Applied Geosciences B.Sc.

 

Geosciences provide an important contribution for the sustainable use of the earth’s resources, including rock, minerals and mineral ores, natural gas and crude oil, water, and geothermic energy. They all share a part in the use of underground spaces for foundations and spaces for building.  Its broad scope of application includes:

• Exploration and production of fossil fuels and renewable energy sources such as crude oil, natural gas, and carbon, as well as geothermal energy deep under the surface.
• Investigation into the origin and structure of mineral deposits
• Exploration of the structure and traits of minerals for the production of new materials
• Study of the interaction between foundation and structure
• Prediction of landslides and rock deformation, e.g. as part of tunnel and dam construction
• Procuration of and renewable use of ground water
• Analysis of geodynamic processes that lead to earthquakes, among other things
• Determination of stone formation as a result of powerful forces within the earth

Through all of this, knowledge about long and short term changes in protecting nature and a renewable approach to using the earth’s raw resources will be introduced.  The preservation of ground water reservoirs, the protection of human habitats, and the restoration of natural balance illustrate the ever more important fields of geoscience.

The solution to geoscientific problems calls for quantifiable methods and the creation of models that correspond to future predictions, e.g. of mineral deposits, bodies of groundwater, risks of earthquakes and deformation of materials.  Applied geosciences is a quantitative science with many intersections with engineering.

Differentiation From Neighboring Courses of Study
Building on fundamentals from physics, mathematics, and chemistry, this course of study is shaped by science and geosciences.  In contrast to the "Georesources Management" and "Applied Geography" courses of study, specialized knowledge about the construction, dynamics, and chemical composition of the earth, as well as chemical, physical, and mathematical methods for solutions to complex geoscientific problems will be taught in the "Applied Geosciences" course of study.

 

 

 

Degree Content

During the first year of the bachelor course of study, students learn the basics in math and chemistry.  Following is an initial introduction to the “Earth as System” and its components, rocks and minerals.  The program is accompanied by field exercises and excursions that also take place in the second year of study. Afterwards, the basics of physics are taught and there is a focus on grounded introduction to various disciplines in geosciences.  In the final and third year of study, students immerse themselves in one of three applied specializations, which they choose themselves:

Areas of Specialization
Geophysics-Hydrogeology-Engineering Geology	e.g. groundwater, soil
Energy and Mineral Resources	e.g. crude oil, natural gas, and ores and minerals
Geomaterials	e.g. minerals and materials, soils

Stays Abroad
We highly recommend either studying or doing an internship abroad.  During the Bachelor course of study, it is possible to study at one of our numerous European partner universities within the framework of an ERASMUS exhange program.

You can find more information about the course of study layout, schedule, and the module handbook on the division’s website.

 

Prerequisites

Personal Prerequisites
Interest in natural sciences, particularly in geoscientific and technical questions.  Readiness to work with a computer, in a lab, at construction sites, and mines, partially under extreme conditions in structurally unsound areas, good health, good math, IT and language abilities, and an experimental aptitude.

Enrollment Prerequisite
RWTH "Georessources and Materials Technology" Self Assessment  

 

*** Mediathek ***

 

Career Prospects

Career fields are numerous and the occupational outlook is high due to the practical and quantitative orientation of the course of study.  Applied geoscientists work domestically and abroad in the following fields:

• Companies in private industry: site management, marketing, coordination activities, PR activities, controlling, consulting, editorial office activities, IT managment, media companies, environmental protection/consulting, telecommunications, city management, real estate, finance, traffic management, cross-border coordination, EU-oriented consulting responsibilities, tourism, and recreation
• Public administration: spatial and urban planning, regional development and management, environmental management, nature conservation planning, neighborhood and city management, economic promotion, GIS supported planning and coordination activities, development assistance,international authorities
• Self-employment: The vocational qualification offers good possibilities for under taking self-employment activities, e.g. in consulting offices or service enterprises as an external contractor for the professional fields listed above.

 

Master's Degree Prospects

A consecutive Master's program in Applied Geosciences.  Further advancement in one of the three specializations is possible.

It is also possible to switch into the RWTH Master's programs in Georesources Management, Raw Materials Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Applied Geophysics (partially with restrictions - for more information, please talk with the departmental advising.)

 

Examination Regulations

Exam regulations regulate academic goals, the course of study layout, and exam procedures.  The appendix to the regulations contains the description of the modules, from which the course of study is composed.

 

Faculty

The Bachelor course of study Applied Geosciences is offered by the Division of Earth Sciences and Geography in the Faculty of Georesources and Materials Engineering.