Learning objectives
Outline, texts and goals
Access to further study
The title grants access to all 3rd cycle degree programmes (research doctorates as well as specialisation courses and 1st/2nd level masters) in accordance with the requirements established by the respective regulations.
Professional status
Geologist
Graduates with a Second-Cycle Degree in Science in Geosciences for Sustainable Development can find opportunities with professional firms (geological, engineering, naturalistic), civil engineering companies, Territorial Bodies (Regions, Provinces, Municipalities, Mountain Communities, Natural Parks, Department of Civil Protection), companies active in the energy supply sector, service companies for the exploration and drilling of the subsoil, environmental reclamation companies, renewable energy companies, and industries engaged in the mining and processing of geological materials (production of cement, ceramics, glass). Other professional opportunities involve public research institutes (for example, the National Research Council, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology), private research bodies, universities, government ministries (for example, the "Environment and Protection of the Territory" and the "Seas, Economic Development, and Infrastructure"), and insurance companies.
Graduates with a Second-Cycle Degree in Science in Geosciences for Sustainable Development can find opportunities with professional firms (geological, engineering, naturalistic), civil engineering companies, Territorial Bodies (Regions, Provinces, Municipalities, Mountain Communities, Natural Parks, Department of Civil Protection), companies active in the energy supply sector, service companies for the exploration and drilling of the subsoil, environmental reclamation companies, renewable energy companies, and industries engaged in the mining and processing of geological materials (production of cement, ceramics, glass). Other professional opportunities involve public research institutes (for example, the National Research Council, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology), private research bodies, universities, government ministries (for example, the "Environment and Protection of the Territory" and the "Seas, Economic Development, and Infrastructure"), and insurance companies.
Knowledge required for access
To be admitted to the Master's degree course in Geosciences for Sustainable Development, the student must be in possession of a degree (including that obtained according to the regulations previously in force under Ministerial Decree 509/1999 and subsequent amendments and additions) or a three-year university diploma, or another qualification obtained abroad, recognized as suitable by the competent bodies of the University. The student is also required to possess certain curricular requirements and adequate personal preparation. The curricular requirements required are the degree obtained in class L-34 (Geological Sciences) pursuant to Ministerial Decree. 270/04 and in class 16 (Earth Sciences), established according to the previous educational system ex Ministerial Decree. 509/99, or in another class whose training path is compatible. For students who do not come from geological sciences classes, the possession of at least 40 university credits in any scientific-disciplinary sector of the GEO area is required. Furthermore, to access the master's degree the student must be able to use the English language fluently (level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for the knowledge of languages), in written and oral form, also with reference to disciplinary lexicons. Its verification methods will be explained in the teaching regulations of the master's degree course. Adequate personal preparation will be verified through specific methods regulated within the teaching regulations of the Course of Study.
Title conferred
Second cycle degree/Two years Master in GEOSCIENCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Language(s) of instruction/examination
ITALIAN, ENGLISH
Skills associated with the function
Geologist
Graduates of the Second-Cycle Degree in Geosciences for Sustainable Development will be able to work in the fields of:
- planning, construction management, testing, and monitoring of geological interventions to protect the territory;
- geognostic and geophysical investigations to explore the subsoil for the definition of the appropriate geological-technical model and the geological hazard;
- basic and thematic geological cartography, including computer cartography and territorial information systems;
- geological exploration of the subsoil for the retrieval, exploitation, storage, and protection of energy and non-energy geological resources;
- environmental impact assessment studies (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA);
- assessment of natural hazards;
- drafting plans, with regard to geological tools, for urban planning, the territory, the environment, and georesources together with the relative safeguard measures;
- analysis, recovery, and management of degraded sites and abandoned extraction sites through the analysis and modeling of geo-environmental processes and the related design, management, testing, and monitoring activities;
- research, characterization, and restoration of geomaterials of industrial and commercial interest;
- assessment and prevention of the degradation of the cultural and environmental heritage and its conservation and enhancement.
