Programme content
This 2-year master programme contains 120 ECTS credit units and leads to the joint diploma of International Master of Science in Soils & Global Change.
Language of instruction: English.
Programme Learning Outcomes
In a few words: IMSOGLO graduates have the knowledge and skills to characterize soils and understand soil evolution in an ecosystem context under global change (because they understand the underlying processes and interactions).
In detail: IMSOGLO graduates will…
- possess a broad knowledge at an advanced level in basic disciplines (soil physics, soil biogeochemistry, land information systems, meteorology and climatology);
- understand the evolution of soil (agro-/forest/natural) ecosystems under natural conditions and human-impact, as well as its relation to global change;
- have the ability to characterise soil physically, biologically and chemically, using advanced techniques to understand soil processes, to translate this to soil quality and to assess the influences by and on natural and anthropogenic factors;
- possess the basic methods to conduct field work (soil survey, soil profile description, soil sampling), interpret analytical data, classify the soil, and manage and interpret existing geospatial (soil) data;
- have the ability to plan and execute target orientated experiments or simulations independently and critically evaluate the collected data;
- possess a holistic understanding of interactions and processes in the agro-ecosystem and natural ecosystems, using statistical tools and advanced (geospatial) information- and modelling techniques;
- have the ability to act from a researchers’ perspective: creativity, accuracy, critical reflection, curiosity, justification of choices based on scientific criteria;
- have the ability for independent integration and extension of acquired knowledge to update concepts and innovate implementation possibilities, knowing the limits of own competences;
- have the ability to participate in and lead interdisciplinary groups that contribute the development of sustainable environmental solutions at local, regional and global scale;
- possess qualifications for employment in private and public-sector companies and organisations where high level expertise in soil management is required;
- have the ability to communicate, orally and written, in words and in graphs, on the own discipline to experts and the general public.
Specializations
IMSOGLO contains two specialization options of 90 ECTS, to be chosen at application time and to start after the 1st semester (30 ECTS).
Soil biogeochemistry and global change is organized by Ghent University (Belgium), the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Austria) and the University of Göttingen (Germany) and leads to a joint master diploma issued by these three universities.
Keywords:
microbiology; agroforestry; agro-ecology; lab experimentation.
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Specialization-specific learning outcomes:
IMSOGLO graduates who took the specialization Biogeochemistry will additionally be able to …
- sample, measure and describe basic concepts of biogeochemistry, in particular element cycles and fluxes in (agro-) ecosystems;
- recognise the impact of soil properties and processes on plant nutrition and health;
- evaluate the role of trees in land use systems, with particular emphasis on agroforestry;
- develop appropriate field designs and experimental procedures to address testable hypotheses;
- design, apply and evaluate experiments using both stable and radioactive isotopes;
- understand the role of soil microorganisms for soil properties and plant nutrition in relation to their activities in the environment.
Physical land resources and global change is organized by Ghent University (Belgium) and Aarhus University (Denmark), and leads to a joint master diploma issued by these two universities.
Keywords:
Prevention and remediation of soil degradation in an agricultural context; Land evaluation for ecosystem functioning; Soil water & C-cycles in an agricultural context; Modelling soil water and element fluxes and soil development for various vegetations.
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Specialization-specific learning outcomes:
IMSOGLO graduates who took the specialization Physical Land Resources will additionally be able to…
- describe and model the soil water cycle and its relation to soil degradation and soil management;
- design soil water management strategies under a changing climate;
- recognise soil threats and to identify promising ecosystem services for a field situation;
- measure and model erosion risk, soil compaction and the other soil threats identified by the EU;
- characterise the relation between the C-cycle and the climate at different scales;
- apply land evaluation techniques to identify and choose between promising land management alternatives in a regional context.
