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Department of Astrophysics

Minor in Simulations in Natural Sciences

This page describes the structure for students who started this minor before fall 2022 (from fall semester 2022, this minor will be integrated in the Computational Science minor, see here):

Graduates of a minor program in Simulations in the Natural Sciences (30 ECTS) understand the meaningful use of modern calculation methods and systems for theoretical support in the natural sciences. They have basic knowledge in the implementation (programming) and application of computer models and simulations, as well as in evaluation/visualization of data. In the lectures, the graduates also learn competencies in programming simple numerical methods,and their suitable use in the solution and simulation of differential equations. Graduates possess basic knowledge in construction of computers, in the optimization of programs and parallel computing.
Participants of the HPC module will deepen this knowledge and will also gain skills in the use of modern high-performance computer architectures.

Conditions for attending this minor: Most of the modules in the minor subject require knowledge of Linear Algebra and Analysis ('MAT 111 Linear Algebra I' or 'MAT 141 Linear Algebra for the Natural Sciences' or an equivalent module, as well as 'MAT 121 Analysis I' or 'MAT 182 Analysis for the Natural Sciences' or an equivalent module). If this knowledge has not been acquired beforehand, MAT 141 and MAT 182 must be completed at the beginning of the minor. MAT 141 can be credited as an elective module.

New structure and additional courses effective fall semester 2018 (see below for older version for students who started this minor before fall semester 2018):

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

1.) Compulsory modules (Pflichtmodule)

Semester

Module

ECTS

HS

 ESC 201 Simulations in the Natural Sciences I

5

FS

 ESC 202 Simulations in the Natural Sciences II

5

2.) Core elective modules Informatics (Wahlpflichtmodule Informatik)

  • At least 5 ECTS must be chosen from the following Informatics modules. ESC 401 is highly recommended. Modules which build on previously attended and which focus on object-oriented programming and programming of complex algorithms must be chosen.

  • AINF 1166 is recommended for students with no prior training in programming and with no compulsory programming course within their major.

Semester

Module

ECTS

HS

AINF 02 (AINF 1166) Informatik I

6

HS

MAT 101 Programming

4

HS

MAT 116 Programming MatLab

2

HS

BIO 134 Programming in Biology1

5
FS PHY 124 Scientific Computing 5

FS

PHY 225 Scientific Programming in Python

1

FS

AINF 06 (AINF 1169) Informatik II

6

FS

ESC 401 High Performance Computing

6

FS

CHE 103 Computer Applications in Chemistry

4

FS

PHY 224 Programming in C++

1

FS

BIO 394 Interdisciplinary Research Methods In Computational Biology2

4

FS

BIO 144 Data analysis in biology

5

*FS

GEO 876 Introduction to  Programming for Spatial Problems3

3

HS (irregular)

 MAT 003 Introduction to Machine Learning

6

*HS

PHY 114 Scientific Computing I

2

*FS

PHY 125 Scientific Computing II

2

*HS

STA 260 Practical Introduction to the Statistical Computing Environment R

1

1 Requirement is MAT 183

2 Requirement is BIO 134 or equivalent

3 Requirement: see course catalogue VVZ

3.) Core elective modules Simulations and Visualization (Wahlpflichtmodule Simulationen und Visualisierung)

  • At least 10 ECTS must be chosen from the following:

Semester

Module

ECTS

HS

AST 245 Computational Astrophysics

6

HS/FS

AST 243 Praktikum Computational Astrophysics

 5 (9 previously)

HS

MAT 820 Practical training in Numerics1

3

FS

BMINF 002 Computer Graphics

3

HS (findet nicht statt im HS21)

BINF 4245 Data Visualisation and Analysis

3

HS (findet nicht statt im HS21)

BINF 4234 Data Visualisation Concepts

3

FS

BIO 219 Biomedical Imaging and Scientific Visualization

2

*FS

INI 417 Computer Simulations of Sensory Systems

3

*FS

MAT 827 Numerical Methods for Hyperbolic PDE

10

*FS

MAT 832 Mathematische Modellierung

9

*HS

MAT 802 Numerical Methods for Elliptic and Parabolic PDE

9

*FS

BINFP 601 Computer Graphics Lab

6

1 limited number of participants

4.) Elective modules (Wahlmodule): For the remaining 5 ECTS: Free choice from compulsory (Pflichtmodule), core elective (Wahlpflichtmodule), and elective (Wahlmodule) modules of the Minor in Computational Science.

 

*Please note: some modules are not offered any more or may not be offered each HS or each FS

 

Older version for students who started this minor before fall semester 2018:

Compulsory modules (Pflichtmodule)

Semester Module ECTS
HS ESC 201 Einsatz der Computersimulationen I 5
HS AINF 1166 Informatik I 6
HS/FS ESC 391 Proseminar Computational Science 2

 

Core elective modules (Wahlpflichtmodule)

  • 5 ECTS must be chosen from 'Statistics' WP_N0:

Semester Module ECTS
FS STA 110 Introduction to Probability 5
HS STA 111 Stochastische Modellierung 5
FS STA 120 Introduction to Statistics 5
HS STA 121 Statistical Modeling 5
HS PHY 231 Datenanalyse 3

 

  • At least 9 ECTS from the following:

Semester Module ECTS
FS ESC 202 Einsatz der Computersimulation II 5
HS/FS AST 243 Praktikum Computational Astrophysics 9
FS ESC 401 High Performance Computing 6
FS ESC 403 Introduction to Data Science 6
HS/FS MAT 820 Numerisches Praktikum 3
FS MAT 012 Introduction to scientific computing 4

 

Elective modules (Wahlmodule): Free choice from compulsory (Pflichtmodule), core elective (Wahlpflichtmodule), and elective (Wahlmodule) modules of the Minor in Computational Science.