The academic year in France is organized into two semesters; exchange students can take part in either semester or the whole year.
The program is fully taught in English, except for some units in the first semester of Master 1 (see details below).
The International Master in Geosciences program takes advantage, as much as possible, of the scientific environment of CEREGE in order to give students a hands-on experience with state-of-the-art research facilities.
Master 1
First Semester (S1)
From September to January
This semester (30 ECTS) is a common core curriculum between several Master programs (including the IMG curriculum). For that reason some units are taught in French, while others are in English.
In the table below, the main language of the lectures for each unit is indicated (for mixed French/English units, the approximate percentage is given).
Note
All teaching materials are in English; questions can be asked and answered in English, and exams can be taken in English as well.
For that reason, a basic knowledge of French (A2/B1 level) is sufficient to follow this semester.
| Teaching unit | ECTS | Language |
|---|---|---|
| Major environmental challenges | 2 | English |
| Internal geodynamics | 3 | French-70%/English-30% |
| External geodynamics | 3 | French-70%/English-30% |
| Geophysics of natural resources | 3 | French-70%/English-30% |
| Statistics | 3 | French-70%/English-30% |
| Geographical Information Systems | 3 | French-50%/English-50% |
| Geochemical tracers and chronometers 1 | 3 | French-70%/English-30% |
| Rock and mineral characterization techniques | 3 | French |
| Field trip | 5 | English |
| Project-Based Learning module (APP1) | 2 | English |
The integration field trip takes place in the Ubaye Valley (Alps) in September, and is then developed into a project-based learning unit (APP1) during the semester.
Second Semester (S2)
From February to June
This semester (30 ECTS) is fully taught in English and includes two key elements in the training program:
- A 2-month research internship
- A Project-Based Learning module (APP2), involving immersion in a CEREGE technical platform.
| Teaching unit | ECTS | |
|---|---|---|
| Spatial data: from field to 3D modeling | 4 | |
| Geosciences data processing | 3 | |
| Research internship | 6 | |
| APP2 Project driven learning (experimental approaches) | 3 | |
| Geosciences in the Anthropocene | 2 | |
| Geochemical tracers and chronometers 2 | 4 | |
| Climatic system | 4 | |
| Earth Surface Dynamics | 4 |
Master 2
First Semester (S3)
From September to January
The first semester will comprise the following teaching units for a total of 30 ECTS.
Field trip
(6 ECTS) Currently offered as two options:
- at-sea practical sessions aboard the Antedon II oceanographic research vessel in the coastal areas of Provence, followed by a project focused on the analysis of collected samples.
- a paleoseismology field trip, investigating the active faults in Provence, in direct collaboration with institutional actors responsible for the assessment of seismic hazards in SE France.
Debates in Geosciences
(2 ECTS) A practical course and seminars focusing on the presentation of scientific information, through article analysis and oral presentations.
Project-driven learning
(4 ECTS) A semester-long personal project aimed at developing skills in data processing and numerical modeling for Earth Science research.
Quaternary Geochronology
(3 ECTS) Presentation of the various isotopic tools and approaches used to construct absolute chronologies for Quaternary events and processes (cosmogenic nuclides, radiocarbon, U-series, luminescence, etc.).
Remote sensing of Earth and Planetary surfaces
(3 ECTS) Introduction to remote sensing applications in Earth Sciences, with a focus on practical activities involving various types of satellite imagery and advanced geomatics approaches.
Optional unit
(3 ECTS) Choose one of these two units, according to your interests.
Option 1: Carbon cycle / carbonates / climate
Presentation of the global-scale coupling between the carbon cycle, geodynamics and carbonate sedimentary systems, and its implications for climate evolution at different timescales.
Option 2: Faults, from the outcrop to plate boundaries
Investigation of the active deformation processes along fault systems at different scales, with a focus on using morphotectonic and paleoseismological approaches.
Advanced Topics in Geosciences
(9 ECTS) A choice of 9 small workshops (from a total of 13), enabling students to build their own personal career path according to their areas of interest. Each topic is a sequence of 3 sessions on a cutting-edge area of Geosciences, taught by specialists in the field. Details can be found on a dedicated website.
Second Semester (S4)
From February to July
The second semester is entirely devoted to a full-time, 5-month professional internship. It can be a research project in an academic setting, at CEREGE or at another university, or take place with one of our industrial partners.
Additional learning opportunities
The IMG program builds on AMU’s institutional environment and international collaboration networks. Numerous opportunities to take part in innovative teaching and field schools, in addition to the standard curriculum, are available.
CIVIS
The CIVIS alliance is a network of European universities of which AMU is a founding member. Notably, academic exchange opportunities for teaching and fieldwork are regularly offered via Blended Intensive Programs (BIP) and CIVIS courses.
AMU Institutes
AMU institutes are innovative cross-disciplinary structures within AMU that enable the creation of interdisciplinary synergies, and offer numerous training programs for Master’s students.