Chemical safety and Toxicological Environmental Sciences - discontinued

Studentessa in laboratorio
Chemical safety and Toxicological Environmental Sciences - discontinued
Course sheet
A.Y. 2024/2025
Bachelor
L-29 - Pharmacy
Bachelor
180
ECTS
Access
Limited enrolment with admission test
3
Years
Course location
Milan
Language
Italian
The relationship with the environment is a key determinant of human health. From polluted cities to uncontaminated forests, the relationship between the individual and different environmental factors can result in different states of well-being or disease. Understanding the elements to be taken into account, from an epidemiological point of view, to assess the impact of different factors on health is a very complex task. Only through the intersection of environmental, territorial, urban, epidemiological and mortality data, as well as other health, demographic, cultural and social indicators, can we model potential scenarios for a given population to regulate health and outline any policy actions to improve the health of the population and limit the damage resulting from specific environmental drivers. The environment can indirectly or directly affect health. It can promote the circulation of pathogens and other biological factors, such as pollens and other allergens, which, when present, affect the susceptible population. However, it can also act by means of non-biological drivers, such as the presence of chemical and physical contaminants: in this case, it is more difficult to determine a cause-effect relationship and epidemiological studies try to describe and quantify the damage from exposure, both acute and chronic, to different substances. In general, preventing toxic effects of environmental origin requires a complex effort both on behaviour and lifestyles, as well as on the rules and institutional measures that can guarantee the safety of the population exposed to environmental risks.
Graduates in Chemical safety and Toxicological Environmental Sciences will contribute to the improvement of environmental conditions by identifying harmful situations in the living environments, which may cause damage to the population. They will work to remove dangerous situations and achieve better environmental conditions including the quality and safety of the elements that are part of the food chain. In addition, from a social standpoint, they can help foster cultural and scientific aggregation, to protect the environment and therefore population health, to relaunch cultural commitment on this issue and promote, through debate, information and initiatives, the protection of the environment and an improvement in the health conditions of the population.
Chemical Technicians
job function:
Chemical technicians will assist specialists in the analysis of solid, liquid and gaseous materials conducted in the field of chemical research or for production activities requiring new process or product development; they will assist specialists in production quality control and maintenance of environmental quality, operation and safety standards of equipment, plants and technical systems. Junior chemist and chemical expert professions are regulated by statutory law.
professional skills:
SSCTA graduates are able to apply chemistry procedures and protocols, assist specialists in production quality control and maintenance of environmental quality, operation and safety standards of equipment, plants and technical systems.
career opportunities:
SSCTA graduates can serve as technical operators, namely as junior chemist, chemical technician, chemical laboratory technician, chemical analyst, chemical expert, chemical preparer.

Workplace safety technicians
job function:
These professionals apply and execute procedures, regulations and technologies to adapt, modify, develop, control and verify the safety of workplaces and workers, machines and their methods of use.
professional skills:
SSCTA graduates are professionals who understand, analyse and apply knowledge in the field of workplace and worker safety.
career opportunities:
SSCTA graduates can work in prevention and protection services, including in managerial positions. They can operate laboratories of public and private entities, universities, research institutions.

Environmental control and reclamation technicians
job function:
These professionals assist specialists in research and in the design, development and evaluation of systems for environmental control, protection and preservation.
professional skills:
SSCTA graduates are able to apply procedures to control and collect information on environmental pollution and its potential causes, adapting and operating adequate equipment; they apply procedures, regulations and technologies to monitor and ensure the efficiency of waste collection, selection, treatment and disposal; they are able to assess and implement programmes for the reclamation and remediation of polluted areas.
career opportunities:
SSCTA graduates can work as environmental monitoring technicians, water monitoring technicians, air monitoring technicians, environmental impact and safety technicians in the industry. They are able to operate laboratories of public and private facilities, universities, research institutions, or work in toxicological and environmental study and detection centres.

