Prerequisites for admission.

Admission to the Master’s Degree Programme in Geosciences, Georisks and Georesources - activated in Class LM-74 pursuant to DM 270/2004, is subject to the possession of the Bachelor’s degree, or other university three-year degree, or other suitable qualification obtained abroad and deemed suitable.
Admission to the Master’s Degree is also subject to the possession of curricular requirements and to the adequacy of personal scientific and linguistic background, in accordance with Article 6 paragraph 2 of Ministerial Decree 270/2004.

The curricular requirements for admission to the Master's Degree Programme in Geosciences, Georisks and Georesources are met by applicants who have obtained:
(i) University Degree in classes before D.M. 270): L-34 (Geological Sciences), before D.M. 509/99: Class 16 (Geological Sciences).
or
(ii) Degree(s) or Master's Degree(s) in another class(es), or a University Diploma(s) of at least three years' duration, or other qualification(s) obtained abroad and recognised as suitable, which, taken together, have enabled the applicant to acquire
a) at least 20 credits in basic scientific disciplines (SSD: MAT/01-09, FIS/01-05, CHIM/03, CHIM/06);
a) at least 30 credits in geological disciplines (SSD: GEO/01-12);
c) at least 24 credits, in addition to a) and b), in the following SSD:
GEO/01-12
INF/01 INFORMATICS
FIS/06 PHYSICS FOR THE EARTH SYSTEM AND THE CIRCUM-TERRESTRIAL MEDIUM
FIS/07 APPLIED PHYSICS (TO CULTURAL, ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE, BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE)
CHIM/01 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
CHIM/02 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
CHIM/04 INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY
CHIM/06 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
CHIM/12 CHEMISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
BIO/03 ENVIRONMENTAL AND APPLIED BOTANY
BIO/07 ECOLOGY
AGR/05 FOREST MANAGEMENT AND SILVICULTURE
AGR/08 AGRICULTURAL HYDRAULICS AND HYDRAULIC-FORESTRY SYSTEMS
AGR/10 RURAL BUILDINGS AND AGROFORESTRY
ICAR/01 HYDRAULICS
ICAR/02 HYDRAULIC AND MARITIME CONSTRUCTION AND HYDROLOGY
ICAR/03 SANITARY-ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
ICAR/04 ROADS, RAILWAYS AND AIRPORTS
ICAR/06 TOPOGRAPHY AND CARTOGRAPHY
ICAR/07 GEOTECHNICS
ICAR/15 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
ICAR/20 TECHNOLOGY AND URBAN PLANNING
ICAR/21 URBANISM
ING-IND/09 SYSTEMS FOR THE ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
ING-IND/22 MATERIALS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ING-IND/23 APPLIED PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
ING-IND/28 ENGINEERING AND SAFETY OF EXCAVATIONS
ING-IND/29 ENGINEERING OF RAW MATERIALS
L-ANT/10 METHODOLOGIES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH
M-GGR/01 GEOGRAPHY
M-GGR/02 POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
IUS/10 ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
SECS-S/01 STATISTICS
SECS-S/02 STATISTICS FOR EXPERIMENTAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH
SPS/10 SOCIOLOGY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE TERRITORY

Possession of the curricular access requirements is verified in accordance with the procedures and criteria detailed in the 'Admission procedures' in sub-box A3.b of the SUA form of the Degree Programme.
Any curricular additions, in terms of university credits, must be acquired by the applicant prior to verification of academic background.
The adequacy of personal scientific and linguistic background, i.e. the ability to use fluently, in both written and oral form, at least one European Union language other than Italian (with particular attention to English, the latter being the most widely used language in the scientific/technical field), is verified in accordance with the procedures and criteria detailed in the 'Admission Procedures' in sub-box A3.b of the SUA form of the Degree Programme.

Skills associated with the function

Geologist specialised in the Earth System and Georesources

In general, s/he is skilled in the analysis, management, synthesis and processing, also through the use of innovative or experimental methodologies, of data relating to areas such as geological and thematic cartography, the modelling of geological and geochemical processes, georesources, the recovery of degraded production sites and mining sites. S/he is able to effectively collaborate with experts of specific applicative sectors, understanding the context needs and suggesting effective solutions.
In particular, s/he has specific skills in the following areas: (i) Drafting of basic and thematic geological cartography using the appropriate analysis tools at different scales, including through the Geographic Information System (GIS); (ii) Reconstruction of models of geological evolution, for the purpose of finding and exploiting in a sustainable manner the georesources and geomaterials of industrial and commercial interest; (iii) Planning, design, direction of work, testing and monitoring of geological interventions aimed at the exploitation of georesources; (iv) Drafting of paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic evolution models, for the assessment of impact scenarios of global changes; (v) Identification and characterisation of geological sites suitable for the storage or sequestration of polluting and radioactive materials; (vi) Design of analytical measures, recovery and management of degraded sites and disused mining sites by analysis and modelling of geological and environmental systems and processes; (vii) Certification of geological materials and analysis of physical-mechanical and mineralogical characteristics-petrographic, also for the development of innovative manufacturing processes for the improvement of products, the creation of second raw materials and their use in the industrial and environmental fields; (viii) Sourcing, evaluation and management of groundwater resources, including planning, design and direction of collection works and definition of impact mitigation interventions; (ix) Design and drafting of the geological and environmental component of plans for urban planning, territory, environment and georesources with the related safeguard measures.


