Master of Science in Geography (1 year, 60 ECTS) – modules: Geo-informatics, Geo-ecology – 2016/2017-2022/2023

Name and the Goals of the Study Programme

Title of the study programme is Master in Geography.

This study programme is comprised of 2 modules: Master in Geography – Geoinformatics (М1) and Master in Geography – Geoecology (М2).

Type of the Study and the Outcome of the Education Process

Study cycle: Master Academic Studies.

Professional Title, Academic, or Scientific Title

Professional title: Master in Geography (the module chosen is stated in the Diploma Supplement)

Admission Conditions

Conditions for enrolment in the study programme: completed bachelor academic studies (Bachelor with Honours in Geography/ Bachelor with Honours in Geography Teaching) or other appropriate Bachelor Academic Studies, as well as the appropriate place on the ranking list within the approved students’ enrolment quota.

The Structure of the Study Programme

Structure of the Master in Geography study programme – Module Geoinformatics in duration of one year is comprised of 2 compulsory and 10 elective courses, where student chooses 4 courses, i.e. of 2 compulsory and 13 elective courses where student chooses 5 courses if the chosen module is Master in Geography – Module Geoecology.

Credit score of master academic studies is 60 ECTS, where the ECTS credit score collected through elective courses is 20 ECTS for Master in Geography – Geoinformatics Module, i.e. 25 ECTS for Master in Geography – Geoecology Module. Graduation (Master) thesis weights 25 ECTS credits.

The Time Allotted for the Realization of Particular Study Forms

Master studies last for 1 year.

Credit Values of Particular Courses

Total credit score is 60 ECTS credits in a study year including the obligatory graduation master thesis, which weights 25 ECTS.

Diploma Work

ECTS credit score of the graduation thesis on master academic studies is 25 ECTS.

Prerequisites for the Registration for Particular Courses or Group of Courses

Courses which need to be passed before a student enrols in the Master programme are: Introduction to Geoinformatics, Spatial databases, Remote sensing methods in geospatial research, GIS Softwares and geospatial data acquisition, processing and visualization for M1: Master in Geography – Geoinformatics; For M2: Master in Geography – Geoecology, the compulsory courses before a student enrols in the programme are Environmental Geography, Climatological-hydrological geoinfluences; Geomorphological and pedological georisks and Field methods in Geoecology.

Transferring from Another Study Programme

Conditions for transfer from other study programmes within the related fields are defined in accordance with the valid study programmes at the Faculty of Sciences in Novi Sad.

Teaching is conducted through active and interactive methods: active teaching hours, exercises, supervising work, student’s independent work, seminar papers, consultative work.

Purpose of the Master in Geography study programme i.e. Module Master in Geography – Geoinformatics and Master in Geography – Geoecology is educating professionals to recognize and solve geospatial problems. Geoinformatics and Geoecology are interdisciplinary sciences, which study interaction between abiotic and biotic factors within a geographical space. Spatial problems related to relief, hydrology, climate, soil and other abiotic factors of a geographical space are related to biotic and anthropogenic component and make the core study subject of the study programmes Master in Geography – Geoinformatics and Master in Geography – Geoecology.

Since the sciences are interdisciplinary, study programmes within Master in Geography orientation use various up-to-date scientific-research methods whose crucial characteristic is applicability on geospace. Field research is a challenge for data collection on Master in Geography orientation. Geospatial data analysis requires knowledge and skills in other multidisciplinary sciences like Geography, Chemistry, Biology, but also in Informatics, Statistics and Mathematics. Students are trained to store the collected and analyzed data into systems and featured databases, which make the solid and long-lasting access to geodata.  By studying laws and regularities of Geography and up-to-date methods of data collection, processing and analysis, master students are trained to work in professions legally framed and designated by law and related to various fields like urban planning, environmental protection, management of natural resources, public services, agriculture, energetics, geodetic and cartographic services and other scientific institutions.

Goals of the study programme comprise competences and academic skills together with methods used in acquiring them. They also include creative skills development and mastering specific practical skills needed to work as a Master in Geography.

Main goal of of the study programme Module Master in Geography – Geoinformatics is educating experts in a very broad field of activities which include studying geographical phenomena and management of spatial systems. The concept is based on the following goals of this study programme:

1. Acquiring methods for identification and analysis of geospatial problems. The aim is that students master contemporary methods of defining, recognition and analytical solving of geospatial problems.

2. Enabling master students to create and simulate geographical phenomena inside a geospace is an important methodological link in up-to-date approach to geospatial problems. By creating geospatial models in a modern way, it is possible to simulate the conditions of appearance, development and solution to geospatial problems.

3. Acquiring contemporary knowledge in Geoinformatics, which is multidisciplinary in its nature and builds upon the basic geographical knowledge.

