The MSc. “Geoenvironmental Resources and Risks” (120 ECTS, 2 years, class LM-74, Geological science and tecnology, Scienze e tecnologie geologiche) is a master degree  entirely in English, providing different curricula. It provides knowledge at an advanced level and practical professional expertise in the fields of Earth Sciences related to natural resources and the environmental hazards including effects on buildings and infrastructures, aiming to prepare a geologist to operate with managerial competences in: 

• the study, exploration, exploitation and sustainable use of georesources (water, energy and geomaterials)
• the analysis of geological hazards and risks (monitoring, evaluation, mitigation management, prevention)
• the interdisciplinary geoengineering aspects of the interaction between terrains and built environment, especially in seismic areas.

The combination of theory, field and laboratory activities, as well as the acquisition of competences in experimental/analytical methods, data processing and modeling, will contribute to the cultural and professional growth of the students. To specialize in the area of interest, the students can choose one of the curricula offered where they can choose activities up to 58 credits (about 2 semesters of study, depending on the specific path ) and build up a personalized study plan. The thesis (30 credits) requires a semester of independent experimental (field/lab) and theoretical work.

The acquisition of interdisciplinary knowledge is especially important in addressing environmental issues (like groundwater pollution, disaster management, sustainable use of georesources, effects of climate change, remote monitoring of ground movement and stability of  structures/infrastructure). To obtain transversal competences and skills several courses are made available (e.g. geophysical methods, GIS, field activities at advanced level, reote sensing…).  Practical workshops by geologists specialized in various fields will introduce the students to the professional world. Seminars by visiting reserchers are made available every semester to introduce the students to cutting-edge topics in geoscience research. 

Internships in private companies, territorial agencies, national and international research institutions and universities, as well as study periods abroad (Erasmus+ framework in EU or extra-EU countries or the new national Erasmus), are supported by university grants. Grants for low-income students are available, as well as part-time jobs and grants for international students from selected countries. The School of Advanced Studies “Carlo Urbani” (https://scuolastudisuperiori.unicam.it) provides grants and valuable opportunities for excellent students. 

Structure of the Master

The structure of the course is organized to take into consideration different expectations of the students (national and international).  This master degree offers also a new curriculum in double degree UNICAM-CJLU (China Jiliang University), subjected to applicants’ evaluation and selection, dedicated to the topic Resources and environment.

The offered curricula are revised every year and cover the major topics of application of the geologist in the job market.  Students can choose one of the following specialization paths or choose elective courses for a more personalized study plan:

Resources and risks is a curriculum dedicated to the geologists interested to the prospection, and sustainable exploitation of georesources (geomaterials, water, energy), and to monitoring, mitigation and management of geological hazards (hydrogeological, volcanic, seismic hazard) and associated risk evaluation. Students will be able to specialize in the topics of interest thanks to the ample space dedicated to the elective activities (28 ECTS) and thesis. 

COURSES: Petroleum geology, Geomaterials, Volcanic Hazards, Seismic hazard, Groundwater resources and hydrological hazard, Geodynamics and tectonics, Advanced field geology, Environmental chemistry or Geotechnics, Geostatistics.   Elective courses.

Geoengineering curriculum equips geologists with advanced skills in ground characterization, monitoring, and modeling to support safe and resilient infrastructure. It emphasizes the design of geotechnical structures and site-specific mitigation strategies, including ground improvement techniques. Through a practical and multidisciplinary approach, students are prepared to manage challenges in seismic and geologically unstable areas. 

COURSES: Geotechnics and Geoengineering, Elements of structural engineering, Design of geotechnical structures, Soil dynamics and earthquake engineering, Hydraulic-forestry remedial works, Applied petrography and geomechanics lab, Groundwater resources and hydrogeological hazard, Structural geology, Advanced field geology, Seismic hazard, Geostatistics.

