Learning objectives

The educational objectives include mastery of basic knowledge relating to the chemical and physical properties of materials, of the elementary experimental skills for their synthesis and characterization, as well as of the technical and professional skills relevant for their application in research and industry.

The skills acquired allow the graduate to adapt to the evolution of the discipline, to interact with culturally adjacent professionals. Other important objectives of the Degree Course in Materials Science are to provide solid knowledge of the basic and characterizing subjects, preparatory to subsequent studies, and to allow the student to achieve the ability and autonomy of learning to successfully undertake a Master's degree.

In detail, the study plan allows the acquisition of:
- basic knowledge of chemistry and physics in their theoretical and experimental aspects;
- mathematical skills adequate to understand the scientific theories and models currently accepted to describe the chemical-physical properties of materials;
- a solid methodology of approach to study and laboratory activity, based on an interdisciplinary approach oriented to problem solving;
- specific laboratory skills, through a variety of techniques in the fields of analysis, characterization and synthesis of materials; these allow to quickly master the use of even complex equipment and to acquire new technological skills in the workplace;
- scientific communication skills and coordinated work within groups.

Degree Course in Materials Science

Graduates in Materials Science are able to:
- communicate ideas on topics and problems related to materials to different audiences, both their own and those derived from literature, in writing and orally;
- dialogue with experts from other related fields, in particular engineers, physicists and chemists, recognizing the possibility of complementary interpretations and visions.

The acquisition of these skills is a process that begins in the first year: students are encouraged to produce written papers and to orally present synthetic reports on aspects and properties of materials. They therefore learn to express themselves directly both with their peers and with teachers specialized in different fields of science, using the language specific to science: concise, precise, mathematical.

Verification of the results achieved in communication skills occurs through written and oral reports. The multiple discussions of laboratory and internship activities are also considered moments of evaluation, as well as the activities of preparation for the final exam.

The programme of study

The training process aims to gradually develop, over the course of three years, multidisciplinary knowledge and skills organized into three main blocks:

1) BASIC TRAINING: basic chemistry and physics courses; these are accompanied by mathematics and computer science courses, particularly aimed at acquiring problem-solving methodologies. These courses are mainly offered in the first and second year.

2) LABORATORIES: courses or laboratory modules initially focused on experiences in inorganic chemistry and general physics and then aimed, over the course of three years, at organic chemistry and macromolecular chemistry, to finally arrive at experimentally dealing with topics in chemistry and physics of materials.

3) TRAINING IN CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS OF MATERIALS: specific courses in Materials Science through which, starting from the second year, students gradually see the two different approaches, chemical and physical, to the study of materials integrated. These teachings are entrusted to a teaching staff composed of scholars from different backgrounds, such as chemists, physicists and materials scientists who collaborate on common research topics in Materials Science.

The Degree Course, to complete the training path, offers the possibility of deepening the study of the structure and properties of matter, as well as aspects related to the production and transformation of materials, in order to have complete and interdisciplinary skills useful for continuing studies. An internship activity is planned at companies operating in the materials sector or in research laboratories.