Graduates of the Second-Cycle Degree in Geosciences for Sustainable Development will be able to work in the fields of:
- planning, construction management, testing, and monitoring of geological interventions to protect the territory;
- geognostic and geophysical investigations to explore the subsoil for the definition of the appropriate geological-technical model and the geological hazard;
- basic and thematic geological cartography, including computer cartography and territorial information systems;
- geological exploration of the subsoil for the retrieval, exploitation, storage, and protection of energy and non-energy geological resources;
- environmental impact assessment studies (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA);
- assessment of natural hazards;
- drafting plans, with regard to geological tools, for urban planning, the territory, the environment, and georesources together with the relative safeguard measures;
- analysis, recovery, and management of degraded sites and abandoned extraction sites through the analysis and modeling of geo-environmental processes and the related design, management, testing, and monitoring activities;
- research, characterization, and restoration of geomaterials of industrial and commercial interest;
- assessment and prevention of the degradation of the cultural and environmental heritage and its conservation and enhancement.
Function in a work context
Geologist
The aim is to provide graduates with the necessary skills to find a job in the main fields of application of geology, with particular reference to: (i) geology applied to civil engineering, (ii) the research, storage, and sustainable use regarding fossil geological energy resources (hydrocarbons, gas in particular) and renewable resources (geothermal); (iii) environmental geology, land management, and planning; (iv) the retrieval, evaluation, including economic, and management of georesources, including water and geomaterials of industrial and commercial interest. These professional roles respond to the needs of Italian society as explained in the document titled "The Geology Market in Italy" drawn up in November 2009 by the National Council of Geologists and the Economic and Social Market Research Center for Construction and the Territory, as well as the needs of the international market.
Furthermore, graduates will be able to respond to many of the challenging actions proposed by the UN 2030 Agenda. Geologists, thanks to their knowledge of the Earth, can contribute to the sustainable management of both surface and groundwater (SDG # 4, 12), to energy supply (# 7), to the development of sustainable cities and communities (# 11), the mitigation and adaptation to climate change (# 13), and the protection of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity (# 14; 15). Professional roles also include the ability to translate this knowledge into tools to inform policy makers.
Regarding fossil energy resources, it should be noted that these are still the most prevalent type of energy source and, worldwide, it is expected they will remain so at least until 2050, the time limit of the current forecasts (World Energy Outlook 2020, source: International Energy Agency) albeit with strong variations in the balance of the various sources in favor of gas compared to coal and oil, with a view toward the progressive decarbonization of energy sources to combat man-made climate changes. In this context, a strong growth in underground gas storage activities is also expected (not only methane, but also hydrogen and possibly carbon dioxide) with the consequent predictable use of geological skills for the underground models necessary for the correct management of the storage sites. Graduates will also have the necessary skills for the following job opportunities: (i) geology to support insurance companies in the assessment of geological risks; (ii) forensic geology; (iii) tourism (geosites).
The aim is to provide graduates with the necessary skills to find a job in the main fields of application of geology, with particular reference to: (i) geology applied to civil engineering, (ii) the research, storage, and sustainable use regarding fossil geological energy resources (hydrocarbons, gas in particular) and renewable resources (geothermal); (iii) environmental geology, land management, and planning; (iv) the retrieval, evaluation, including economic, and management of georesources, including water and geomaterials of industrial and commercial interest. These professional roles respond to the needs of Italian society as explained in the document titled "The Geology Market in Italy" drawn up in November 2009 by the National Council of Geologists and the Economic and Social Market Research Center for Construction and the Territory, as well as the needs of the international market.
Furthermore, graduates will be able to respond to many of the challenging actions proposed by the UN 2030 Agenda. Geologists, thanks to their knowledge of the Earth, can contribute to the sustainable management of both surface and groundwater (SDG # 4, 12), to energy supply (# 7), to the development of sustainable cities and communities (# 11), the mitigation and adaptation to climate change (# 13), and the protection of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity (# 14; 15). Professional roles also include the ability to translate this knowledge into tools to inform policy makers.
