Characteristics and objectives

The aim of this Master’s degree is to acquire the cultural and technical background that is necessary to perform professional and research work in all fields of the geosciences in a multidisciplinary framework. Specific attention is dedicated to fostering the critical evaluation of data sets and models, as well as to developing adequate skills for the rigorous and effective communication of the results.

Given the vast scientific and professional realm of the geosciences, the Master’s degree is organized in two study tracks. One in “Earth Dynamics”, which is taught in English, and one in “Geological applications for environmental and hazard protection”, which is mostly in Italian. This in order to allow the student to deepen her/his knowledge in specific disciplines, coherently with the thesis she/he will develop in the second semester of the second year.

Periods of study abroad are envisaged and promoted within international programs (ERASMUS+, ERASMUS Traineeship, and SEMP for Switzerland), and agreements with other European universities. The Department of Geosciences is presently committed in international fluxes with the Universities of Frankfurt, Aachen, Bonn, Barcelona, Granada, Vigo, Budapest, Paris-Sorbonne, Nantes, Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Helsinki, Tromsø, Aarhus, Zurich – ETH, Geneve

Career Opportunities

Graduates in Environmental Geology and Earth Dynamics can work as geologists in private companies and public agencies or as free-lance consultants and professional geologists (after an exam, they can enroll in the Italian Ordine Nazionale dei Geologi, 'sezione A'). They can develop managerial careers in the energy industry and in national and multinational corporations and NGOs with a focus on, e.g., environment, water resources, sustainability, hazard management and protection, land planning. They can teach in the Italian Secondary School, following the procedures prescribed by the law.

The Master’s degree provides a sound basis for accessing Ph.D. courses in high-profile research universities worldwide.