Propaedeutic Sciences
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The learning objectives of Propaedeutic Sciences course are:
- to know how to synthesize and analyse data;
- to know the foundations of epidemiology;
- to know the applied physics; mainly in regards to acoustic physics and the laws of physical phenomena;
- to know the principal psychological theories and the main psychological currents of thought (behaviourism, cognitivism, psychoanalysis, Gestalt);
- to know the principles of psychological development.
- to know how to synthesize and analyse data;
- to know the foundations of epidemiology;
- to know the applied physics; mainly in regards to acoustic physics and the laws of physical phenomena;
- to know the principal psychological theories and the main psychological currents of thought (behaviourism, cognitivism, psychoanalysis, Gestalt);
- to know the principles of psychological development.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will be able to describe and apply the basic principles of applied physics, with particular attention to mechanics, waves and acoustics; illustrate the main systems for data analysis and synthesis in order to interpret statistical reports and scientific articles. Students will also be able to describe the main concepts of general psychology and psycholinguistics, and to analyze the trajectories of psychophysical and linguistic development according to the main theoretical frameworks in psychology
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific prerequisites other than those required for admission to the degree program
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is written and consists of multiple sets of multiple-choice questions and/or simple exercises covering the modules that make up the integrated course, with each set tailored to the specific type of module. Each answer is assigned a score. The exam is considered passed with a score ≥ 18 in the questions of each module. The final grade is calculated as the average of the scores obtained in each module, weighted according to the corresponding course credits.
Applied Physics module: questions and simple exercises with open-ended or multiple-choice answers. Answers must always be justified. The use of a calculator is allowed. The exam lasts 40 minutes. The results will be published on the module's MyAriel website.
Medical Statistics module: written exam lasting 40 minutes, including theoretical questions and short exercises, formulated as open-ended or multiple-choice questions. The use of calculators is allowed. The results will be published on the module's MyAriel website.
General Psychology module: written exam consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions, lasting 30 minutes. The exam assesses the student's knowledge of the course content, with reference to the achievement of the expected learning outcomes. The results will be published on the module's MyAriel website.
Developmental Psychology module: written exam consisting of 15 multiple-choice questions, lasting 15 minutes. The exam assesses the student's knowledge of the course content, with reference to the achievement of the expected learning outcomes. The results will be published on the module's MyAriel website
Applied Physics module: questions and simple exercises with open-ended or multiple-choice answers. Answers must always be justified. The use of a calculator is allowed. The exam lasts 40 minutes. The results will be published on the module's MyAriel website.
Medical Statistics module: written exam lasting 40 minutes, including theoretical questions and short exercises, formulated as open-ended or multiple-choice questions. The use of calculators is allowed. The results will be published on the module's MyAriel website.
General Psychology module: written exam consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions, lasting 30 minutes. The exam assesses the student's knowledge of the course content, with reference to the achievement of the expected learning outcomes. The results will be published on the module's MyAriel website.
Developmental Psychology module: written exam consisting of 15 multiple-choice questions, lasting 15 minutes. The exam assesses the student's knowledge of the course content, with reference to the achievement of the expected learning outcomes. The results will be published on the module's MyAriel website
Applied physics
Course syllabus
Mathematical review for physics: powers, orders of magnitude; variables and functions of variables, graphs, Cartesian coordinates; vectors; basic trigonometric functions.
General concepts: physical quantities and their dimensions; the International System of Units.
Concepts of solid and fluid mechanics: space, time, velocity, acceleration (average and instantaneous); forces, Newton's second law, mass, density; specific forces: weight, elastic force, friction, tension; resulting motions: uniform motion, rectilinear and circular motion, accelerated motion; harmonic motion: amplitude, angular frequency, period, frequency, initial phase; characteristic equation of harmonic motion; spring-mass system: dependence of angular frequency on k and m; work, power, kinetic energy, work-energy theorem; conservative forces, potential energy; form of potential energy for gravitational force and elastic force; conservation of total mechanical energy; energy balance for the spring-mass system.
Wave concepts: longitudinal and transverse waves; wavelength, wave number; wave propagation: propagation velocity; propagation velocity of a wave on a stretched string; energy and power carried by a wave; superposition principle; wave interference; standing waves on a string, antinodes and nodes; acoustic waves, wavefront; speed of sound: dependence on density and bulk modulus of the medium; propagating acoustic waves: relation between pressure amplitude and displacement amplitude in the medium; acoustic impedance; sound intensity: dependence on distance from the source; sound level, decibel scale; superposition of acoustic waves: standing sound waves, fundamental frequency and higher harmonics, harmonic number; introduction to beats and Doppler effect. Physical principles of sound production in humans (vocal cords and vocal tract).
General concepts: physical quantities and their dimensions; the International System of Units.
