Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs (Classi LM-62/ LM-78)-Enrolled from 2019/2020 Academic Year
Inter-university
Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele
The master degree in Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs (PPPA) is an advanced interdisciplinary programme offering high-level competences in political science and philosophy. The program provides both a solid theoretical background and a practical sense of the challenges and opportunities connected to current political and social-economic phenomena and trends.
The study plan includes a common core of courses addressing cutting-edge topics in political science, in moral and political philosophy - topics which are specifically selected for their relevance within public debates. Core courses also provide accurate historical competences, apt to rigorously frame similar debates, as well as advanced training in empirical methodologies and argumentative strategies, which will strengthen students' analytical capacities and their ability to assess and defend normative and policy proposals.
The second year of the programme offers the opportunity to study in depth a wide array of topics organized into two main areas. The first area - "Technology, science and society" - 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. The second area - "Prosperity, peace and international affairs" - comprises courses focusing on current socio-economic and political developments and their effects on individual life chances and rights, social policies and schemes of distributive justice as well as courses addressing the dilemmas connected to new forms of war and conflict. 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.
The study plan includes a common core of courses addressing cutting-edge topics in political science, in moral and political philosophy - topics which are specifically selected for their relevance within public debates. Core courses also provide accurate historical competences, apt to rigorously frame similar debates, as well as advanced training in empirical methodologies and argumentative strategies, which will strengthen students' analytical capacities and their ability to assess and defend normative and policy proposals.
The second year of the programme offers the opportunity to study in depth a wide array of topics organized into two main areas. The first area - "Technology, science and society" - 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. The second area - "Prosperity, peace and international affairs" - comprises courses focusing on current socio-economic and political developments and their effects on individual life chances and rights, social policies and schemes of distributive justice as well as courses addressing the dilemmas connected to new forms of war and conflict. 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 is designed to prepare students for a broad range of careers. Students will indeed acquire a variety of competences and will master a differentiated set of methodological tools that will enable them to be successfully employed in: 1. public or private research institutes; 2. local, national or international institutions as policy analysts; 3. firms operating in the global market and looking for professionals capable to understand and interpret political, social and economic trends and to devise long-term strategic plans; 4. media, journalism, publishing and the cultural industry. The master programme also provides a solid academic background that will allow students to continue their education through Ph.D. programmes in social sciences and philosophy, both in Italy and abroad.
Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
Applicants should have a bachelor's degree or equivalent; a strong interest and/or previous studies in political science or philosophy or related subjects; a sound knowledge of spoken and written English.
More specifically, eligible candidates must meet the following requirements:
1. Applicants who obtained their bachelor's degrees from Italian Universities are eligible for admission if they hold a "laurea" degree belonging to any one of the "classi di laurea" (degree classes) listed below under the heading "Note 1".
Applicants who completed their undergraduate studies in foreign Universities are eligible for admission if they hold a bachelor's degree in philosophy, political science or other broadly related subjects, provided that their bachelor's degree may be regarded as equivalent to one of the Italian "laurea" degrees listed below at "Note 1".
The eligibility of applicants holding bachelor's degrees in fields not included in the list of "classi di laurea" indicated below at "Note 1" is subjected to the approval of the Admission Committee. The decision will rest on the evaluation of the applicant's academic record and of his/her performance during an interview aimed at ascertaining whether his/her background training and competences are appropriate for being fruitfully enrolled in the programme.
2. Applicants must be able to certify their knowledge of English either by providing documentation attesting that they have at least one year of university studies at institutions where English is the language of instruction, or by providing evidence, through appropriate certificates, of possessing language skills in English equivalent to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference.
The list of English language certificates accepted by the University of Milan and indications about their validity are available at the following link:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/language-proficiency/placement-tests-and-…
PPPA acknowledges as valid also English language certificates released by the SLAM to candidates previously enrolled in Bachelor's or Master's programmes offered by the University of Milan.
Applicants meeting the above requirements can be invited to an interview intended to further ascertain their level of competence in the relevant disciplinary fields and to provide indications on how to fill possible gaps in these fields. Interviews can be held both on campus or online.
When enrolling in the first year of the programme, each student will be required to specify whether he/she intends to obtain the Master's degree either in Political Science (Italian classe di laurea LM-62 Scienze della politica) or in Philosophy (Italian "classe di laurea" LM-78 Scienze filosofiche). Students will finalize their choice between the two options when enrolling in the second year.
