General description

The study program Earth System Science (ESS) is characterised by intensive cooperation between different scientific disciplines. It enables students to understand, observe and describe, analyse and forecast interactions and processes in and between the different spheres through scientific knowledge and a broad range of expertise.
Humans are increasingly influencing the Earth’s natural system. The consequences are noticeable at multiple scales from a local, regional and global level. These interactions between the use of natural resources and environmental changes are at the heart of Earth System Science. This requires intensive cooperation between different scientific disciplines, such as paleontology, geochemistry, remote sensing, geography, environmental science, geology and biology.
A Master’s minor study program in Geography (30 ECTS credits) builds either on a Bachelor’s minor study program in Geography 30 or 60 ECTS credits, or corresponds to the Bachelor’s minor study program 30 ECTS credits. Within the Master’s minor study program building on the Bachelor’s minor study program 30 ECTS credits the conditions for a Bachelor’s minor study program 60 ECTS credits need to be fulfilled. Within the Master’s minor study program building on the Bachelor’s minor study program 60 ECTS credits individual interests can be followed.

Admission requirements

The following academic degrees exempt the holder from having to pass any further examinations for admission to the a Master’s degree course: -A Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Science of the University of Zurich, whereby the Faculty determines which types of the Bachelor's degree are required for admission to the respective Master's degree courses. - Corresponding degrees of Swiss and foreign universities which are generally recognized by the Faculty, or recognized by subject. In terms of paragraph 1, such degrees are reviewed according to the stipulations of § 3 of the Bologna guideline of the Swiss University Conference. Further possibilities for admission to a Master’s degree course: the Faculty assesses all other qualifications, in particular those from universities of applied sciences, according to its own criteria, whereby. The principle of equal treatment applies to assessing the equivalence of Bachelor's degrees The Faculty can require the fulfillment of additional conditions in form of evidence of academic achievement. The Faculty decides about the acceptance of academic achievements and credit points which were obtained elsewhere.

Educational goals

Within the minor study program in Earth System Science 30 students study analyze current issues using an interdisciplinary approach. The program combines scientific fundamentals with advanced modules in Earth System Science.
In teaching, in-depth knowledge from current research projects is presented and students are encouraged to critically examine socially relevant topics.
Practical experience in measurement techniques, experimental methods and application-oriented data analysis complement the study program.

ECTS credits

30 ECTS Credits

Program structure

A Master’s minor study program (30 ECTS credits) builds either on a Bachelor’s minor study program 30 or 60 ECTS credits, or corresponds to the Bachelor’s minor study program 30 ECTS credits. Within the Master’s minor study program building on the Bachelor’s minor study program 30 ECTS credits the conditions for a Bachelor’s minor study program 60 ECTS credits need to be fulfilled.
Further information can be accessed on the website of the Department of Geography.

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

German, English