the completed routing routing slip to the Geography Office if you wish to receive credit
The TERRA.vita calendar of events is available at the Institute of Geography and can also be found online at
https://www.geopark-terravita.de/
Additionally, guided tours organized by TERRA.vita cooperation partners, such as the Dyckerhoff quarry, are eligible for credit. Please note that events unrelated to geography—such as concerts, alpaca tours, and similar activities—are NOT eligible for credit. If you are unsure about whether a specific event qualifies, it is recommended to confirm the credit transfer possibility with the Geography Student Advisory Service BEFORE participating.
- Please note: Geography can only be studied at Osnabrück University as part of the dual-subject Bachelor's degree program (2FB) in combination with another subject.
- Do you meet the admission requirements, such as possessing a higher education entrance qualification (usually the "Hochschulreife")? Special requirements apply for international students.
- Find out the application deadline! Typically, the deadline is July 15 for the winter semester. To apply, you must have your Abitur certificate or equivalent university entrance qualification and be able to provide proof of health insurance coverage.
- Register through Osnabrück University's online application portal. The application deadlines are also listed there. Please note that the Geography program in the 2FB is generally subject to admission restrictions.
- Be aware of the possible subject combinations within the 2FB. Some combinations are more suitable than others for pursuing a "Specialist Master’s degree program." If your goal is a "Teaching Master's degree program", consider the available combinations early. Also, note that at Osnabrück University, Geography can only be studied for the Gymnasium teaching track in the later teacher training Master’s program.
- The online application portal will guide you through each step of the process. After completing your online application, you will need to send certain documents by mail. The specific documents required will be listed in your final application confirmation.
- If your application is successful, you will receive an admission letter from the university around late August or early September. You will then need to confirm your admission online and submit the enrollment application to the Admissions Office.
- Remember to pay the semester fee on time. This applies to subsequent semesters as well; failure to transfer the fee may result in deregistration.
- You can pick up your student ID from the Admissions Office. Additionally, you will soon receive a letter from the student council with information about your start of studies and the induction week, which takes place the week before lectures begin to help you start smoothly.
General Information
The Bachelor's degree program in Geography is designed to prepare students for careers in applied geography beyond academia and teaching. Graduates will find opportunities primarily in areas where the recording and analysis of spatial structures and processes are essential, as well as in the targeted influence of these factors across various spatial levels. This is especially relevant in "spatial planning," both within private companies and municipal institutions. Another growing field is "environment, nature, and landscape," which plays an increasingly important role in the private sector. Additionally, geography graduates are increasingly entering the dynamic job market of "information and documentation," leveraging their skills in new media and communication technologies.