Earth Sciences and Sustainable Management of Environmental Resources

The first study year is characterized by a university-specific offering of disciplinary education that builds on and expands upon the students’ entrance qualifications. A unique feature of our curriculum structure allows students to select their major freely upon entering Constructor University. The Academic Advising Services offers curricular counseling to all Bachelor students independently of their major, while Academic Advisors support students in their decision-making regarding their major study program as contact persons from the faculty.

To pursue Earth Sciences and Sustainable Management of Environmental Resources as a major, the following CHOICE modules (30 CP) need to be taken as mandatory modules:

• CHOICE Module: Fundamentals of Earth Sciences (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Environmental Systems and Global Change (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Microeconomics (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Macroeconomics (7.5 CP)

These CHOICE modules introduce the students in the 1st semester to the fundamentals of Earth Sciences and Sustainable Management of Environmental Resources (e.g., the structure of the Earth, its major compartments, plate tectonics, and geological timescales, and in the 2nd, semester provide more specific knowledge of geological phenomena, climate change and the human impact on the natural environment. At the same time a broad introduction in Economics is given in the first year. More advanced economics skills builds on this in the following years.

The remaining CHOICE modules (15 CP) can be selected in the first year of studies according to interest and/or with the aim to allow a change of major until the beginning of the second year, when the major becomes fixed.

In their second year, students take a total of 45 CP from a selection of in-depth, discipline-specific CORE modules. Building on the introductory CHOICE modules and applying the methods and skills acquired so far, these modules aim to expand the students’ critical understanding of the key theories, principles, and methods in their major for the current state of knowledge and best practice.

To pursue Earth Sciences and Sustainable Management of Environmental Resources as a major, all the following mandatory CORE modules need to be taken:

• CORE Module: Geochemistry of Environmental Systems (7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Physics of Planet Earth (7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Natural Resources and Hazards (7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Advanced Field Laboratories (7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Finance and Sustainable Management of Natural Risks  (5 CP)
• CORE Module: Sustainability and Infrastructure Investments (5 CP)
• CORE Module: Economics of Environmental Resources (5 CP)

The CORE Modules are arranged as three sets of units, with each comprising one fall (F) and one spring (S) module. The student chooses the Fall (F) and Spring (S) semester modules Sustainability and Infrastructure Investments, Economics of Environmental Resources, and Finance and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources to focus on economics, finance and sustainable management. Additionally, Geochemistry of Environmental Systems and Natural Resources and Hazards to focus on Geochemistry and Resources and their impact on the environment, and module pair Physics of Planet Earth and Advanced Field Laboratories to focus on geophysics and extended field laboratories (for details see section 7 Module Descriptions). The contents of these paired CORE modules are structurally connected, and completion of both modules will be guaranteed by scheduling.

During their third year, students prepare and make decisions about their career path after graduation. To explore available choices and to gain professional experience, students undertake a mandatory summer internship. The third year of studies allows ESSMER students to take Specialization modules within their discipline, but also focuses on the responsibility of students beyond their discipline.

The 5th semester also opens a mobility window for a diverse range of study abroad options. Finally, the 6th semester is dedicated to fostering the students’ research experience by involving them in an extended Bachelor thesis project.

As a core element of Constructor University’s employability approach students are required to engage in a mandatory two-month internship of 15 CP that will usually be completed during the summer between the second and third years of study. This gives students the opportunity to gain first-hand practical experience in a professional environment, apply their knowledge and understanding in a professional context, reflect on the relevance of their major to employment and society, reflect on their own role in employment and society, and find a professional orientation.

The internship can also establish valuable contacts for the students’ bachelor's thesis project, for the selection of a Master program graduate school or further employment after graduation. This module is complemented by career advising and several career skills workshops throughout all six semesters that prepare students for the transition from student life to professional life. As an alternative to the full-time internship, students interested in setting up their own company can apply for a start-up option to focus on developing their business plans.

The CONSTRUCTOR Track is another important feature of Constructor University’s educational model. The Constructor Track runs orthogonal to the disciplinary CHOICE, CORE, and CAREER modules across all study years and is an integral part of all undergraduate study programs. It provides an intellectual tool kit for lifelong learning and encourages the use of diverse methodologies to approach cross-disciplinary problems. The CONSTRUCTOR track contains Methods, New Skills and German Language and Humanities modules.

Methods
Methods and skills such as mathematics, statistics, programming, data handling, presentation skills, academic writing, and scientific and experimental skills are offered to all students as part of the Methods area in their curriculum. The modules that are specifically assigned to each study programs equip students with transferable academic skills. They convey and practice specific methods that are indispensable for each students’ chosen study program. Students are required to take 20 CP in the Methods area. The size of all Methods modules is 5 CP.

To pursue ESSMER as a major, the following Methods modules (20 CP) need to be taken as mandatory modules:

• Methods Module: Mathematical Concepts (m, 5 CP)
• Methods Module: Statistics with R (m, 5 CP)
• Methods Module: Chemistry for Natural Scientists (m, 5 CP)
• Methods Module: Econometrics (m, 5 CP)

New Skills Modules
This part of the curriculum constitutes an intellectual and conceptual tool kit that cultivates the capacity for a particular set of intellectual dispositions including curiosity, imagination, critical thought, and transferability. It nurtures a range of individual and societal capacities, such as self-reflection, argumentation and communication. Finally, it introduces students to the normative aspects of inquiry and research, including the norms governing sourcing, sharing, withholding materials and research results as well as others governing the responsibilities of expertise as well as the professional point of view. Students in this study program are required to take the following modules in their second and third year:

• New Skills Module: Logic (m, 2.5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Causation and Correlation (m, 2.5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Argumentation, Data Visualization and Communication (m, 5 CP)

Furthermore, they must choose either

• New Skills Module: Linear Model/Matrices (me, 5 CP) or
• New Skills Module: Complex Problem Solving (me, 5 CP)

as well one of the following modules:

• New Skills Module: Agency, Leadership and Accountability (me, 5 CP) or
• New Skills Module: Community Impact Project (me, 5 CP).

German Language and Humanities Modules
German language abilities foster students’ intercultural awareness and enhance their employability in their host country. They are also beneficial for securing mandatory internships (between the 2nd and 3rd year) in German companies and academic institutions. Constructor University supports its students in acquiring basic as well as advanced German skills in the first year of the Constructor Track. Non-native speakers of German are encouraged to take 2 German modules (2.5 CP each), but are not obliged to do so. Native speakers and other students not taking advantage of this offering take alternative modules in Humanities in each of the first two semesters.