Sciences and technologies for green and landscape

This degree programme offers multidisciplinary training in agronomy, botany, landscape, design and business, through an articulated curriculum divided into eight learning areas:

MATHEMATICS-PHYSICS-CHEMISTRY-BIOLOGY: at the end of these learning activities, graduates will know the basic elements of mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry and biology, and be able to process data and interpret phenomena concerning natural processes, the environmental biosphere and plant species.

AGRONOMY AND SOIL: at the end of these learning activities, graduates will have knowledge of agronomy, agro-environmental topics, agricultural chemistry and pedology, and can analyse the functionalities of agro-ecosystems and ensure the correct agronomic management of land as well as the needs of ornamental and landscape species.

FORESTRY AND PLANT PRODUCTION: at the end of these learning activities, graduates will have knowledge of forestry ecology and silviculture, plant physiology and ornamental arboriculture, ornamental plants, floriculture and nurseries. Graduates can apply techniques for sustainable forest management, for the cultivation and management of ornamental tree species and nursery production, and can select plants for green area design and planning.

GREEN AREA AND LANDSCAPING ANALYSIS AND PLANNING: at the end of these learning activities, graduates will have knowledge of cartography and topography, history of gardens and landscape, territorial and landscape planning, and will be able to apply such knowledge to design and manage green spaces and the territory.

GREEN AREA AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN: at the end of these learning activities, graduates will understand drawing and design techniques, management and implementation of green areas, and will be able to organise a green area design and management plan, producing the relative graphic representation.

GREEN AREA AND LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE: at the end of these learning activities, graduates will have knowledge of ornamental plant diseases and entomology, irrigation and drainage, soil protection, green area management and machinery. Graduates can apply plant protection techniques to both public and private urban green areas and for floriculture and nurseries, can organise sampling plans and containment actions targeting harmful insects, and design and manage irrigation and drainage systems, selecting the appropriate machinery to maintain and restore green areas.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: at the end of these learning activities, graduates will have knowledge of plant and animal biodiversity, landscape ecology and environmental protection infrastructures, and will recognise the main species of ornamental and landscape interest, identifying waste treatment and phyto-purification solutions.

ECONOMICS, SURVEYING AND MANAGEMENT: at the end of these learning activities, graduates will be familiar with the basic concepts of economics for managing businesses and contracts focusing on green area development, and will be able to estimate the management costs of a floriculture production process and gardening projects, as well as draft cost estimates and statements for green-area development.

These learning activities correspond to 18 mandatory course units distributed over the three-year programme.

Through supervised practical activities carried out in these course units and in self-study activities, the final examination and a range of elective learning activities offering practical experience (internship, practicum, seminars), the programme also allows students to develop judgement and communication skills and a range of transversal learning competencies allowing them to work in interdisciplinary teams, progressively developing professional awareness and enhancing their own specific synthesis and investigation skills, defining autonomous learning paths to develop their own professional knowledge in a range of operational contexts.

Admission to the 1st cycle degree programme is subject to the possession of a five-year secondary school diploma or equivalent suitable qualification obtained abroad, or a four-year secondary school diploma and diploma for the relative supplementary year, or, where no longer active, admitted students will be assigned additional learning requirements.

Restricted access

The first cycle degree programme may adopt restricted access set at local level (pursuant to art. 2 of Italian Law 264/99) depending on the available resources. The number of places and selection methods are published annually in the relative call for applications.

Knowledge required

Applicants shall also possess:

- logical and reasoning skills;

- ability to read, understand and interpret texts and documents in Italian;

- basic general scientific knowledge.

Assessment of basic knowledge

An entrance exam is set to assess the knowledge required for the restricted-access programme (students admitted to the programme run with this method who obtain a score below the minimum threshold set annually will be assigned additional learning requirements). If the degree programme is run with free access, the required knowledge will be assessed in the methods indicated on the University Portal.

Exemption of assessment of basic knowledge

The Degree Programme Board assesses the possibility of exempting students from the assessment of basic knowledge in the following cases:

- Withdrawal from studies,

- Loss of student status,

- Application to opt out of previous degree programme systems,

- Possession of an academic qualification obtained from or learning activities carried out in foreign universities,

– Transfer from another degree programme at the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna,

- Transfer from another university.

The assessment is based on the criteria listed in the call for applications published annually.

In the event of accepting the transfer application beyond the usual terms, students who have not been exempted from sitting the entrance exam will be directly assigned additional learning requirements.

Additional Learning Requirements

Additional Learning Requirements are individual activities set by the Degree Programme Board and published on the University Portal. The assigned learning requirements are deemed to be completed after passing one or more exams or other methods, published on the University Portal. Students not completing the requirements by the date set by the Academic Bodies and published on the University portal will be required to re-enrol to the first year of the programme as repeating students.