Department of geophysics

EDUCATION

1. Introduction

Geophysics has a long tradition at the University of Zagreb – it is being taught since 1898, at first at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University. The first lectures were on meteorology and climatology, and in 1910 Andrija Mohorovičić introduced lectures on seismology too. When in 1946 Faculty of Science separated from the Faculty of Philosophy, it also incorporated the Geophysical Institute (today within the Department of Geophysics of the Faculty). It is the only institution in Croatia providing academic education in fundamental geophysical disciplines – meteorology, oceanography, seismology, geomagnetism and aeronomy. Besides this, during the last almost 100 years, the affiliates of the Institute held basic geophysical courses at various other faculties in Croatia. Today such courses are offered to other departments of the Faculty, as well as to the Universities of Osijek and Split.

The curriculum is built on the fundamental physical and mathematical education that students acquire during their first two years of study at the Department of Physics of the Faculty of Science. In the course of time, the contents of subjects have constantly been upgraded following advancements and scientific development of particular geophysical disciplines. The last major change of syllabus occurred six years ago when new subjects were introduced (geophysical as well as mathematical and geological ones – serviced by the Department of Mathematics, and by the Faculty of Geology, Mining and Petroleum Engineering, respectively), and the contents of many courses were significantly updated.

The study of geophysics at the Faculty of Science is unique due to a rather broad geophysical education it offers before any specialization – future seismologists thus attend compulsory courses of dynamical meteorology and fluid dynamics, and meteorologist and physical oceanographers learn basics of the theory of elasticity, seismology and seismometry. The new program proposes further modernization of subject contents as well as strengthening of common basic program, therefore offering students broader competencies and easier employment in various fields of geophysics. We also propose the possibility of earning the bachelor degree after completion of the undergraduate study (six semesters), which would qualify the students to perform basic professional and technical duties in various professional organizations (e.g. Meteorological and Hydrological Service or the Croatian Seismological Survey).

The study of geophysics at the European and world-wide universities is organized in very different ways, and to find two universities where the study is organized in the same manner seems like an impossible task. This is the consequence of the specifics of geophysics, which is strongly linked to physics as well as to other geosciences, and of the fact that geophysics developed in different countries under strong influence of local circumstances and tradition. For instance, some countries with low seismicity do not offer seismological courses at the (pre)graduate level at all. Similar situation is also with oceanography which is the most developed in countries with a strong naval tradition. On the other hand, there are geophysical disciplines (like volcanology) that are nonexistent in Croatia, but are very much developed elsewhere. Tradition also conditioned the organizational framework providing geophysical education – at some universities it is provided within the structural units dealing with physics (e.g. Helsinki, Bologna), elsewhere it may be under departments of geosciences and/or geology (Trieste, Edinburgh, Athens). Of all the European universities, the most similar program to the one proposed here is that at the Charles University in Prague (A. Mohorovičić studied there!), where meteorology (dynamic and synoptic meteorology and climatology), seismology, gravity and figure of the Earth, geomagnetism and aeronomy are taught at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. Our program is also similar to the one offered at the University of Oslo, where bachelors of meteorology and oceanography, as well as the masters of these and related disciplines are educated.

Interest in the undergraduate and graduate studies of geophysics exists in Croatia for a very long time. Graduated students generally easily find employment in professional organizations (Meteorological and Hydrological Service or the Croatian Seismological Survey), scientific institutes, academic institutions, companies dealing with exploration geophysics, banks, etc. Our students have also proved to be very successful candidates for Ph. D. studies both in Croatia and at the most prestigious world universities.
Enrollment into the professional part of the study of geophysics (third year) is open to students who have obtained a solid background in physics, mathematics and computing. Besides students of physics, such conditions could be satisfied also by students coming from other departments of the Faculty of Science or from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, with possible obligatory differential exams.

2. General description of the study

2.1. Academic research study of geophysics:

a) Bachelor of Geophysics (undergraduate study),

b) Master of Physics - Geophysics (graduate study).

2.2. Study is organized by:

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Geophysics, Zagreb

2.3. Duration of the study

a) six (6) semesters (undergraduate program),

b) four (4) semesters (graduate program).

2.4. Requirements for enrollment are the same as for the study of physics.

2.5. Undergraduate study (2.1.a):

The third year of the undergraduate study follows up the first two years of the study of physics. It is also possible to enroll from other studies organized by the Faculty of Science, or from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, with possible obligatory differential exams. The bachelors achieve fundamental knowledge of the physical basis of geophysical disciplines, as well as skills needed for professional and technical tasks: performing measurements, maintenance and calibration of instruments, data acquisition and basic interpretation, routine analyses of geophysical data, data archiving and field work (e.g. macroseismic field work).

2.6. Graduate study (2.1.b):

Besides all of the competencies gained at the undergraduate level, the graduate program offers detailed, fundamental theoretical and practical introduction to the basic geophysical disciplines (meteorology, physical oceanography, seismology, geomagnetism and aeronomy). The graduates will gain knowledge and competencies needed for entering the Ph. D. program and/or to initiate their scientific careers in the chosen area of specialization: meteorology and physical oceanography, or seismology and physics of the solid earth. This program naturally follows the undergraduate study (2.5.). Enrollment is possible from the following undergraduate programs:

a) (2.1.a) at the Department of Physics and the Department of Geophysics,

b) mathematics and other sciences (chemistry, geography, biology, geology) with possible differential exams,

c) Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing with possible differential exams.

Masters of Physics - Geophysics find employment in academic institutions, scientific institutes, professional service providers (Meteorological and Hydrological Service, Croatian Seismological Survey...), companies dealing with exploration geophysics, etc.

2.7. -

2.8. Academic titles:

a) Bachelor of Geophysics (undergraduate study)

b) Master of Physics - Geophysics (graduate study).