Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes certificate program

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Excursion in the certificate program Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes (Photo: Annelie Fincke).

Students of the Master's degree programs in Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning (specialization in Environmental Planning and Landscape Management, FB06), Biology (specialization in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, FB10) and Organic Agriculture (FB11) can participate in this certificate program.

The dramatic loss of species diversity and genetic biodiversity in agricultural landscapes leads to a need for appropriately qualified people from the fields of biology, agriculture and landscape planning. Throughout Germany, more and more positions are being advertised in governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations in the field of biodiversity management and consulting at the interface between agriculture and nature conservation. Graduates of the certificate program acquire the necessary knowledge in the field of agriculture and nature conservation as well as consulting skills.

Special course of study

The certificate comprises five modules with a total of 30 credits. The certificate course begins in the summer semester and lasts two semesters. The required modules are completed over two semesters within the student's own Master's degree course in the compulsory elective or elective area and are recognized where possible. Depending on the first degree course and the current Master's degree course, different specialist modules in the field of agricultural sciences or nature conservation must be selected (see the relevant subpages). The two courses in the field of communication and methodology must be taken by all students. The recognition of individual additional modules related to nature conservation for the certificate can be applied for at the Department of Ecological Agricultural Sciences and will be reviewed there.

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    The certificate can generally be earned entirely through the elective-required courses. The following modules are available:

     

    Fundamentals of Nature Conservation Modules:

    FB06.105 Advanced Course in Nature Conservation Law (3 ECTS, FB6, Spring Semester)

    Plant Diversity (6 ECTS, FB10, Spring Semester) (from the Bachelor’s program in Biology)

    Botany: Species Identification (6 ECTS, FB10, Spring Semester every 2 years)

    Major Botanical Field Trip (6 ECTS, FB10, Spring Semester every 2 years)

    FB06.039 Ecological Foundations of Environmental Planning (3+3 ECTS, FB6, Spring & Winter) (from the Bachelor’s in LA&LP)

    FB06.040 Landscape Development/Landscape Planning, Submodule: Landscape Planning (3 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester) (from the Bachelor’s program in LALP)

    L30 Vegetation and Site Conditions (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    Advanced Modules in Nature Conservation:

    FB06.069 Advanced Landscape Ecology (6 ECTS, FB6, Spring)

    A-2.3-01 Advanced Course in Landscapes, Ecosystems, and Species (6 ECTS, FB6, Spring Semester every 2 years)

    C-2.3-06 Advanced Geodata Analysis and Processing (6 ECTS, FB6, Spring semester, every 2 years)

    L55 Understanding Landscapes (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring)

    L76 Sustainability Science (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    Fungi Study Group (6 ECTS, FB10, Spring & Winter Semesters)

    FB06.076 Advanced Methodological Skills in Environmental Planning and Landscape Management (6 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester)

    FB06.097 Advanced Course in Landscape Development/Landscape Planning (6 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester)

    A-2.3-02 Advanced Course in Aquatic Ecology/Aquatic Development (6 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester)

    Research Module in Botany (12 ECTS, FB10, Winter Semester block course)

    Agricultural Sciences Advanced Modules:

    L54 Conservation Breeding and Biodiversity Management in Farm Animals (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    L56 Epistemology, Cultural Landscape Development (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    P01 Ecology and Agroecosystems (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    Agricultural Management and Biodiversity (6 ECTS, BfN (external), block course, summer semester)

    L27 Ecology and Multifunctionality of Grasslands (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    L92 Climate Change and Nature Conservation in Organic Agriculture (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    I14M GIS and Remote Sensing (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    P13 Agrobiodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources in the Tropics (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    Biodiversity Consulting/Communication:

    FB 06.040 Landscape Development/Landscape Planning, Submodule Landscape Development (3 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester) (from the LALP Bachelor’s program)

    L06 Submodule: Practical Knowledge of Biodiversity Consulting and Consulting Methodology (1.5+1.5 ECTS, FB11, Spring & Winter Semesters)

    Students specializing in biodiversity and evolutionary biology may choose this certificate, which can generally be completed entirely within the required-elective track. The following modules are available:

     

    Agricultural Sciences Core Modules ( from the Bachelor’s program in Organic Agriculture):

    G11 Ecological Agricultural Systems (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    G13 Animal Husbandry, Animal Health (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    G19 Specialized Crop Production, Grassland (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    G15 Business Administration (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    P05 Organic Cropping Systems under Temperate and Tropical Conditions (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    Agricultural Sciences Advanced Modules:

    L54 Conservation Breeding and Biodiversity Management in Farm Animals (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    L56 Epistemology, Cultural Landscape Development (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    P01 Ecology and Agroecosystems (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    Agricultural Management and Biodiversity (6 ECTS, BfN (external), block course, SS)

