Elective Area: Details

Table of contents

1. 1. 1. Tracks
      2. Selection of Modules
      3. Specializations
      4. Choosing Specializations

The elective area begins in the 5th semester with the main course of study. Its total 120 credit points offer ample scope for setting your focus.  You can select modules in the fields of Business Information Systems, Computer Science, Business and Economics, and/or related subjects (Supplements).  The minimum number of credit points to be achieved in these areas depends on the track chosen.

Tracks

There are two tracks available:  Standard and International. You opt for the International track just by acquiring 20 credit points at a foreign university. Otherwise, you stay in the Standard track.

In the Standard track, you must acquire at least 40 credit points from the fields Business and Information Systems and Computer Science. In the International track, it is just 30 credit points for either area. Moreover, at least 10 credit points have to be earned from the field Business and Economics.

Selection of Modules

Please find the total list of elective modules here (Annex 1 to the Examination Regulations, in German only).  The module handbook  (Annex 3 to the Study Regulations, in German only) contains a detailed description of their contents and qualification goals, forms of teaching, and examination rules.

Specializations

The four fields Business Information Systems, Computer Science, Business and Economics, and Supplement comprise different specializations. These are

in Computer Science:

• Applied Computer Science: fundamental principles of engineering information technology for flexible, automated systems that meet human and environmental needs. Solving practical technical decision problems is focused.
• Software and Web Engineering: Issues in the engineering of software web and multimedia applications. Applications are designed, implemented and evaluated using graphical and web-based interfaces. The topics of software technologies, web and multimedia engineering and usability engineering can be chosen.
• System Architecture: System architectures are methodically examined under functional and non-functional aspects. The focus is additionally on security and data protection. A choice can be made between the following areas: Operating systems, databases, computer networks, fault tolerance, data protection and data security.

This table (Annex 2 to the Study Regulations, in German only) shows how modules allocate to specializations. Generally, a module can belong to several specializations, even in different fields. Depending on the correspondence in content, this assignment is primary or secondary.

Choosing Specializations

There is no requirement to choose any specialization! You just take modules and decide at the end of your study which of the viable specializations they shall be assigned to. Of course, your choices must fulfill the credit thresholds for the fields of Business and Economics, Computer Science, and Business Information Systems. Modules always count for the field to which the specialization chosen belongs.

If you have completed sufficiently many modules pertaining to a specialization, you can have it displayed on your certificate as a major or minor.

• For a major, there must be modules of the specialization in an amount of at least 30 credit points, at least 20 of which are from primarily assigned modules.
• For a minor, modules of at least 30 credit points are sufficient, at least 15 of which must stem from primarily assigned modules.

Thus, depending on your choices, several majors and/or minors (or even none at all) can appear on your certificate!