Major higher educational programme
Field of study: 021000.68 Geography.
Specialty: Coastal Oceanology.
Degree: master.
Study mode: full-time.
The period of study specified by the Federal State Educational Standards of Higher
Education is 2 years.
The study load of the bachelor’s programme specified by the Federal State Educational
Standards of Higher Education is 120 ECTS points.
The programme is meant to develop the students’ faculties in the fields of
 development of professional competencies, students’ creative qualities on the basis of indepth study of the environment in the coastal zone of the sea;
 formation and development of skills in expert-analytical activities in the field of coastal
zone;
 development of the practical skills in formulating and solving problems at various
institutional levels;
 implementation of educational activities based on advanced research and information
technology;
 orientation of the educational programme on the needs of national, regional and foreign
labour markets;
 implementation of cross-border cooperation in European integration.
The list of courses included in the curriculum of 021000.68 Geography. Specialty:
Coastal Oceanology.
Fundamental general scientific courses.
Philosophical Problems of Natural Sciences
Semester: 2,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 108
The course aims to study and prove the general regularities in the development of
modern methodology of scientific knowledge in the field of natural sciences and
interdisciplinary research; to study the philosophy of ecology and learn how to improve
methodological culture of environmental researchers.
The objectives of the course are to familiarise students with the current state of
philosophical and methodological research results in scientific activity in foreign and Russian
science; to understand the process of ecological awareness in broad socio-cultural contexts; to
give a general idea about the specifics and the role of ecological forms of motion of matter in the
formation of the modern picture of the world.
Foreign Languages
Semester: 1,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 108
The course aims to form students' ability in intercultural communication; to develop
language proficiency to succeed in the chosen field of professional activity.
The objectives of the course are to master the lexical, grammatical, syntactic,
phonological and orthographic aspects of a foreign language; to master pragmatic component
(discourse competence, functional competence).
Computer Technologies in Geography
Semester: 1,
ECTS points: 2,
Hours: 72
The course aims to form knowledge of current computer technologies used to gather
specific information and its network sources; to develop the skills in using computer
technologies in work (research and teaching), to use computer tools and technologies for
scientific communication.
The objectives of the course are to familiarise students with the computer resources of
general and special purpose; to train for independent planning and application of these
technologies and resources.
Compulsory general scientific courses.
Methods of Marine and Hydrophysical Research
Semester: 2,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 108
The course aims to examine the principles and methods of diagnosing the state of the sea
water and its physical processes.
The objectives of the course are to study the principles of hydro-fields interaction;
physical and numerical modeling of fluid motion, theoretical aspects of remote diagnostics, as
well as the methods of marine hydro-physical measurements.
Methods of Marine Geophysical Research
Semester: 2,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 108
The course aims to study informational support and development of new techniques and
technologies for marine geophysical research; methodological support and geological mapping
on the shelf of the Russian Federation.
The objectives of the course are to teach to conduct marine geophysical research on the
shelf and in the deep water areas of the Russian Federation; to examine the methodology and
technologies for marine geophysical research.
Elective general scientific courses.
Business Communication Training
Semester: 1,
ECTS points: 2,
Hours: 72
The course aims to develop communicative competences necessary to organise
constructive communication in professional activities in accordance with the norms of modern
business etiquette.
The objectives of the course are to form a systematic and science-based understanding of
the socio-psychological and informational nature of business communications; to develop
practical knowledge and skills in business communication; to improve students’ language
proficiency.
Business Communication Basics
Semester: 1,
ECTS points: 2,
Hours: 72
The course aims to form a comprehensive understanding of the theory of communication
as a modern scientific discipline, to provide students the basic theoretical knowledge of the
theory of business communication, to develop necessary professional competence.
The objectives of the course are to acquaint the students with the basic aspects of the
communication theory including communication models; business communication process and
its structure; models of mass communication; applied communication models, theories of
negotiation, communication processes, and the theory of argumentation.
Fundamental field-oriented courses.
History, Theory and Methodology of Geography
Semester: 1,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 108
The course aims to examine the most common features of geography development, its
evolution as a world science; to study how external factors and processes of a developing society
influence the shift of the scientific interests in geography, areas and scope of its practical
application.
The objectives of the course are to provide insight into the methodological foundations of
the geography; to familiarise with the levels of methodology (and specifically philosophical and
scientific one); to examine the main stages of the geographic research; to learn about the main
theoretical achievements (laws, principles, concepts), problems, hypotheses and new ideas of the
geographical science.
Compulsory field-oriented courses.
Modern Problems of Oceanography
Semester: 1,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 108
The course aims to study the oceans as a single natural system, its spatial structure, the
interaction between subsystems of various scopes in the ocean as well as with other elements of
the planetary natural environment, including the atmosphere, the coasts and the ocean floor.
The objectives of the course are to examine the characteristics of seawater, structure and
dynamics of the ocean waters, modern problems of oceanography and their possible solutions.
Marine Biotic Communities
Semester: 2,
ECTS points: 4,
Hours: 144
The course aims to study the basic regularities in organisation and functioning of marine
biotic communities, as well as diverse forms of species’ co-adaptation and their ecological
niches in different natural and geographical ecosystem types.
The objectives of the course are to inform about the major historical stages and modern
methods to study marine biotic communities; to explore the forms of interspecific relationships,
types of structural and functional organisation of biotic communities.
Coastal Zone Lithodinamics and Costal Protection Methods
Semester: 1,
ECTS points: 4,
Hours: 144
The course aims to consider lithodynamic coastal processes, coastal lithodynamic activity
and recommended effective technical solutions for coastal protection.
The objectives of the course are to study coastal and littoral deposits, methods of shelf
formation and dynamics of the sea coasts.
