Contents

The two-year M. Sc. programme "Organic Food Chain Management" comprises four semesters, during which fifteen thematic modules and the Master Thesis have to be completed. The language of instruction is English.
To tackle problems in quality control and processing, knowledge of all aspects of the organic food chain is necessary. Therefore, the M.Sc. programme follows a general approach including primary production as well as processing and marketing. Modern teaching methods such as:

* discussion sessions,
* research seminars,
* case studies and
* excursions to organic farms and processing companies

are an integrated part of the curriculum. The problem-based interdisciplinary "Organic Food Chain Project" constitutes a major focus of the course.
Students are encouraged to spend the third semester at a partner university abroad, to gain additional experience and to strengthen their individual profile. Assessment is based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), which facilitates such kind of international mobility.

Structure of the Master Programme
Eight of the fifteen modules are compulsory and cover the core aspects of organic food chain management. In case an applicant already offers a documented entry qualification in organic agriculture, food processing of organic food one to three compulsory modules can be substituted by electives. The individual combination of modules gives each student the opportunity to tailor a specific profile according to his or her own career aspirations.

Semester 1 and 2:
8 Compulsory Modules
- Markets and Marketing of Organic Farming - Organic Food Chain Project
- Organic Livestock Farming
- Organic Food Systems and Concepts
- Organic Livestock Farming and Products
- Organic Plant Production
- Processing and Quality of Organic Food
- Socioeconomics of Organic Farming
- Social Conditions of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture
2 Elective Modules

Semester 3:
5 Elective Modules

Semester 4:
Master Thesis
In the third and fourth semester, students choose an additional five modules and work on their thesis. The thesis topic and the supervisor can be chosen from either compulsory or elective modules. It is expected that the Master Thesis will pursue empirical or theoretical questions related to ongoing research projects, but students´ own suggestions and ideas in this matter are actively encouraged . It is also possible to carry out the master thesis at one of the various partner universities or research institutions abroad.