Minor in Astronomy and Astrobiology (30 or 60 ECTS)

Students of a minor program in Astronomy and Astrobiology (30 ECTS or 60 ECTS) learn about the development, the characteristics and the diversity of the planets and the connections between life, exoplanets and the cosmos. The graduates get an insight into the formation and evolution of life.

Watch this video for more information! (MP4, 47 MB)

The 30 ECTS and 60 ECTS Astronomy & Astrobiology Minor (see below for students who started this minor before fall 2021):

Compulsory modules (Pflichtmodule): 12 ECTS from Compulsory modules.

**Either AST 291 or AST 295 have to be completed. (Both can be completed if the student wishes to do both. In that case, the number of ECTS from the electives changes accordingly).

Sem.	Modul	ECTS
HS	AST 201 Introduction to Astrobiology	5
FS	AST 203 Introduction to Astronomy	5
HS**	AST 291 Proseminar Astrophysics	2
FS/HS**	AST 295 Proseminar Astrobiology	2

Elective modules (Wahlmodule)

The remaining ECTS credits must come from the following modules.
Minor 30 ECTS Credits: The remaining ECTS Credits must be chosen from the elective modules. Modules with the abbreviation (Kürzel) of the major cannot be chosen (but e.g. BME students can choose BIO modules). AST 248 is highly recommended. AST 241 is highly recommended for students with a major in Physics.
Minor 60 ECTS Credits: At least 30 ECTS Credits must be chosen from modules without the abbreviation (Kürzel) of the major (but e.g. BME students can choose BIO modules) and the remaining ECTS can be chosen from modules with the abbreviation of the major.  AST 248 is highly recommended. AST 241 is highly recommended for students with the major in Physics.

Please note: some modules may not be offered each HS or each FS*.

Sem.	Modul	ECTS
FS	AST 202 The Universe: Contents, Origin, Evolution and Future	5
HS,FS	AST 210 Astronomy Field Trip	3
HS***	AST 241 Introduction to Astrophysics	5
FS	AST 248 The Sun and Planets	5
HS, FS	AST 231 Astronomy Practicum I	2
HS, FS	AST 232 Astronomy Practicum II (follows AST 231)	6
HS, FS	AST 233 The Sun and its surface activity	3
HS	AST 291 Proseminar Astrophysics	2
HS	AST 293 Proseminar Cosmology	2
FS	AST 295 Proseminar Astrobiology	2
FS22	AST321 Biosignatures and Life Detection	2
FS22	AST322 Colloquium: Biosignatures and Life Detection	3
HS**	PHY 111 Physik I	8
HS**	PHY 117 Physik für die Life Sciences	6
HS**	PHY 118 Physik I für Naturwissenschaften	5
FS	PHY 128 Physik II für Naturwissenschaften	5
HS	BIO 111 Molecular and Classical Genetics	5
HS	BIO 112 Cell Biology	3
HS	BIO 113 Evolution und Biodiversity I	5
HS	BIO 117 Molekulare und klassische Genetik für Nicht-Biologiestudierende	4
FS	BIO 123 Quantitative and Molecular Systems Biology	3
FS	BIO 124 Introduction to Ethics and Philosophy of Biology	2
HS	BIO 132 Mikrobiologie	3
FS	BIO 141 Ecology and Biodiversity	4
FS	EEE102 Ecology and Biodiversity	5
FS	BIO 142 Entwicklungsbiologie	3
FS	BIO 143 Neurobiology	3
HS	BIO 243 Epigenetics	2
FS	BIO 272 Paleobiology and Phylogeny of Amphibiens and Reptiles	1
FS	BIO 279 Paleontological Excursions (on weekends)	1
FS	BIO 342 Comparative Behavioural Neuroscience	3
HS	BIO 351 Principles of Evolution: Theory	6
FS	BIO 364 The Physics of Life	2
HS	BCH 201 Biochemie I	5
FS	BCH 210 Grundlagen der Biochemie für die Biologie	4
HS	BME 347 Space Life Sciences and Gravitational Biology	6
HS	CHE 170 Grundlagen der Chemie für die Biologie	4
HS	CHE 205 Physical Chemistry I: Thermodynamics	5
HS	GEO 111 Physische Geographie I	5
HS	GEO 113 Earth Perspectives - Introduction to geographic Information Science and Remote Sensing	5
FS	GEO 121 Physische Geographie II	5
FS	GEO 123 Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Science II	5
HS	GEO 233 Grundlagen Fernerkundung	5
HS	GEO 417 Environmental archives and age determination	6
HS	GEO 418 Atmosphere and climate	6
HS (findet nicht statt im HS21)	GEO 734 Geochronology I	2
HS	ESS 101 Introduction to Earth System Science	2
HS	ESS 111 Dynamische Erde I	6
FS	ESS 121 Dynamische Erde II	5
FS	ESS 123 Exkursion zu Dynamische Erde II	1
FS	ESS 244 Earth System Science Field Course	2
HS	ESS 236 Geobiology	3
HS	ESS 351 Tectonics	3
HS	ESS 352 Geophysics I	4
FS	ESS 367 Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere	3
FS	UWW 122 Scientific Methods	3
HS	UWW 152 Ecohealth	2
HS	UWW 181 Biogeochemische Kreisläufe und globale Umweltveränderungen	2
FS	UWW 182 Ecosystems and Climate	3
HS	UWW 220 (&UWW 221) Concepts on Biodiversity	3
HS	UWW 250 Spatial Ecology and Remote Sensing	2
HS	UWW 273 Introduction to Theoretical Ecology	3
HS	INI 401 Introduction to Neuroinformatics	6
HS	INI 410 Consciousness: from philosophy to Neuroscience	3
HS	ETH Erdbeobachtung	4
HS	ETH Planetary Geochemistry	3
HS	ETH Climate history and palaeoclimatology	3
HS	ETH Atmosphäre	3
HS	ETH Astrophysics I	10
HS	ETH Astronomie	2
FS	ETH Geochemical and isotopic tracers of the Earth system	3