Note 1:
L-5 Filosofia; L-14 Scienze dei servizi giuridici; L-18 Scienze dell'economia e della gestione aziendale;
L-20 Scienze della comunicazione; L-33 Scienze economiche; L-36 Scienze politiche e delle relazioni internazionali; L-37 Lauree in Scienze Sociali per la Cooperazione, lo Sviluppo e la Pace; L-40 Sociologia; L-42 Storia
More specifically, eligible candidates must meet the following requirements:
1. Applicants who obtained their bachelor's degrees from Italian Universities are eligible for admission if they hold a "laurea" degree belonging to any one of the "classi di laurea" (degree classes) listed below under the heading "Note 1".
Applicants who completed their undergraduate studies in foreign Universities are eligible for admission if they hold a bachelor's degree in philosophy, political science or other broadly related subjects, provided that their bachelor's degree may be regarded as equivalent to one of the Italian "laurea" degrees listed below at "Note 1".
The eligibility of applicants holding bachelor's degrees in fields not included in the list of "classi di laurea" indicated below at "Note 1" is subjected to the approval of the Admission Committee. The decision will rest on the evaluation of the applicant's academic record and of his/her performance during an interview aimed at ascertaining whether his/her background training and competences are appropriate for being fruitfully enrolled in the programme.
2. Applicants must be able to certify their knowledge of English either by providing documentation attesting that they have at least one year of university studies at institutions where English is the language of instruction, or by providing evidence, through appropriate certificates, of possessing language skills in English equivalent to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference.
The list of English language certificates accepted by the University of Milan and indications about their validity are available at the following link:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/language-proficiency/placement-tests-and-…
PPPA acknowledges as valid also English language certificates released by the SLAM to candidates previously enrolled in Bachelor's or Master's programmes offered by the University of Milan.
Applicants meeting the above requirements can be invited to an interview intended to further ascertain their level of competence in the relevant disciplinary fields and to provide indications on how to fill possible gaps in these fields. Interviews can be held both on campus or online.
When enrolling in the first year of the programme, each student will be required to specify whether he/she intends to obtain the Master's degree either in Political Science (Italian classe di laurea LM-62 Scienze della politica) or in Philosophy (Italian "classe di laurea" LM-78 Scienze filosofiche). Students will finalize their choice between the two options when enrolling in the second year.
Note 1:
L-5 Filosofia; L-14 Scienze dei servizi giuridici; L-18 Scienze dell'economia e della gestione aziendale;
L-20 Scienze della comunicazione; L-33 Scienze economiche; L-36 Scienze politiche e delle relazioni internazionali; L-37 Lauree in Scienze Sociali per la Cooperazione, lo Sviluppo e la Pace; L-40 Sociologia; L-42 Storia
Highly recommended.
First trimester
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Conflicts and Political Legitimacy | 12 | 80 | English | SPS/01 |
| Society, Politics and Institutions: Stability and Change | 12 | 80 | English | SECS-P/01 SPS/04 |
Second trimester
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Economy and Society: Past, Present and Perspectives | 6 | 40 | English | SECS-P/04 |
| Facts, Principles and Hard Choices | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/03 |
| The Western Tradition: Moral and Political Values | 12 | 80 | English | M-FIL/06 SPS/02 |
Third trimester
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Migrations, Diversity and Non-Discrimination | 12 | 80 | English | IUS/07 SPS/07 |
First trimester
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Governing the Future: Goals and Tools | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/04 |
| Optional | ||||
| Communications Technology and Society | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/08 |
| Global Political Economy and Social Policy | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/04 |
| Human Development and Mobility in a Changing World | 6 | 40 | English | M-DEA/01 |
Second trimester
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Differences, Inequalities and the Politics of Law | 6 | 40 | English | IUS/20 |
| Dirty-Hands Politics: War, Terrorism, Torture | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/01 |
| Justice and International Affairs | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/01 |
| Media Ethics | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/03 |
| Neuroethics and Human Enhancement | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/03 |
| The Information Society: the Epistemology of Big Data | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/02 |
Third trimester
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Bioethics | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/01 |
| Biopolitics: Bodies, Health and Food | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/05 |
| Ethics and Ecosystems | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/03 |
| Wars of Images | 6 | 40 | English | M-FIL/04 |
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Final Exam | 21 | 0 | English | |
Optional activities and study plan rules
1 - Students must earn 18 credits/ects by selecting 3 courses/activities among those listed below.
