Master Specialization (Module B)

Module B: Master Specialization

Module B allows students to gain well-defined expertise in a selected field of interest. As well as meeting personal interests, this specialized training is later advantageous when graduates seek jobs in research and industry. Each student must select at least 30 EC in courses from those offered in their chosen Specialization. All the Specialization offer at least 40 EC in courses, so a subset of these may be selected to suit the student’s Individual Study Plan. The five Specialization within the Bern–Fribourg Master’s programme reflect the diverse research strengths of the two partner institutes.

Earth and Life Evolution (ELE):

The evolution of the geosphere and that of the biosphere – linked by a common theme: the processes and the unique history that have produced our life-sustaining planet.
Information: Prof. Walter Joyce (Fribourg), Prof. Suzette Timmerman (Bern)

Earth Materials (EM):

Select topics in mineralogy and petrology, both pure and applied aspects, e.g. properties and uses of clay minerals, zeolites in nature and industry, stability of minerals.
Information: Prof. Sergey Churakov (Bern) or Prof. Esther Schwarzenbach (Fribourg)

Environmental & Resource Geochemistry (ERG):

Processes of rock–water interaction relevant to groundwater quality, remediation of contaminated sites, deep geological disposal of radioactive and toxic wastes, genesis and exploration of mineral resources, and development of secondary resources.
Information: Prof. Anna Harrison (Bern) or Prof. Esther Schwarzenbach (Fribourg)

Geology (GEOL):

Structures and deformation of the lithosphere and of rocks, including the metamorphic and tectonic development of orogens, interaction between Earth internal and surface processes.
Information: Prof. Anneleen Foubert (Fribourg), Prof. Marco Herwegh (Bern) or Prof. Fritz Schlunegger (Bern)

Pure & Applied Quaternary Sciences (PAQS):

Surface processes in orogens and in their forelands; glaciology, paleoclimate and polar research; dating; humans as geological agents, engineering geology.
Information: Prof. Flavio Anselmetti (Bern), Prof. Anneleen Foubert (Fribourg) or Prof. Fritz Schlunegger (Bern)