The Master of Science (M.Sc.) program “Biological Oceanography” is arranged in 4 semesters providing knowledge and skills in a number of disciplines that address various areas of the global ocean as a complex system. The curriculum is focused on biology and imparts knowledge in chemistry, geology, physics and mathematics.
First semester: The first semester covers the theoretical and practical fundamentals for the systemic analysis of the marine environment. All first semester modules are compulsory.
Second semester: Building on the first semester's knowledge, students begin to form their individual focus within the curriculum in compulsory/elective and elective modules. Students also take part in the theory and practice of running research projects.
Third semester: This semester is devoted to further specialization (including a 9 day research cruise), first contacts to the research group where the individual students plan to do their master's thesis and an introduction to cutting-edge research, instrumentation and literature.
Fourth semester: Here, students apply the knowledge they have gatheres in the first three semesters toward work on the master's thesis as part of ongoing research projects (how to start your master thesis). Most students perform their thesis in one of the research groups within FB3 (marine ecology) or within FB2 (Marine Biogeochemistry).
Information for single modules here.
Some of the optional modules are planned for second (summer) or third (winter) semester but are given in summer AND winter semesters. Have a look at the module description and ask the person in charge.
The most recent list of modules can be found here.
For information about actual official regulations click here "Prüfungsordnung" (German only) - English version (not official) and "Prüfungsverfahrensordnung" (German only).
For further information, contact the study advisor.
Module | Module Name | LP | Form | OLAT |
Winter semester |
Compulsory modules (all have to be taken) - 30 CP |
MNF-bioc-101 | Introduction to Biological Oceanography | 6 | Lecture | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-102 | Practical Course in Biological Oceanography | 10 | Practical + Exercise | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-103 | Introduction to Chemical Oceanography | 5 | Lecture+Exercise | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-104 | Introduction to Marine Geology | 3 | Lecture | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-110 | Doing Science | 6 | Lecture + practical Exercise | OLAT |
Summer semester |
Compulsory modules (all have to be taken) - 20 CP |
MNF-bioc-201 | Advanced Studies in Biological Oceanography | 5 | Lecture | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-202 | Advanced Practical Course in Biological Oceanography | 5 | Practical, Exercise+Tutorial | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-220 | Biological Modelling and Biostatistics | 5 | Lecture+Exercise | OLAT |
MNF-bioc/ozgr-151 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography (import module pherIPO) | 5 | Lecture | OLAT |
Compulsory elective (choose one) - 5 CP | |
MNF-bioc-231 | Current Topics in Biogeochemistry I | 5 | Lecture+Seminar | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-232 | Current Topics in Marine Ecology I | 5 | Lecture+Seminar | OLAT |
| MNF-bioc-233 | Current Topics in Fish Ecology and Aquaculture | 5 | Excursion+Exercise+Seminar | OLAT |
Optional modules(more optional courses here (incl. CAU)) - 10 CP in total |
MNF-bioc-250 | Element cycles in the ocean - Stoffkreisläufe im Meer | 2 | Lecture | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-260 | Marine biodiscovery and biotechnology | 5 | Practical | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-262 | Trophodynamic Interactions | 5 | Practical | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-264 | Sea Bird Ecology | 5 | Special Course (Practical) | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-266 | Advanced course in Polar Ecology | 5 | Lecture + Seminar + Excursion | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-267 | Identification and taxonomy of marine invertebrates | 5 | Lecture + Practical | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-271 | New aspects of meteorology and oceano-graphy: Carbon cycling in a changing climate | 5 | Lecture + Seminar + Exercise | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-274 | New Trends in Marine Biodiscovery | 2 | Seminar | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-277 | Air-Sea-Exchange | 5 | Lecture + Seminar | OLAT |
| MNF-bioc-279 | Geomicrobiology: accessing the hidden uncultured microbial majority in seafloor habitats | 5 | Lecture + Seminar + Practical | OLAT |
or the "unused" MNF-bioc-231, -232 or -233 from the compulsory elective section (s.a.). Additional optional modules outside of Biological Oceanography. |
Winter semester |
Compulsory modules (all have to be taken) - 15 CP |
MNF-bioc-301 | Multidisciplinary Oceanographic Research | 10 | Practicals, Colloquia + Exercise | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-310 | Summer School or Internship | 5 | Practical / Project | OLAT |