The full programme with courses is shown below:
Programme overview
2019 -2020
Master year 1
| SEMESTER 1 | SOIL FUNDAMENTALS | GHENT UNIVERSITY | 30 ECTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Course | Instructor | Study hours | Credits (ECTS) |
| Mandatory | Pedology | Peter Finke | 135 | 5 |
| Mandatory | Soil Chemistry | Filip Tack | 135 | 5 |
| Mandatory | Soil Physics | Wim Cornelis | 135 | 5 |
| Mandatory | Land Information Systems | Ann Verdoodt | 135 | 5 |
| Mandatory | Soil Genesis | Peter Finke | 135 | 5 |
| Mandatory | Applied Statistics | Aisling Daly | 125 | 5 |
Depending on the chosen specialization:
Specialization 1
Soil Biogeochemistry and Global Change
| SEMESTER 2 | BOKU UNIVERSITY | 30 ECTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Course | Instructor | Study hours | Credits (ECTS) |
| Mandatory | Ecosystem Dynamics and their Effect on Greenhouse Gases | Sophie Zechmeister-Boltenstern | 90 | 3 |
| Mandatory | Soil Protection | Walter Wenzel | 90 | 3 |
| Mandatory | Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries | Georg Gratzer | 90 | 3 |
| Mandatory | Globalisation and Rural Development | Martin Kniepert | 90 | 3 |
| Mandatory | Soil Problems in Aridic and Semiaridic Regions | Eugenio Diaz-Pines | 90 | 3 |
| Mandatory | Summer School (Vienna with JRC) or Field Work (China) | / | / | 3 |
| Elective courses (pick four for 12 ECTS) | ||||
| Elective | Possible Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources | Karsten Schulz | 90 | 3 |
| Elective | Environmental Risk Analysis and Management | Hans-Peter Nachtnebel | 90 | 3 |
| Elective | Valuation Methods for Natural Resources | Ulrich Morawetz | 90 | 3 |
| Elective | Soil Management in Tropical and Subtropical Developing Regions | Eugenio Diaz-Pines | 90 | 3 |
| Elective | Soil Fertility and Soil Ecology in Organic Agriculture | Jürgen Kurt Friedel | 90 | 3 |
| Elective | Agroforestry in Mountain Regions | Georg Gratzer | 90 | 3 |
| Elective | Field Trip – Rural Water Management | Peter Cepuder | 30 | 1 |
| Elective | Forest Soil Biology | Andreas Schindlbacher | 90 | 3 |
| Elective | Soil Microbiology Course | Sophie Zechmeister-Boltenstern | 120 | 4 |
Specialization 2
Physical land resources and Global Change
| SEMESTER 2 | GHENT UNIVERSITY | 30 ECTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Course | Instructor | Study hours | Credits (ECTS) |
| Mandatory | Climate Change | Dirk Verschuren | 120 | 4 |
| Mandatory | Soil Water Management | Wim Cornelis | 135 | 5 |
| Mandatory | Soil Degradation | Ann Verdoodt | 135 | 5 |
| Mandatory | Land Evaluation | Ann Verdoodt | 135 | 5 |
| Mandatory | Summer School or Field work | 3 | ||
| Elective courses (pick two for 8 ECTS) | ||||
| Elective | Economics and Management of Natural Resources | Stijn Speelman | 120 | 4 |
| Elective | Soil Prospection | Peter Finke | 120 | 4 |
| Elective | Dare to Venture | Johan Verrue | 120 | 4 |
| Elective | Scientific Communication | Geert Jacobs | 150 | 5 |
| Elective | Internship | Steven Sleutel | 135 | 5 |
| Elective | Seminars | Luc Tirry | 135 | 3 |
Master year 2
Specialization 1: Soil Biogeochemistry and Global Change
Specialization 2: Physical land resources and Global Change
| SEMESTER 3 | AARHUS UNIVERSITY | 30 ECTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Course | Instructor | Study hours | Credits (ECTS) |
| Mandatory | Assessing Soil Erosion Risk | Goswin Heckrath | 140 | 5 |
| Mandatory | Global soil threats and ecosystem services | Bo V. Iversen | 280 | 10 |
| Mandatory | Carbon Cycling and Climate Change | Mathias N. Andersen | 280 | 10 |
| Elective courses (pick one for 5 ECTS) | ||||
| Elective | Climate Through Earth's History | Marit-Solveig Seidenkrantz | 140 | 5 |
| Elective | Open Project Work in Soil Physics | / | 140 | 5 |
| Elective | Bioactive Molecules in Agroecology | Inge S. Fomsgaard | 140 | 5 |
| Elective | Soil-classification | Mogens Humlekrog Greve | 140 | 5 |
| Elective | Arctic soils (Field trip Greenland) | Lis W. de Jonge | 140 | 5 |
Specialization 1: Soil Biogeochemistry and Global Change
| SEMESTER 4 | 30 ECTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Course | Institution | Study hours | Credits (ECTS) |
| Mandatory | Master thesis | BOKU University | 900 | 30 |
| or | ||||
| Mandatory | Master thesis | Göttingen University | 900 | 30 |
Specialization 2: Physical land resources and Global Change
| SEMESTER 4 | 30 ECTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Course | Institution | Study hours | Credits (ECTS) |
| Mandatory | Master thesis | Ghent University | 900 | 30 |
| or | ||||
| Mandatory | Master thesis | Aarhus University | 900 | 30 |
