Master of Science "Geography: Society - Environment - Future"

The degree program comprises a total of 120 credit points (CP), distributed across ten modules as follows:

• Fundamentals:
  1) Integrative Introduction (12 CP)

• Study Project:
  2) Project Management (4 CP) and 3) Study Project (14 CP)

• Future Workshop:
  4) Future Workshop I (12 CP) and 5) Future Workshop II (12 CP)

• Profile Development:
  6) Profile Development (12 CP) and 7) Specialist Specialization (4 CP)

• Professional Practice:
  8) Professional Practice I (10 CP) and 9) Professional Practice II (10 CP)

• Final Master’s Module:
  10) (30 CP)

Course of Study

The two-year Master’s program begins with an integrative introduction designed to unify all students and faculty. This includes a collaborative study week where students and lecturers come together to compare scientific and methodological foundations. The introduction also features a lecture series covering key topics, as well as both social science and natural science theories.

A highlight of this phase is the “Science Fair”—a conference-style forum where students present their Bachelor’s theses and engage in in-depth discussions with lecturers.

Additionally, the introductory module comprises a “Society-Environment” seminar and an introduction to the theory of science, providing a strong foundation for the rest of the program.

The study project is the core component of the program. Spanning two semesters (the 2nd and 3rd), it is preceded by an introductory course on project management in the 1st semester. This project focuses on real-world issues and involves carefully planned, collaborative field research conducted abroad.

Following data collection and analysis, the project culminates in a comprehensive report written as a scientific journal article, showcasing your research findings. This teaching research project offers hands-on experience in applying academic methods to practical challenges.

Developing methodological skills in the Future Workshop modules is a key component of the degree program. Students select two methodological seminars or exercises and complete a module paper. The emphasis is on future-oriented analytical techniques, such as exploratory methods, modeling, and scenario planning.

In Future Workshop II, the focus shifts to knowledge transfer and the practical testing of innovative approaches to concrete future challenges within a “future laboratory” setting. This module culminates in a role-play examination, where students assume the role of expert representatives, tasked with articulating and defending problem-specific—and sometimes controversial—positions.

As part of their individual profile development, students select and complete two thematic main seminars from the geography program, diving deeply into a chosen topic through a module paper. For additional specialization, students may also choose courses from other offerings across the university. The profile development phase culminates with the completion of the Master’s thesis in the fourth semester.

The Professional Practice component combines two applied seminars, four excursion days, and a supervised internship to provide a strong practical orientation. The seminars are conducted by experienced professionals who are well-versed in both practice and scientific research.

The internship, lasting a minimum of eight weeks, offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, apply their knowledge in real-world settings, and build valuable professional networks.

An overview of the degree program, including its modules, courses, and associated examinations, is provided in the curriculum.  curriculum (PDF, 67 kB). For more detailed information, please refer to the examination regulations and module descriptions.

Excursions During the Degree Program

Participation in several excursion days is a compulsory part of the degree program (see curriculum for details). The Institute of Geography regularly offers a variety of one-day and multi-day excursions, which are announced via email. Students must register for these excursions within the specified registration period through Stud.IP.

• Day excursions typically incur only minor costs.

• Multi-day excursions are partially subsidized by the institute to keep student expenses low.

After each excursion, the instructor submits the list of participants to the Geography office, where your participation is officially documented. Once you have completed the required number of excursion days, you may contact the secretary’s office to have the excursions officially recorded. Be sure to state the relevant module assignments when doing so.

Alternative Credit: TERRA.vita Guided Tours

Students can receive credit for up to two excursion days by participating in multiple (fee-based) guided tours organized by the TERRA.vita Nature and Geopark. To receive credit:

1. Register for the guided tours.

2. Complete a routing slip  routing slip (Laufzettel), recording the date, duration, and topic of each tour.

3. Have the information confirmed and signed by a TERRA.guide.

4. Submit the completed routing slip to the Geography office.

Note: At least 6 hours of guided tours are required to receive credit for one excursion day.

Further Information

The TERRA.vita event calendar is available at the Institute of Geography and online at:  https://www.geopark-terravita.de/

Guided tours offered by TERRA.vita cooperation partners (e.g. the Dyckerhoff quarry) may also be eligible for credit. Important: Events not related to geography—such as concerts, alpaca walks, or general leisure activities—cannot be credited. If you're unsure whether a tour or event qualifies, please check with the Geography Student Advisory Service before participating.

Admission

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the Master’s degree program is July 15 of the year in which you wish to begin your studies.
For international applicants applying via uni-assist, the deadline is June 15.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Proficiency in both German and English

• A Bachelor’s degree in Geography or a closely related discipline

• At least 20 ECTS credits in geography-related coursework

• At least 10 ECTS credits in social science or natural science methodology

General Information

•  Application period
•  Application portal
•  Admissions Office

The Master’s degree program "Geography: Society – Environment – Future" offers a strong application-oriented focus, specifically preparing you for a wide range of geography-related professional fields and practical work environments.

The skills and competencies you gain during the program are highly sought after in the job market, particularly in the following sectors:

• Public administration, e.g. as municipal environmental officers, climate managers, district or city managers, integration officers, or economic development specialists

• Consulting firms, including corporate and municipal consultancies

• Urban, regional, and environmental planning and development

• The energy sector

• The tourism industry

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

• Service and manufacturing companies, particularly in areas such as business expansion, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and sustainability management

The strong practical orientation of the degree program allows you to prepare thoroughly for your future career through several key components:

• A two-month internship in a relevant professional field

• The involvement of experienced geographers working in various sectors, who contribute directly to courses

• A regular offering of applied seminars, led by practitioners, covering topics such as economic development, real estate management, climate adaptation, and local transport planning

In addition, the major study project, the Master’s thesis, and various courses on scientific theory and knowledge transfer provide excellent preparation for those interested in a research career. Graduates with strong research skills may go on to pursue a PhD and qualify for an academic or research-focused career.