Altogether, the size of the bachelor's degree is 180 credits (ideally divided evenly across three years, although there is room for some variation).
The first year, students complete:
At the end of the first year, each student picks the specialisation they are targeting (however, the requirements for different specialisations have significant overlap, and there are thus opportunities to switch between them also later).
The second year, students complete:
The third year, students complete:
As said, the programme is designed around iteratively selecting a specialisation/study track, leading to not only common critical analysis skills but also distinct (inter)disciplinary expertise profiles. These are described below.
Students in the Data Science study track acquire skills to write and use computer programs for data science in cross-disciplinary applications, and they learn the fundamentals of the mathematical and statistical methods underlying modern analytical methods. The students also learn at least the basics in one or more other disciplines of their choice. The study track accommodates a substantial amount of freely chosen studies to support various multi-disciplinary combinations or a deeper insight into computer science. The studies include hands-on exercises and projects to learn practical skills and to gain cross-disciplinary experience.
The Digital Humanities specialisation is built upon combining methodological modules from data science and statistics with substance modules covering one or more humanities application areas.
Within these boundaries, you will be able select your sweet spot anywhere between a very data science-heavy or a humanities-heavy degree, depending on where you want to continue after the programme, and what kind of an expert profile you're looking for (data scientist–bridge builder–humanities scholar).
Studies in the Ecology and Adaptation study track gives you a broad overview of interactions and adaptations of organisms in different environments. The effects of environmental change on organisms are studied from the level of individuals to entire ecosystems. The Ecology and Adaptation study track also provides a basis for applied fields, such as conservation biology.
Ecological research integrates empirical, theoretical, and modelling approaches to better understand complex ecological dynamics. Therefore, students in this study track are encouraged to take Liberal Arts and Sciences courses in statistics, mathematics and computer science.
During your studies in the Economics of Natural Resources study track, you will learn how environmental problems, such as climate change and eutrophication, can be included in economic decision making. You will also gain an economic understanding of agricultural production systems, supply chains, markets and policies. Together with the Economics study module, you will learn methods and theories of microeconomics and apply those to topical issues related to natural resource use and food systems. You will study both how economic actions affect natural resources, food systems and the environment, and the preferred environmental behavior of the society and how it compares to the behavior in the markets. You will learn how policies can be designed to utilize natural resources sustainably and to reduce negative environmental impacts at the least cost. In this study track, you will apply mathematics and microeconomics to issues related to resource management, agriculture and food.
Studies in the Resource Management of Global Forests will give you a broad overview of the use of global forests and skills in cutting edge technologies of data-driven natural resource management. You will learn practical skills in geographical information system applications and understand the principles and building blocks of spatial data infrastructures and their importance in societies. You will gain understanding in tropical forests and allied production systems, namely forest management and agroforestry, and the relationship between those activities and land use, rural and forest-dependent livelihoods, biodiversity, and conservation. We will also familiarize you with the concept of multi-objective resource management planning as well as give you an insight in policies and decision making beyond practical operations and applications.
The Social Data Science study track emphasizes the application of data science methods to real-world social issues, such as inequality, healthcare, finance, and social media, using diverse data sources like surveys, register data, open governmental and business data, and digital trace data.
The study track accommodates a substantial amount of freely chosen studies to support various multi-disciplinary combinations or a deeper insight into social sciences. The studies include hands-on exercises and projects to learn practical skills and to gain cross-disciplinary experience, ensuring that students can apply data science methods within social science contexts effectively.
Depending on your specialisation, you will graduate from the programme as either:
The following modules in various combinations make the basis of the interdisciplinary expert profiles on offer in the programme (in alphabetical order):
The precise contents of these modules will be available in the Autumn of 2025 once they've been input into the main curriculum information system here.
Apart from these modules the programme also includes plenty of space for electives, which you can choose from a wide and varying selection of suitable courses on offer all over the university.