Study Programs
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Study Programs
Bachelor
In the area of Bachelor's degree programmes, the Environmental Sciences (B.Sc.) and Sustainability Economics (B.Sc.) programmes in particular have a special sustainability orientation.
Environmental Sciences B.Sc.
The Bachelor of Environmental Sciences combines the subjects of environment, natural sciences and environmental planning. Students acquire basic knowledge in mathematics and natural and environmental sciences and deal with marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Building on this, they can expand their knowledge in analytics, modelling, ecology, oceanography, microbiology, planning and landscape ecology. The study programme aims to impart specialised knowledge and methodological, practical and social skills in the environmental sciences. In doing so, students learn how to assess environmental science topics and how to deal with problems in a responsible manner. In the Bachelor of Environmental Sciences, a broad social commitment of the students is promoted, among other things due to the interdisciplinary nature of the degree programme.
Sustainability Economics B.Sc.
The degree programme in sustainability economics deals with future issues in the areas of economy, environment and energy. The Bachelor's programme addresses the areas of globalisation, economic growth, energy supply and unemployment, with a special focus on economic methods. These methods are used to analyse various aspects of the topic of sustainability and to develop options for action for actors in the economy and politics. Specifically, topics such as climate change, species extinction, poverty, growing inequality worldwide and the excessive consumption of natural resources are dealt with. In in-depth/advanced modules and in the professionalisation area, students gain more in-depth knowledge in various aspects of sustainability.
Master
Master Cluster "Environment and Sustainability
The Master Cluster "Environment and Sustainability" comprises a broad spectrum of transdisciplinary research programmes in the fields of sustainability, environment and renewable energies. The degree programmes are research- and application-oriented and have a strong international focus. The master cluster is coordinated by the Centre for Environmental and Sustainability Research COAST.
European Master in Renewable Energy (EUREC)
Carl von Ossietzky University is one of the leading universities internationally in the field of renewable energies. The EUREC Agency cooperates with eight leading European universities that operate on an international level. The European Master in Renewable Energy trains students in the field of renewable energies. To this end, students acquire knowledge of the fundamentals of renewable energy technologies and deal with socio-economic issues surrounding their use. In the further course of the programme, students specialise in one technology and participate in a project in a company, the results of which are finally presented in Brussels.
Landscape Ecology (LÖK)
The Master of Landscape Ecology is designed to be both research and practice-oriented and deals with the analysis of complex ecological relationships as a basis for ecological research and environmental precaution. Within this framework, students acquire various methods of recording, measuring, evaluating, modelling, assessing and planning. Students can specialise in the areas of functional ecology, restitution ecology, animal and plant ecology, soil and hydrogeoecology, water ecology, environmental planning and nature conservation. Qualities such as structured, theory- and hypothesis-based thinking, methodological and social skills as well as skills in communication and teamwork are promoted.
Marine Environmental Sciences (MUWI)
The Master Marine Environmental Sciences is research-oriented and deals with the biological, physical and chemical processes in marine ecosystems. Students learn analytical methods in the internationally active working groups of the institute and are given the opportunity to conduct independent research on current projects during their studies. Students are taught skills for the analysis of complex environmental systems and the application of knowledge in environmental management. The basis for this is the environmental and scientific education of this Master's degree with a focus on natural offshore and coastal systems. The degree programme is unique in Germany in this form.
Postgraduate Programme Renewable Energy (PPRE)
The Renewable Energy postgraduate programme is internationally oriented and localised at the Institute of Physics. After graduation, students should have comprehensive knowledge about the use of renewable energy sources and their application, especially in developing countries. For this purpose, among other things, physical principles of renewable energy systems, the "technical realisation and economic conditions for the use of renewable energies, [the] practical testing of components of decentralised energy supply systems [and the] analysis and planning of concrete decentralised energy supply projects (case studies)" are taught.
Sustainability Economics and Management
The Master's programme in Sustainability Economics and Management takes a closer look at problems such as global warming, loss of biodiversity, epidemics and poverty in order to address current ecological and social challenges from a socio-economic perspective. This degree programme trains experts in sustainability. Founded in 2006, the "Oldenburg Center for Sustainability Economics and Management (CENTOS) serves as an interface to sustainability research. Possible specialisations in the Master's programme are Eco-Entrepreneurship, Environmental and Spatial Planning, Business and Environmental Informatics, Marketing and Economics. The modules contribute to linking environmental and sustainability aspects in economics, business administration and in the social and natural sciences.
Environmental Modelling (UMMO)
The Master's degree programme Environmental Modelling is research-oriented and interdisciplinary and aims to impart methodological and strategic competences in the field of modelling and analysis of environmental systems. To this end, students learn mathematical, scientific, informatic and statistical methods that can be used in environmental research and supply as well as in environmental monitoring. The Master Environmental Modelling includes the development of models, data analysis methods and decision support systems. Methods of modern environmental modelling, environmental data analysis and environmental informatics, which are used in the discipline of sustainable economics, among others, are also part of the curriculum.
Biology
The Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg offers specialisations in the fields of neurobiology, genetics, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, microbiology, biodiversity, ecology and landscape development. The aim of the research-oriented Master’s degree in Biology is to provide in-depth training in the fields of modern biology and its applications, as well as to teach the necessary methods and techniques. Biological research findings are often closely linked to the issue of sustainability and are put into practice by graduates in areas such as environmental protection and environmental education.
