Materials Chemistry and Mineralogy (Master)Universität Bremen

The international Master's program "Materials Chemistry and Mineralogy" focuses on a wide range of natural materials, covering the entire spectrum from raw material to end product in both practice and basic research. From the second semester, students can specialize in either mineralogy, focusing on natural and technically produced inorganic, non-metallic materials, or chemistry, which covers solid-state chemistry, macro- and supramolecular materials, and nanostructured surfaces, including the structural characterization of their volume and surface properties.

The program aims to impart core scientific competencies from various disciplines, with a particular emphasis on skills and knowledge in the production, analytics, and characterization of materials. Fundamental, method-oriented, and materials-specific aspects are integrated to provide a comprehensive view of materials science and natural science issues.

In the first semester, courses on analytical methods and the fundamentals of chemistry, crystallography, materials science, and mineralogy ensure all students have a common knowledge base. The Master's thesis is completed in the fourth semester, culminating in an oral examination in the form of a colloquium.

The curriculum includes lectures, seminars, exercises, internships, and projects organized into modules. Students can choose between two profiles: Chemistry or Mineralogy. The Chemistry profile includes modules such as Solid state synthesis and identification, Structure property relationship, Surface chemistry and catalysis, Computational materials science, Solid state spectroscopy, Multiple (large) dataset analysis, and research modules. The Mineralogy profile includes modules like Crystal structure analysis, Physical properties of crystals, Minerals and materials, Petrological methods in ore geology, Functional ceramics, Technical ceramics, Nanomaterials, Special topics in mineralogy and materials science, and research modules.

A professional internship is not compulsory but is recommended. Students have the opportunity to spend one or two semesters abroad, with credits being recognized if pre-arranged. Exchange agreements are in place with four overseas universities and 12 partner universities in eight nations through Erasmus.

Graduates can pursue careers in various industrial sectors, including glass and ceramics, building materials and chemistry, waste disposal, electronics, paper, paints, pharmaceuticals, and steel. They can also work in state and industrial laboratories for material analysis and characterization, such as materials testing offices. The program's structure, including freely selectable general studies courses, allows students to tailor their preparation for their future professional environments.