Biochemical laboratory technicians
job function:
These professions require technical specialist knowledge to select and apply predefined protocols and procedures in production or service activities. Their tasks are to assist specialists in the scientific, health, humanistic, economic and social fields, in quantitative physical, chemical, engineering and natural sciences, life sciences and health sciences.
professional skills:
SSCTA graduates are able to carry out activities related to the application and execution of scientific protocols relating to human health care and animal and plant production. They are able to verify and control the application of safety standards in public and work environments. They may assist veterinarians and agronomists in the care and production of animals and plants, apply and carry out scientific protocols in medical analysis laboratories and in agronomic and veterinary laboratories.
career opportunities:
SSCTA graduates can carry out laboratory activities, namely tests and analysis aimed at verifying and evaluating the chemical, physical and biological composition of water, natural or industrial products, the diagnosis of animal and plant diseases and research in the agronomic and zootechnical fields. They can operate laboratories of public and private entities, universities, research institutions, NHS facilities.

Food technicians
job function:
These professions require technical specialist knowledge to select and apply predefined protocols and procedures in production or service activities. Their tasks are to assist specialists in the scientific and health fields; to supervise, control, plan and ensure the proper functioning of production processes.
professional skills:
SSCTA graduates are professionals prepared to assist specialists, conduct quality tests and analyses on human and animal nutrition products, certify their quality, genetic sourcing and production technology, improve food processing and production chains.
career opportunities:
SSCTA graduates can work as laboratory technicians in the field of plant and animal biotechnology, oenology, commodities, laboratory technicians in the food and biofood field, quality control technicians in the food industry.

Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
The course in Chemical-Toxicological and Environmental Safety Sciences (SSCTA) offers to its students the possibility to spend periods of study and training abroad using international programs of mobility and exchange; among them, the most important program is Erasmus+. The experience abroad is considered by the teachers of the course as a unique opportunity for the students to acquire personal experiences and professional skills.
The Universities hosting SSCTA students are at the moment located in Romania (Transilvania University of Brasov); Spain (Universities of Madrid and Granada), and Slovenia (University of Ljubljana).
The mobility is aimed to acquire credits (attending courses) and/or work in a training program, which can be used to prepare the final thesis
The universities involved in the exchanges offer activities in the area of biochemistry, pharmacology, and analytical methods (including both traditional and novel approaches).
Each student has a tutor, selected among the SSCTA teachers. All information about international mobility is reported at https://www.unimi.it/en/education/chemical-safety-and-toxicological-environmental-sciences.

Reward for the period spent abroad:
According to the period spent abroad, each student must prepare a suitable Learning Agreement in term of credits:
- An academic year: 60 credits;
- An academic semester: 30 credits;
- A three-months period: 20 CFU

The students must obtain at least 70% of credits established in the Learning Agreement. For students spending a training period abroad, the student must obtain all credits reported in the Learning Agreement.
For the students, who finalize positively their training period, a reward is planned at the end of the academic carrier. Extra marks, ranging between 1 and 3 (according to the period spent abroad, the number of credits obtained, and the value of the whole experience), are added to the final grade taking into consideration the tutor's proposal.
Course attendance is compulsory, but there are tailored tracks for part-time students.
For further information visit the page: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/fees-and-how-pay-them/part-time-enrolment and the degree programme website https://scta.cdl.unimi.it/it.

Student workers
Student workers enrolling on a part-time basis should agree with teachers how to attend lectures and laboratories. Student workers who do not enrol on a part-time basis must define a tailored track with each teacher, who can waive partially/fully from course attendance. If the student works in laboratories using the same techniques as the programme laboratories, they may be partially/fully waived by the teachers from laboratory attendance (each teacher must be contacted).
To take advantage of these exemptions, the student must submit a certificate stating their employment contract and working hours to the academic office (via Golgi) at the beginning of the year.
Enrolment
Admission requirements
Applicants to the programme must hold an upper secondary-school diploma or equivalent foreign qualification pursuant to Ministerial Decree no. 270 of 22 October 2004.
Admission requirements are adequate knowledge and skills to successfully attend the programme, including a good understanding of basic calculus, mastering the main laws of mechanical physics, basic knowledge of cell biology and general chemistry, logic skills, sound oral and written expression skills, good general knowledge.