Please note, for facilitating students' choice, the courses/activities are organized into two thematic areas as follow:
Technology, science and society:
Bioethics
Biopolitics: bodies, health and food
Ethics and ecosystems
Neuroethics and human enhancement
Society, media and digital ethics
The information society: the epistemology of big data
Prosperity, peace and international affairs
Differences, inequalities and the politics of law
Dirty-hands politics: war, terrorism, torture
Global political economy and social policy
Human development and mobility in a changing world
Justice and international affairs
Wars of images
Please note, for facilitating students' choice, the courses/activities are organized into two thematic areas as follow:
Technology, science and society:
Bioethics
Biopolitics: bodies, health and food
Ethics and ecosystems
Neuroethics and human enhancement
Society, media and digital ethics
The information society: the epistemology of big data
Prosperity, peace and international affairs
Differences, inequalities and the politics of law
Dirty-hands politics: war, terrorism, torture
Global political economy and social policy
Human development and mobility in a changing world
Justice and international affairs
Wars of images
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bioethics | 6 | 40 | English | Third trimester | SPS/01 |
| Biopolitics: Bodies, Health and Food | 6 | 40 | English | Third trimester | M-FIL/05 |
| Communications Technology and Society | 6 | 40 | English | First trimester | SPS/08 |
| Differences, Inequalities and the Politics of Law | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | IUS/20 |
| Dirty-Hands Politics: War, Terrorism, Torture | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | SPS/01 |
| Ethics and Ecosystems | 6 | 40 | English | Third trimester | M-FIL/03 |
| Global Political Economy and Social Policy | 6 | 40 | English | First trimester | SPS/04 |
| Human Development and Mobility in a Changing World | 6 | 40 | English | First trimester | M-DEA/01 |
| Justice and International Affairs | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | SPS/01 |
| Media Ethics | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | M-FIL/03 |
| Neuroethics and Human Enhancement | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | M-FIL/03 |
| The Information Society: the Epistemology of Big Data | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | M-FIL/02 |
| Wars of Images | 6 | 40 | English | Third trimester | M-FIL/04 |
First semester
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| The Instruments of Gender Equality | 3 | 24 | Italian | IUS/08 |
Second semester
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Equal Opportunities and Scientific Careers | 3 | 24 | Italian | SPS/09 |
| Gender Based Violence: an Interdisciplinary Approach | 3 | 20 | Italian | IUS/08 |
| Laboratory: Sustainability and Sustainable Development | 6 | 48 | Italian | AGR/01 AGR/13 IUS/01 SECS-P/01 SPS/04 |
| Laboratory: Sustainability and Sustainable Development | 3 | 24 | Italian | AGR/01 AGR/13 IUS/01 SECS-P/01 SPS/04 |
| Laboratory: Sustainability and Sustainable Development | 4 | 32 | Italian | AGR/13 IUS/01 SECS-P/01 SPS/04 |
First trimester
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Laboratory: Organized Crime and Research Methodology. | 3 | 20 | Italian | SPS/09 |
Second trimester
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Comparative Law, Sustainability and Food Safety | 6 | 40 | Italian | IUS/02 |
| Laboratory: Art, Culture and Organized Crime | 3 | 20 | Italian | SPS/07 |
Third trimester
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Laboratory "new Public Governance and Co-Production of Public Services" | 3 | 20 | Italian | SECS-P/10 |
| Laboratory:societies, Rights and Environmental Crime | 3 | 20 | Italian | SPS/07 |
| Laboratory:strategies for Managing Environmental Conflicts Through Participatory Mechanisms | 3 | 20 | Italian | IUS/10 |
| Workshop: Anti-Mafia Journalism | 3 | 20 | Italian | SPS/08 |
Undefined
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | |
| Advanced Language Skills: French (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | French | |
| Advanced Language Skills: German (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | German | |
| Advanced Language Skills: Spanish (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Spanish | |
| Constitution Education | 3 | 24 | Italian | IUS/08 |
Optional activities and study plan rules
3 - Students must earn 9 credits/ects for elective activities (additional courses of their choice)
4 - Students must earn 3 credits/ects choosing from: internship, workshops, other activities (e.g. advanced computer skills, advance foreign language).
| Courses or activities | ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | Undefined | |
| Advanced Language Skills: French (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | French | Undefined | |
| Advanced Language Skills: German (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | German | Undefined | |
| Advanced Language Skills: Spanish (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Spanish | Undefined |
Presidente del Collegio Didattico
Prof. Nicola Riva
Tutors professors
Cepollaro Biancamaria
Reference structures
Contacts
- Contact:
pppa@unimi.it
A.Y. 2023/2024
A.Y. 2022/2023
A.Y. 2021/2022
A.Y. 2020/2021
A.Y. 2019/2020
Official documents