Laurea (First cycle degree/Bachelor - 180 ECTS) in Political, social and international sciences

The degree programme in Political, social and international science aims to provide a strong and interdisciplinary grounding in law, economics, political science, sociology, statistics and history. Following a common curriculum for the first two years, in the third year students may choose an area of specialisation from the subjects running at the faculty, also gaining direct experience useful for entering into the world of work.

The aim is to provide all students with foundation skills in political sciences, methodological and quantitative studies and to develop their oral and written communication abilities. Students have also the opportunity to learn language skills through two foreign language course units and a number of specific thematic activities offered by the faculty. At the end of the programmes students will be able to autonomously decide on their own personal study programme.

The third year focuses on specific thematic areas. The study of political, institutional and organisational dynamics of contemporary society is developed through the analysis and interpretation of the formal rules which govern decision-making processes in modern political systems. Particular focus is placed on the analysis of organisations working in different institutional frameworks: businesses, public organisations, political parties, interest groups and associations. Social phenomena and transformation are studied focusing on sociological theories in the fields of communication, social security and deviance, the territory and the environment, family and employment.

International relations are examined by analysing the relational models of different national and supranational normative frameworks. To this regard political and institutional organisations in different parts of the world are taken into account in depth. Theoretical and analytical economic tools are studied to understand how markets, businesses and financial institutions work, as well as the role of economic policy and its influence on the choices of the economic system. In order to provide appropriate skills for understanding the distinctive features of local and global development, the relations between areas with different levels of wellbeing are compared with an eye to their long-term growth in different local, national and international systems.

Students also have the possibility to directly experience company dynamics, particularly in the field of human resources, management control and marketing. The basic elements of these subjects, taught within workshops preparing students for the internship, are set against the broader background of knowledge acquired in years 1 and 2.

Knowledge and understanding:

To know and understand the basic concepts, theoretical and methodological foundations and inter-disciplinary connections between the following sectors: law, economics, politics, sociology and international history.

To possess the tools required to analyse social phenomena, decision-making processes and organisational models, international relations and political organisation within contemporary society, placing them in the appropriate historical contexts.

To possess in-depth knowledge of at least one specific area of political and social sciences: Politics and organisation, sociology, economics and international history.

The knowledge and understanding are achieved through active participation in lectures, seminars, guided self-study and individual analysis. Assessment of the achievement of the described learning outcomes shall be mainly through: oral and written exams, the production of written assignments and relative oral presentation.

Applying knowledge and understanding

- are able to apply general knowledge of economic, social, political and organisational problems as well as specific practical projects being aware of the choice among appropriate theoretical approaches and methods

– are able to analyse texts and documents and other historical, legal and socio-economic sources;

- acquire basic methodological tools and the fundamental techniques of quantitative and qualitative analysis to carry out empirical research in social sciences, also using computing skills including knowledge of specific applications.

The above understanding and knowledge is achieved through: the critical study of texts proposed for self-study, stimulated by classroom activities, the research of case studies presented by academics and experts from different professional areas, individual and/or group projects related in particular to seminar activities and/or during the internship and through the preparation of the final examination.

Assessments take the form of written and oral exams, the production of written assignments and their relative oral presentation. During the internship, students will be assessed through a report presented by the students and the tutor.

Making judgements

- are able to autonomously analyse and report on social, economic, financial, demoscopic, demographic, institutional database also using the whole package of ITC tools, in the increasingly wide panorama of information made available by a large number of bodies, institutes and specialist agencies and organisations (surveys, statistics...)

- are able to gather elements and information in a given organisational field in order to analyse, assess and review work organisation processes, models and relational channels with other organisations

- know and apply sociological research and the main quanti-qualitative surveying and data processing techniques used in social research

- are able to integrate their own knowledge and analysis methods and use computing and statistical tools to read and use databases and indicators produced by national and international organisations.

Judgement skills are developed in particular through critical debate with lecturers ad colleagues during seminars and workshops and the production of written assignments which underline the adopted methodologies.

Judgement skills are assessed through the learning activities followed individually during the study programme and the students' ability to work autonomously as well as in groups during the activities assigned in preparation of the final examination and the internship.

Communication skills

- are able to produce analyses and written reports, explaining the main results of their own research in different areas;

- have a command of subjects of varying complexity, adapting communicative registers and contents to suit different interlocutors.

- will also be able to effectively communicate in two foreign languages including English (to at least level B1 on the international standard) in written and oral form, for acquiring and exchanging information;

Written and oral communication skills are developed in particular during seminars and learning activities which also require the production and oral presentation of written assignments.

Communication skills are also acquired through internships (including the production of a final report) and during the production and discussion of a dissertation for the final examination.

Communication skills are assessed through the students' ability to present and discuss topics during learning activities and seminars, the internship and the final examination, as well as written reports and assignments produced during individual activities.

Learning skills

- are able to autonomously identify the tools required to study and keep abreast of their subject areas, also through the knowledge of foreign languages;

- are able to responsibly and autonomously choose the appropriate learning paths and specific career opportunities.

Learning skills are acquired throughout the study period, particularly concerning self-study, the production of individual projects, the internship and the critical debate with lecturers and other students during seminars and workshops.

Learning skills are assessed continuously during the learning activities also through tutoring activities for the internship and the assessment of self-learning skills developed during the activities in preparation of the final examination.