Description de la formation

Within the Basel life science program, the Department of Environmental Sciences and its associates offer a comprehensive Master course for graduates with a background in biology. The course builds upon the local strength in Zoology and Evolutionary Biology in general and in evolutionary genetics and genomics, population biology, developmental biology and evolutionary ecology in particular.

Focal area of teaching and research

Some key aspects of the Master in Animal Biology are:

• We offer a broad spectrum of course modules from which preferred topics can be chosen.
• We offer attractive workshops and field courses in Switzerland and abroad.
• We employ modern laboratory methods, including genomic techniques.
• In our field work, we integrate population biology across scales.
• Our teaching focuses on interactive courses that lead to independent thinking and the development of conceptual strength in topics ranging from molecular evolution, evolutionary developmental biology to population biology and metapopulation ecology.
• Master students will do a guided, yet independent research project within any of the groups associated with the master program. Current research topics include the evolution of host-parasite interactions, epidemiology, speciation, adaptive radiation, sexual selection, evolution of hermaphrodism and mating systems, evolutionary developmental biology, evolutionary genomics and the evolution of the immune system.
• The master thesis will be written in English. Most theses will lead to publication in international peer-reviewed journals.

Course structure

The Master of Science degree is a postgraduate degree that requires a successfully completed Bachelor’s program. The program awards 90 ECTS credits in total. The Master’s degree program Animal Biology is a so called mono-course consisting of only one core subject. Supervised practical work over the course of one year constitutes the core of the studies.

Plan de la formation

One ECTS credit point roughly equals 30 hours of studying.

Combinaison des branches

The degree programs at the Faculty of Science are generally mono-courses with the possible addition of an in-depth subject and an elective subject. The Master’s degree program Animal Biology does include an elective subject; however, no other subjects are required.
 
It is possible to study biology in combination with a second subject from the Faculty of Humanities or the sports sciences.

Description en branche secondaire ou hors faculté

It is possible to study biology in combination with a second subject from the Faculty of Humanities or the sports sciences.