Applied Geosciences B.Sc.

 

What are Earth's origins? What is it made of? What raw materials does it hold and how can one find these valuable materials? Where can Earth's layers shift or where can caves collapse? How can water basins be found and used? Geoscientists examine the earth and use their knowledge to protect our nature and sustainably use the earth's raw resources. They can estimate the risk of earthquakes, landslides, deformation and caving probabilities. With their investigations and assessments they make sure large building measures like tunnels and dams are secure. Furthermore, they determine the origin and structure of fossils and mineral deposits and the properties of natural materials. The discovery and sustainable use of groundwater basins is another field of application. There is a special concentration for each of these topics, which then intensively work with each other.

At RWTH these specializations are grouped into a single application-oriented course of study. It offers a broad natural and geo-science base as well as comprehensive methodological training. This includes careful training in the field and extraordinarily good options to gather lab experience relevant to career and research – for example in geochemical analytics. This intensity is only comparable at a few other universities.

You can choose a specialization in the last semesters of your Bachelor's studies.

You will compile your own study profile from modules that you are free to select from a total of three different geoscientific profile areas. This lets you develop extensive knowledge in a specialized area, which can focus on geoengineering, materials science, or geology of mineral deposits.

• The geoengineering profile area focuses on groundwater investigations, solutions for water supply in megacitiesm, and securing building sites for tunnels, skyscrapers, or bridges.
• The Energy and Mineral Resources specialization primarily looks at crude oil and natural gas, minerals, and metals, and is therefore dedicated to an important geoscientific task that ultimately ensures the supply of energy and raw materials for production.
• Materials that occur in nature form the key research area of Applied Mineralogy and Crystallography. These materials are analyzed in terms of their potential in technology and economy. Relevant topics are, for example, energy materials and raw materials.

 

Degree Content

"Between the lecture hall and field" – this is where applied geosciences students experience an extraordinary combination of theory and practice. During the first year of the Bachelor's course of study, students learn the basics in math, physics, and chemistry. Following is an initial introduction to the “Earth as System” and the topic areas rocks, minerals and crystals.

The program is accompanied by field and mapping exercises and excursions that also take place in the second and third years of study. Afterwards, 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. A four-week, professional internship during studies offers an initial look at fields of application.

In your third and final year, you can choose from three geoscientific profile areas, which are partially taught in English. The four-week internship provides you with an initial insight into the different areas of application for this course of study.

Curriculum

Semester	Natural Science Foundations	Geoscience Foundations
1	Linear Algebra, Chemistry, Physics, Chemistry Internship	General Geology, History of the Earth, Crystallography, Mineralogy, Determination of Minerals, Petrography
2	Differential and Integral Equations, Physics, Physics Internship, Organic Chemistry	Geological Work Methods and Cartography, Terrain Seminar
Geoscience Foundations
3	Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Polarization Microscopy, Mapping Course, Sedimentology, Endogenous Dynamics, Geoscience Foundations
4	Regional Geology, Geoinformation Systems and Remote Sensing, Statistics and Modelling, Presenting and Publishing, Paleontology
5 to 6	Geoscience Profile Area Profile: select 7 from 14 modules of your choice; internship, Bachelor’s thesis

Detail about the Course of Study Layout: You can find the curriculum schedule and the module handbook on the Faculty's webpage brief profile of the course of study.

Programs Abroad

The faculty maintains solid research and teaching collaborations with a number of European and non-European universities. Over 70 universities worldwide, 30 of which are in Asia alone, offer students the possibility to combine their academic training with deeper knowledge about the geographic characteristics of another country. Within the framework of the EU mobility program ERASMUS+, it is possible to complete a semester abroad at one of the numerous European partner universities, such as in Iceland. We highly recommend internships and semesters abroad, which are supported by the teaching staff, especially the internship initiative created specifically by Aachen geoscientists. There are also annual field exercises all over the world, which open up study possibilities on site and offer new technical prospectives.

You can get an overview of all of RWTH Aachen's international collaborative programs. Subject-specific offers are published on the International Networking page.

 

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. RWTH Aachen offers a bridge program to intensify and complete your knowledge before beginning studies.

Enrollment Prerequisite

RWTH Georessources and Materials Technology Self Assessment

 

Decision Aids

This course of study uses the foundations of physics, mathematics, and chemistry to build a natural science oriented, geoscience course of study. In contrast to the Georesources Management and Applied Geography courses of study, the Applied Geosciences course of study includes advanced knowledge about the construction, dynamics, and chemistry of the earth as well as chemical, physical, and mathematical solutions to complex, geoscience problems. Prospective students should possess a great interest in natural science work. If you would like to test yourself, you are welcome to attend lectures as a school student. You can also gather initial impressions from the Schüleruni, during the University Visitation Week or in Taster Studies for Girls. Please note that proficient to fluent German is needed for these events.

 

Media Library

Do you want more impressions of geoscience studies? Use our diverse information available! You can find our recommendations in the media library.

 

Career Prospects

Due to the strong application aspect of the curriculum, RWTH graduates have very good prospects in a number of career fields.

Geoscientists investigate processes in the Earth’s system. Geoscientific expertise is needed, for example, in the raw material extraction and processing industry – natural gas, crude oil, geothermal energy, mineral deposits, precious metals, building materials, coal.

Geoscientists are involved in construction and infrastructure projects, evaluating geological risks, and contributing to the sustainable use of georesources, for example in energy and water management. They manage projects in areas such as sustainable infrastructure, water, and energy in development cooperations.

Another important objective of their work is the development of innovative materials such as energy and construction materials, functional materials, ceramics, glass, and crystal.

It goes without saying that state offices, state authorities, and local institutions also base their decisions in planning and construction projects on geoscientific expertise, particularly combined with geoinformatics expertise, which is specific to RWTH.

 

Master's Degree Prospects

In the Master's program in Applied Geoscience, you can continue the specialization chosen in your Bachelor's program in independent concentrations. With certain adjustments to your curriculum, you can also change your specialization.

The specializations Energy and Mineral Resources and Applied Mineralogy and Crystallography are taught in English, while the languages of instruction in Geoengineering are both German and English. This gives you the opportunity to broaden not only your specialist knowledge, but also develop language skills particular to your discipline.

Graduates can also choose from two alternative Master’s programs in the Geocluster: Georesources Management and Applied Geophysics.

 

Module Handbook and Examination Regulations

The module handbook provides a description of all modules of a degree program and offers a comprehensive insight into the program contents.

The examination regulations are comprised of legally binding provisions on learning objectives, prerequisites for study, the course structure and processes, and examination procedures.

Regulations that generally apply to all Bachelor's and Master's degree programs, including information on language proficiency requirements, can be found in RWTH's General Examination Regulations. These general regulations are further specified and complemented by the subject-specific examination regulations.

If two examination regulations are valid for a degree program during a transition phase, the most current version shall apply to students enrolling in the program for the first time.

Please note that only the German examination regulations are legally binding.

Module Handbook
Subject Specific Examination Regulations
RWTH's General Examination Regulations

 

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.

The Division of Earth Sciences and Geography at RWTH currently unites a total of 22 professorships dedicated to the Earth's system in RWTH’s Geocluster. Together with the Division of Mineral Resources and Raw Materials Engineering, the Division of Metallurgy, and the Division of Material Science and Engineering, it is part of the Faculty of Georesources and Materials Engineering, which focuses on the entire process chain: the source of raw materials – extraction – refining – processing – and recycling.