Master - Fakultät für Physik und Astronomie

Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg 18
Department of Physics and Astronomy
3. Specialization courses in physics
The specialization part of the master programme in physics comprises the mandatory
Advanced Seminar (MVSem) with 6 CP and the mandatory Specialization Module
(MVMod). The latter combines sub-modules (lectures and tutorials) totalling to 12...16 CP
and is completed by an oral examination with 6 CP. The sub-modules of the
Specialization module should be selected from a single specialization field in physics.
They may be chosen from the courses listed in this section, but may also be selected
from the list of core courses given in section 2. The latter is only possible in case that the
selected courses are not used to fulfil the core physics requirement of section 2 and that
the courses were not used to fulfil the bachelor requirements.
Note that the modules listed in this section can also be selected as courses for the
options discussed in section 4.
While master students are free to make their course choices as they wish, the
Department of Physics and Astronomy does recommend that students orient their choice
in accordance with the suggested model study plans. These are intended to enable
students to construct a coherent and sensible plan for their studies.
In the following sections of this chapter, the courses are listed according to their
respective research fields. Courses that are offered by the Department on a regular basis
have been assigned a module code, such as MVAstro1, and are listed in tables at the
beginning of each research field section. Note, however, that not all modules will be
offered on a regular basis. In particular, the Specialization courses, seminars and journal
clubs on offer may vary from semester to semester and field to field. Modules offered on
an irregular basis are thus summarized in Table 3 and are assigned unspecific, generic
module codes, MVMod, MVSem, MVSpec, MVRS and MVJC. The topics that may
possibly be offered are listed in the specific paragraphs devoted to these fields; the
Department of Physics and Astronomy does guarantee that in every semester a sufficient
number of Specialization courses, seminars and journal clubs will be offered. Specific
details can be found in the Departmental course listing that is made available each
semester. The number of credit points assigned to Specialization courses (MVSpec) can
be seen in tables named “specialised lectures and seminars” found at the beginning of
each research field section.
Table 3: Specialization courses, seminars and journal clubs
Module
code
Module LP/CP Term
MVSem Mandatory Advanced Seminar 6 WS/SS
Specialization module:
18…22 WS/SS
MVMod Specialization courses (12...16 CP)
Oral examination (6 CP)
MVSpec Advanced Lecture on Special Topics 2-8 WS/SS
MVRS Research Seminar on special topic (optional) 2 WS/SS
MVJC Journal Club 2 WS/SS
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