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Secondary Area of Specialization

One of the key concepts of our program is to provide in-depth study in two areas of physics. During the first semester, students should decide which field to choose as their Secondary Area of Physics (SAoS). Each Area of Specialization comes with at least one Core Course that provide the necessary basic knowledge in the field, and a number of Specialized Courses that explore specific aspects of the field in greater depth. 

In the Secondary Area, students must acquire 12 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 Relativity
  • Solid State Theory / Computational Physics
  • Statistical and Biological Physics

In addition, our partnership with the University of Bonn as part of the BCGS program expands our range of specializations for the Secondary Area. Thus, students can also choose their Secondary Area from the following fields which comprise courses taught at the University of Bonn.

  • Cosmology
  • Experimental Hadron Physics
  • High Energy Particle Physics
  • Physics in Medicine
  • Quantum Optics and Optical Condensed Matter Physics
  • Theoretical Hadron Physics
  • Theoretical Particle Physics

Composition of the individual Secondary Areas

For each of the SAoS offers in Cologne, students have to complete at least one Core Course. For the offers Bonn different rules apply. Please see below for the individual specializations.

Secondary Area of Specialization: Astrophysics
  • Mandatory: Core Course Advanced Astrophysics (9 CP, offered every winter term) plus one specialized course to sum up to 12 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).

Secondary Area of Specialization: Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mandatory: Core Course Condensed Matter Physics I (6 CP, offered every winter term) 
  • Plus Core Course Condensed Matter Physics II (6 CP, offered every summer term) or specialized courses to sum up to 12 CP.

Further information in particular on the content of individual courses see Area of Specialization: Condensed Matter Physics (Cologne). o 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).

Secondary Area of Specialization: Foundations of Quantum Technologies: Matter, Light and Information
  • Mandatory: One 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 12 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).

Secondary Area of Specialization: Molecular Physics
  • Mandatory: Core Course Molecular Physics I (6 CP, offered every winter term)
  • Plus Core Course Molecular Physics II (6 CP, offered every summer term) or 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).

Secondary Area of Specialization: Nuclear and Particle Physics
  • Mandatory: One of the Core Courses: Advanced Nuclear Physics (6 CP, offered every winter term) - Core Course Detectors for Nuclear and Particle Physics (6 CP, offered every summer term) 
  • Plus the other core course or specialized courses to sum up to 12 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).

Secondary 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 12 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).

Secondary Area of Specialization: Solid State Theory / Computational Physics
  • Mandatory: At least one 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)
  • Plus a further core course or specialized courses to sum up to 12 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).

Secondary Area of Specialization: Statistical and Biological Physics
  • Mandatory: At least one Core Course
  • Plus a further core course or specialized courses to sum up to 12 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).