Concepts of solid and fluid mechanics: space, time, velocity, acceleration (average and instantaneous); forces, Newton's second law, mass, density; specific forces: weight, elastic force, friction, tension; resulting motions: uniform motion, rectilinear and circular motion, accelerated motion; harmonic motion: amplitude, angular frequency, period, frequency, initial phase; characteristic equation of harmonic motion; spring-mass system: dependence of angular frequency on k and m; work, power, kinetic energy, work-energy theorem; conservative forces, potential energy; form of potential energy for gravitational force and elastic force; conservation of total mechanical energy; energy balance for the spring-mass system.
Wave concepts: longitudinal and transverse waves; wavelength, wave number; wave propagation: propagation velocity; propagation velocity of a wave on a stretched string; energy and power carried by a wave; superposition principle; wave interference; standing waves on a string, antinodes and nodes; acoustic waves, wavefront; speed of sound: dependence on density and bulk modulus of the medium; propagating acoustic waves: relation between pressure amplitude and displacement amplitude in the medium; acoustic impedance; sound intensity: dependence on distance from the source; sound level, decibel scale; superposition of acoustic waves: standing sound waves, fundamental frequency and higher harmonics, harmonic number; introduction to beats and Doppler effect. Physical principles of sound production in humans (vocal cords and vocal tract).
Teaching methods
lectures. Lectures will also include guided completion of short exercises on the course topics.
Teaching Resources
slides will be made available on the module's MyAriel
Medical statistics
Course syllabus
Introduction to statistics: definitions of descriptive and inferential statistics; variability between and within subjects; population and sample; parameters and estimates; data collection; statistical unit and statistical variable.
Qualitative and quantitative variables and their characteristics.
Construction and interpretation of different types of graphs. Construction and interpretation of frequency tables. Construction and interpretation of contingency tables.
Measures of central tendency: mode, median, mean, percentiles. Distribution shape: symmetric and asymmetric distributions, considerations.
Measures of dispersion: range, interquartile range, deviance, variance, standard deviation, coefficient of variation.
Measurement and interpretation of statistical association between two quantitative variables: correlation.
Qualitative and quantitative variables and their characteristics.
Construction and interpretation of different types of graphs. Construction and interpretation of frequency tables. Construction and interpretation of contingency tables.
Measures of central tendency: mode, median, mean, percentiles. Distribution shape: symmetric and asymmetric distributions, considerations.
Measures of dispersion: range, interquartile range, deviance, variance, standard deviation, coefficient of variation.
Measurement and interpretation of statistical association between two quantitative variables: correlation.
Teaching methods
frontal lectures.
Teaching Resources
lecture slides will be made available on the module's Ariel website.
General psychology
Course syllabus
Historical overview of the discipline
Definition and development of human language
Comparison with non-human communication systems
Language, thought, and metacognition
Verbal and non-verbal communication
Learning
Emotions
Attention and consciousness
Memory
Reading and writing
Definition and development of human language
Comparison with non-human communication systems
Language, thought, and metacognition
Verbal and non-verbal communication
Learning
Emotions
Attention and consciousness
Memory
Reading and writing
Teaching methods
frontal lectures in presence
Teaching Resources
Bassi M., Delle Fave A. (a cura di) (2019). Psicologia generale per le professioni medico-sanitarie. Seconda Edizione. Torino: UTET Università. Capp. 2,3,5,6,8 e 9.
Developmental and educational psychology
Course syllabus
Historical overview of the discipline
Cognitive development
Theory of mind
From gestures to first words
Development of vocabulary and morphosyntax
Developmental models of reading and writing
Children's drawings
Cognitive development
Theory of mind
From gestures to first words
Development of vocabulary and morphosyntax
Developmental models of reading and writing
Children's drawings
Teaching methods
frontal lectures in presence
Teaching Resources
D'Amico S., e Devescovi, A. (a cura di) (2013). Psicologia dello sviluppo del linguaggio. Bologna: Il Mulino (Capp. 1,3,4,5,6,7,9,10)
Cannoni, E. (2020). Il disegno dei bambini. Roma: Carocci.
Cannoni, E. (2020). Il disegno dei bambini. Roma: Carocci.
Modules or teaching units
Applied physics
PHYS-06/A - Physics for Life Sciences, Environment, and Cultural Heritage - University credits: 2
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Del Favero Elena
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Del Favero Elena
Developmental and educational psychology
PSIC-02/A - Developmental and Educational Psychology - University credits: 1
Lessons: 10 hours
Professor:
Bassi Marta
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Bassi Marta
General psychology
PSIC-01/A - General Psychology - University credits: 2
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Bassi Marta
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Bassi Marta
Medical statistics
MEDS-24/A - Medical Statistics - University credits: 1
Lessons: 10 hours
Professor:
Santucci Claudia
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Santucci ClaudiaProfessor(s)