The objective of the programme is to provide the student with theoretical, methodological and practical skills enabling them to qualify for a Master's degree in Physical Geography. The topics for master projects includes glaciers, natural hazards, sea level, hydrology, ground water, periglacial features, caves and landscape development related to past and present climate and environmental changes.

The aim is to provide the student with analytical skills, critical thinking, relevant field- and laboratory methods as well as academic writing to work with and present both written and orally contemporary scientific problems in physical geography.

A student who has completed the programme should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student..

• has knowledge about the theory and methods related to actual research topics in physical geography.
• has in-depth knowledge and insight in the research topic with relevance for the master project in physical geography.
• can explain what proxy data is, and knows how different proxies can be used for reconstruction of terrestrial climate and environmental changes.
• has in-depth knowledge about the most important exogenous agents and related processes which are linked to terrestrial climate and environmental changes in the field area for the master thesis.
• has in-depth knowledge about potential causes for terrestrial climate and environmental changes.
• has in-depth knowledge about strengths and weaknesses for the most common dating methods used in the reconstruction of terrestrial climate and environmental changes.
• has knowledge about the chronostratigraphic framework for NW Europe.

Skills

The student..

• can recognize the most important agents/processes which are related to climate and environmental changes in own master project.
• can design a research project and collect relevant field data to reconstruct terrestrial climate and environmental changes for own master project.
• can evaluate the use of different proxy data for the reconstruction of terrestrial climate and environmental changes in own master project.
• can discuss strengths and weaknesses for the most common dating methods used in the reconstruction of terrestrial climate and environmental changes.
• can use the chronostratigraphic framework for NW Europe.
• can discuss critically potential causes, including man-made, for terrestrial climate and environmental changes.

General competence

The student..

• can perform a field project in accordance with the guidelines for proper behaviour and safety at the University of Bergen.
• can analyse different sources of information critically.
• can write a report/paper either alone or in a small group by use of a professional language, make adequate analysis, produce good illustrations, and put own work into a wider context by finding and properly referring to relevant literature.
• can communicate orally and write an academic text on current issues regarding the research field of interest and relate it to the scientific literature.
• can exchange opinions with others having a background in the field, and provide constructive comments to their work.

In order to be admitted to the program, the applicant must normally have obtained a Bachelor degree of 3-4 years' duration, or have an equivalent educational background. The degree must include at least 1,5 years of full time studies in Geography including 1 year similar to about 60 ECTS specialization in relevant courses in physical geography.

Non-native English speakers must document their English language proficiency in order to be considered for admission to a Master's Programme at the University of Bergen.

The application must include a motivation letter.

• GEO204 Quantitative methods (5 ECTS)
• GEO212 Terrestrial Climate and Environmental Changes (15 ECTS)
• GEO291 Field Course in Physical Geography (10 ECTS)