Environmental Science and Policy
Environmental Science and Policy
Course sheet
A.Y. 2024/2025
Bachelor
L-32 - Environmental sciences
The course aims to achieve the following objectives:
- the transmission to students of a systemic culture related to the natural and human environment;
- the training of graduates able to use the good practices of scientific methods and have adequate theoretical knowledge and operational skills to analyze, interpret and explain environmental phenomena and processes, and to face and solve complex problems that arise in this area;
- the preparation of graduates able to read environmental issues on several levels, using a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach;
- the training of graduates able to operate autonomously, to work in a group and to mage operational situations into the workplace;
- the preparation of graduates able to use at least one European Union language in addition to Italian, in relation to the specific context of reference;
- the provision of cognitive tools that allow graduates to immediately understand the work and professional contexts or to continue their studies in master's programs (first level) or master's degree courses.
- the transmission to students of a systemic culture related to the natural and human environment;
- the training of graduates able to use the good practices of scientific methods and have adequate theoretical knowledge and operational skills to analyze, interpret and explain environmental phenomena and processes, and to face and solve complex problems that arise in this area;
- the preparation of graduates able to read environmental issues on several levels, using a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach;
- the training of graduates able to operate autonomously, to work in a group and to mage operational situations into the workplace;
- the preparation of graduates able to use at least one European Union language in addition to Italian, in relation to the specific context of reference;
- the provision of cognitive tools that allow graduates to immediately understand the work and professional contexts or to continue their studies in master's programs (first level) or master's degree courses.
On the basis of the knowledge, skills and abilities acquired, the graduates of the degree course in Environmental Sciences and Policies will be able to aspire to qualified jobs in companies and private organizations, active - both in the regional context, as well as in the national or international context - in all branches and in all sectors of industry and services for which the relationship with environmental problems in their multiple forms is fundamental (from the energy industry to the agro-food industry, from the green economy to consultancy services companies, companies in the preparation of environmental and social budgets, from companies that provide environmental impact forecasts to those that provide landscape and territorial planning services). They will also be able to aspire to qualified jobs in the public administration bodies, whose involvement in the control and management of environmental problems and in the implementation of interventions and regulatory policies in this area, again at all levels (local, regional, national and supranational), is becoming more and more pressing, pervasive and ask for experts able to combine robust knowledge and skills in the natural sciences with competences and operational skills in the management and legal field.
Examples of the professional profiles, for which the course prepares, are:
- Environmental manager in agribusiness, energy sector, firms of the green economy
- Expert in analysis and monitoring of natural resources;
- Expert in resource protection and management of rural environments;
- Expert in spatial analysis and environmental impact studies;
- Environmental specialist
Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
Examples of the professional profiles, for which the course prepares, are:
- Environmental manager in agribusiness, energy sector, firms of the green economy
- Expert in analysis and monitoring of natural resources;
- Expert in resource protection and management of rural environments;
- Expert in spatial analysis and environmental impact studies;
- Environmental specialist
Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
Within ERASMUS+ program many agreements with international universities specializing in teaching and research on environmental issues. have been build up.
Among these, some examples of agreements include the Universities of Genève (CH), Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen (DE), the Agricultural University of Athens (GR), the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek (HR), the Wageningen University (NE), the University of Helsinki (FI) and the University of Agder (NO).
During the study period Erasmus students will attend both classes and exams, and they can also conduct research for their dissertation. The student admitted to the mobility program must submit a proposed study plan that includes the educational activities he or she plans to carry out abroad. The number of CFUs in the proposed plan should, as far as possible, correspond to those the student would acquire in an equivalent period at his or her own university. The proposed activities, chosen within the framework of the educational activities of the host university, should be consistent with the educational project of the degree program. The proposed plan must be submitted to the Graduate Course Erasmus Committee for approval. Where deficiencies are found in the core courses, the Commission may ask the student to supplement the syllabus of one or more courses taken at the host University with an exam to be conducted at his or her own University on an agreed supplementary syllabus. At the end of the mobility program, in compliance with the University guidelines, the passed exams present in the approved study plan will be recorded in the student's career under the original name of the course in the host foreign university. The relevant ECTS credits will be converted into CFUs; the grade reported will be expressed in thirtieths.
