Geography/Earth Studies - Dual-Subject Bachelor
As a transdisciplinary science, geography represents an interface between the natural and social sciences. Geographers study the spatial structure, development and change in the physical composition of the earth's surface on the one hand and, on the other, examine how humans shape their environment economically, socially and politically. The courses offered in Osnabrück focus on physical geography, human geography (economic and social geography), applied and regional geography and geography didactics. In teaching and research, the main focus is on questions of society-environment relationships in different spaces and times as well as urban and regional development. In addition, good methodological training and the systematic teaching of key skills are part of all sub-areas.
In the dual-subject Bachelor, you study two core subjects or combine a major subject with a minor subject. Geography is offered as a major, core and minor subject. Please note the valid subject combinations.
If you wish to work as a secondary school teacher, you must follow your Bachelor's degree with the Master of Secondary Education (Gymnasium). You can find all information on the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs under Geography - Secondary Teacher Education (Gymnasium).
Facts
Standard period of study:
6 semesters
Language of instruction:
German, partly English
Admission:
Restricted admission in winter semester 2024/25 Numerus Clausus
Start of studies:
Winter semester
The geography degree program covers the basics of both physical geography (water, climate, soil, etc.) and human geography (economic, social, settlement geography, etc.), as well as the areas of integrative and applied geography (IAG). In addition, the course offers an introduction to subject didactics - if a change to the teacher training master's degree is planned later.
A wide-ranging methodological education including geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and data analysis is an important part of the geography degree course: from the representation and visualization of spatial data and structures to their interpretation.
Transdisciplinarity and the diversity of geographical topics enable the combination of different elements from the natural and human sciences and thus a comprehensive understanding of complex interrelationships. Practice and theory are linked, especially in projects and fieldwork phases, research content is incorporated into teaching and real geographical phenomena are observed and analyzed.
After graduation - in addition to a Master's degree to become a teacher of geography at grammar schools - a Master's degree is possible, as are careers in urban and regional planning, site planning for trade, commerce and energy supply, sustainability research, transportation and climate protection and environmental management.
The polyvalent dual-subject Bachelor's degree program prepares students for the Master's Teacher Education and the specialist Master's degree programs as well as for a direct career entry. This opens up a wide range of different jobs for graduates in economic development institutions, planning authorities, management consultancies, international and national organizations, municipal transport companies, planning offices (transport planners, environmental planners) and tourism associations. Geographers also find interesting jobs in other areas that are not necessarily part of the traditional geographical field of work.
If you wish to work as a secondary school teacher, you must follow your Bachelor's degree with a Master of Secondary Education (Gymnasium). You can find all information on the Bachelor's and Master's degree courses under Geography - Secondary Teacher Education (Gymnasium).
The subject Geography/Earth Sciences is offered as a major, core and minor subject as part of the dual-subject Bachelor's degree program and must be combined with another subject. Please note the valid subject combinations.
Major subject - 84 CP (Credit Points)
| Sem. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Geography* - 5 CP | Fundamentals of Physical Geography/ Geoecology - 9 CP | Fundamentals of Human geography - 9 CP | |
| 2 | Proseminars - 8 CP | |||
| 3 | Applied Geography - 6 CP | Subject Methodology I: Statistics - 6 CP | Subject Methodology III: Cartography - 6 CP | Compulsory elective area - 10 CP Geography Didactics I1 |
| 4 | Subject Methodology II: Empirical Practice - 6 CP | Study project (with at least 4 field days) - 7 CP | Regional Geography* - 4 CP | |
| 5 | Subject-specific Specialization I - 8 CP | |||
| 6 | Bachelor's thesis - 12 CP The Bachelor's thesis can only be written in the major or core subject. | |||
* Two one-day excursions take place in the module.
1 To beselected if the Master of Secondary Teacher Education (Gymnasium) is being pursued.
2 To be selected if a subject-specific Master's degree is being pursued.
Color codes:
| Basics | Methodology/Didactics | Specializations | Bachelor's thesis |
Core subject - 63 CP (Credit Points)
| Sem. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Geography* - 5 CP | Fundamentals of Physical Geography/ Geoecology - 9 CP | Fundamentals of Human Geography - 9 CP | |
| 2 | Proseminars - 8 CP | |||
| 3 | Specialist methodology I: Statistics - 6 CP | Subject methodology III: Cartography - 6 CP | Compulsory elective area Geography didactics I1 | |
| 4 | Subject Methodology II: Empirical Practice - 6 CP | Regional Geography* - 4 CP | ||
| 5 | ||||
| 6 | Bachelor's thesis - 12 CP The Bachelor's thesis can be written in the 1st or 2nd core subject. | |||
*Two one-day excursions take place in the module.
1 To be selected if the Master of Secondary Education (Gymnasium) is being pursued.
2 To be selected if a subject-specific Master's degree is being pursued.
Color codes:
| Basics | Methodology/Didactics | Specializations | Bachelor's thesis |
General information about university admissions may be accessed at Admission Requirements. The German Higher Education Entrance Qualification (Abitur) entitles students to commence a first degree qualification at Osnabrück University. The term “first degree qualification” refers to a period of study that culminates in a student’s first professionally-relevant university degree (Bachelor’s degree or First Legal State Examination). Information about the conditions that apply for people seeking to embark on an undergraduate degree without the higher education entrance qualification may be found at Studying without Abitur.
Applicants in possession of international certification must demonstrate sufficient levels of German Language Proficiency.
This program is subject to admission restrictions in the winter semester 2024/25. General information on selection procedures is available under the link How Places are Awarded. For an overview of the numerus clausus in previous years, please see the link Selection Restrictions.
All information pertaining to the application process may be found at Application, Admission and Enrollment.
German and international applicants with German certification can find all information about the application and the application deadline for the desired semester under Bachelor's Degree Programs (dual-subject) - Admission Restrictions.
Please note: different application conditions and deadlines may apply for Applicants with Non-German Certification!
The examination regulations do not prescribe an obligatory period of study abroad. However, a number of Options for Studying Abroad are available to you within a range of exchange programs. The International Office will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Studying at Osnabrück University means you will be subject to semester fees. Depending on how much of your study credit (standard period of study plus tolerance semester) you have used up, you may also have to pay long-term study fees. Additional information on this topic may be found at How Much does Studying Cost?
Our Central Study Counseling Service will be happy to provide you with all the information you need about studying, admission requirements and the structure of your chosen program.
The student advisory service answers specific questions about the course content.
Links
If you are interested in a Master's degree course at Osnabrück University, please take note of its regulations on access, in which the respective admission requirements are regulated.
In addition to the consecutive degree programs listed below, it may be worth considering other Master's degree programs and checking whether you can be admitted. You will usually receive appropriate advice from the departmental study counseling service or the course coordinators.
This degree program has been accredited by the German Accreditation Council.