Geologist specialised in Georisks and land management
In general, s/he is responsible for assessing, preventing and mitigating geological and environmental hazards, geological and thematic mapping and site surveys, geological and technical analysis of the territory in many aspects, also through the use of innovative methodologies of investigation, theoretical training and modeling. S/he is able to effectively collaborate with experts of specific applicative sectors, understanding the context needs and suggesting effective solutions.
In particular, s/he has specific skills in the following areas: (i) Geological and geothematic mapping, survey analysis and remote sensing data analysis, with particular reference to geological and environmental risk issues, also by means of Geographic Information System (GIS); (ii) Programming, planning, and designing, project management, testing and monitoring of interventions, plans and programmes aimed at reducing geological and environmental risks, managing, safeguarding and securing the territory and geo-analysis of civil and infrastructure engineering; (iii) Assessment of geological hazards and risks (landslides, floods, earthquakes) and related risks, including by means of survey, monitoring and numerical modelling systems, for their mitigation through prevention and forecasting activities and soil protection interventions, including in the field of civil protection; (iv) Design and execution of geognostic surveys and exploration of the subsoil with geotechnical and geophysical methods, for the physical-mechanical characterisation and certification of geological materials, as well as engineering geo-analysis aimed at defining the geological and geotechnical model for civil engineering and land safety works; (v) Assessment of environmental risks and impacts arising from the use of geological/mineral materials and the potential arising from the use of mineral raw materials in the field of remediation; (vi) Certification of geological materials from a technical geological point of view, on-site and in the laboratory; (vii) Design of analysis, recovery and management of degraded sites and disused mining sites through the analysis and modelling of geological and environmental systems and processes; (viii) Procurement, evaluation and management of groundwater resources, including the planning, design and direction of collection works and the definition of impact mitigation interventions; (ix) Analysis and preparation of the geological and environmental component of plans for urban planning, for the territory and the environment with the related safeguard measures and, for geological aspects s.l., studies for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).

Function in a work context

Geologist specialised in the Earth System and Georesources

S/he is in charge of planning and programming geological interventions and technical-management coordination of structures and laboratories, in the field of geology and geological resources. In carrying out his/her duties, s/he generally collaborates with many other professional figures.


Geologist specialised in Georisks and land management
S/he is in charge of planning and programming geological interventions and technical-management coordination of structures and laboratories, in the field of geology, geological risks, and land management. In carrying out his/her duties, s/he generally collaborates with many other professional figures.

Educational goals

Training objectives
Through two distinct curricular, the Master’s Degree Programme in Geosciences, Georisks and Georesources provides an advanced preparation in the field of geological sciences and technologies that allows graduates to gain:
- An in-depth scientific preparation regarding the theoretical, experimental, and technical-applicative aspects in the disciplines necessary to the analysis of the Earth System or system of the Georesources, georisks, and management of the territory, and their practical consequences to the purposes of sustainability and resilience.
- An effective command of the scientific method and the knowledge of the essential tools and techniques for the investigation, analysis, and modelling of data, for the purpose of their application to the quantitative analysis of multi-scale and multi-temporal complex geological processes determining the development of the plant, the availability of raw materials, the occurrence of natural risks and the geological and geological-technical asset of the territory.
- Specific knowledge and independent operating ability to acquire, analyse and summarise land and laboratory data, needed for the correct, sustainable, and beneficial retrieval and use of resources and definition of geological systems, also in man-made landscapes.
- Specific knowledge and independent operating ability to analyse and monitor geological-environmental processes in the territory, to the purposes of prevention, forecast, and mitigation of occurring or potential geological dangers, prevention, assessment and remediation of environmental impacts, design of infrastructural works and territorial planning at various scales.
- Suitable ability to interpret, synthetize and communicate the results of the geological-thematic knowledge gained, to the purposes of their effective integration into multidisciplinary approaches and studies that see the involvement of other members of the professional world and scientific community;
- Independent ability to plan and design studies and geological analyses and applicative geological actions at large, in collaboration with highly trained professional operators, as well as the ability to direct and coordinate technical-managerial facilities in which operate also professionals of different educational background;
- Profitable knowledge of the English language, both written and oral, that also extends to the disciplinary technical and scientific lexicon.