Among these, some examples of agreements include the Universities of Genève (CH), Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen (DE), the Agricultural University of Athens (GR), the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek (HR), the Wageningen University (NE), the University of Helsinki (FI) and the University of Agder (NO).
During the study period Erasmus students will attend both classes and exams, and they can also conduct research for their dissertation. The student admitted to the mobility program must submit a proposed study plan that includes the educational activities he or she plans to carry out abroad. The number of CFUs in the proposed plan should, as far as possible, correspond to those the student would acquire in an equivalent period at his or her own university. The proposed activities, chosen within the framework of the educational activities of the host university, should be consistent with the educational project of the degree program. The proposed plan must be submitted to the Graduate Course Erasmus Committee for approval. Where deficiencies are found in the core courses, the Commission may ask the student to supplement the syllabus of one or more courses taken at the host University with an exam to be conducted at his or her own University on an agreed supplementary syllabus. At the end of the mobility program, in compliance with the University guidelines, the passed exams present in the approved study plan will be recorded in the student's career under the original name of the course in the host foreign university. The relevant ECTS credits will be converted into CFUs; the grade reported will be expressed in thirtieths.
Attendance is not compulsory, however attendance at didactic activities with laboratories, field activities, internships, etc. is strongly recommended.
Enrolment
Requirements and knowledge required for access
- high school diploma or equivalent foreign qualification pursuant to D.M. 270 of 22 October 2004.
Methods for verifying knowledge and personal preparation
- admission test
The admission provides a test for access "TOLC" (CISIA On Line Test).
In the first year are available 200 places.
The TOLC can be taken at the University of Milan or any other university belonging to the CISIA (Interuniversity Integrated Systems for Access Consortium). Registrations to the TOLC must be made on the CISIA website (https://www.cisiaonline.it).
- exam topics
The TOLC valid for the enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and Policies is the TOLC-S, which comprehends the following sections: basic mathematics (20 questions-50 minutes), reasoning and problems (10 questions-20 minutes), comprehension of the text (10 questions-20 minutes), basic sciences (10 questions-20 minutes).
Each question has 5 possible answers. Only one of these is correct. In the TOLC-S there is an additional section related to the evaluation of the English language, which consists of 30 questions to be completed in 15 minutes. The result of this part does not contribute to the score of the test.
The final score of the test is the result of the following rules:
+1 for each correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer, 0 for each answer not given.
+1 for each correct answer, 0 for each wrong or not given answer in the English section.
The students will be able to enroll on the basis of a ranking within the deadlines indicated in the announcements of admission.
- consult the admission notice and the following link: https://spa.cdl.unimi.it/it/iscriversi
Additional educational obligations and methods for recovery
Students who have not reached a score greater than or equal to 10 in the mathematics module will be assigned Additional Educational Obligations (OFA).
For students with OFA, support activities will be organized in the period October-December, and a final test.
In the absence of this evidence, the student will not be able to take any second-year exams before having passed the mathematics exam.
Information on the page https://spa.cdl.unimi.it/it/studiare/le-matricole
Access for transfer or for students who have already graduated
Students who are already enrolled in a degree course of the University of Milan, in another University or already graduated, can be exempted from the test only if they meet the necessary requirements to be admitted to second year. In specific, they must certify the acquisition of 30 credits, 9 of which can be validated for the mathematics exam.
For more details on the procedure, please refer to the admission announcement.
Students admitted to the first year must enroll by following the procedure described at the following link:
https://spa.cdl.unimi.it/it/iscriversi
- high school diploma or equivalent foreign qualification pursuant to D.M. 270 of 22 October 2004.
Methods for verifying knowledge and personal preparation
- admission test
The admission provides a test for access "TOLC" (CISIA On Line Test).
In the first year are available 200 places.
The TOLC can be taken at the University of Milan or any other university belonging to the CISIA (Interuniversity Integrated Systems for Access Consortium). Registrations to the TOLC must be made on the CISIA website (https://www.cisiaonline.it).
- exam topics
The TOLC valid for the enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and Policies is the TOLC-S, which comprehends the following sections: basic mathematics (20 questions-50 minutes), reasoning and problems (10 questions-20 minutes), comprehension of the text (10 questions-20 minutes), basic sciences (10 questions-20 minutes).
