Module 21-SC-6 Life Cycle Assessment

Faculty

Person responsible for module

Regular cycle (beginning)

Every winter semester

Credit points and duration

5 Credit points

For information on the duration of the modul, refer to the courses of study in which the module is used.

Competencies

In this module, students acquire fundamental knowledge of life cycle assessment (LCA). After the course, students will be able to conduct the essential steps of a life cycle assessment for selected examples independently. This includes identifying the scope of the study as well as performing the necessary calculations based on appropriate databases. Students will become familiar with various programs for creating life cycle assessment analyses and will understand the use of a selected program in its basic features. Additionally, in this module, students will gain the necessary skills to interpret and critically evaluate the life cycle assessments of others.

Content of teaching

The module covers the theoretical foundations of life cycle assessment (LCA). In addition to providing insights into the historical development of LCA, the legal foundations are introduced. Selected examples are used to discuss the steps of a life cycle assessment, and relevant national and international standards are examined and compared with other methods such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Corporate Carbon Footprints (CCF), and Product Carbon Footprints (PCF). The module covers the following content and terminology: scope of the study, functional unit, impact categories, system boundaries, inventory analysis, impact assessment, interpretation, allocation, cut-off method, substitution, and end-of-life as well as recycling.

Recommended previous knowledge

Necessary requirements

Explanation regarding the elements of the module

Module structure: 1 bPr 1

Courses

Life Cycle Assessment
Type lecture with exercises
Regular cycle WiSe
Workload5 150 h (30 + 120)
LP 5 [Pr]

Examinations

written examination
Allocated examiner Teaching staff of the course Life Cycle Assessment (lecture with exercises)
Weighting 1
Workload -
LP2 -

90 minutes.

The module is used in these degree programmes:

Degree programme Recom­mended start 3 Duration Manda­tory option 4
Sustainable Chemistry / Master of Science [FsB vom 05.03.2026, gültig ab Wintersemester 2026/27] 1. 1 semes­ter Obli­gation

Automatic check for completeness

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Legend

1
The module structure displays the required number of study requirements and examinations.
2
LP is the short form for credit points.
3
The figures in this column are the specialist semesters in which it is recommended to start the module. Depending on the individual study schedule, entirely different courses of study are possible and advisable.
4
Explanations on mandatory option: "Obligation" means: This module is mandatory for the course of the studies; "Optional obligation" means: This module belongs to a number of modules available for selection under certain circumstances. This is more precisely regulated by the "Subject-related regulations" (see navigation).
5
Workload (contact time + self-study)
SoSe
Summer semester
WiSe
Winter semester
SL
study requirement
Pr
Examination
bPr
Number of examinations with grades
uPr
Number of examinations without grades
This academic achievement can be reported and recognised.