Optional course area
The free or non-subject elective area is part of the Bachelor of Science Geography program and comprises at least 24 credit points according to the new examination regulations of 2020.
These 24 LP can be collected from different modules of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Philosophy, the Faculty of Agriculture, and the Faculty of Law and Political Science. However, you do not have to choose one of the four faculties but can freely combine the modules offered. Through the different modules, you receive 6, 7.5, or 12 LP.
You can take modules for the free elective area in the following subjects:
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Biology – Chemistry – Earth Sciences – Computer Science – Mathematics – Meteorology – Physics
Faculty of Philosophy
Ancient American Studies and Ethnology – English and American Studies – Archaeology – History – History of Art – Philosophy – Politics and Society – Romance Studies – Scandinavian Studies
Faculty of Agriculture
Agricultural and Food Sciences – Soil Science – Urban Planning
Faculty of Law and Political Science
Public Law – Economics
Please note that for some of these modules there are only limited places available and you are not guaranteed to be accepted. For this reason, we recommend that you register for several modules per semester and choose one (or two) if you have several acceptances. Ideally, you should deregister from modules in which you will not take any exams, so that other students have a chance to take your place during the reallocation phase.
You should also keep in mind that modules build on each other and that passing certain modules can be a prerequisite for taking others. For example, the module “Agricultural and Environmental Policy” can only be taken if the module “Fundamentals of Economics” has been successfully completed (Agricultural and Food Sciences).
When choosing your modules for the free elective, you should also plan ahead. Similar to the geography program, most of the modules offered are only offered annually (summer or winter semester). In addition, you should always keep in mind that the enrollment periods, as well as the exam registration periods of other study programs, often differ from those of the Department of Geography. Therefore, when you successfully complete your modules, write down when the respective exam registration period begins and ends. Another difference to the Department of Geography is that sometimes the 2nd exam date is not in the same semester as the 1st exam date.
In addition to the selected modules, you can also take other modules in the free elective area on request. However, you cannot simply register for these modules via Basis, but you have to arrange the enrollment with the respective institute as well as with the Department of Geography (studienberatung@geographie.uni.bonn.de). Crediting from previous courses is also possible.
Now we would like to say something about the timing of taking modules in the free elective area. It should be noted, however, that we can only make recommendations and there’s no universal ideal way.
In principle, however, one can never start early enough. As you can see from the study plan, it is also possible to take the modules in the free elective area from the 1st semester. However, we have to note that the first semester is usually already too demanding for most students, so that you should not necessarily expect another module in the free elective area in this semester. In general, however, it is a good thing to start taking modules in the free elective area in the 2nd semester and to continue doing so every semester. However, if you would like to concentrate on the subject study of geography first, you can of course move the modules of the free elective area to the higher semesters and, for example, complete several modules at the same time in the 7th semester. If you plan to spend a semester abroad, this is a very good way to collect points for the free elective.
We hope that this information will help you with your questions about the free elective course! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by mail (fsgiub@uni-bonn.de).
Please also visit the website of the institute. Here you can also find all the important information about the Free Elective Area and which modules are eligible without any problems.
Best regards,
Your student council (Fachschaft)