Each question has 5 possible answers. Only one of these is correct. In the TOLC-S there is an additional section related to the evaluation of the English language, which consists of 30 questions to be completed in 15 minutes. The result of this part does not contribute to the score of the test.
The final score of the test is the result of the following rules:
+1 for each correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer, 0 for each answer not given.
+1 for each correct answer, 0 for each wrong or not given answer in the English section.
The students will be able to enroll on the basis of a ranking within the deadlines indicated in the announcements of admission.
- consult the admission notice and the following link: https://spa.cdl.unimi.it/it/iscriversi
Additional educational obligations and methods for recovery
Students who have not reached a score greater than or equal to 10 in the mathematics module will be assigned Additional Educational Obligations (OFA).
For students with OFA, support activities will be organized in the period October-December, and a final test.
In the absence of this evidence, the student will not be able to take any second-year exams before having passed the mathematics exam.
Information on the page https://spa.cdl.unimi.it/it/studiare/le-matricole
Access for transfer or for students who have already graduated
Students who are already enrolled in a degree course of the University of Milan, in another University or already graduated, can be exempted from the test only if they meet the necessary requirements to be admitted to second year. In specific, they must certify the acquisition of 30 credits, 9 of which can be validated for the mathematics exam.
For more details on the procedure, please refer to the admission announcement.
Students admitted to the first year must enroll by following the procedure described at the following link:
https://spa.cdl.unimi.it/it/iscriversi
There was a problem and we are unable to view admissions information. Please try again later. If the problem persists, report the error to [email protected] specifying the page URL.
Programme description and courses list
First semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Foundations of Biology | 9 | 88 | Italian | BIO/06 |
Foundations of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry | 9 | 88 | Italian | CHIM/03 CHIM/06 |
Mathematics | 9 | 88 | Italian | MAT/01 MAT/02 MAT/03 MAT/04 MAT/05 MAT/06 MAT/07 MAT/08 MAT/09 |
Second semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Administrative and Environmental Law | 6 | 48 | Italian | IUS/10 |
Fundamentals of Earth Sciences | 9 | 80 | Italian | GEO/02 |
Physics | 6 | 64 | Italian | FIS/01 FIS/02 FIS/03 FIS/04 FIS/05 FIS/06 FIS/07 FIS/08 |
Probability, Statistics and Computer Science | 9 | 88 | Italian | INF/01 MAT/06 |
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
English Assessment B1 (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | English |
First semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Ecology | 9 | 80 | Italian | BIO/07 |
Microeconomics | 9 | 80 | Italian | SECS-P/01 |
Zoology | 9 | 80 | Italian | BIO/05 |
Second semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Botany | 9 | 80 | Italian | BIO/01 BIO/02 |
Environmental and Landscape Geology | 9 | 80 | Italian | GEO/05 |
Environmental Biochemistry and Microbiology | 6 | 48 | Italian | BIO/10 BIO/19 |
Environmental Economics | 6 | 48 | Italian | SECS-P/01 |
First semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Environmental Management | 6 | 48 | Italian | SECS-P/08 |
Natural Resources and Public Goods Economics and Policy | 6 | 48 | Italian | AGR/01 |
Optional | ||||
Agri-Food Policy and Environmental Sustainability | 6 | 48 | Italian | AGR/01 |
Environmental Sustainability of Intensive Breeding | 6 | 48 | Italian | AGR/10 |
Globalization and Environmental Policy | 6 | 48 | Italian | AGR/01 |
Sustainability of Food Production | 6 | 48 | Italian | AGR/15 |
Sustainable Innovation of Animal Nutrition | 6 | 56 | Italian | AGR/18 |
Second semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Administrative Law of Sustainable Development | 6 | 48 | Italian | IUS/10 |
Climate Change Economics and Policy | 6 | 48 | Italian | SECS-P/01 |
Marketing and Sustainability | 6 | 48 | Italian | SECS-P/07 SECS-P/08 |
First semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Lca - Life Cycle Assessment Laboratory | 3 | 24 | Italian | AGR/09 |
Second semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Excel Laboratory | 3 | 24 | Italian | |
Field Activities | 3 | 0 | Italian |
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Internship | 6 | 0 | Italian |
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Final Exam | 6 | 0 | Italian |
Study plan rules
- Choose 3 of the following courses:
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agri-Food Policy and Environmental Sustainability | 6 | 48 | Italian | First semester | AGR/01 |
Environmental Sustainability of Intensive Breeding | 6 | 48 | Italian | First semester | AGR/10 |
Globalization and Environmental Policy | 6 | 48 | Italian | First semester | AGR/01 |
Sustainability of Food Production | 6 | 48 | Italian | First semester | AGR/15 |
Sustainable Innovation of Animal Nutrition | 6 | 56 | Italian | First semester | AGR/18 |
Administrative Law of Sustainable Development | 6 | 48 | Italian | Second semester | IUS/10 |
Climate Change Economics and Policy | 6 | 48 | Italian | Second semester | SECS-P/01 |
Marketing and Sustainability | 6 | 48 | Italian | Second semester | SECS-P/07 SECS-P/08 |
- The student will have to acquire 18 credits among all the offered training activities and all the courses activated by the University, after evaluation by the tutor. The courses not already chosen among the curricula can be selected.
