Educational plan
Overview
The first year is entirely devoted to core common courses. Student will attend courses addressing cutting-edge topics in political science, political philosophy and moral phiosophy that provide insights about concepts and approaches crucial to tackle questions currently at the centre of public discussion. Students will also acquire competences in history, economics, law and sociology that will enable them to frame debated public questions in a broader and more sophisticated perspective.
During the second year, students will receive specific training in argumentative strategies and empirical methodologies and they will have the chance to study in depth a wide array of topics organized into two main areas: “Technology, science and society” and “Prosperity, peace and international affairs”. Within these two main areas, students will have the chance to autonomously define their study plan according to their interests and based on the professional profile they intend to develop.
PPPA’s Thematic Areas
Includes courses critically addressing the import and the ethical implications of scientific and technological development, with a special emphasis on pressing questions concerning environmental studies, bioethics, neuroethics, biopolitics, on the challenges of the information society and on the new dynamics of media systems.
Comprises courses focusing on current socio-economic and political developments and their effects on individual life chances, individual rights, social policies and schemes of distributive justice as well as courses addressing the dilemmas connected to new forms of war and conflict.
These educational plans and programme descriptions refer to the A.Y. 2025/2026
Politics, philosophy and public affairs (PPPA) (Classi LM-62 R/LM-78 R)
Enrolled in 2025/26 academic year (BBJ)
First trimester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Conflicts, Political Arrangements and Legitimacy | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/01 |
| Political Order, Violence and Institutions | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/04 |
| Optional | ||||
| The Politics of Mobility, Displacement and Asylum | 6 | 40 | English | M-DEA/01 |
Second trimester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Empirical Research in Political Sciences | 3 | 20 | English | SPS/04 |
| Rationality, Rules and Institutions | 9 | 60 | English | SECS-P/01 |
| Optional | ||||
| Economy and Society: Past, Present and Perspectives | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/04 |
| Gender Theory and Social Issues | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/07 |
| Liberal Rights and Social Justice | 6 | 40 | English | IUS/20 |
Third trimester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Critical Thinking and Argumentation | 3 | 20 | English | M-FIL/02 |
| Ethical Theory and Hard Choices | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/03 |
| The Western Tradition: Moral and Political Values | 12 | 80 | English | M-FIL/06 |
| Optional | ||||
| Labor Market and Inequalities | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/09 |
| Migrations and Cultural Diversity | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/10 |
Optional activities and study plan rules
1 - Students must earn 6 credits by selecting 1 course from those listed below
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy and Society: Past, Present and Perspectives | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | SPS/04 |
| Labor Market and Inequalities | 6 | 40 | English | Third trimester | SPS/09 |
| Liberal Rights and Social Justice | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | IUS/20 |
2 - Students must earn 6 credits by selecting 1 course from those listed below
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender Theory and Social Issues | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | SPS/07 |
| Migrations and Cultural Diversity | 6 | 40 | English | Third trimester | SPS/10 |
| The Politics of Mobility, Displacement and Asylum | 6 | 40 | English | First trimester | M-DEA/01 |
be activated by the A.Y. 2026/2027
Not specified period
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Qualitative Methods for Empirical Research | 3 | 20 | English | NN |
Second trimester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| The Welfare State and Social Innovation | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/04 |
Undefined
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Differences and Non-Discrimination: Rights in Action | 6 | 40 | English | IUS/07 |
| Optional | ||||
| Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | NN |
| Advanced Language Skills: French (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | French | NN |
| Advanced Language Skills: German (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | German | NN |
| Advanced Language Skills: Spanish (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Spanish | NN |
| Climate Change: Ethics and Politics | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/03 |
| Dirty-Hands Politics: Theories and Practices | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/01 |
| Frontiers in Bioethics | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/03 |
| Global Challenges to Democracy | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/04 |
| Justice and International Affairs | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/01 |
| Neuroethics and Human Enhancement | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/03 |
| Reasoning with Data | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/02 |
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Final Exam | 15 | 0 | English | NN |
Optional activities and study plan rules
3 - Students must earn 6 credits by selecting 1 course from those listed below
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate Change: Ethics and Politics | 6 | 40 | English | Undefined | M-FIL/03 |
| Frontiers in Bioethics | 6 | 40 | English | Undefined | M-FIL/03 |
| Neuroethics and Human Enhancement | 6 | 40 | English | Undefined | M-FIL/03 |
| Reasoning with Data | 6 | 40 | English | Undefined | M-FIL/02 |
4 - Students must earn 6 credits by selecting 1 course from those listed below
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dirty-Hands Politics: Theories and Practices | 6 | 40 | English | Undefined | SPS/01 |