Admission assessment
Admission into the programme is capped in order to meet high-quality teaching standards relative to available resources. There are 60 places available for enrolment in the first year, plus 5 places for non-EU students residing abroad. Admission is subject to a compulsory online test (TOLC-S by CISIA, the Consortium of Inter-University Integrated Access Systems). For test structure and topics, visit the page: https://www.cisiaonline.it/area-tematica-tolc-scienze/struttura-della-prova-e-syllabus/. You may apply for the TOLC test at the University of Milan or any other member university of CISIA. The schedule of TOLC-S tests organized by our and other Italian universities is available at: https://tolc.cisiaonline.it/calendario.php.
Admission requirements are assessed through the selection test and will be met by candidates achieving the minimum score set out in the call for applications available at https://scta.cdl.unimi.it/it/iscriversi. Candidates who take the TOLC-S test and apply for admission to the degree programme in Chemical Safety and Toxicological Environmental Sciences will be included in a merit ranking based on the test score. Those students who rank in the available positions may enrol in compliance with the deadlines set out in the call for applications; visit the page https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/frequentare-un-corso-di-laurea/iscriversi/iscriversi-una-prima-laurea

Additional learning requirements (OFA) and remedial activities
Mathematics OFA. Students who have obtained a score equal to or lower than 10 in the basic mathematics module of the TOLC-S test will have to meet additional learning requirements (OFA). Students with additional learning requirements will have to carry out remedial activities organised by the University in the period October-December, and then take a test to prove they have filled their gaps. Otherwise, they cannot take any second-year exams before passing the Mathematics and Statistics exam. Learn more at https://scta.cdl.unimi.it/it/studiare/le-matricole.

English OFA. Additional Learning Requirements (OFA) B1
In order to fulfil the Additional Learning Requirement (Obbligo Formativo Aggiuntivo - OFA) for English and sit the English-language exam required by the study plan, students must achieve B1 proficiency per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This proficiency level may be certified as follows:
- By submitting a language certificate attesting B1 or higher level in English and issued no more than three years before the date of submission. You will find the list of language certificates recognized by the University at: https://www.unimi.it/en/node/297/. The certificate must be uploaded during the enrolment procedure, or subsequently to the portal http://studente.unimi.it/uploadCertificazioniLingue;
- By taking a placement test offered by the University Language Centre (SLAM) between October and December of the first year. Students who fail the test will be required to take a SLAM course.
The placement test is mandatory for all those who do not hold a valid certificate attesting to B1, B2, or higher level.
Those who have not taken the placement test by the end of December or fail the end-of-course exam six times must obtain the necessary certification privately in order to fulfil the OFA and sit the English exam.