Earth materials and processes focus to studies relative to geomaterials (rocks, minerals, natural or reproduced in the lab) and planetary materials, aiming to understand their formation during geological processes through their mineralogical-geochemical- petrological characterization at different environmental conditions. Determination and modelling of physical-chemical properties will also allow studying applications, from magma behaviours  to industrial processes. Elective activities (22 ECTS) permit further specialization depending on the student’s interest for a more selected topic.

COURSES: Geomaterials, Volcanic hazard, Isotope and trace elements geochemistry, Polluted sites remediation, Planetary materials, Crystallography, Environmental chemistry, Waste management, Environmental sustainability,  Structural geology, Applied petrography and geomechanics lab,  Groundwater resources and hydrogeological hazard, Advanced field geology, Geostatistics. Elective courses. 

Resources and environment is an international double degree program between UNICAM and  CHINA JILIANG  university which aims at integrating environmental engineering competences and geoscience knowledge to approach in an interdisciplinary way the problems related to the environmental pollution.  Themes include  pollution monitoring and control,  environmental remediation processes addressing water, air, soil and solid waste problems. New materials, processes and technologies for pollution control and carbon capture and storage (CCUS). Source-sink mechanism,  fate behavior, toxicity effects of new and highly hazardous pollutants in multi-media  environments.

COURSES: Environmental chemistry, Environmental materials, Polluted sites remediation, Geological carbon capture, Carbon metrology and storage, Waste management,  Geophysical prospecting, Groundwater resources,  Environmental hydrology, Geostatistics, Geoinformatics. Elective courses. 

Elective courses -  all courses present in each curriculum are available as elective courses. The following are also included:  Seismology, Disaster management,  Plate tectonics,  Metamorphic geology,  Geofluids reservoirs, Geodynamics and Global tectonics, Renewable energy,  Advanced GIS, Remote sensing and virtual models, Fundamentals of Material Science, Applied petrography, Introduction to CAD.

Admittance requirements

The access to this MSc.degree course requires a bachelor degree in the field of Geosciences, Geophysics, Environmental and Natural sciences, Civil/Environmental Engineering.  All applications are subjected to evaluation and a personal studyplan can be proposed. Language requirement: English level B2. Interviews take place in the first week of October upon appointment. Information on admission rules for International students are available at https://www.unicam.it/international-students.

Work possibilities

The graduate can find employment in:

• Environmental or engineering consulting companies
• Construction companies for civil/public building works
• Agencies and institutions dealing with geological hazards and risks, environment and land/coastal monitoring/protection (in Italy, e.g. Protezione Civile, Servizi Geologici, ARPA, Servizi Tecnici di Bacino, Comunità Montane, Enti nazionali e locali)
• Water and Energy exploration and management companies (in Italy, e.g. ENI, ENEL, ACEA, …)
• Infrastructures and transportation sector (in Italy e.g. ANAS, ITALFER, ….)
• Mineral industry (exploitation and  certification of materials, management and recycling of industrial waste, sustainability, innovation, circular economy)
• Scientific dissemination (natural sciences museums, geosites, natural parks, media)
• As experts in cartography, GIS and remote sensing (land planning, monitoring and protection, georesources, climate change, agriculture, archaeology and cultural heritage, ….)
• As geoscientists in research institutions, public/private labs and universities
• As natural science (or math/science) teachers in Italian high schools (classes A03, A28, A32, A50) 

After the degree

UNICAM is examination center for exams to access the Italian Geologists’ Board (Albo professionale dei Geologi). The Geology Division hosts the PhD program in Earth Sciences research topics active in UNICAM, organized by the School of Advanced Studies, with a good annual number of positions available and scholarships.  PF60 programs to acquire the teaching qualification for the Italian school system are available at UNICAM. The graduates can apply to teach in the classes Math and sciences (A028),  Geology and Mineralogy (A032),  Natural, chemical and biological sciences (A050) (https://www.classidiconcorso.it/).