Extension Curriculum "Fundamentals for Computational Science (262 [1])"

The aim of the extension curriculum “Fundamentals for Computational Science” is to convey the necessary knowledge for admission to the Master’s Programme “Computational Science”. Depending on their bachelor’s programme students are offered the additional knowledge needed by the EC. This EC is mainly addressed to students of the bachelor’s programmes Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Meteorology, Pharmacy and Physics.

The curriculum for the Extension Curriculum "Fundamentals for Computational Science" can be found here (only available in German).

A short description of the EC can be found here.

A new curriculum was devised for the Master‘s Programme “Computational Science” and is in effect since the 1st of october. This curriculum defines qualitative admission requirements totalling 30 ECTS including the following fields:

a) Knowledge in the following areas of computer science of at least 10 ECTS:

  • Basics of programming and knowledge of one high-level programming language (basic knowledge of algorithms and programming of computers, basics of imperative programming).
  • Object-oriented programming (functions, classes, inheritance)
  • Database systems (basics of logical data organization and physical data organization, database languages (focus on SQL), integrity and security, conceptual modeling, query processing and optimization, programming with database systems)
  • Algorithms and data structures (basic data structures, searching and sorting methods and basic graph and optimisation algorithms)

b) Knowledge in the following areas of mathematics of at least 10 ECTS:

  • Fundamentals of mathematics (set theory, logic, functions, real and complex numbers, groups and fields, and basic combinatorics)
  • Linear algebra (matrix and vector calculation, inversion of matrices, solving of linear systems of equations, finding determinants, eigenvalue and eigenvector, linear optimization, inner products, projections, and orthonormal basis)
  • Analysis (sequences and series, multi variable differential and integral calculus, Taylor series and expansion, and linear differential equations)

c) Knowledge in one or several areas of natural sciences of at least 10 ECTS:

  • Fundamentals of astronomy and astrophysics (characteristics of astrophysical objects and fundamental astrophysical processes)
  • Fundamentals of biology (biological chemistry; bioinformatics: sequence alignment and database search, reconstruction of phylogenetic trees, prediction of structure and function of proteins, molecular networks; mechanisms of molecular evolution; genetic and functional diversity of microorganisms; functions of microorganisms, plants and animals in ecosystems, and cell biology)
  • Fundamentals of chemistry (chemical structural formula, functional groups and their reactivity, reaction mechanisms, thermodynamics, and kinetics)
  • Fundamentals of meteorology (radiation, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics of the atmosphere)
  • Fundamentals of pharmacy (chemical foundations of therapeutic relevant drug classes, structure/activity relationships, computational methods of drug design, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and risk assessment)
  • Fundamentals of physics (classical mechanics, oscillations and waves, electricity and magnetism, continuum mechanics: elasticity and hydrodynamics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics)