Programme structure
In the programme option Water and Climate, you will take mandatory and recommended courses in the first semesters. The courses are a total of 60 ECTS credits. You start with the master's thesis in the second or third semester, depending on your selection of courses.
The programme has the following structure:
- Mandatory courses, 20 ECTS credits
- Elective courses, 40 ECTS credits
- Master's thesis, 60 ECTS credits
Applicants without a background in geosciences have 40 ECTS mandatory- and 20 ECTS elective courses. In addition, the master thesis which counts for 60 ECTS.
Course of study
| 4th semester | Master's thesis | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd semester | Elective course / master’s thesis | Master's thesis | |
| 2nd semester | Mandatory course / elective course | Elective course / mandatory course | Master’s thesis / elective course |
| 1st semester | GEO4990 – The Earth System + HSE-courses | Elective course / mandatory course | Elective course / mandatory course |
| 10 ECTS credits | 10 ECTS credits | 10 ECTS credits | |
For applicants without a background in geosciences
| 4th semester | Master's thesis | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd semester | Elective course / master’s thesis | Master's thesis | |
| 2nd semester | Mandatory course / elective course | Mandatory course / elective course | Master’s thesis / elective course |
| 1st semester | GEO4990 – The Earth System + HSE-courses | Mandatory course / elective course | Elective course / mandatory course |
| 10 ECTS credits | 10 ECTS credits | 10 ECTS credits | |
Mandatory courses
- GEO4990 – The Earth System (autumn)
In addition, you choose at least 10 ECTS from this list. Students admitted without a background in geosciences must choose 30 ECTS.
| Autumn | Spring |
|---|---|
| GEO4190 – Hydrogeology | GEO4171 – Floods, Avalanches and Landslides |
| GEO4300 – Geophysical Data Science | GEO4340 – Fluvial Hydrology |
| GEO4320 – Hydrological Modelling | GEO4432 – The Surface Energy Balance in Cold Environments |
| GEO4410 – Glacial and Periglacial Geomorphology | |
| GEO4420 – Glaciology | |
| GEO4512 – Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere | |
| GEO4515 – Remote Sensing of the Earth surface | |
| GEO4520 – Advanced Remote Sensing and Topographic Analysis |
GEO4964 – Upper Ocean Processes and Transport (taught last time, spring 2023) |
| GEO4901 – Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics | |
| GEO4902 – Numerical Weather Prediction |
GEO5440 – Cryospheric Modelling (5 ECTS, unregular teaching, spring and autumn) |
| GEO5440 – Cryospheric Modelling (5 ECTS, unregular teaching, spring and autumn) |
GEO5550 – Seminar on Current Topics in Geoscience (5 ECTS, spring and autumn) |
| GEO5550 – Seminar on Current Topics in Geoscience (5 ECTS, spring and autumn) |
GEO5915 – Ecological Climatology (every other spring starting from 2022) |
Elective courses
You choose 40 ECTS of elective master's courses. Students admitted without a background in geosciences choose 20 ECTS elective courses.
You select courses after consulting with your supervisor or coordinator of the programme option.
Below we have listed a few typical course combinations for different subject areas within this programme option:
Air-Sea Interaction
- GEO4512 – Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere (autumn, 5 ECTS overlap with GEO4515/3515)
- GEO4901 – Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics (autumn)
- GEO4924 – Turbulence in the Atmosphere and Ocean (5 ECTS, taught last time, spring 2023)
- GEO4926 – Turbulent Boundary Layers in the Atmosphere and Ocean (spring)
- GEO4928 – Clouds and Chemistry (spring)
- GEO4964 – Upper Ocean Processes and Transport (5 ECTS, taught last time, spring 2023)
Glaciology
- GEO4410 – Glacial and Periglacial Geomorphology (autumn)
- GEO4420 – Glaciology (autumn)
- GEO5440 – Cryospheric Modelling (5 ECTS, unregular teaching, spring and autumn)
Hydrology
- GEO4171 – Floods, Avalanches and Landslides (spring)
- GEO4190 – Hydrogeology (autumn)
- GEO4300 – Geophysical Data Science (autumn)
- GEO4320 – Hydrological Modelling (autumn)
- GEO4340 – Fluvial Hydrology (spring)
- GEO4432 – The Surface Energy Balance in Cold Environments (spring)
Meteorology (weather prediction, atmospheric physics, climate)
- GEO4512 – Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere (autumn, 5 ECTS overlap with GEO4515/3515)
- GEO4901 – Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics (autumn)
- GEO4902 – Numerical Weather Prediction (autumn)
- GEO4926 – Turbulent Boundary Layers in the Atmosphere and Ocean (spring)
- GEO4928 – Clouds and Chemistry (spring)
- GEO4962 – The General Circulation of the Atmosphere (spring)
- GEO4992 – Data Analysis and Model Evaluation Tools in Environmental and Climate Science (spring)
Meteorology/Hydrology/Ecology (cross-over thesis)
- GEO4300 – Geophysical Data Science (autumn)
- GEO4320 – Hydrological Modelling (autumn)
- GEO4432 – The Surface Energy Balance in Cold Environments (spring)
- GEO4901 – Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics (autumn)
- GEO4902 – Numerical Weather Prediction (autumn)
- GEO4926 – Turbulent Boundary Layers in the Atmosphere and Ocean (spring)
- GEO5915 – Ecological Climatology (every other spring starting from 2022)
Oceanography
- GEO4901 – Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics (autumn)
- GEO4902 – Numerical Weather Prediction (autumn)
- GEO4926 – Turbulent Boundary Layers in the Atmosphere and Ocean (spring)
- GEO4960 – The General Circulation of the Oceans (spring)
- GEO4964 – Upper Ocean Processes and Transport (taught last time, spring 2023)
- GEO4992 – Data Analysis and Model Evaluation Tools in Environmental and Climate Science (spring)
Examples of relevant master's courses from other departments
- FYS4150 – Computational Physics (spring and autumn)
- FYS-STK4155 – Applied Data Analysis and Machine Learning (autumn)
- IN4110 – Problem Solving with High-Level Languages (autumn)
- IN4200 – High-Performance Computing and Numerical Projects (spring)
- STK4150 – Environmental and Spatial Statistics (spring)
Generic courses
- GEO4012 – Scientific Writing and Presentation (spring, 5 ECTS)
- MNKOM4000 – Formidling og vitenskapsjournalistikk (spring)
Diploma and degree
This programme leads to the following degree: Master of Science in Geosciences
The diploma is issued when you have completed the courses that meet the requirements for a degree. Read more about diplomas.