*previously offered modules that count toward the minor: BIO 118, BIO 291, UWW 101, UWW 221, UWW 252, GEO 712 only: Measuring Terrestrial Carbon Cycling

**PHY111, PHY117 and PHY118 are similar modules: only one can be credited towards the minor.

***AST241 is only suitable for students with Physics as a major or minor subject

Older version for students who started before fall semester 2021:

The 30 ECTS and 60 ECTS Astronomy & Astrobiology Minor:

Compulsory modules (Pflichtmodule)

Sem.	Modul	ECTS
HS	AST 201 Introduction to Astrobiology	5
FS	AST 248 The Sun and Planets	5

Elective modules (Wahlmodule)

The remaining ECTS credits must come from the following modules.
Minor 30 ECTS Credits: At least 20 ECTS Credits must be chosen. Modules with the abbreviation (Kürzel) of the major cannot be chosen (but e.g. BME students can choose BIO modules). AST 241 is highly recommended for students with a major in Physics.
Minor 60 ECTS Credits: At least 30 ECTS Credits must be chosen from modules without the abbreviation (Kürzel) of the major (but e.g. BME students can choose BIO modules) and up to 20 ECTS can be chosen from modules with the abbreviation of the major.  AST 241 is highly recommended for students with the major in Physics.

Please note: some modules may not be offered each HS or each FS*.