Compulsory elective modules (choose two) - 10 CP |
MNF-bioc-331 | Current Topics in Marine Biogeochemistry II | 5 | Lecture, Exercise + Seminar | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-332 | Current Topics in Marine Ecology II | 5 | Lecture + Seminar | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-334 | Current Topics in Fish Ecology | 5 | Lecture + Seminar | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-335 | Fundamentals and Current Topics in Biogeochemical Modelling | 5 | Lecture + Seminar | OLAT |
Optional modules(more optional courses here (incl. CAU)) - 10 CP in total |
MNF-bioc-341 | Advanced Biological Modelling | 5 | Lecture + Exercise + Practical | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-350 | Climate-relevant trace gases in the ocean | 2 | Lecture | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-353 | How to write and publish a scientific paper | 2 | Seminar | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-365 | Mechanisms of biomineralization II | 3 | Seminar | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-372 | New Developments in Marine Microbiology II | 2 | Seminar | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-374 | New Trends in Marine Biotechnology | 2 | Seminar | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-379 | Geomicrobiology: from sediments to bacteria: turnover rates, enzyme activities and genetics | 5 | Lecture + Seminar + Practical | OLAT |
MNF-bioc-380 | Sustainable Ocean Food Production and Security | 6 | Lecture + Seminar | OLAT |
or of the "unused" MNF-bioc-331, -332, -334 or -335 from the compulsory elective section (s.a.). Additional optional courses/modules outside of Biological Oceanography. |
Summer semester |
Compulsory modules - 30 CP |
MNF-bioc-401 | Master Thesis | 30 | Project | OLAT |
As there are sometimes changes of staff, research semesters etc., the actual list maybe is somewhat different.
Before you try to attend defined modules ask the person in charge of the module for further details
(will the module be given, when, where etc.).
Designation of modules
First number: semester (first semester: MNF-bioc-1xx, second semester: MNF-bioc-2xx, third semester: MNF-bioc-3xx)
Second/third number: section (compulsory: MNF-bioc-x01-20, compulsory elective:MNF-bioc-x21-39, optional: MNF-bioc-x40-99)
Examples
MNF-bioc-10x: first semester (winter), compulsory
MNF-bioc-23x: second semester (summer), compulsory elective
MNF-bioc-36x: third semester (winter), optional
The most recent list of modules can be found here.
For information about actual official regulations click here "Prüfungsordnung" (German only) - English version (not official) and "Prüfungsverfahrensordnung" (German only).
For further information, contact the study advisor.
Optional courses outside of Biological Oceanography
Within the optional courses or free choice section you can choose either one of the modules within your M.Sc. Biological Oceanography curriculum - have a look on the module list - or any other module out of B.Sc.- or M.Sc.-curricula at the CAU.
Read instructions below!
Here you find a list - (incomplete and not regularly updated) - of ideas of study programs, modules, courses etc. outside of the M.Sc. Biological Oceanography which might be of interest for you to include into the optionals sector.
Before attending contact the person in charge of the respective course, module etc. AND the M.Sc. Biol. Oceanogr. study advisor AS WELL AS "our" Office Examination Board (Prüfungsamt Biologie, Tel. 0431-880-3724; -4157) AND the external Office Examination Board!
IMPORTANT:
All of those courses, lectures, seminars etc. you want to attend have to be organized and classified as modules with assigned credit points. A number of lectures etc. e.g. within the old programs (like diploma programmes) are not yet modularized - which means you can't get any credit points!
ONLY COMPLETE MODULES CAN BE USED WITHIN THE OPTIONAL MODULES SECTION!!!
Single courses, lectures, seminars etc. as part of a module will not be used for calculation of your workload and will not be used for your final marks!
Make sure in advance!
Ocean Education Initiative
Ocean Education is an initiative of the Kiel Marine Science priority research area (KMS), the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at CAU and the Future Ocean Network. We invite and encourage students from all disciplines to gain and expand competencies in interdisciplinary ocean knowledge and collaboration and to tackle the complexity of solution-oriented (ocean) sustainability science. Together with the faculties of CAU and associated institutes such as GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel, Ocean Education compiled a catalogue of open elective modules on current marine and environmental topics. In most modules, students enrolled in Master programs can earn ECTS for the optional component of their curriculum. Learn more about us and find interdisciplinary courses currently on offer at www.msms.uni-kiel.de.
As the links below are external, they might be outdated. In this case use the data to search within UnivIS.
List of curricula with English as general language of instruction
