Università degli Studi di Parma

il mondo che ti aspetta
  • italian version
Second cycle degree

GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES

COD. 5042
WEBSITE
A.Y. 2014/2015
CLASS:
LM-74 - Classe delle lauree magistrali in Scienze e tecnologie geologiche
Years of study: 2
Credits (CFU): 120
Mode of study: full-time
COURSE WITHOUT ADMISSION TEST

8 places available for non UE citizens, including 3 places reserved for Chinese citizens

  • ENROLMENT: from July 28 to October 24, 2014

Department of Physics and Earth Sciences "Macedonio Melloni"

COURSE STRUCTURE DIAGRAM WITH CREDITS

CORSO GENERICO (curriculum)

Year of study: 1

Year of study: 2

Profile of the programme

The second cycle Degree LM-74 is designed to provide the knowledge and abilities needed for the acquisition of a high-level academic and technical-professional profile in the field of Earth Sciences, with immediate opportunities in the workplace. The programme is formulated in a way to combine the academic and technical-professional aspects of Geological Sciences necessary for acquiring the essential ability of analysis and synthesis which are the foundation of all scientific research and professional work in Geological sciences.
To this end, training is completed with experimental work in the field and in the laboratory for gathering, implementing and processing data, often translated into geological-morphological cartography through the use of GIS applications.
The programme is designed so that graduates, through a training internship and thesis preparation, will receive theoretical-practical training in fields related to various aspects of applied researches in the Department, thus learning about:
- geognostic, geotechnical and geomorphological prospecting techniques applied to the dynamic evolution of the territory in terms of hydrogeological risk and slope stability as a function of interventions and civil engineering works;
- underground hydrodynamics and solutions for the safety and reclamation of contaminated sites with the involvement of geochemical knowledge for the assessment of water quality and of the interaction processes between hydrosphere-geosphere and biosphere;
- spatial-temporal evolution of sedimentary geological bodies in relation to the geodynamic and structural evolution of the substrate and identification of the bio-climactic factors involved in geological reconstructions of the past, as a function also of the location of some geological resources and their exploitation;
- geochemical, mineralogical and petrographical processes typical of the different geodynamic habitats and geochemistry applied to geological and biological materials and to paleoclimatology studies;
- mineralogical-petrographical and physical-mechanical characterization of geological materials through the use of standard and innovative laboratory techniques.
Graduates can continue their studies at second-level Master’s or Doctorate courses in the field of Earth Sciences offered at universities in Italy and abroad.
As far as career opportunities are concerned, the experience and education acquired will allow graduates to meet the requirements in different public and private sectors looking for specific advanced training, or to work in private practice, after passing the State Exam (Geologist – Sec. A).

Admission requirements

Access to the Second Cycle Degree course in Geological Sciences and Technologies (LM-74) is unlimited. Admission to the degree course is subject to possession of the academic requirements and suitable personal competence. These shall be assessed by an Educational Board, appointed by the Unified Council of Degree Courses in Geological Sciences and comprising at least three members. In order to access the second cycle Degree course in Geological Sciences and Technologies (LM-74) it is necessary to hold at least one of the following qualifications:
-first level Degree qualification in Geological Sciences (Category 16) (Ministerial Decree 509/99 or L-34 as per Ministerial Decree 270/04) or similar subjects: or Ministerial Decree 270/04: L-32 Environmental and natural sciences and technologies, L-25 Agricultural and forestry sciences and technologies, L-7 Civil and environmental Engineering and 20 Agricultural, agri-food and forestry sciences and technologies; or Ministerial Decree 509/99: Cat. 27 Natural Sciences/ Environmental science and technologies for the territory and the productive system, Category 8 Environmental and territorial engineering; or the equivalent qualification obtained abroad and deemed suitable, in accordance with the laws in force.
- University degree certificate from a course with a duration of at least three years.
The LM-74 Second Cycle Degree course presumes knowledge in the basic Earth Science subjects, mastery of technical terminology, IT skills and knowledge of English as well as geological terminology. For graduates in Geological Sciences, Category 16 (Ministerial Decree 509/99 or L-34 as per Ministerial Decree 270/04), the academic requisites and personal competence are recognised by the Educational Board appointed by the University Council. They are admitted without need for additional credits, except where obligatory examinations stipulated in the course regulations already sat during the three-year degree are replaced with other examinations in the same field.
For graduates with a qualification that differs to those mentioned above (category 16 and L-34), the Educational Board will assess the suitability of the academic requirements and personal competence with an interview. For graduates in categories similar to Geological Sciences the academic requirements call for a minimum of the following to be acquired:
- 21 University credits in sectors MAT/01-09, FIS/01-08, CHIM/01-12 and INF/01 divided as follows: 6 University credits in MAT, 6 University credits in FIS, 6 University credits in CHIM and 3 University credits in INF; - 50 University credits including at least three of the GEO areas of the L-34 degree course (GEO/01-03, GEO/04-05, GEO/06-09 and GEO/10-12 and FIS/06). For qualifications obtained in line with the curriculums in force prior to Ministerial Decree 509/991, the Educational Board shall examine applications on a case-by-case basis and assess them to ensure they comply with the academic requirements for accessing the LM-74 Degree Course. Assessment for admission can result in one of the following outcomes:
a) unconditional enrolment in the LM-74 Degree Course;
b) request for the University credits listed by the Educational Board to be obtained;
c) non acceptance, with appropriate reason provided, of the admission application.
In the event that educational deficits should be recognised for the student, these must be recuperated prior to enrolment in the LM-74 second cycle Degree course. These may be recuperated by enrolling in individual courses and subsequently passing them (for information please consult the University course regulations). The calendar of interviews conducted to validate enrolment will be available from the Earth Sciences Centre and on the website: http://scienzegeologiche.unipr.it