Degree programme structure
The Degree Programme offers two distinct curricula organised by semesters, including teachings and other activities for a total of 120 CFUs.
In both curricula, CFUs are equally broken down in the first and second year, and many teachings provide practical exercises in the classroom, in laboratory, and on the land.
The first year features a balanced offer between the first and second semester of the distinctive and related or integrating teachings in various geological and engineering fields that allow for the acquisition of advanced basic knowledge, and in the applicative fields of common learning areas and specific curricula, as well as of related practical exercises aimed at providing the knowledge of experimental and analytic methods, and IT data processing.
In addition to the activities freely chosen by students, the second year features a training multidisciplinary activity of land survey and processing of geological-thematic data that is common to all curricula. Divided between first and second semester of the second year, students are offered the remaining part of the distinctive and related or integrating teachings of geological and legal area (based on the curriculum chosen) and a teaching aimed at providing further abilities and skills on the English language usage.
Both curricula, on the second year also offer compulsory training internship external activities (carried out in companies, for free-lance professionals, public administration bodies and laboratories, other Italian and foreign universities, also in the framework of international agreements) and specialist seminars held by professionals outside the university.
The training programmes for both curricula ends with the preparation of an experimental degree thesis that requires the activity of collecting and interpreting data in field and/or in laboratory. Thanks to agreements with various foreign universities, students may spend abroad part of the study programme or the experimental thesis activities.


Changes in the study programmes based on the curricula
In order to ensure the achievement of the training objectives that are specific to the two different curricula, aimed to prepare professional figures with specific skills in the analysis of the Earth System and Georesources or Georisks and the management of the Territory (see framework A2a), the study programmes vary since the first year based on the curriculum chosen by students, and differ in terms of the number of credits provided for each field of distinctive training activities and related and integrating activities. One of the curricular in particular offers a considerable number of CFUs for the field of geological-paleontological distinctive disciplines, as well as mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical ones. The other curriculum is characterised by geomorphological and applicative geological distinctive disciplines and, due to the need of providing for the acquisition of specific knowledge and skills, geophysical disciplines and disciplines in the field of engineering, law, economics, and agriculture. Similarly, with regard to the related or integrating activities, both curricula offer integrating multidisciplinary training activities of geological type, and one of them includes additional activities related to engineering fields, that also in this case are functional to the development of specific skills of the professional figure of reference and associated training objectives. In terms of teaching regulations, this determines a broad range of credits provided for the distinctive and related or integrating fields, whereas the credits offered in the single curricula for the distinctive and related or integrating fields are defined to ensure consistency in the study programme of each curriculum with the specific objectives that are functional to train the professional figures envisaged.

Communication skills

Master graduates:
- Are able to effectively communicate and argument the results of the analyses carried out, both in written and oral form.
- Are able to effectively dialogue with experts of specific theoretical and applicative sectors, understanding the context needs and suggesting effective solutions.
- Are able to operate in interdisciplinary groups made of experts coming from different sectors and disciplines.
- Have English language skills, also on the lexicon of the discipline, that allow them to operate at international level.

The communication abilities listed above are developed in specific tests and intermediate examinations of various training activities that provide for the preparation of reports and cartographic documents and relevant oral presentation, as well as when preparing the internship report and the preparing and discussing the final examination.

The assessment of communication abilities is mainly done during the intermediate oral examinations, the oral presentation of reports on field and laboratory activities and the discussion of the degree thesis during the final examination.

Making Judgements

Master graduates:
- Are able to collect and critically analyse the land and laboratory scientific data.
- Can evaluate the uncertainty of collected data.
- Are able to design and coordinate geological activities in sufficient independence.
- Are able to apply the scientific method to work fields and unfamiliar issues.
- Are able to provide a critic judgement in the evaluation of geological activity projects.

The independence of judgement is mainly developed through: field and laboratory practical exercises, which provide an essentially independent work; preparation of reports within the distinctive and related disciplinary teachings; internship activity in a company or professional institutions and studies; activity relating to the preparation of the final examination.

The independent judgment ability is also verified through the evaluation of the profit of the teachings that refer to the distinctive and similar disciplines and the level of independence and ability to work during the assigned activity in preparation of the final test and for the internship.

Learning skills

Master graduates:
- Have gained the skills required to keep themselves up-to-date on the developments of geological sciences and technologies and are aware of the need to implement their professional training with a continuous refreshing activity.
- Have gained the ability to work independently and learn new techniques and methods and use them to describe, quantify, and foresee the complex processes characterising the geological environment.

Learning skills are achieved during the study programme, with specific focus on the individual study, the preparation of individual and group projects, the activity carried out in the internship and the preparation of the final examination.

The learning skill is assessed through continuous checks during the training activities; the ability to meet deadlines, the ability to present the data collected independently and the self-learning ability are assessed during the activity related to the final examination.