Thanks to a combination of theoretical knowledge, application methodologies, interdisciplinarity and analysis of concrete case studies from the world of work and professions, the degree programme in Semiotics succeeds in training highly qualified graduates able to hold positions of responsibility in contemporary communication, cultural welfare and the culture and creative industry. The acquisition of semiotic expertise – allowing students to gain in-depth knowledge of the various sign systems, providing advanced text and language analysis and production skills – is what makes the second cycle degree in Semiotics of the University of Bologna (the only one in Italy) stand out among other degree programmes of the LM-92 class. Hence, the degree programme primarily deals with providing students with the theoretical and methodological foundations of the discipline, which they will deepen, according to their interests and future work and education plans, with further learning activities in the area of semiotics applied to various cultural and disciplinary domains (media, consumption, culture, interpretation, arts, body, gender, psychopathologies, artificial intelligence, cultural heritage, etc.).
Additionally, the programme focuses on four cultural axes within the contemporary cultural world, capable of entering in a dialogue with semiotic skills and of synergistically integrating their specificities: i) language, ii) anthropology/history, iii) philosophy, and iv) cognition/technology.
With a view to training high-profile professionals prone to lifelong learning and able to put their expertise to use in different areas of the world of work, the degree programme also offers a wide variety of elective course units, divided into thematic macro-areas and gathered into two curricula, giving students the opportunity to tailor the course structure diagram to their interests and future work and education plans.
To this end, the course units are grouped into three main areas:
(1) a general theoretical area, which provides students with the ability to apply the fundamental theories and concepts of semiotics to contemporary social and cultural processes and allows them to apply the fundamental theories and concepts of the philosophy of language, cognitive sciences and contemporary linguistics to languages;
(2) a methodological area, which provides students with the ability to apply the methodologies of semiotic analysis to scientific, journalistic, storytelling, visual (advertising, arts, photography, etc.), audiovisual and multimedia texts, with a focus on digital texts, as well as to social, cultural and body practices and systems, with a focus on interaction and technology;
(3) an application area, which provides students with the ability, with the support of concepts and methodologies of semiotics and linguistics, to design and produce texts for different media and communication outlets (scientific, journalistic, storytelling, advertising, audiovisual, multimedia texts), as well as to act as digital mediators capable of bringing together qualitative and quantitative analysis, with a focus on the new challenges of generative artificial intelligence.
These theories and methodologies will enable students to develop an interdisciplinary background hinged upon semiotics, which is one of the main outcomes of the degree programme.
The degree programme is divided into two complementary curricula, whose learning outcomes partially overlap, aiming to equip graduates with the skills needed by highly specialist professionals and, at the same time, with a general expertise and comprehensive understanding of the world of culture and of communication processes, which are increasingly sought after in the labour market (see A1.B).
A) The curriculum delivered in Italian combines a general knowledge of the theories and models of semiotics with a more in-depth study of its methodologies and applications in fields such as the media, the arts, languages, studies on memory and communication. The focus is on the acquisition of skills to address contemporary challenges related to artificial intelligence, the ability to bring together qualitative and quantitative analysis, cultural mediation, inclusion and gender studies. As such, the Italian curriculum is capable of providing the necessary skills to train Text, Data and Language Analysts and Copywriters and Text and Content Writers. Many of the activities of the English curriculum are included in the Italian curriculum too, which allows customising the learning experience and acquiring the skills needed by Cultural Welfare Managers, Digital Mediators and Culture and Creative Industries Specialists.
B) On the other hand, the curriculum delivered in English is designed to address contemporary challenges in an international perspective, with course units mostly focused on providing interdisciplinary knowledge and skills – from anthropology to artificial intelligence, to climate change, environmental sustainability, inclusion, gender theories and the investigation of the cognitive processes of the human mind. While retaining semiotics as a common basis, with mandatory theoretical and methodological learning activities at the beginning of the first and second years, the English curriculum places more emphasis on course units in the areas of philosophy, artificial intelligence, cognitive sciences and contemporary social sciences. As such, the curriculum focuses on providing the skills needed by Welfare and Cultural Heritage Managers and Digital Transformation Specialists, without prejudice to the skills needed by Text, Data and Language Analysts and Copywriters and Text and Content Writers, which have traditionally been at the core of the degree programme in Semiotics.
Within both curricula, students are allowed time for developing project research skills in the area of communication, thanks to seminars, course units and workshops on this topic. Furthermore, students may select elective learning activities from the many course units available at the University, through which they will be able to further customise their learning experience and gain specialist skills and knowledge they can put to use in the world of work, depending on their interests.
During the second year, students have the opportunity to participate in curricular internships at companies, organisations and public administrations, which allow them to experience the world of work first-hand, with a view to their future profession.
In addition to the specialist expertise acquired through the theories and methodologies taught within the various course units, the degree programme enables students to gain transferable skills sought after and usable in the current labour market. Interdisciplinarity encourages the development of a comprehensive and critical understanding of contemporary knowledge and technologies. The written and oral papers to be prepared for the course units, both individually and in a group, allow students to develop the ability to research and synthesise, and enhance teamwork. The study of various communicative and cultural phenomena promotes the acquisition of communication skills and the ability to understand and adapt to different cultural settings. Finally, the structure of the degree programme itself encourages the development of flexibility and time management skills.
These transferable skills may be further developed by attending computer or language laboratories, to gain and/or update digital and foreign language skills. The degree programme also offers the possibility of participating in exchange programmes (Erasmus+ and Overseas) and of doing an internship or preparing the dissertation abroad. These experiences allow for a direct contact with professional firms and, in addition to enriching education, provide important opportunities for entering the international labour market.