Sem.	Modul	ECTS
FS	AST 202 The Universe: Contents, Origin, Evolution and Future	5
FS	AST 203 Introduction to Astronomy	5
HS,FS	AST 210 Astronomy Field Trip	3
HS	AST 241 Introduction to Astrophysics	6
HS, FS	AST 231 Astronomy Practicum I	2
HS, FS	AST 232 Astronomy Practicum II (follows AST 231)	6
HS, FS	AST 233 The Sun and its surface activity	3
HS	AST 291 Proseminar Astrophysics	2
HS	AST 293 Proseminar Cosmology	2
FS	AST 295 Proseminar Astrobiology	2
HS	PHY 111 Physik I	8
HS	PHY 117 Physik für die Life Sciences	6
HS	PHY 118 Physik I für Naturwissenschaften	5
FS	PHY 128 Physik II für Naturwissenschaften	5
HS	BIO 111 Molecular and Classical Genetics	5
HS	BIO 112 Cell Biology	3
HS	BIO 113 Evolution	3
HS	BIO 114 Evolution and Biodiversity I	3
HS	BIO 117 Molekulare und klassische Genetik für Nicht-Biologiestudierende	4
FS	BIO 123 Quantitative and Molecular Systems Biology	3
FS	BIO 124 Introduction to Ethics and Philosophy of Biology	2
HS	BIO 132 Mikrobiologie	3
FS	BIO 141 Ecology and Biodiversity	4
FS	EEE102 Ecology and Biodiversity	5
FS	BIO 142 Entwicklungsbiologie	3
FS	BIO 143 Neurobiology	3
HS	BIO 243 Epigenetics	2
FS	BIO 272 Paleobiology and Phylogeny of Amphibiens and Reptiles	1
FS	BIO 279 Paleontological Excursions (on weekends)	1
FS	BIO 301 Vascular Plants of the Plateau and Jura	2
FS	BIO 342 Comparative Behavioural Neuroscience	3
HS	BIO 351 Principles of Evolution: Theory	6
FS	BIO 364 The Physics of Life	2
HS	BCH 201 Biochemie I	5
FS	BCH 210 Grundlagen der Biochemie für die Biologie	4
HS	BME 347 Space Life Sciences and Gravitational Biology	6
HS	CHE 170 Grundlagen der Chemie für die Biologie	4
HS	CHE 205 Physical Chemistry I: Thermodynamics	5
HS	GEO 111 Physische Geographie I	5
HS	GEO 113 Earth Perspectives - Introduction to geographic Information Science and Remote Sensing	5
FS	GEO 121 Physische Geographie II	5
FS	GEO 123 Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Science II	5
HS	GEO 233 Grundlagen Fernerkundung	5
HS	GEO 417 Environmental archives and age determination	6
HS	GEO 418 Atmosphere and climate	6
HS	GEO 734 Geochronology I	2
HS	ESS 101 Introduction to Earth System Science	2
HS	ESS 111 Dynamische Erde I	6
FS	ESS 121 Dynamische Erde II	5
FS	ESS 123 Exkursion zu Dynamische Erde II	1
FS	ESS 244 Earth System Science Field Course	2
HS	ESS 236 Geobiology	3
HS	ESS 351 Tectonics	3
HS	ESS 352 Geophysics I	4
FS	ESS 367 Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere	3
FS	UWW 122 Scientific Methods	3
HS	UWW 152 Ecohealth	2
HS	UWW 181 Biogeochemische Kreisläufe und globale Umweltveränderungen	2
FS	UWW 182 Ecosystems and Climate	3
HS	UWW 220 (&UWW 221) Concepts on Biodiversity	3
HS	UWW 250 Spatial Ecology and Remote Sensing	2
HS	UWW 273 Introduction to Theoretical Ecology	3
HS	INI 401 Introduction to Neuroinformatics	6
HS	INI 410 Consciousness: from philosophy to Neuroscience	3
HS	ETH Erdbeobachtung	4
HS	ETH Planetary Geochemistry	3
HS	ETH Climate history and palaeoclimatology	3
HS	ETH Atmosphäre	3
HS	ETH Astrophysics I	10
HS	ETH Astronomie	2
FS	ETH Geochemical and isotopic tracers of the Earth system	3

*previously offered modules that count toward the minor: BIO 118, BIO 291, UWW 101, UWW 221, UWW 252, GEO 712 only: Measuring Terrestrial Carbon Cycling

Older version for students who started before spring semester 2018:

