Program Overview

Introduction to the Program

The Bachelor's program in Aarde, Economie en Duurzaamheid (Earth, Economy, and Sustainability) at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop sustainable solutions for real-world challenges. The program combines insights from earth sciences, economics, and social sciences to address issues such as climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation.

Program Structure

The program is structured over three years, with each year building on the previous one to provide a comprehensive education in sustainability science.

First Year

The first year introduces students to the broad spectrum of topics related to earth, economy, and sustainability. It includes excursions to businesses and institutions, laying the foundation for earth science thinking with courses like Global Change and Soil and Landscape. Students also learn the first skills in environmental economics and energy transition, culminating in a two-week fieldwork project in South Limburg, where they conduct their first independent research on solutions for flood risk management. The costs for this fieldwork are approximately 350 euros.

Courses

• Mens en Aarde
• Wiskunde voor AED
• Duurzaam landgebruik
• Inleiding economie
• Global change
• Energietransitie
• Modelling future Earth
• Bodem en landschap
• Voorbereiding veldwerk klimaatadaptatie
• Veldwerk klimaatadaptatie
• Studie en loopbaanbegeleiding AED

Second Year

The second year focuses on deepening knowledge. Students learn to anticipate natural disasters and find sustainable solutions using new economic techniques and ecosystem services. They expand their earth science knowledge with courses like Hydrology, Energy and Resources, and Landscape Development. The year ends with two weeks of fieldwork in Austria, where students can choose from sustainability themes such as wildfires, energy transition, and the future of the ski industry. The personal contribution for this fieldwork is approximately 300 euros.

Courses

• Energie en grondstoffen
• Statistiek en data-analyse
• Biodiversiteit en ecosysteemdiensten
• Methoden en technieken voor sociaal en economisch onderzoek
• Concepts in Sustainable Land Use
• GIS en Aardobservatie
• Hydrologie
• Landschapsontwikkeling van Nederland
• Natuurrampen en risico's
• Veldwerk Global Change en ruimtelijke ontwikkeling

Third Year

The third year begins with a minor, a specialization in a specific field that takes half a year. This can be done at the VU or another university, domestically or internationally, with a lot of freedom of choice. Students can also obtain a teaching qualification to work as a teacher in the lower levels of education. In the second half of the year, students learn to work with Big Data. For their thesis, they can focus on large-scale sustainability issues or a local case with fieldwork at a location of their choice. If they choose fieldwork, they pay half of the costs themselves.

Courses

• Big Data in Sustainability Science
• Bachelorthesis Aarde, Economie en Duurzaamheid

Career Prospects

After completing the Bachelor's program, students can specialize by following a Master's program. As a graduated economic earth scientist, they can work as an advisor at a research institute, water board, ministry, NGO, or a company working on sustainable solutions.

Conclusion

The Aarde, Economie en Duurzaamheid program at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers a unique and comprehensive approach to sustainability, combining earth sciences, economics, and social sciences. It prepares students for a career in developing sustainable solutions for the challenges of the future.