Getting started – Bachelor of Science Meteorology

As a first-year student, we recommend that you attend both the “Brückenkurs Mathematik” (preparatory course mathematics) and the introductory course prior to the start of the lecture period. During this introductory stage, you will receive information on your degree program and on necessary steps, such as how to register for courses and examinations on JOGUStINe.

Compulsory courses and compulsory elective courses

At the beginning of your program, you are required to attend so-called compulsory courses – these consist of mandatory lectures and tutorials. The compulsory courses serve as the foundation of your program, and they mainly focus on the fields of mathematics and experimental and theoretical physics during the first three semesters. In this period, meteorology will only make up a small part of the program, but don’t let this dishearten you: As of the 4th semester, you will only attend courses in Meteorology. You can also register for so-called compulsory elective courses which amount to 15 CP. These lectures focus on subjects outside the field of meteorology (e.g. physics, mathematics, computer science, chemistry, etc.). Compulsory courses and compulsory elective courses are marked accordingly in your examination regulations (in the attachment) or the module catalog.

During the first academic semester in particular, students often register for more courses than recommended by the Institute. These are: Mathematik für Physiker 1 (Mathematics for Physicists 1), Experimentalphysik 1 (Experimental Physics 1), Mathematische Rechenmethoden (Mathematic Calculating Methods), and Einführung in die Meteorologie (Introduction to Meteorology). Please keep in mind that, in addition to these lectures and practice courses, you have to invest a lot of time into the weekly worksheets as well. At the beginning of the degree, many students tend to struggle with the mathematical requirements. This should by no means be underestimated.

Modules and credit points

The program is modularized. Modules describe teaching units that are topically related and coordinated in time. This means that a number of courses including lectures, practice classes, field courses/internships/lab courses or seminars are usually combined in a single module and must be completed by passing one or more examinations.

What is a “credit” (Leistungspunkt, LP) or “credit point” (CP) (also called ECTS point)? All courses are assigned a certain number of credits. Multiplied by 30, they add up to the total hours of work invested in a course. For a course with 9 CP, you should expect to have to do 270 hours of work, equating to the standard value of a four-hour lecture with a two-hour practice class.

If you have any questions concerning for example your semester schedule, please contact the departmental advisory services (Studienfachberatung).

Registration for courses and examinations on JOGUStINe

You have to register for all your courses before the lecture period starts! You need to register via JOGUStINe. You can log in to JOGUStINe with your password – which is sent to you by the Data Center (Zentrum für Datenverarbeitung, ZDV) – and register for modules, courses and examinations.

For a detailed description of the registration process, please click on the link below:
www.info.jogustine.uni-mainz.de/studierende/lehrveranstaltungsanmeldung (available in german only)