Physical Geography, Geoecology and Geoinformatics

The institution defines the learning objectives of the study programme such as student's abilities at the time of completion of the programme and the main learning outcomes.

General competences

Graduates of the study programme Physical Geography, Geoecology and Geoinformatics have extra competences in scientific work connected with high environmental and digital literacy. They develop also their social powers (teaching and supervising of bachelor thesis) and communication powers (presentation of own results of scientific work verbally – conferences as well as scientific writing – papers) in the Slovak as well English language.

Expert skills

Graduates of the study programme are able to prepare special and scientific projects on the basis of study of top scientific literature, to produce, analyse and elaborate data about landscape and its components using state-of-the-art GIS methods and various technologies. They are able to design and manage spatial databases in various GIS environments and adapt for work in new digital environments. They master selected advanced methods of statistical elaboration of data and spatial modelling mainly in Physical geography, Geoecology and Geomorphometry. They can be members and team leaders of working groups dealing with environmental problems and digital solutions, e.g. Environmental systems of ecological stability, Environment impact assessment, Concepts and programs of environment protection, Territorial systems of stress factors, Ecological carrying capacity, analyses of hydro-meteorological data, Ecological problems of farming landscape and its monitoring etc.

Special knowledge

Graduates of the study programme deepen their knowledge in the selected part of physical geography, geoinformatics or geoecology, focusing on the theory, methods, interpretations and practical applications of the knowledge. Depending on specialization they acquire top-level scientific learning in geoinformatics, remote sensing, geomorphology, soil sciences, palaeopedology and palaeoecology, biogeography, hydrology and climatology, geoecology and selected aspects of environmental monitoring.

The institution indicates the professions for which the graduate is prepared at the time of completion and the potential of the study programme from the point of view of graduate's employability.

Graduates of the study programme are trained mainly for the scientific work in the academic sphere but they assert also in the public administration (government department of environment, construction and regional development, agriculture, municipalities) as well as in private expert companies (focused on development and applications of geoinformation technology, activities in the landscape planning, landscape evaluations etc.). They are able to perform top-expert and control functions in all fields of GIS databases build and use, comprehensive evaluation of landscape properties and in areas, where decisions about human behaviour in landscape are done. They are extraordinarily well prepared for interdisciplinary cooperation, not only with specialists in particular geoscientific disciplines but also with another specialists in regional planning, landscape protection etc. The comprehensive synthetic approach based on geoinformatics technology adapted by the graduates offer generally high level of adaptability and flexibility for the employment market with emphasis on demands of digital economy.
From the point of view of National Qualifications Framework (SK ISCO-08_2020), graduates assert mainly as:

Specialists in science and technology (code 21)
-    University teachers of various categories (code 2310)
-    Specialists in informational and communication technologies (code 25)

In the framework of these categories they are mainly following positions:
-    Specialist of geographical information systems (code 2165003)
-    Landscape ecologist, geoecologist (code 2133001)
-    Specialist in Environment Impact Assesment (EIA) (code 2133008)
-    Meteorologist and climatologist (code 2112002)
-    Hydrometeorologist (code 2112003)
-    Geodesist and cartographer (code 2165004)
-    Geologist (code 2114007)
-    Pedologist (code 2114002)
-    The Web developer (code 2513)
-    Data analyst (code 2521005)

Graduates of the study programme prove highly competent in the subject of knowledge they had attended and in affined subjects in academic institutions (universities and research institutions in Slovakia and abroad), both in public and private sector. Several of them work in important academic, management and expert positions in public and state administration as well as in private companies running a business in the respective field.

For individual study plans, the institution states the requirements for completing the individual parts of the study programme and the student's progress within the study programme in the given structure:
- Number of credits for compulsory courses:  20
- Number of credits for compulsory optional courses: 10
- Number of credits for optional courses, scientific work and other activities: 165
- Number of credits for the dissertation exam: 15
- Number of credits for the dissertation defence: 30