Marine Environmental Sciences (MUWI)
The Master’s in Marine Environmental Sciences is also strongly research-oriented and focuses on the biological, physical and chemical processes within marine ecosystems. Students learn analytical methods within the internationally active research groups at the Institute of Marine Chemistry and Biology (ICBM) and are given the opportunity to conduct independent research on current projects during their studies. Students are taught skills for analysing complex environmental systems and applying knowledge in environmental management. The foundation for this is the environmental and scientific education provided by this Master’s programme, with a focus on natural shallow-sea and coastal systems. The programme is unique in Germany in this form.
Water and Coastal Management (WCM)
The international double-degree Master’s programme in Water and Coastal Management focuses on the management of water resources, catchment areas and coastal zones. Thanks to the partnership between the University of Oldenburg (1st year) and the University of Groningen (2nd year), graduates receive a total of two Master’s degrees. Students learn about the sustainable management of water and coastal resources in future societies. In Oldenburg, they acquire skills in marine environmental sciences, coastal zone management, sustainable
management and sustainability governance. In Groningen, students gain knowledge in areas such as water management and environmental and infrastructure planning.
Business Informatics
The growing demand for sustainable strategies is forcing companies to address environmental and social issues at a strategic level that goes beyond mere compliance with legal requirements. Management is increasingly supported in this task by Corporate Environmental Management Information Systems, which aim to optimise material and energy flows, minimise emissions and waste, and establish production-integrated environmental protection. Students on the Master’s programme in Business Informatics, specialising in Sustainability Informatics and Corporate Environmental Information Systems, are provided with a solid conceptual and methodological foundation and are prepared in a career- and labour market-oriented manner to act as future decision-makers in developing such complex information systems that can reconcile economic and ecological objectives.
Cross-disciplinary teaching on sustainability in vocational training
To date, the Sustainability aspect has not been explicitly incorporated by the Department of Studies and Teaching when designing degree programmes. However, the University of Oldenburg offers courses within the professional development programme, which is open to all Bachelor’s students, such as the ‘Sustainability’ and ‘Textiles and Sustainability’ professional development programmes. These programmes provide students with an interdisciplinary opportunity to acquire key skills and profession-specific competencies relating to sustainability issues.
The aim is to impart skills, attitudes and knowledge that enable students to solve sustainability problems and meet new challenges.
Doctoral programmes
After graduation
Carl von Ossietzky University wants to prepare its students for the professional world in the best possible way. The successes are impressive: 90 % of its graduates are employed after successful graduation (incl. traineeship and doctorate), more than half (55 %) have succeeded in starting a career in less than one month after graduation, a quarter (26 %) within the first three months.3 The university itself offers doctoral programmes, five of which are in the field of sustainability: STEM4 Learning in Informal Spaces (GINT), Environmental Economics and Sustainability Management, Renewable Energy Systems Integration, Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity, and Renewable Energy.
PhD programme in ‘Environmental Economics and Sustainability Management’ (UNA)
The PhD programme in “Environmental Economics and Sustainability Management” is based at the Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities (3GO) and Faculty II for Computer Science, Economics and Law at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. The aim of this doctoral programme is to deepen interdisciplinary expertise in the specific field of environmental economics and sustainability management, as well as in related fields, as a basis for the candidate’s own research. Doctoral candidates acquire interdisciplinary and career-enhancing skills designed to enable them to participate in current scientific research at an international level.
About the doctoral programme in “Environmental Economics and Sustainability Management”
PhD programme ‘Shaping the Future’
The PhD programme “Shaping the Future” is also offered by the Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities (3GO) and is dedicated to the critical observation and analysis of the digital transformation. The aim is to examine visions of a digital future through interdisciplinary dialogue, to explore their manifestations across various genres and media, and to understand the formative power of these scenarios that is already at work in the present. Adopting a reflexive approach, the programme fosters critical digital literacy and enables various social actors to participate in and help shape the digital future in a reflective manner. It combines specialist supervision with the acquisition of interdisciplinary key skills and, in close collaboration with Jade University, integrates formats for knowledge transfer and science communication. This ensures excellent academic support for early-career researchers as they prepare for career paths both within and outside academia.
Research Training Group “Teacher Education 2040”
In 2020, the Executive Board of the University of Oldenburg launched an internal call for proposals for a Research Training Group entitled ‘Teacher Education 2040 – Dimensions of Teacher Professionalisation from an Interdisciplinary Perspective – Challenges, Models, Methods’. It was established in the same year within the Centre for Teacher Education – Didactic Centre as part of the newly founded Research Academy. The aim is to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration between subject didactics, educational sciences and subject-specific disciplines in teacher education-related research.
Doctoral candidates conduct research in seven thematically focused research fields, supervised by teams of university lecturers from at least two areas (subject didactics, educational science, subject-specific science). Among the predefined research fields, the area “Climate Change in the North-West” in particular has a direct link to sustainability. The Research Training Group is further distinguished by a comprehensive joint training programme.
About the Research Training Group “Teacher Education 2040”