Abstract (da tradurre): La Sezione di Scienze della Terra del Dipartimento.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
At the University of Siena (Tuscany, Italy) two Degree courses in Geological Sciences are currently active: A bachelor degree, (duration three years) to be carried out after the diploma of secondary education, and a Master of
Science (duration two years), to be frequented after acquiring the bachelor's degree. Both degree courses are delivered at the Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences (via Laterina, 8, 53100, Siena).
The bachelor degree
The Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences gives 180 credits 168 of which earned by passing 17 exams, a test of English language proficiency and a final exam (thesis). The course provides a fundamental knowledge in various fields of Earth Sciences and insights in specific professional areas. The learning activities include lectures, tutorials, field and laboratory internships at public and private facilities and stays in Italian and foreign universities.
The degree program is structured as follows:
- 1st YEAR: Mathematics and Statistics, General Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Paleontology, Mineralogy, English.
- 2nd YEAR: Geophysics, Petrology, Geochemistry, Geological Survey and Mapping, Geomorphology, course to be choosen by the student.
- 3rd YEAR: Engineering Geology, Multidisciplinary laboratory, Field Geological Survey, Courses to be chosen by the student, Applied Training, Thesis.
The course utilizes the laboratories and facilities of the Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Earth Sciences section). Employment opportunities are related to public administrations, companies and professional firms (prevention of geological and environmental risks, exploitation of natural raw materials, water management, etc).
Master of Science
The degree program consist of 120 * Credits (CFU) 78 of which earned by passing 10 examinations, 3 credits for English language, 15 credits for internship and 24 credits for the final exam (thesis). The course is comparable to a course of Master of Science (M.Sc).
The curriculum provides a series of "common activities" common to all students during the first year (I and II semester), consisting in 7 courses that include Applied Geochemistry, Geology technique, Applied Geophysics, Earth Resources, Planning, prospecting stratigraphic-structural and Applied Geomorphology.
During the second year the student has only to choose at least one out of the following courses: Analysis of slope stability; Seismic Hazard; Environmental Hydrogeology; Applied Petrography; Geology of hydrocarbons, geothermal, Geoarchaeology and Geopedology; Earth System and Global Change; Geomechanical Analysis, Structural Geology, Mineralogy.
During the second year, to characterize the training the student can undertake various programs (informally referred to as the "Addresses"), through the choice of 2 advanced courses in various disciplines which include Geological and Paleontological Disciplines, Applied Geomorphology and Geology, Geophysics.
The advanced geological, palaeontological and, mineralogical courses are aimed at providing a higher preparation in these fields.
A training course ("address") within these areas is primarily aimed at those students wishing to deepen their knowledge on the general issues of Earth Sciences, but at the same time do not exclude to acquire a high preparation in specific applied courses (eg, Conservation of Monuments, Prospecting, Environmental Management, etc.). It is a great training program for students who wish to have a future commitment in the PhD.
The Applied Geology, Geomorphology and Geophysics include specialized courses aimed at providing a high preparation oriented mainly to the profession’s as a geologist. Choosing a training course ("address") within these areas, students will have the opportunity to deepen the knowledge on Geological Hazards, Hydrology, Remote Sensing, Evaluation of Slope Instability. Stages to be performed at university laboratories and / or professional offices, businesses, and technical areas of public administration and the final exam (thesis) allow the student to complete his training.
* Any training activities (teaching, laboratory, internship or thesis) is equivalent to a certain number of credits. The university credits (CFU) is used to quantify the work of student learning and is calculated by taking into account both the hours of indoor learning activities, that the hours of individual study performed by the student. 1 CFU corresponds to a total of 25 hours. The relationship between the number of hours allocated to teaching in the classroom on the 25-hour total of a university credit is different for each study. All students who pass an exam earn the credits assigned to a specific exam (i.e. 12 credits). However, the final quotation depends from the different evaluation obtained, by a student during the exam of a single course which can vary, from 18/30 to 30/30 cum laude. So, passing the exam itself, all students accrue the same number of credits, but they can achieve different valuations.
