This degree programme, offered by the Department of International Human and Social Sciences, provides students with the opportunity to explore, understand, and analyse the challenges related to the broad topic of sustainability, delving into its environmental, social, economic, and cultural aspects. The programme employs an innovative educational model combining theoretical and experiential learning, research, project development, and internationalisation.
The programme delivers knowledge, skills, and methodologies specific to the social sciences, complemented and enriched by a focus on technical and scientific disciplines. This ensures a transdisciplinary approach to sustainability, supporting the understanding and analysis of the complex challenges facing contemporary society at international, national, and local levels.
The curriculum aims to build a solid foundation in core areas (history, economics, philosophy, law), before offering progressively more specialised and sector-specific expertise through courses and workshops covering various aspects of sustainability and international cooperation, including modules delivered in English.
The international nature of the degree programme, supported by a widespread network of established collaborations with institutions, public and private organizations, and universities engaged in various aspects of sustainability and international cooperation (including UNESCO, the Community of Sant’Egidio, and the International Committee of the Red Cross), provides students with opportunities to enrich their academic experience through international mobility programmes for study, research, and internships abroad.
The course particularly addresses topics such as peace, the circular economy, globalization, digital transition, environment and climate change, as well as social and intercultural relations.
Course Information
- to consolidate and deepen knowledge and skills in anthropology, social sciences, law, institutional studies, and technical-scientific areas related to sustainability, development, and international cooperation
- to provide appropriate methodologies for critical analysis of globalization phenomena, intercultural and gender dynamics, cooperation, the environment and climate change, as well as social and political change at local, national, and international levels
- to ensure fluent use, in addition to Italian, of two other foreign languages (English and Spanish), both written and spoken
- to develop soft skills, particularly aimed at enhancing the ability to design and implement projects at both micro and macro levels, including in interdisciplinary, cross-sector, and international contexts
The programme offers employment opportunities across a broad range of professional fields, from international relations to science diplomacy, from human rights protection to environmental safeguarding, from emergency management to peacebuilding, through:
- the autonomous application of the skills and knowledge acquired during the course, enabling immediate entry into institutional, entrepreneurial, and third sector settings engaged in sustainability, cooperation, and peace initiatives (public administrations, educational institutions, international organisations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, and third sector organisations at the local, national, and international level)
- further specialisation in the fields of sustainability and international cooperation, within the framework of advanced study, particularly as offered by the University for Foreigners in the Master’s Degree Programme in International Relations and Development Cooperation
Students enrolled in the SoCI programme may choose to undertake a double degree pathway with the Bachelor's degree in "Global Communication in Business and Culture" at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, Germany.
| SSD | Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| First year | ||
| HIST-03/A | Contemporary History | 9 |
| STEC-01/B | Economic History and Development | 9 |
| GSPS-04/B | Theory and History of Global Politics | 6 |
| GIUR-11/B | Institutions of Italian and Comparative Public Law | 9 |
| ANGL-01/C | English Language and Culture | 9* |
| GSPS-02/A | Comparative Politics | 9 |
| PHIL-05/A | Philosophy of Sustainability | 6 |
| Elective courses | 3 | |
| Total first year | 60 | |
| Second year | ||
| ECON-01/A | Political Economy | 9 |
| GSPS-04/C | Africa and Globalization | 9 |
| GIUR-09/A | International Law and Peace Promotion | 9 |
| GIUR-01/A | Personal Rights, Protection of Vulnerable Groups (6 ECTS) and Migration Law Module (3 ECTS) | 9 |
| INF-05/A | Cyber Security and Sustainability (6 ECTS) and IT for Sustainability Module (3 ECTS) | 9 |
| GSPS-02/A | International Relations | 6 |
| SPAN-01/C | Spanish Language and Culture | 9* |
| Total second year | 60 | |
| Third year | ||
| ECON-01/A | Green and Circular Economy | 9 |
GIUR-09/A CEAR-/B | Disaster Risk Reduction (integrated course): Disaster Risk Reduction (6 ECTS) Disaster Risk Reduction (3 ECTS) | 9 |
| GSPS-/A | Sociology of Migration Processes | 6 |
| GSPS-/A | Democracy, Social Rights and Public Health | 6 |
SDEA-01/A GEOG-/A | Geoglobal Changes and Human Resilience (integrated course): Changes and Human Resilience (6 ECTS) Geography for Sustainability (3 ECTS) | 9 |
| Elective courses | 9 | |
| Internship | 6 | |
| Final exam | 6 | |
| Total third year | 60 |
* The 9 ECTS allocated to foreign language courses include 3 ECTS taught by a native-speaking language instructor (CEL/Language Assistant).