- The student must also acquire 3 credits by choosing one of the laboratories or field activities offered by the degree course.
Alternatively, students can choose a training activity in soft skills. For more details, see the following web page: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/soft-skills.
For the a.y. 24/25 the degree course offers the following laboratories or field activities:
Alternatively, students can choose a training activity in soft skills. For more details, see the following web page: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/soft-skills.
For the a.y. 24/25 the degree course offers the following laboratories or field activities:
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lca - Life Cycle Assessment Laboratory | 3 | 24 | Italian | First semester | AGR/09 |
Excel Laboratory | 3 | 24 | Italian | Second semester | |
Field Activities | 3 | 0 | Italian | Second semester |
- Field activities activated for a.y. 24/25 will be avaible on web site https://spa.cdl.unimi.it/it/insegnamenti
- During the second year, the student will have to attend the "Safety for field activities" course.
- The student must choose one of the two curricula: Curriculum A - Environmental Management and Sustainability; or Curriculum B - Environmental Sciences and Technologies. Then the student will have to choose 3 courses among those provided for the chosen Curriculum.
There are no prerequisites.
First semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Foundations of Biology | 9 | 88 | Italian | BIO/06 |
Foundations of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry | 9 | 88 | Italian | CHIM/03 CHIM/06 |
Mathematics | 9 | 88 | Italian | MAT/01 MAT/02 MAT/03 MAT/04 MAT/05 MAT/06 MAT/07 MAT/08 MAT/09 |
Second semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Administrative and Environmental Law | 6 | 48 | Italian | IUS/10 |
Fundamentals of Earth Sciences | 9 | 80 | Italian | GEO/02 |
Physics | 6 | 64 | Italian | FIS/01 FIS/02 FIS/03 FIS/04 FIS/05 FIS/06 FIS/07 FIS/08 |
Probability, Statistics and Computer Science | 9 | 88 | Italian | INF/01 MAT/06 |
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
English Assessment B1 (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | English |
First semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Ecology | 9 | 80 | Italian | BIO/07 |
Microeconomics | 9 | 80 | Italian | SECS-P/01 |
Zoology | 9 | 80 | Italian | BIO/05 |
Second semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Botany | 9 | 80 | Italian | BIO/01 BIO/02 |
Environmental and Landscape Geology | 9 | 80 | Italian | GEO/05 |
Environmental Biochemistry and Microbiology | 6 | 48 | Italian | BIO/10 BIO/19 |
Environmental Economics | 6 | 48 | Italian | SECS-P/01 |
First semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Environmental Management | 6 | 48 | Italian | SECS-P/08 |
Natural Resources and Public Goods Economics and Policy | 6 | 48 | Italian | AGR/01 |
Optional | ||||
Biodiversity Management and Conservation | 6 | 48 | Italian | BIO/05 |
Environmental Toxicology | 6 | 48 | Italian | BIO/14 |
Evolutionary Biology and Phylogeny | 6 | 48 | Italian | BIO/05 |
Foundations of Ecotoxicology | 6 | 48 | Italian | BIO/07 |
Human Health and Environmental Risk | 6 | 64 | English | MED/04 |
Second semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Applied Ecology | 6 | 48 | Italian | BIO/07 |
Climatology | 6 | 48 | Italian | GEO/04 |
Environmental Chemistry | 6 | 48 | Italian | CHIM/12 |
Environmental Genetics | 6 | 48 | Italian | BIO/18 |
Foundations of Physics for Environmental Sciences | 6 | 48 | Italian | FIS/06 FIS/07 |
First semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Lca - Life Cycle Assessment Laboratory | 3 | 24 | Italian | AGR/09 |
Second semester
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Excel Laboratory | 3 | 24 | Italian | |
Field Activities | 3 | 0 | Italian |
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Internship | 6 | 0 | Italian |
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Final Exam | 6 | 0 | Italian |
Study plan rules
- The student will have to acquire 18 credits among all the offered training activities and all the courses activated by the University, after evaluation by the tutor. The courses not already chosen among the curricula can be selected.
