This degree programme, offered by the Department of International Human and Social Sciences, provides students with the opportunity to explore, understand, and analyze the complex challenges of sustainability by delving into its environmental, social, economic, and cultural dimensions. The programme features an innovative educational model that combines theoretical and experiential learning, research, project development, and internationalization.
The programme equips students with the knowledge, skills, and methodologies typical of social sciences, complemented by in-depth study of technical and scientific disciplines. This ensures a transdisciplinary approach to sustainability, enabling students to understand and analyze complex contemporary challenges at international, national, and local levels.
The curriculum is designed to strengthen foundational knowledge (in history, economics, philosophy, and law) and then progressively build advanced and specialized skills. Courses and workshops address a wide range of topics related to sustainability and international cooperation, with several offerings taught in English.
The international character of the degree programme, supported by an extensive 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), allows students to enrich their academic experience through international mobility opportunities for study, research, and internships abroad.
Key topics addressed during the programme include peace, the circular economy, globalization, digital transition, environment and climate change, and social and intercultural relations.
Course Information
- consolidate and deepen knowledge and skills in anthropological, social, legal, institutional, and technical-scientific disciplines related to sustainability, development, and international cooperation
- provide appropriate methodologies for critical analysis of phenomena such as globalization, intercultural and gender dynamics, cooperation, environment and climate change, and social and political transformations at local, national, and international levels
- ensure fluent use, in addition to Italian, of two other foreign languages (English and Spanish), both written and spoken
- develop soft skills, particularly those aimed at enhancing the ability to design and manage projects at both micro and macro levels, also in interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, and international contexts
The course provides career opportunities across a wide range of professional fields, including international relations, scientific diplomacy, human rights protection, environmental safeguarding, emergency management, and peace promotion, through:
- the independent application of the knowledge acquired during the programme, enabling graduates to immediately enter the workforce in institutional, entrepreneurial, and non-profit sectors focused on sustainability, cooperation, and peace (public administrations, educational institutions, international, institutional, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and third sector entities at local, national, and international levels)
- further in-depth study of sustainability and international cooperation within a specialist academic pathway, which the Università per Stranieri offers particularly through its Master’s Degree in International Relations and Development Cooperation
Students enrolled in the SoCI program may choose to follow a double degree track 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 | Human 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 | Geo-Global Change and Human Resilience (Integrated Course): Change and Human Resilience (6 ECTS) Geography for Sustainability (3 ECTS) | 9 |
| Elective courses | 9 | |
| Internship | 6 | |
| Final Examination | 6 | |
| Total third year | 60 |
* The 9 ECTS awarded for each foreign language course include 3 ECTS delivered by a native speaking language instructor.
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.ssa Federica Guazzini
Cyber security and sustainability and IT for sustainability module - Prof. Valentino Santucci - Prof.ssa Lucia Ballerini
International law and peace promotion - Prof.ssa 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.ssa 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 Lab -Prof. Ottavio Quirico
Soft Skills for Sustainability Lab - Prof. Maura Marchegiani
Renewable Energy Sources Lab - Prof. Chiara Chiatti
Sociology of Migration Processes - Prof. Stefania Tusini
Second Semester
Geoglobal Changes and Human Resilience – Integrated Course
Change and Human Resilience - Prof. Piero Ciccioli
Geography for Sustainability - Prof. Chiara Biscarini
Green and Circular Economy - Francesco Asdrubali
International Security and Sustainable Development Lab - Prof. Federico Niglia
Water Diplomacy and Science Lab - Prof. Tommaso Pacetti
The programs from the previous academic year are available in the archive.
Would you like more information about the courses?
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Notices
Online meeting with Dr. Sevilla Garcia-Montiel, Spanish native speaker CEL – Invitation to participate
On Wednesday, October 21 at 8:15 pm, an information session will be held on Microsoft TEAMS, organized by the native Spanish-speaking CEL who coordinates the language courses. During the event, the various courses offered this semester will be presented. Following the presentation, there will be ample time for participants’ questions. All students are strongly encouraged to attend.
Japanese Language Lettorato I Level - Module B - Dr. Inouchi - schedule change
The language assistant schedule has been updated and published.
Online meeting with Native English-Speaking Language Assistants – Invitation to Participate
Wednesday, October 21 at 9:15 PM, an informational meeting will be held on Microsoft TEAMS, organised by the native English-speaking language instructors (CEL) responsible for conversation courses. During the event, the various courses offered this semester and their corresponding credits (CFU) will be presented. At the end of the presentation, there will be ample time for participant questions. All students are strongly encouraged to attend.
Join the meeting
Meeting with Native Foreign Language CELs: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, English and Spanish – Invitation to Participate
Monday, 19 October at 1:00 PM, Room B, Palazzina Valitutti, there will be an information session held by the native speaker language instructors (CEL) teaching language practice courses, during which the various language courses offered this semester and their corresponding credits will be explained.
At the end of the presentation, there will be time for questions.
All students are encouraged to attend.
Preparatory Language Assistantships for the Chair - Language Assistantships included in the study plan - Language Assistantships as elective educational activities
Students are advised that they are required to attend in the first semester the preparatory language tutorial sessions for the foreign language courses that will be held in the second semester.
The timetables are available in the academic calendar.
Publication of Timetables for the First Semester, Academic Year 2026-2027
The first semester schedules are available online.