Primary Area of Specialization
One of the key concepts of our program is to provide in-depth study in two areas of physics. During their first semester, students should decide which field to choose as their Primary Area of Specialization (PAoS). Each Area of Specialization comes with at least one Core Course that provides the necessary basic knowledge in the field, and a number of Specialized Courses that explore specific aspects of the field in greater depth. And usually, students do their Introductory Projects and the Master Thesis in their Primary Area of Specialization.
In the Primary Area, students must acquire 18 credit points in one of the following areas:
- Astrophysics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Foundations of Quantum Technologies: Matter, Light and Information
- Molecular Physics
- Nuclear and Particle Physics
- Quantum Field Theory / General Theory of Relativity
- Solid State Theory / Computational Physics
- Statistical and Biological Physics
Composition of the individual Primary Areas
The rules for each PAoS vary slightly. Rule of a thumb: students have to complete at least one Core Course from a selection of several Core Courses worth 9 LP, or two Core Courses worth 6 LP each. Please see below for the individual specializations.
Primary Area of Specialization: Astrophysics
- Mandatory: Core Course Advanced Astrophysics (9 CP, offered every winter term)
- Plus specialized courses to sum up to 18 CP.
Further information in particular on the content of individual courses see Area of Specialization: Astrophysics (Cologne). To help you plan your specialization as you progress through your studies, please feel free to consult this file. (This file is not free of barriers; if needed, please contact the BCGS).
Primary Area of Specialization: Condensed Matter Physics
- Mandatory: Core Course Condensed Matter Physics I (6 CP, offered every winter term) & Core Course Condensed Matter Physics II (6 CP, offered every summer term)
- Plus specialized courses to sum up to 18 CP.
Further information in particular on the content of individual courses see Area of Specialization: Condensed Matter Physics (Cologne). To help you plan your specialization as you progress through your studies, please feel free to consult this file. (This file is not free of barriers; if needed, please contact the BCGS).
Primary Area of Specialization: Foundations of Quantum Technologies: Matter, Light and Information
- Mandatory: Two out of the three Core Courses: Quantum Information Theory (6 CP, usually offered every year) - Quantum Electronics and Qubits (6 CP, usually offered every summer term) - Quantum Optics (6 CP, offered at the University of Bonn, usually every winter term)
- Plus a further core course or specialized courses to sum up to 18 CP.
Further information in particular on the content of individual courses see Area of Specialization: Foundations of Quantum Technologies: Matter, Light and Information (ML4Q). To help you plan your specialization as you progress through your studies, please feel free to consult this file. (This file is not free of barriers; if needed, please contact the BCGS).
Primary Area of Specialization: Molecular Physics
- Mandatory: Core Course Molecular Physics I (6 CP, offered every winter term) & Core Course Molecular Physics II (6 CP, offered every summer term)
- Plus specialized courses to sum up to 18 CP.
Further information in particular on the content of individual courses see Area of Specialization: Molecular Physics (Cologne). To help you plan your specialization as you progress through your studies, please feel free to consult this file. (This file is not free of barriers; if needed, please contact the BCGS).
Primary Area of Specialization: Nuclear and Particle Physics
- Mandatory: Core Course Advanced Nuclear Physics (6 CP, offered every winter term) & Core Course Detectors for Nuclear and Particle Physics (6 CP, offered every summer term)
- Plus specialized courses to sum up to 18 CP.
Further information in particular on the content of individual courses see Area of Specialization: Nuclear and Particle Physics (Cologne). To help you plan your specialization as you progress through your studies, please feel free to consult this file. (This file is not free of barriers; if needed, please contact the BCGS).
Primary Area of Specialization: Quantum Field Theory / General Theory of Relativity
- Mandatory: At least one of the three Core Courses: Quantum Field Theory I (9 CP, offered every winter term) - Quantum Field Theory II (9 CP, offered every summer term) - General Relativity (9 CP, offered every winter term)
- Plus a further core course or specialized courses to sum up to 18 CP.
Further information in particular on the content of individual courses see Area of Specialization: Quantum Field Theory / General Theory of Relativity (Cologne). To help you plan your specialization as you progress through your studies, please feel free to consult this file. (This file is not free of barriers; if needed, please contact the BCGS).
Primary Area of Specialization: Solid State Theory / Computational Physics
- Mandatory:
At least two of the three Core Courses: Computational Many-Body Physics (6 CP, offered every winter term) - Solid State Theory (6 CP, offered every summer term) - Quantum Field Theory I (9 CP, offered every winter term)
or
Quantum Field Theory I (9 CP, offered every winter term) & Quantum Field Theory II (9 CP, offered every summer term) - Plus a further core course or specialized courses to sum up to 18 CP.
Further information in particular on the content of individual courses see Area of Specialization: Solid State Theory / Computational Physics (Cologne). To help you plan your specialization as you progress through your studies, please feel free to consult this file. (This file is not free of barriers; if needed, please contact the BCGS).
Primary Area of Specialization: Statistical and Biological Physics
- Mandatory: At least two Core Courses
- Plus a further core course or specialized courses to sum up to 18 CP.
Further information in particular on the content of individual courses see Area of Specialization: Statistical and Biological Physics (Cologne). To help you plan your specialization as you progress through your studies, please feel free to consult this file. (This file is not free of barriers; if needed, please contact the BCGS).