Engineering of Hydro

The Master's course programme in "Engineering of Hydro-Environmental Extremes" at the University of Siegen confers an academic degree that qualifies the title holder as scientific and engineering consultant in the field of hydro-environmental extremes. The programme prepares graduates towards working independently within doctoral programmes in one of the related sub-disciplines of civil engineering, environmental sciences, geosciences, mechanical engineering or computer science. It also trains engineers and project managers for leading positions in industry, business and public administration. The study curriculum on "Engineering of Hydro-Environmental Extremes" enables graduates to assess extreme events and remedial or mitigation strategies related to water and the wider environment from singular and modern perspectives. By acquiring cross-disciplinary skills, which include physical and computational process understanding, risk analysis and management, graduates learn to develop viable solutions in the face of present-day and future climate change-related challenges. They also learn how to contribute to decision-making in work fields that require balancing pressing socio-economic and environmental issues. The interdisciplinary Master's programme allows students to choose from a range of modules of civil and mechanical engineering as well as computer science, and this form is a unique study combination in Germany. Students have the opportunity to become acquainted with tools inherent to these disciplines and apply them to analyse complex situations. They are also strongly encouraged to develop and test solutions based on non-conventional methods, innovative technologies and means of verification. The study programme in "Engineering of Hydro-Environmental Extremes" deepens the knowledge and skill base of graduates in an area of environmental engineering devoted to understanding causes of extreme hydro-meteorological events and their impacts, including optimal decision-making in mitigation and risk prevention. Problems should be analysed by modern methods of analysis and means of advanced scientific computing. This can result in non-conventional approaches and possible solutions that are superior to traditional problem-solving in terms of informative value generated and accuracy obtained, and it may involve disciplinary fields that are not considered in conventional (discipline-limiting) approaches. The programme qualifies graduates for the profession of consulting engineer in the field of water and environment as well as for jobs in the field of planning, implementation or administration, and it prepares graduates for a possible continuing research career (doctorate).