Regarding fossil energy resources, it should be noted that these are still the most prevalent type of energy source and, worldwide, it is expected they will remain so at least until 2050, the time limit of the current forecasts (World Energy Outlook 2020, source: International Energy Agency) albeit with strong variations in the balance of the various sources in favor of gas compared to coal and oil, with a view toward the progressive decarbonization of energy sources to combat man-made climate changes. In this context, a strong growth in underground gas storage activities is also expected (not only methane, but also hydrogen and possibly carbon dioxide) with the consequent predictable use of geological skills for the underground models necessary for the correct management of the storage sites. Graduates will also have the necessary skills for the following job opportunities: (i) geology to support insurance companies in the assessment of geological risks; (ii) forensic geology; (iii) tourism (geosites).
Specific educational objectives of the course of study
The proposed course is an advanced level educational project that updates the current course. In fact, a course of study cannot be a static entity but must evolve over time to train professionals with in-depth interdisciplinary knowledge so that they can face the ever-new challenges that society imposes and enter the constantly evolving world of work, even in positions of responsibility. The proposed project refers to:
- the contribution that geological sciences can make to an environmental management based on the cornerstones of sustainable development, while protecting society from geological risks and the effects of climate change;
- the sustainable use of land resources, including sources of energy supply;
- knowledge and modeling of the functioning of the Earth and its reactions to man-made disturbances as a necessary basis for guiding the sustainable development of human society;
- the ability to describe, monitor, and sustainably manage complex natural systems with regard to geological aspects;
- the definition and management of territorial monitoring systems using technological innovations in the field of remote data acquisition.
The course structure, which may be divided into various curricula, is aimed at producing an in-depth scientific preparation in the disciplines necessary for the treatment of the Earth system regarding its theoretical, experimental, and technical-applicative aspects, as well as an overall growth of awareness, knowledge, and familiarity with the main applications of the Earth Sciences in the different sectors of interest of society, all of which are appropriate to a second level degree. The course of studies is designed to stimulate a multidisciplinary preparation while trying, in accordance with the educational objectives of this class of degree, to encourage contact with the main professional fields comprising the Earth Sciences. The teaching methods of the courses are mainly the conventional ones for geological sciences, such as lectures and exercises, both in the classroom, the laboratory, and in the field. The latter is an integral part of most of the courses offered and constitutes an important completion of the theoretical treatment through the direct observation in nature of geological systems and processes. The course of study provides for a good deal of the courses to be held in English, since the profession of geologist and companies working in the geological field are increasingly international in nature as an inevitable consequence of global economic trends and the evolution of the labor market. Therefore, it is essential that students improve their understanding and use of English, especially in the professional field, through the acquisition of vocabulary specific to the discipline.
- the contribution that geological sciences can make to an environmental management based on the cornerstones of sustainable development, while protecting society from geological risks and the effects of climate change;
- the sustainable use of land resources, including sources of energy supply;
- knowledge and modeling of the functioning of the Earth and its reactions to man-made disturbances as a necessary basis for guiding the sustainable development of human society;
- the ability to describe, monitor, and sustainably manage complex natural systems with regard to geological aspects;
- the definition and management of territorial monitoring systems using technological innovations in the field of remote data acquisition.
The course structure, which may be divided into various curricula, is aimed at producing an in-depth scientific preparation in the disciplines necessary for the treatment of the Earth system regarding its theoretical, experimental, and technical-applicative aspects, as well as an overall growth of awareness, knowledge, and familiarity with the main applications of the Earth Sciences in the different sectors of interest of society, all of which are appropriate to a second level degree. The course of studies is designed to stimulate a multidisciplinary preparation while trying, in accordance with the educational objectives of this class of degree, to encourage contact with the main professional fields comprising the Earth Sciences. The teaching methods of the courses are mainly the conventional ones for geological sciences, such as lectures and exercises, both in the classroom, the laboratory, and in the field. The latter is an integral part of most of the courses offered and constitutes an important completion of the theoretical treatment through the direct observation in nature of geological systems and processes. The course of study provides for a good deal of the courses to be held in English, since the profession of geologist and companies working in the geological field are increasingly international in nature as an inevitable consequence of global economic trends and the evolution of the labor market. Therefore, it is essential that students improve their understanding and use of English, especially in the professional field, through the acquisition of vocabulary specific to the discipline.