The 30 ECTS Astronomy & Astrobiology Minor for students without the major subject programme in Physics:

Compulsory modules (Pflichtmodule)

Semester	Module	ECTS
5	AST 201 Introduction to Astrobiology	5
6	AST 202 The Universe: Contents, Origin, Evolution and Future	5
5	AST 391 Proseminar Astronomy and Astrophysics	2

Core elective modules (Wahlpflichtmodule)

• At least 10 ECTS must be chosen from one of the following 3 blocks:

The block from which the core elective modules can be chosen is given by the main subject (MS):

- students with MS Biology must choose from block 2 or block 3

- students with MS Chemistry must choose from block 3

- students with MS Geography must choose from block 1 or block 2

- students with MS Mathematics can choose from all blocks

- it is recommended that students with a major subject outside the MNF choose from block 1

Block 1

Semester	Module	ECTS
3	PHY 117 Physik für die Biologie	6
4	BIO 118 Prinzipien des Lebens	6
3	ESS 111 Dynamische Erde I	6
3	CHE 170 Grundlagen der Chemie für die BIologie	4
4	BCH 210 Grundlagen der Biochemie für die Biologie	4

Block 2

Semester	Module	ECTS
3	PHY 116 Physik I für Nebenfachstudierende*	8
4	PHY 126 Physik II für Nebenfachstudierende	8
3	UWW 111 Grundlagen der Umweltwissenschaften	2

* Studierende, die im Hauptfach bereits PHY 118  absolviert haben, können (statt PHY 116) PHY 119 (3 ECTS) wählen.

Block 3

Semester	Module	ECTS
3	GEO 111 Physische Geographie I	5
4	GEO 121 Physische Geographie II	5
3	ESS 111 Dynamische Erde I	6
4	ESS 121 Dynamische Erde II	5
3	UWW 111 Grundlagen der Umweltwissenschaften	2
4	ESS 123 Exkursion zu Dynamische Erde II	1

Elective modules (Wahlmodule)

• The remaining ECTS credits can be chosen from the following table. (It is also possible and recommended to choose modules from the core elective modules):

Semester	Module	ECTS
HS	BIO 351 Principles of Evoultion: Theory	6
FS	BIO 229 Intro to Ancient Biomolecules	2
HS	AST 241 Introduction to Astrophysics	6
HS/FS	AST 244 Astrophotography Practicum	9

 

The 30 ECTS Astronomy & Astrobiology Minor for students with the major subject programme in Physics:

Compulsory modules (Pflichtmodule)

Semester	Module	ECTS
5	AST 201 Introduction to Astrobiology	5
6	AST 241 Introduction to Astrophysics	6
5	AST 391 Proseminar Astronomy/Astrobiology	2

 

Core elective modules (Wahlpflichtmodule)

At least 10 ECTS must be chosen from one of the following blocks:

Block A

Semester	Module	ECTS
4	BIO 118 Prinzipien des Lebens	6
3	ESS 111 Dynamische Erde I	6
3	CHE 170 Grundlagen der Chemie für die BIologie	4
4	BCH 210 Grundlagen der Biochemie für die Biologie	4

Block B

Semester	Module	ECTS
3	GEO 111 Physische Geographie I	5
4	GEO 121 Physische Geographie II	5
3	ESS 111 Dynamische Erde I	6
4	ESS 121 Dynamische Erde II	5
3	UWW 111 Grundlagen der Umweltwissenschaften	2
4	ESS 123 Exkursion zu Dynamische Erde II	1

 

Elective modules (Wahlmodule)

Up to 7 ECTS can be chosen from the following table. (It is also possible and recommended to choose modules from the core elective modules):

Semester	Module	ECTS
HS	BIO 351 Priciples of Evoultion: Theory	6
FS	BIO 229 Intro to Ancient Biomolecules	2
HS, FS	AST 233 The Sun and its surface activity	3
HS/FS	AST 244 Astrophotography Practicum	9