Key learning outcomes

The course content of the Second Cycle Degree Course follows a path which aims to combine cultural and technical-professional aspects of the geological Sciences. The objective is to give graduates the ability to analyse and summarise data which are vital both in scientific research and the professional sphere. To this end, training is completed with experimental work in the field and in the laboratory by gathering, implementing and processing data, which is usually translated into cartographic, geological and morphological data or thematic data using GIS applications. The training given in the Course through a period of internship and work on the thesis forming an integral part of the research undertaken in the Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, allow students to achieve thorough theoretical and practical knowledge in fields related to:
-the morpho-dynamic evolution of the territory, producing geological and geothematic maps, including with the use of GIS applications;
- geology and geomorphology applied to an understanding of the hydrogeological risk and slope instability;
- technical geology applied to constructions and slope stability, using techniques in geognostic prospecting and subsoil geophysics;
- analysis of underground hydrodynamics and the solutions adopted for recovering contaminated sites and rendering them safe;
-assessing the hazardousness of seism-genetic structures and the geological factors which trigger or inhibit seismic events;
- assessing the dynamics and the quality of water and the interaction processes between hydrosphere-geosphere and biosphere;
- the geological and structural evolution of sedimentary bodies and their modelling, also in respect of the geo-resources found in the subsoil;
- integrated sedimentology and stratigraphy analyses of the sedimentary basins for palaeogeographic, palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstructions;
- methods for conducting geological and geophysical exploration of the subsoil in order to find fluid resources (water and fuels);
- the geochemical, mineralogical and petrological processes that characterise different geodynamic environments;
- how the physical and mechanical characteristics of rocks are determined, and qualification of the product;
- mineralogical and petrographical characterisation of materials using innovative analysis techniques;
-geochemistry applied to geological materials and the fields of palaeoclimatology.
Checks to assess the knowledge and degree of understanding may be conducted adopting a variety of assessment means, including oral tests, interviews, written reports and tests, carried out during and at the end of the educational activities, traineeships and the final examination. The Course also aims to provide suitable competences for conveying and distributing current geological knowledge and exercising a wide range of professional activities. From this standpoint, external training in the form of internships in companies, professional studios, public authorities, laboratories and study trips in other Universities (both in Italy and abroad) as part of international cultural exchanges all play an important role.

Final examination, if any

The final examination for obtaining the second cycle Degree in Geological Sciences and Technologies consists of an original experimental thesis drafted by the student under the guidance of a speaker and presented in the form of a written report. The final examination involves a period of research conducted in the field and/or laboratory work and/or a traineeship/internship in companies or professional studios, whether public or private, during which the student can acquire knowledge of the experimental method, of the instruments of analysis and the techniques used to analyse and process data, as well as for interpreting them. Finally, a written project must be drafted, and the experimental task must be discussed in the presence of a counter-speaker and a relevant Board appointed by the Director of the Department of Physics and Earth Sciences. The thesis may be written in Italian and in English.