Bachelor of Science

Ecology and environmental protection

Not for the insular: natural science and ecology meet technology and management, nature conservation and landscape planning. Uniquely interdisciplinary.

Ecology and Environmental Protection Bachelor's degree program

Faculty: Natural and Environmental Sciences
Location: Zittau
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Standard period of study: 7 semesters
ECTS points: 210
Enrollment for: Winter semester
Admission restriction: None
Accreditation status: accredited

Energy transition and global warming, biodiversity protection, sustainability, resource efficiency and land use - are hotly debated topics that we deal with in the "Ecology and Environmental Protection" department. There is a growing need for experts with interdisciplinary training who can analyze complex issues from a wide variety of fields of knowledge and bring them together in a holistic assessment of the impact on our environment.

Our course of studies "Ecology and Environmental Protection", which has been in existence since 1994, is almost unique in the Federal Republic of Germany with its generalist and interdisciplinary natural science oriented course of studies. Depending on the field of study, you will gain specific insight into technical, management-related, nature conservation and landscape planning topics with practical relevance, in addition to scientific and ecological basics.

 

Your course content in the Bachelor's degree program in Ecology and Environmental Protection

1st semester
  • General and inorganic chemistry for life sciences
  • Mathematics I
  • Physics I
  • Research, project work, cooperation and presentation
  • General Biology
  • Lecture series and seminar on topics relating to ecological, economic and social sustainability
2nd semester
  • Organic Chemistry for Life Sciences
  • Mathematics II
  • Environmental Management - Part 1
  • Physics II
  • Functional morphology and systematics
  • Minerals, rocks, soils
3rd semester
  • Fundamentals of physical chemistry for life sciences
  • Chemical separation of substances
  • Principles of ecology
  • Mapping and soil analysis
  • Fundamentals of process engineering
  • Environmental, energy and climate protection law
4th semester
  • Hydrobiology and water protection
  • Environmentally oriented corporate management - Part 2
  • Landscapes and soils
  • Microbiology with practical course
  • Compulsory elective modules
    • Energy and material flow management
    • Alternative sources of raw materials
    • Bioeconomy - sustainability of process and product innovations

Specialization or field of study Nature conservation / landscape planning

  • Vegetation science / biotope protection
  • Weather, climate, water balance
5th semester
  • Selected processes in environmental technology
  • Ecosystem science
  • Production-integrated environmental protection (PIUS) and environmentally friendly product design (Ecodesign)
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Specialization or field of study Nature conservation / landscape planning

  • Animal systematics and species protection
  • Landscape Planning I

Specialization or field of study Environmental and climate protection in organizations

  • Project seminar: Environmental protection, occupational health and safety and energy
  • Occupational health and safety law, occupational health and safety management systems
  • Climate protection management in organizations
6th semester
  • Practical semester
  • Scientific work - video course and consultation
7th semester
  • Final module (Bachelor thesis and defense)
  • Ecotoxicology/Environmental Pollutants
  • Applied environmental law/environmental ethics
  • Compulsory elective modules
    • English for Natural Sciences
    • Environmental Analytics
    • Practical computer science
    • Interdisciplinary skills (compulsory elective modules)
    • Life cycle assessment and energy process analysis

Specialization or field of study Nature Conservation / Landscape Planning

  • Landscape Planning II
  • Admission requirements
    • General or subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification/entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences or relevant master craftsman examination or passed entrance examination
    • Applicants with a qualification as a technician, business economist, master craftsman or similar Completion of advanced vocational training in accordance with §18(3) of the SächsHSFG must take part in a counseling interview for general university admission.
    • for international applicants, proof of successful completion of the German language proficiency test (DSH) 
  • Target group

    The course is aimed at all students who are interested in dealing with current and future issues relating to the environment, nature and landscape and who would like to contribute to improving the current environmental situation. Varied modules await you not only in the lecture hall, but also in the field, in the laboratory and in the companies.

  • Study objective

    We would like to offer our students on the Bachelor's degree course in Ecology and Environmental Protection an interdisciplinary education through a broad range of courses. This enables compact problems to be grasped from a wide range of scientific perspectives and transformed into environmentally friendly solutions. Our students are taught the latest scientific findings in the fields of ecology, environmental law, environmental and quality management, operational and technical environmental protection as well as nature and species conservation and landscape and spatial planning. This is supplemented by numerous internships, excursions and a practical semester. In addition, there have been very lively international collaborations for many years, making it possible to study abroad (partly with financial support).

    Ultimately, our goal is to align our knowledge and practice-oriented degree program in such a way that it meets the high demands of the job market and makes it easier for our graduates to enter the professional world through a wide range of employment opportunities.

  • Contents

    Fields of study

    • Environmental and climate protection in organizations
    • Nature Conservation and Landscape Planning
       

    Focus of content

    • Scientific basics in: Mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, geosciences
    • Business management/engineering fundamentals in: Environmental law, business administration, environmental management, process engineering, geoinformation systems
    • in-depth modules depending on the field of study: vegetation science, animal systematics/species protection, landscape planning or production-integrated environmental protection, risk management, contaminated sites/sampling/environmental engineering or mechanical process engineering
    • Analysis of data from different fields of knowledge
    • Evaluation of the effects of consumption, production and service processes on the environment
    • Development of solutions for environmental problems
    • Energy transition: technical, social and economic solutions for realization
  • Study program
    • 1st - 3rd semester: basic studies with many joint modules in the "Life Sciences" joint degree course (with the "Molecular Biotechnology" and "Applied Natural Sciences" degree courses)
    • 4th - 7th semester: additional specialization modules from one of the two fields of study
    • 6th semester: practical semester (with final activity report)
    • 7th semester: semester-accompanying preparation of the Bachelor's thesis with defense (from the results of the practical semester)
  • Career prospects

    As a graduate of the Bachelor's degree program "Ecology and Environmental Protection", you have a wide range of employment opportunities. For example in:

    • Industrial companies,
    • Engineering and planning offices,
    • Research institutes, universities and colleges,
    • Federal, state and local authorities and public administrations as well as associations, clubs and foundations,
    • Service companies in business, trade or education,
    • insurance companies and expert practices,
    • Technical inspection associations,
    • management consultancies.
       

    The career prospects of our graduates are good to very good throughout Germany and internationally.

    Want to continue studying?

    If you would like to gain further academic qualifications after successfully completing your Bachelor's degree, you will also find suitable Master's degree programs at our university:

Podcast episode on the degree program

Further information
Photo: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jakob Hildebrandt
Fachstudienberater
Prof. Dr.-Ing.
Jakob Hildebrandt
Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences
02763 Zittau
Külzufer 2
Building ZVI, Room 9
+49 3583 612-4614
Allgemeine Studienberatung
Madeleine Pohl
Department of Studies and International Affairs
02763 Zittau
Th.-Körner-Allee 16
Building Z I, Room 0.21
First floor
+49 3583 612-3055
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