Course Insight
The study subjects of a degree program make up what is called the "Study Plan", that is the set of all the exams a student must pass to graduate.
Knowing the Study Plan of a degree program is the first step in understanding what subjects and topics will be covered in the Course you choose and the type of skills and professionalism you will acquire during your postgraduate education.
It is important to know that each study course includes a certain number of training activities (lectures, labs, other activities): some are compulsory, while others must be chosen by you from a list of options. The set of the compulsory activities and the chosen ones will form your Study Plan.
Each training activity is associated with a number of training credits (CFU) which you will achieve by passing exams or carrying out specific activities. To get your degree, you will have to earn the total number of credits 120) required by your course of study.
Check out the Study Plan for the upcoming academic year on our platform OrientarSi.
The specific educational objectives of the program are:
a) To provide analytical tools and comparative institutional knowledge aimed at understanding, evaluating, and managing issues related to contemporary societies, complex inter-state relations, democratization processes, and human rights protection. The cognitive data and competencies acquired are intended to enable graduates to develop the necessary skills to enter the job market and to plan and implement complex strategic operations with awareness. Graduates will thus be qualified for high-level positions in diplomacy, international and supranational organizations, public administration offices dealing with international relations, human rights, cooperation, and peace; NGOs, public and private companies with international operations; and institutions of the European Union.
b) To provide, focusing on methodological and comparative analytical tools, knowledge concerning the dynamics of structural change processes in the international arena, as well as basic knowledge of the methodologies used by multilateral cooperation bodies to develop development cooperation programs. The course aims to train professionals capable of designing, managing, and coordinating activities in this field. Graduates will thus be able to take on high-responsibility roles in public administration and international organizations in the fields of cooperation and aid to developing countries; in the third sector, particularly in transnational NGOs and organizations that protect citizens' rights.
To achieve these objectives, the curriculum includes a common foundation in the core academic disciplines: M-STO/04 Contemporary history, SPS/06 History of international relations, SECS-P/01 Economics, IUS/13 International law, SPS/04 Political science, L-LIN/04 Language and translation - French S, L-LIN/12 Language and translation - English, L-LIN/07 Language and translation - Spanish. Additional credits are earned in the following disciplinary areas: IUS/19 History of medieval and modern law, M-GGR/01 Geography, SPS/07 General sociology, SPS/13 African history and institutions, SPS/05 American history and institutions, SPS/02 History of political thought.
The curriculum also includes internships, traineeships, and other activities designed to integrate students into the job market, computer skills certification, English language competence (B2 and C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages of the Council of Europe), and preparation for the final thesis.
The Master’s Degree in International Relations aims to provide methodological, cultural, scientific, and professional knowledge in the following areas:
- History – with an emphasis on understanding development and underdevelopment processes, contemporary history from a comparative perspective, area studies (Asia, Africa, and Latin America), the evolution of international relations, the organization and functioning of diplomatic services, and the development of legal and political systems in the European context.
- Economics – emphasizing international economics, monetary economics, environmental economics, and development economics.
- Law– focusing on the structure and functioning of international organizations, human rights protection, international economic law, and EU law in both its internal and external dimensions.
- Political science – with particular reference to the comparative analysis of political systems within and beyond Europe, and understanding the factors that shape current international relations.
- Language – emphasizing proficiency in two foreign languages, both written and spoken, including the relevant disciplinary terminology.
These competencies aim to develop students' ability to understand and analyze issues concerning the international dimension of political, economic, and social phenomena.