Admission of transfer or graduate students
Transfer students from a degree programme of the University of Milan, or another university, and graduate students will be waived from the test only if admitted to years subsequent to the first. To this end, they will have to submit a specific request for prior assessment of their academic career using the online service indicated in the call for applications. These candidates must provide a full transcript of records (listing exams, subject areas, credits, grades) and attach the course syllabi. For more details, please refer to the call for applications.
Students admitted to the first year will be required to take the test and register for the call.
Programme description and courses list
course year not available
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Calculus and Statistics 6 64 Italian MAT/07
General Chemistry 8 88 Italian CHIM/03
Human Anatomy and General Biology 12 96 Italian BIO/13 BIO/16
- General Biology8
- Human Anatomy4
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Analytical Chemistry 8 88 Italian CHIM/01
Organic Chemistry 8 88 Italian CHIM/06
Physics and Informatics 9 104 Italian FIS/01 INF/01
- Informatics4
- Physics5
Scientific English 3 48 Italian L-LIN/12
year
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Pharmacology 1 and Pharmacology 2 8 64 Italian BIO/14
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Biochemistry 8 64 Italian BIO/10
General Pathology 6 48 Italian MED/04
Physiology 6 48 Italian BIO/09
Toxicology I 8 64 Italian BIO/14
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Chemical and Toxicological Analysis 1 11 128 Italian CHIM/08
Environmental Chemistry 8 64 Italian CHIM/06 CHIM/12
Microbiology and Hygiene 8 80 Italian BIO/19
year
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Chemical and Toxicological Analysis 2 11 120 Italian CHIM/08
Food Chemistry 10 104 Italian CHIM/10
Technology and Pharmaceutical Legislation and Toxicology Ii 13 120 Italian BIO/14 CHIM/09
- Technology and Pharmaceutical Legislation3
- Toxicology II10
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Biotechnology 1 and Biotechnology 2 8 64 Italian BIO/14
Conclusive activities
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Stage 6 0 Italian
Final Exam 3 0 Italian
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Analysis of Pesticides and Contaminants in Food and Environmental Matrices 4 32 Italian CHIM/10
Biochemistry of the Environment and Pollution 4 32 Italian BIO/10
Environmental Impact Assessment 4 32 Italian ICAR/03
Environmental Toxicology 4 32 Italian BIO/14
Pollution and Environmental Safety 4 32 Italian BIO/14
Study of the Mechanism of Action of Toxicants in the Environment 4 32 Italian BIO/14
The Effect of Endocrine Disruptors On Health 4 32 Italian MED/13
Training Job-Support 4 32 Italian BIO/14
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Epidemiology and Occupational Toxicology 4 32 Italian BIO/14
Pharmacological Activities of Substances of Natural Origin 4 32 Italian BIO/14
Study plan rules
3 - The student must acquire 12 CFUs in elective educational activities. For this purpose, the degree program makes available the teachings listed below, which are normally held in the first semester. Any semester changes will be promptly communicated. The recommended year of the course to successfully follow the teaching and take the exam is specified next to each course. Upon approval of the study plan, students may include, among the elective educational activities, teachings related to transversal skills, provided by other degree programs of the University.
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Analysis of Pesticides and Contaminants in Food and Environmental Matrices 4 32 Italian First semester CHIM/10
Biochemistry of the Environment and Pollution 4 32 Italian First semester BIO/10
Environmental Impact Assessment 4 32 Italian First semester ICAR/03
Environmental Toxicology 4 32 Italian First semester BIO/14
Pollution and Environmental Safety 4 32 Italian First semester BIO/14
Study of the Mechanism of Action of Toxicants in the Environment 4 32 Italian First semester BIO/14
The Effect of Endocrine Disruptors On Health 4 32 Italian First semester MED/13
Training Job-Support 4 32 Italian First semester BIO/14
Epidemiology and Occupational Toxicology 4 32 Italian Second semester BIO/14
Pharmacological Activities of Substances of Natural Origin 4 32 Italian Second semester BIO/14
The acquisition of credits related to Analytical Chemistry is a prerequisite to the practical activities (laboratory) of Chemical and Toxicological Analysis 1.

The acquisition of credits related to Organic Chemistry is a prerequisite to the practical activities (laboratory) of Chemical and Toxicological Analysis 2.
Prescribed foundation courses
Learning activityPrescribed foundation courses
Analytical Chemistry General Chemistry (compulsory)
Biochemistry General Chemistry (compulsory), Human Anatomy and General Biology (compulsory), Organic Chemistry (compulsory)
Biotechnology 1 and Biotechnology 2 Biochemistry (compulsory), Pharmacology 1 and Pharmacology 2 (compulsory)
Chemical and Toxicological Analysis 1 Analytical Chemistry (compulsory), General Chemistry (compulsory), Physics and Informatics (compulsory)
Chemical and Toxicological Analysis 2 Chemical and Toxicological Analysis 1 (compulsory), Organic Chemistry (compulsory)
Environmental Chemistry General Chemistry (compulsory), Organic Chemistry (compulsory), Physics and Informatics (compulsory)
Food Chemistry Biochemistry (compulsory), Chemical and Toxicological Analysis 1 (compulsory)
General Pathology Human Anatomy and General Biology (compulsory)
Microbiology and Hygiene General Chemistry (compulsory), Human Anatomy and General Biology (compulsory)
Organic Chemistry General Chemistry (compulsory)
Pharmacology 1 and Pharmacology 2 Human Anatomy and General Biology (compulsory)
Physiology General Chemistry (compulsory), Human Anatomy and General Biology (compulsory), Physics and Informatics (compulsory)
Technology and Pharmaceutical Legislation and Toxicology Ii Toxicology I (compulsory)
Toxicology I Human Anatomy and General Biology (compulsory)
Learn more
Location
Milan
Course locations
Classes take place in the location indicated in the University teaching plan.
Laboratory locations
The structures in which the laboratory activities are carried out are communicated by the teachers in advance.
Head of study programme
Erasmus and international mobility tutor 
Internship tutor
Quality Assurance Delegate
Contacts

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