Students can check their study plans to see which courses are compulsory, optional, or elective.
First Semester
Philosophy of Sustainability - Prof. Flavio Orecchio
Contemporary History - Prof. Valerio De Cesaris
Economic and Development History - Prof. Alessandro Albanese Ginammi
Second Semester
Institutions of Italian and Comparative Public Law - Prof. Francesco Duranti
English Language and Culture - Prof. Marco Bagli - Dr. Bridget Clare Collins
Comparative Politics - Prof. Emidio Diodato
Theory and History of Global Politics - Prof. Federico Niglia
First Semester
Africa and Globalization - Prof. Federica Guazzini
Cyber Security and Sustainability and ICT for Sustainability Module - Prof. Valentino Santucci - Prof. Lucia Ballerini
International Law and the Promotion of Peace - Prof. Maura Marchegiani
International Relations - Prof. Carlo Belli
Second Semester
Human Rights, Protection of Vulnerable Groups and Migration Law Module - Prof. Paolo Morozzo della Rocca
Political Economy - Prof. Filippo Sbrana
Spanish Language and Culture - Prof. Giovanna Scocozza - Dr. Maria Luisa Sevilla Garcia-Montiel
First semester
Democracy, Social Rights and Public Health - Prof. Alessandro Simoncini
Environmental Vulnerability: Science and Law - Integrated course
International Law and Emergency Situations - Prof. Ottavio Quirico
Disaster Risk Reduction - Prof. Chiara Biscarini
EU Law and Diplomacy for Sustainability Laboratory -Prof. Ottavio Quirico
Soft Skills for Sustainability Laboratory - Prof. Maura Marchegiani
Renewable Energy Sources Laboratory - Prof. Chiara Chiatti
Sociology of Migration Processes - Prof. Stefania Tusini
Second semester
Geo-global Changes and Human Resilience - Integrated course
Changes and Human Resilience - Prof. Piero Ciccioli
Geography for Sustainability - Prof. Chiara Biscarini
Green and Circular Economy - Francesco Asdrubali
International Security and Sustainable Development Laboratory - Prof. Federico Niglia
Water Diplomacy and Science Laboratory - Prof. Tommaso Pacetti
The programmes from the previous academic year are available in the archive.
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Notices
International Law and Peace Promotion - SOCI II - Prof. Marchegiani - classes suspended
Students are informed that classes scheduled for Monday 12th, Tuesday 13th, and Wednesday 14th will be suspended. Make-up sessions will be arranged in agreement with the students.
Workshop: Soft Skills for Sustainability - SOCI III - Prof. Marchegiani - class suspended
Students are informed that the lesson scheduled for Monday the 12th will be cancelled and will be rescheduled in agreement with the students.
Economic History and Development - SOCI I - Prof. Albanese Ginammi - Class Rescheduling
Students are hereby informed that the lesson scheduled for Monday, 12 October will be moved to Wednesday, 14 October, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in Room 14 (P).
Africa and Globalization - SOCI II - Prof. Guazzini - classroom change
Students are informed that starting from Wednesday, October 7, Monday and Wednesday classes will be held in the Computer Lab (L) at the same time as before. Please refer to the published schedule.
Language Preparation Courses for Chair Professorship - Language Courses Included in the Study Plan - Language Courses as Elective Educational Activities
Students are required to attend language tutorials in the first semester to prepare for the main courses in foreign languages, which will take place in the second semester.
The class schedules can be found in the academic calendar.
Contemporary History - SOCI I - LICIMOD I - COMIP I - Prof. De Cesaris - classroom change
The classes on October 6 and 14 have been moved to Room XI in Palazzo Gallenga at the same time.
Publication of Timetables for the First Semester, Academic Year 2026-2027
The first semester schedules are available online.