SCIENZE BIOLOGICHE

The Degree Programme in Biological Sciences aims to provide students with the knowledge and professional skills required both for direct entry into the labour market and for further studies (Master’s Degree Programmes and first-level Master’s programmes).
The educational objectives of the programme enable graduates to acquire basic knowledge and applied skills in the field of biological sciences, with particular focus on the following areas:
- biological mechanisms and anatomical and physiological aspects of living organisms, including plants, animals, and humans, as well as the environmental and ecological processes governing ecosystems and biodiversity;
- techniques and methodologies for instrumental analysis (biomedical, biotechnological, biochemical, food-related, and veterinary), with multidisciplinary applications in productive activities and public and private laboratories;
- control and management procedures in all fields involving the use of living organisms and their components, as well as the study of their interactions for the assessment of environmental impact;
- the development of skills and tools for scientific communication and information management, for working in multidisciplinary teams, and for the continuous updating of knowledge and competences.
The programme includes foundational courses in mathematical and statistical, physical, and chemical-biochemical disciplines, which are essential for understanding biological phenomena and for acquiring proficiency in the related scientific methodologies and techniques. The programme is organised over three years, in which foundational courses progressively complement and integrate the more specifically biological knowledge and skills. In order to develop and further explore specific topics within the biological sciences and to enhance the knowledge and skills of future graduates, the Degree Programme offers students the opportunity to choose among curricular options which, within the framework outlined above, provide different levels of specialisation in areas related to biomolecular and biomedical fields or to ecological and environmental conservation aspects. Graduates will thus be able to apply the knowledge acquired across different areas of biological sciences, addressing the needs of the academic, cultural, and professional environments in which they intend to operate. In addition to the theoretical component delivered online (through synchronous and asynchronous teaching activities, including both instructional and interactive learning), the programme includes practical exercises structured as in-person laboratory activities, as well as a training internship to be carried out in suitable facilities operating in the field of biological sciences (laboratories, institutions, and companies in the biochemical, biotechnological, bioecological, food-related, and other relevant sectors). The internship provides students with an initial and constructive opportunity to interact with the professional world. The study plan also includes the acquisition of computer skills and the development of English language proficiency to support self-directed learning and the enhancement of communication skills in scientific contexts. The acquisition of the required competences will be assessed through final and ongoing written and/or oral examinations, as well as through the completion of a final project on a topic related to the student’s field of study. Each course is concluded with an assessment that is graded on a scale of thirty. The same approach may also be adopted for other supplementary teaching activities and laboratory work, which may be assessed on a pass/fail basis.