4. Enabling students to master the most up-to-date research and analytical methods in applied contemporary geographical research. The acquired knowledge is necessary for both analysis and geospatial problem solving.

5. Enabling students to master the most up-to-date research and analytical methods used in applied research of the related natural sciences. The acquired knowledge is necessary for both analysis and geospatial problem solving.

6. Enabling master students to master the most up-to-date research and analytical methods used in Geography, Informatics, Statistics and Mathematics. The acquired knowledge is necessary for both contemporary scientific research and analysis, and proposing solutions to geospatial problems.

7. Acquiring knowledge and skills in order to manipulate, store, and interpret geospatial data for further professional research and geospatial problem analysis.

8. Enabling students to master visual and graphic presentation of data acquired through fieldwork research or some other analytical method.

Main goal of of the study programme Module Master in Geography – Geoecology is educating experts in a very broad field of activities, which include studying geographical phenomena, management of spatial systems, and environmental protection. The concept is based on the following goals of this study programme:

1. Mastering methods of identification and analysis of geoecological problems in geospace. Students are supposed to master the most up-to-date methods of defining, recognition and analytical geospatial problem solving.

2. Enabling master students to apply contemporary analytical-synthetic analyses of geospatial problems within a geospace, which is an important methodological link in interdisciplinary studies.

3. Enabling master students to acquire most up-to-date knowledge in Geoecology whose multidisciplinary nature is an upgrade to basic geographical knowledge.

4. Enabling students to master most up-to-date research and analytical methods applied in contemporary geographical research. The knowledge and skills are necessary both in up-to-date scientific research and analysis, and in proposing solutions to geoecological problems occurring in geospace.

5. Enabling students to master most up-to-date research and analytical methods used in applied research in Biology and Chemistry. The knowledge and skills are necessary for up-to-date scientific research and in proposing solutions to geoecological problems occurring in geospace.

6. Enabling students to master most up-to-date research and analytical methods used in applied research of Statistics and GIS. The knowledge and skills are necessary for up-to-date scientific research and in proposing solutions to geoecological problems occurring in geospace.

7. Enabling master students for visual and graphic presentation of geoecological data acquired through the field research or some other analytical method.

By completing the study programme of Master in Geography – Geoinformatics, students obtain the following course-specific skills and competences:

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the discipline to which a specific profession belongs;
• Problem solving by using various up-to-date scientific methods and procedures;
• Integrating contemporary knowledge in Geoscience and its application by using different segments of geoinformation systems;
• Using geoinformatic methods in multidisciplinary geosciences data analysis;
• To build systems for creation of databases in order to store, analyze and visualize geographical data;
• Following, continual development and applying novelties in profession;
• Development of skills and abilities in using geoinformatic data within fields which rely on geospatial research;
• Planning and self-evaluating own professional development and improvement in the field of Geoinformatics;
• To work in scientific institutions which legally recognize the foreseen professions;
• To work in geodetic and cartographic services;
• To work in certain information sectors;
• To work in the sectors of agriculture, forestry, mining and energetics;
• To work in transportation companies as experts in supervising the geospatial activities recognized by legal frameworks;
• To work on maintenance of infrastructure systems;
• To work in expert, development and supervising services within management authorities;
• To work in institutions dealing with nature protection;
• To work in the army and police forces, as well as in other emergency services.

By completing the study programme of Master in Geography – Geoecology, students obtain the following course-specific skills and competences:

• Up-to-date knowledge of interdisciplinary field of Geoecology;
• To analyze, identify and solve potential problems occurring in Geoecology which arise from interaction among abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors in geospace;
• Integrate up-to-date knowledge in applied Physical geography and related sciences and their application in various segments of geoecological research;
• To identify geoecological problems by applying contemporary physical-geographical scientific  methods;
• To use geodata in geoecological problem analysis;
• To propose solutions to geoecological problems on the basis of previously conducted identification and analysis;
• To build systems for creating geological data bases in order to store, protect, analyze and interpret them;
• Mapping and visualization of geoecological problems in geospace;
• Following, continual development and applying novelties in profession;
• Development of skills and abilities in using geoecological knowledge within fields which rely on geospatial research;
• Planning and self-evaluating own professional development and improvement in the field of Geoecology;
• To work in services and directorates dealing with nature protection;
• To work in geoecological, ecological, geospatial and similar supervising services under authorities;
• To work in geoecological and ecological services within companies;
• To work in institutions dealing with nature protection;
• To work in scientific institutions which legally recognize the foreseen professions;
• To work in geodetic services;
• To work in the sectors of agriculture, forestry, mining and energetics;
• To work in expert, development and supervising services within management authorities;
• To work in the army and police forces, as well as in other emergency services.