- The student must also acquire 3 credits by choosing one of the laboratories or field activities offered by the degree course.
Alternatively, students can choose a training activity in soft skills. For more details, see the following web page: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/soft-skills.
For the a.y. 24/25 the degree course offers the following laboratories or field activities:
Alternatively, students can choose a training activity in soft skills. For more details, see the following web page: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/soft-skills.
For the a.y. 24/25 the degree course offers the following laboratories or field activities:
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lca - Life Cycle Assessment Laboratory | 3 | 24 | Italian | First semester | AGR/09 |
Excel Laboratory | 3 | 24 | Italian | Second semester | |
Field Activities | 3 | 0 | Italian | Second semester |
- Field activities activated for a.y. 24/25 will be avaible on web site https://spa.cdl.unimi.it/it/insegnamenti
- Choose 3 of the following courses:
Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biodiversity Management and Conservation | 6 | 48 | Italian | First semester | BIO/05 |
Environmental Toxicology | 6 | 48 | Italian | First semester | BIO/14 |
Evolutionary Biology and Phylogeny | 6 | 48 | Italian | First semester | BIO/05 |
Foundations of Ecotoxicology | 6 | 48 | Italian | First semester | BIO/07 |
Human Health and Environmental Risk | 6 | 64 | English | First semester | MED/04 |
Applied Ecology | 6 | 48 | Italian | Second semester | BIO/07 |
Climatology | 6 | 48 | Italian | Second semester | GEO/04 |
Environmental Chemistry | 6 | 48 | Italian | Second semester | CHIM/12 |
Environmental Genetics | 6 | 48 | Italian | Second semester | BIO/18 |
Foundations of Physics for Environmental Sciences | 6 | 48 | Italian | Second semester | FIS/06 FIS/07 |
- During the second year, the student will have to attend the "Safety for field activities" course.
- The student must choose one of the two curricula: Curriculum A - Environmental Management and Sustainability; or Curriculum B - Environmental Sciences and Technologies. Then the student will have to choose 3 courses among those provided for the chosen Curriculum.
There are no prerequisites.
Learn more
Location
Milan
Course locations
The classrooms are located in Milan, Città Studi, mainly in via Celoria 20
Head of study programme
Academic guidance tutor
Erasmus and international mobility tutor
Study plan tutor
Internship tutor
Seminar and workshop tutor
University and programme transfer tutor
Quality Assurance Delegate
Reference structures
Contacts
- Course management
via Celoria 2 - II piano
https://www.unimi.it/it/node/359
+3902503 16501/16475
Contact us via InformaStudenti - Student registrar
via Celoria 18
https://www.unimi.it/en/node/359
+3902503 25032
https://www.unimi.it/en/node/360
The tuition fees for students enrolled in Bachelor's, Master's and single-cycle degree programmes are divided into two instalments with different calculation methods and payment schedules:
- The amount of the first instalment is the same for all students
- The amount of the second instalment varies according to the ISEE University value, the degree programme and the student status (on track / off track for one year or off track for more than a year)
- An additional fee is due for online programmes
The University also offers:
- Concessions for students meeting high merit requirements
- Diversified tuition fees according to the student's home country for international students with assets/income abroad
- Concessions for international students with refugee status
Scholarships and benefits
The University provides a range of financial benefits to students meeting special requirements (merit, financial or personal conditions, international students).
Learn more
Guidance:
Admission, ranking and enrolment
Official documents