Ecology Degree: Master
Within the Basel life science program, the Department of Environmental Sciences and its associates offer this comprehensive Master course for graduates with a background in biology or environmental sciences. The course builds upon the strength and leadership in functional ecology and conservation biology of the associated institutes and covers plant and animal sciences as well as ecosystem sciences. Course modules cover a wide spectrum of plant and animal ecology, ecosystem science and conservation biology, giving students the possibility of studying the interactions among organisms, between organisms and their environment, ecosystem processes and human influences on ecosystem integrity and biological diversity.
Focal area of teaching and research
Why choose an M Sc in Ecology in Basel?
- We offer a broad spectrum of course modules from which you choose your preferred topics.
- We offer attractive field courses in Switzerland and abroad.
- We employ modern laboratory methods, including molecular techniques. In our field work, we integrate plant and animal biology.
- We emphasize theory based and experimental approaches.
- Our research and teaching focuses on attractive biota such as highly diverse meadow systems, mixed forests and alpine ecosystems in Switzerland as well as arctic and tropical biota.
- The biology section of the Department of Environmental Sciences is well known for its excellent research in population biology, biodiversity and conservation as well as global change research and runs unique research facilities such as the highest biological laboratory in the Alps at Furka Pass.
Course structure
The Master of Science degree is a postgraduate degree that requires a successfully completed Bachelor’s program. The program awards 90 ECTS credits in total. The Master’s degree program Ecology is a so called mono-course consisting of only one core subject. Supervised practical work over the course of one year constitutes the core of the studies. One ECTS credit point roughly equals 30 hours of studying.
Master of Science (90 ECTS) | |
---|---|
Ecology |
Electives 12 ECTS |
Mono-courses |
Combination of subjects
The degree programs at the Faculty of Science are generally mono-courses with the possible addition of an in-depth subject and an elective subject. The Master’s degree program Ecology does include an elective subject; however, no other subjects are required.
Career opportunities
After successfully completing their Master’s degree the graduates can study further for a doctoral qualification or follow a profession in various fields of environmental and life sciences. Biology is a subject that covers many disciplines and the career opportunities include research and related activities in the fields of conservation, resource management, sustainable development, medicine, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The practical advantages of the subject are found not only in basic research but also, increasingly, in business, society and politics. Numerous jobs are on offer to biology graduates, within the university and also in private industry, government service, schools and organizations, be it as researchers, communicators, teachers or advisors. For these reasons, biology can rightly be considered as this century's key science.