Satellite Methods of Regional Oceanographic Research
Semester: 1,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 108
The course aims to demonstrate how to monitor the sea level at the coastal stations; to
explore the nature of the oscillations.
The objectives of the course are to teach to integrally use all kinds of available data; to
apply the acquired data for solving applied problems in fisheries oceanography.
Marine Biogeochemistry
Semester: 2,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 108
The course aims to examine the geochemical processes in the marine environment,
agents migration and impact of the marine geochemical environment on the global environment.
The objectives of the course are to study biogeochemical cycles and methods to study
objects of the marine environment; to teach to conduct environmental chemical analysis.
Hydrophysical Processes in the Coastal Zone of the Ocean
Semester: 2,
ECTS points: 4,
Hours: 144
The course aims to examine hydro-physical processes in the coastal zone of the ocean; to
study comprehensive research of wave processes occurring in the coastal zone.
The objectives of the course are to familiarise with the development of experimental
techniques and theoretical models of hydro-physical processes; to teach how to measure the form
of wavy surface, velocity fields of air and underwater currents, to use the latest technology for
tracking hydro-physical processes; to teach how to model the interaction of various hydrophysical processes and simulate hydrodynamic processes near the ocean border.
Coastal Ecosystems and Protection
Semester: 2,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 103
The course aims to examine the features of the coastal ecosystem, its functions and role.
The objectives of the course are to explore the alternative ways of farming that reduce
the pressure on protected areas which preserve the biodiversity of coastal ecosystems; to inform
about the threats for coastal ecosystems and methods of their prevention and solution; to
examine the causes of biodiversity loss.
Elective field-oriented courses.
Dynamics and Mixing Processes in the Coastal Zone
Semester: 1,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 103
The course aims to examine the chemical composition and physical properties of the sea
water, mixing and turbulence, wave formation mechanisms; to study the theory of tides, water
masses and structure of coastal waters, currents and general water circulation.
The objectives of the course are to form an idea about the main water masses, methods of
oceanographic research and analysis; to teach to assess the role of wind mixing water, currents,
variations of the levels in the formation of coastal ecosystems.
Quaternary Geology of the Baltic Sea Region
Semester: 1,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 103
The course aims to acquaint students with the characteristics and basic laws of relief
formation and development in the Baltic region as well as the formation of the relevant
unconsolidated deposits of the quaternary system.
The objectives of the course are to study the classification and characteristics of
landscape elements and genetic types of quaternary deposits, methods and basics of quaternary
system stratigraphy, the main directions and principles for the use of quaternary geology to
search and explore mineral deposits and to conduct geotechnical studies; to teach how to read
maps of quaternary deposits and make them by decrypting aerial photographs; to explore the
quaternary deposits of the Baltic Sea region and the history of their formation.
Geology and Mineral Resources of the Baltic Sea Region
Semester: 1,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 103
The course aims to study the geological and physical chemical conditions of the minerals
in the Baltic region, patterns of their distribution, the major genetic and industrial types of
mineral deposits.
The objectives of the course are to teach students to understand the essence of geological
processes and to examine the genesis of mineral deposits in the Baltic region; to be able to make
conclusions on possible deposit and origin relying on fragmentary data; to examine the
geological structure, conditions of occurrence and formation of mineral deposits in the region; to
examine the industrial use of minerals in the region.
Geomorphology of Sea Coasts
Semester: 1,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 103
The course aims to form theoretical and practical knowledge about the structure of the
sea coast which is the basis of other oceanographic disciplines and geography of the ocean as a
whole.
The objectives of the course are to study morpho-structural plan of sea coats and
classification of their forms; to examine endogenous and exogenous factors of formation of relief
and geological coast structures; to master the methods of compilation and processing of the
geomorphological materials.
Regional Issues of Complex Coastal Zone Management
Semester: 2,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 103
The course aims to familiarise students with the world and Russian experience in
implementing and developing systems of complex coastal management; the basic ideas,
mechanisms of coastal zone management which ensure sustainable development, as well as to
learn about the regional issues related to the coastal zone management.
The objectives of the course are to form holistic view of the coastal zones of the Earth,
their structure, internal and external interconnection, functioning, dynamics and development; to
examine the regional concept of the coastal zone management of the Kaliningrad region.
Eco-management, Eco-audit and Consulting
Semester: 2,
ECTS points: 3,
Hours: 103
The course aims to form the basic knowledge of environmental management, audit and
consulting services; to provide an understanding of the basic principles of management; to
develop initial practical skills of environmental audit and consulting; to show the possibility of
self-employment and business activity in the environmental market.
The objectives of the course are to study the principles, methodologies and practices of
environmental management, marketing, audit, consulting and certification; to examine the
Russian and foreign legal and regulatory environmental management and audit; to study the
international experience of the environmental management and marketing in existing control
systems; to develop environmental audit skills.
Oil Pollution of the Baltic Sea
Semester: 2,
ECTS points: 2,
Hours: 72
The course aims to give an idea of the major polluters of the Baltic Sea - oil and
petroleum products.
The objectives of the course are to acquaint students with the basic ways of how oil
pollution gets in the environment of the Baltic Sea; to examine the effects of oil pollution and
measures to eliminate it; to study the measures to mitigate the negative factors of anthropogenic
impact on the Baltic Sea and sustainable development in the Baltic Sea region; to develop the
skills in local monitoring of oil pollution.
Ecological Monitoring of the Marine Environment
Semester: 2,
ECTS points: 2,
Hours: 72
The course aims to form the skills in the field of environmental monitoring and
assessment of the marine environment.
The objectives of the course are to learn to assess the degree of environmental hazard
which industrial pollution of various types causes; to give an idea how to predict the effects of
industrial pollution of the marine environment for ecosystems and human health; to study the
general principles how to take measures aimed at improving and restoring the quality of the
marine environment.