Earth and Planetary Science Major

The Earth and Planetary Science Major at the University of Freiburg is the first master degree program of its kind in Germany, in which Earth Sciences and Planetary Sciences are treated jointly and in a comparative mode. With a steadily growing number of space missions, planetology is becoming increasingly important. The interdisciplinary program is aimed at all Bachelor’s graduates who have a natural science background and have acquired some geoscientific skills.

In this Master’s program you will learn the basic processes and methods that are the indispensable tools of both earth scientists and planetologists. These include, for example, advanced remote sensing, chemical-mineralogical rock and mineral analysis, as well as quantitative modeling based on geophysical data. The lecturers in the major are involved in various space missions on the one hand and carry out various research projects on Earth on the other, so that there is a close link with current research projects.

First of its kind in Germany. Join us now.

The online application portal opens April, 1^st:
https://campus.uni-freiburg.de/

„Our vision is to better understand Earth by comparing it to other planetary bodies“

Thomas Kenkmann

Chair of General Geology and Structural Geology

Study Contents

The program aims to gain a fundamental understanding of the Earth system and other planetary bodies. The focus of the in-depth study is therefore on geodynamic, tectonic, magmatic and geochemical processes in the interior of the Earth and planetary bodies as well as on their surfaces and their mutual interaction.

The track consists of three areas: basic, focus, and elective. The basic area covers data analysis, geo-informatics, research methods, seminars, and field trips. The focus area encompasses an introduction to planetary sciences, Geochemistry of the lithosphere, Earth and Planetary Interiors, Earth and Planetary Magmatism, Tectonics and Geodynamics, and Analytical methods.

There is an extensive program of elective modules within the major that give the students the opportunity to specialize in either planetary or terrestrial science.