The course transmits fundamental knowledge for treating applied glaciological problems. Topics include climate-glacier interactions, glacier ice flow, glacier hydrology, ice avalanches, and lake ice.

The course introduces the different components of the cryosphere - snow, glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice and lake ice, and permafrost - and their respective roles in the climate system. For each subsystem, essential physical aspects are emphasized, and their dynamics are described quantitatively and using examples.

Introduction to investigation methods in glaciology with both theory and experimental application. The students design, plan, and evaluate their individual projects, and present the results to their colleagues and the instructors.