    L27 Ecology and Multifunctionality of Grasslands (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    L92 Climate Change and Nature Conservation in Organic Agriculture (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    I14M GIS and Remote Sensing (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    P13 Agrobiodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources in the Tropics (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    Advanced Modules in Nature Conservation:

    FB06.069 Advanced Course in Landscape Ecology (6 ECTS, FB6, Spring Semester)

    A-2.3-01 Advanced Course in Landscapes, Ecosystems, and Species (6 ECTS, FB6, Spring Semester, every 2 years)

    C-2.3-06 Advanced Geodata Analysis and Processing (6 ECTS, FB6, Spring semester, every 2 years)

    L55 Understanding Landscapes (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring)

    L76 Sustainability Science (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    Fungi Seminar (6 ECTS, Faculty 10, Spring & Winter Semesters)

    Research Module in Botany (12 ECTS, FB10, Winter Semester block course)

    FB06.076 Advanced Methodological Skills in Environmental Planning and Landscape Management (6 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester)

    FB06.097 Advanced Course in Landscape Development/Landscape Planning (6 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester)

    A-2.3-02 Advanced Course in Aquatic Ecology/Watercourse Development (6 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester)

    Biodiversity Consulting/Communication:

    FB 06.040 Landscape Planning/Landscape Development, Submodule: Landscape Development (3 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester) (from the Bachelor’s program in LALP)

    L06 Submodule: Practical Knowledge in Biodiversity Consulting and Consulting Methodology (1.5+1.5 ECTS, FB11, Spring & Winter Semesters)

    Students specializing in Environmental Planning and Landscape Management (ULM) may choose this certificate program. Depending on their undergraduate major and module selection, approximately 18 credits from the certificate program will be recognized as part of their master’s degree. The following modules are available:

     

    Agricultural Sciences Core Modules ( from the Bachelor’s in Agricultural Sciences):

    G11 Ecological Agricultural Systems (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    G13 Animal Husbandry, Animal Health (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    G19 Specialized Crop Production, Grassland (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    G15 Business Administration (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    P05 Organic Cropping Systems under Temperate and Tropical Conditions (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    Agricultural Sciences Advanced Modules:

    L54 Conservation Breeding and Biodiversity Management in Farm Animals (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    L56 Epistemology, Cultural Landscape Development (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    P01 Ecology and Agroecosystems (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    Agricultural Management and Biodiversity (6 ECTS, BfN (external), block course, SS)

    L27 Ecology and Multifunctionality of Grasslands (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    L92 Climate Change and Nature Conservation in Organic Agriculture (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    I14M GIS and Remote Sensing (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    P13 Agrobiodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources in the Tropics (6 ECTS, FB11, Winter Semester)

    Advanced Modules in Nature Conservation:

    FB06.069 Advanced Course in Landscape Ecology (6 ECTS, FB6, Spring Semester)

    A-2.3-01 Advanced Course in Landscapes, Ecosystems, and Species (6 ECTS, FB6, Spring Semester, every 2 years)

    C-2.3-06 Advanced Geodata Analysis and Processing (6 ECTS, FB6, Spring semester, every 2 years)

    L55 Understanding Landscapes (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring every 2 years)

    L76 Sustainability Science (6 ECTS, FB11, Spring Semester)

    Fungi Seminar (6 ECTS, FB10, Spring & Winter Semesters)

    FB06.076 Advanced Methodological Skills in Environmental Planning and Landscape Management (6 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester)

    FB06.097 Advanced Course in Landscape Development/Landscape Planning (6 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester)

    A-2.3-02 Advanced Course in Aquatic Ecology/Aquatic Development (6 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester)

    Research Module in Botany (12 ECTS, FB10, Winter Semester block course)

    Biodiversity Consulting/Communication:

    FB 06.040 Landscape Planning/Landscape Development, Submodule Landscape Development (3 ECTS, FB6, Winter Semester) (from the Bachelor’s program in LALP)

    L06 Submodule: Practical Knowledge in Biodiversity Consulting and Consulting Methodology (1.5+1.5 ECTS, FB11, Spring & Winter Semesters)

    Contact persons for students

    Annelie Fincke

    Contact person for organic farming, FB 11

    E-mail annelie.fincke[at]uni-kassel[dot]de

    Registration

    The completed and signed form must be submitted with a copy of the Bachelor's certificate and a letter of motivation by 31 December of each year for a start in the following summer semester to the Student Administration Office FB11, Steinstraße 19, 37213 Witzenhausen, studsek@wiz.uni-kassel.de.

    The letter of motivation (max. 1-2 pages) should include:

    • Previous personal reference to the certificate topic
    • Reference in previous academic achievements to the certificate topic
    • Intended professional career in relation to the certificate topic
    • Information on the intended personal course of the certificate program
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    Documents