| Global Challenges to Democracy | 6 | 40 | English | Undefined | SPS/04 |
| Justice and International Affairs | 6 | 40 | English | Undefined | SPS/01 |
6 - Students must earn 6 credits choosing from advanced computer or Language skills, internships, workshops and other activities
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | Undefined | NN |
| Advanced Language Skills: French (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | French | Undefined | NN |
| Advanced Language Skills: German (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | German | Undefined | NN |
| Advanced Language Skills: Spanish (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Spanish | Undefined | NN |
| Qualitative Methods for Empirical Research | 3 | 20 | English | NN | |
| Quantitative Methods for Empirical Research | 3 | 20 | English | Second trimester | NN |
Second trimester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Quantitative Methods for Empirical Research | 3 | 20 | English | NN |
Optional activities and study plan rules
5 - Students must earn 12 credits of electives (additional courses of their choice)
Politics, philosophy and public affairs (PPPA) (Classi LM-62/LM-78)
Enrolled in academic year 2024/2025 (B77)
course year not available
Undefined
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Conflicts, Political Arrangements and Legitimacy | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/01 |
| Critical Thinking and Argumentation | 3 | 20 | English | NN |
| Differences and Non-Discrimination: Rights in Action | 6 | 40 | English | IUS/07 |
| Economy and Society: Past, Present and Perspectives | 6 | 40 | English | SECS-P/04 |
| Ethical Theory and Hard Choices | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/03 |
| Political Order, Violence and Institutions | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/04 |
| Rationality, Rules and Institutions | 9 | 60 | English | SECS-P/01 |
| The Western Tradition: Moral and Political Values | 12 | 80 | English | M-FIL/06 SPS/02 |
| Optional | ||||
| Contemporary Challenges: Labor Market and Inequalities | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/09 |
| Contemporary Challenges: Migrations and Cultural Diversity | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/10 |
| Lab: Quantitative Methods for Empirical Research | 3 | 20 | English | SPS/04 |
Optional activities and study plan rules
2 - Students must earn 6 credits/ects by selecting 1 course among those listed below.
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contemporary Challenges: Labor Market and Inequalities | 6 | 40 | English | Undefined | SPS/09 |
| Contemporary Challenges: Migrations and Cultural Diversity | 6 | 40 | English | Undefined | SPS/10 |
Second semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Reasoning with Data | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/02 |
First trimester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Frontiers in Bioethics | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/01 |
| Journalism, Media and Politics | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/08 |
| Justice and International Affairs | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/01 |
| Neuroethics and Human Enhancement | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/03 |
| The Politics of Mobility, Displacement and Asylum | 6 | 40 | English | M-DEA/01 |
Second trimester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Dirty-Hands Politics: Theories and Practices | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/01 |
| Environmental Ethics | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/03 |
| Global Challenges to Democracy | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/04 |
| Liberal Rights and Social Justice | 6 | 40 | English | IUS/20 |
| Media Ethics | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/03 |
| The Welfare State and Social Innovation | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/04 |
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Final Exam | 21 | 0 | English | NN |
Optional activities and study plan rules
1 - Students must earn 18 credits/ects by selecting 3 courses among those listed below.
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dirty-Hands Politics: Theories and Practices | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | SPS/01 |
| Environmental Ethics | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | M-FIL/03 |
| Frontiers in Bioethics | 6 | 40 | English | First trimester | SPS/01 |
| Global Challenges to Democracy | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | SPS/04 |
| Journalism, Media and Politics | 6 | 40 | English | First trimester | SPS/08 |
| Justice and International Affairs | 6 | 40 | English | First trimester | SPS/01 |
| Liberal Rights and Social Justice | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | IUS/20 |
| Media Ethics | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | M-FIL/03 |
| Neuroethics and Human Enhancement | 6 | 40 | English | First trimester | M-FIL/03 |
| Reasoning with Data | 6 | 40 | English | Second semester | M-FIL/02 |
| The Politics of Mobility, Displacement and Asylum | 6 | 40 | English | First trimester | M-DEA/01 |
| The Welfare State and Social Innovation | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | SPS/04 |
Undefined
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | NN |
| Advanced Language Skills: French (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | French | NN |
| Advanced Language Skills: German (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | German | NN |
| Advanced Language Skills: Spanish (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Spanish | NN |
Optional activities and study plan rules
3 - Students must earn 12 credits/ects for elective activities (additional courses of their choice)
4 - Students must earn 3 credits/ects choosing from advanced computer or language skills, internships, work, workshops and other activities.
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | Undefined | NN |
| Advanced Language Skills: French (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | French | Undefined | NN |
| Advanced Language Skills: German (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | German | Undefined | NN |
| Advanced Language Skills: Spanish (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Spanish | Undefined | NN |