Quantitative Environmental Sciences
(specialized Master)

(Major 90)

New enrolment in the Master study program in Quantitative Environmental Sciences is no longer possible. The Master study program in Biodiversity starts in the fall 2024

Degree program: Master of Science Faculty of Science
(120) (2021)

General description

The specialized Master in Quantitative Environmental Sciences aims at providing a conceptual framework to understand the response of natural communities to anthropogenic influences in a time of major change. The program builds upon the basics of natural science – ecology, biology, and earth sciences – in the context of today’s environmental challenges. These challenges are complex and require novel approaches. As a consequence, the program has a strong interdisciplinary and quantitative dimension, which serves to present new directions in this field.
The global problems of climate change, landscape fragmentation, and biological invasions are leading to a rapid loss of biodiversity.
Indeed, we have now entered the "Anthropocene," where human activities have begun to leave an indelible mark on the Biosphere. To be an environmental scientist, it is necessary to gain a broad understanding of natural systems.
This understanding originates from a diverse range of approximations such as observation, experiments, synthesis, and theory.
Observations can be made through direct fieldwork, but also through remote sensing and long-term data collection. The courses within this Master are designed to provide students with the cutting-edge conceptual tools to better understand the origin and maintenance of biodiversity, its multiple services, and its erosion due to global environmental change.

Admission requirements

All students are required to have a bachelor's degree from a Swiss University or equivalent, sufficient knowledge in mathematics and physics (including statistics and methods of empirical social science research) equivalent 10 ECTS Credits; biology and chemistry equivalent 6 ECTS Credits and environmental sciences equivalent 8 ECTS Credits. Knowledge in environmental sciences should be acquired mainly from courses in environmental sciences during bachelor education, either at the University of Zurich or at other universities.
The language of instruction is English. It is strongly recommended that applicants whose mother tongue is a language other than English or who have not followed all their secondary and tertiary education in English to submit test results of a language test. The level of C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is required. The C1 Level corresponds to a minimum number of points scored on the IELTS or TOEFL examinations.Recognized English certificates.

Educational goals

At the end of the specialized major study program in Quantitative Environmental Sciences 90 at Master's level, students will be able to:
1. identify and discuss the scientific bases of global and local environmental problems;
2. speak broadly about current research directions in the field of environmental sciences;
3. formulate research questions for scientific projects;
4. design traditional and novel interdisciplinary methodological approaches to answering research questions, including computational, theoretical, and technological approaches;
5. collect and analyze data;
6. formulate comprehensive research conclusions and suggestions for future study;
7. critically analyze the validity and reliability of the data and methods of one’s own and other studies.

ECTS credits

90 ECTS Credits

Degree

Master of Science UZH in Quantitative Environmental Sciences

Program structure

The 1.5-year program (3 terms) is structured as follows: In the first and second term the basic interdisciplinary knowledge will be obtained. In the second and third term the Master's thesis will be carried out in one of the research groups of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies. During the first term the student develops and presents a personal research plan for the thesis project.
A total of 90 credit points is required for the MSc in Quantitative Environmental Sciences. 30 ECTS Credits are obtained for the courses and 60 ECTS Credits for the thesis work. The courses are grouped into modules UWW 220

  • UWW 290. All modules are assessed according to ECTS-standards. One credit point equals 30 hours of effective work.

All courses in the specialised Master's program in Quantitative Environmental Sciences are organised and offered by the Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies of the University of Zurich. The thesis project must be supervised by a research group leader of the Institute but may physically be carried out at an external institution. The courses consist of lectures, seminars, exercises, and project-oriented assignments. A mixture of assessment modes will be used, e.g. written and oral examinations, term papers, and field-exercises.

Part-time studies

A part-time study is possible.

Major/minor subject combinations

The specialized Master's study program in Quantitative Environmental Sciences
90 can be taken as a single major or be combined with a minor study program 30 at Master's level.

Examination and assessment regulations

The student's achievement is assessed at the end of each module.
Achievements are graded on a scale from 1 to 6, whereby 6 denotes the highest grade of achievement and 1 the lowest. A grade below 4 is insufficient. Achievements can also be graded with 'passed' or 'failed'.

Language of instruction

English