Coastal and Marine Biology and Ecology is a two-year II level course according to DM 270/04, which does not contemplate a fixed number of enrolled students.The Corso di Laurea Magistrale envisages activities aimed at:

acquiring deep knowledge on the biology and ecology of coastal and marine ecosystems;
activities in disciplines related to biology and ecology and coherent with the objectives of the course, so to integrate an interdisciplinary formation.

In order to provide a practical, operative and adequate training to provide the essential skills of a specialized biologist, the course includes:

external activities, such as formative trainings with firms, public administration structures (e.g. Marine Protected Areas) and laboratories, and/or stages with Italian and foreign universities, also within the framework of international agreements (e.g. the European Network of Excellence on Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning).
practical classes in classrooms and/or in the field.

To obtain the final qualification, a student must achieve a minimum of 120 CFU's (University Formative Credits) including 30 CFU's related to the final test (which concerns internships or work experience - previously cleared by the Educational Competent Body - at research institutions or universities, public or private companies, may be based on an activity report and does not provide an associated vote, but only an assessment of fairness expressed by the Educational Competent Body).

Programme Content

Year One

Biological indicators and biomonitoring
Biology and ecology of transitional and marine waters
Environmental microbiology
Biological indicators and biomonitoring
Community EcologyEthical, Economic and Normative Aspects
Biodiversity and taxonomy of plants
Life cycles and ecology
Development and evolution
Pelagos Biology (Zooplankton and Necton)
Oceanography of Marginal Seas and of the Coastal Zone

Year Two

Environmental Physiology
Marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
Enviornmental Chemistry
Activities chosen by the student
Final test

Structural components

Practical/Field work

Application procedure

Application forms for the Admission Test must be submitted through the online application system according to the procedure described within the article 12 of the Bando generale di ammissione ai corsi di Laurea Triennale e di Laurea Magistrale.

Learning outcomes

The course aims to prepare professionals with high knowledge in the various sectors of applied biology aimed at the understanding of the ecological phenomena that are realized at the level of the various scales in coastal, transitional, and marine ecosystems.
Graduates in Coastal and marine Biology and Ecology will be able to:

design, lead, support, carry on research projects in response to public calls (from the EU, States, Regions, Municipalities) and private companies interested in the development of human activies in different productive sectors addressing the management and valorization of coastal and marine environments (eg. fishery, aquaculture, tourism, conservation biology, coastal management, environmental impact assessment);
act as consultants in private firms or in public bodies, provide assessment and expert recommendation on different sectors in marine and coastal as defined above;
design the content of books, articles, TV programs related to the marine environment, lead, support, carry out training programmes and dissemination events;

Graduates must:

have a deep knowledge of the biology and ecology of coastal and marine ecosystems;
have a deep knowledge of sampling techniques, of analytical instruments, and of the techniques of data acquisition and analysis;
have an advanced knowledge of supporting statistical, mathematical, and informatics instruments; master the scientific method;
be able to use the acquired knowledge to tackle applied problems in the control, conservation, and management of biodiversity, of the functioning of coastal and marine ecosystems, and of the goods and services they provide;
be able to use the English language fluently, both in written and oral form, with special reference to scientific English;
be able to work in full autonomy,also being responsible of projects and structures.of Biologists).

Prerequisites

Admission to this Course requires the possession of specific curricular requisites and it is subordinated to the overcoming of evaluation of the adequacy of their personal preparation (Admission Test) according to the terms that will be established at the beginning of each academic year and will be made explicit in the admission notification. The documentation and information relating to the test for admission to the course, can be found in the Section Prove D'Ingresso.