The course in brief
The degree course in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Parma aims to train junior engineers with a solid background in mathematical, physical and chemical disciplines and basic generalist skills in civil and environmental engineering.
In order to be admitted to the degree course, the student must hold an Upper Secondary School Diploma or another recognised foreign qualification. A good knowledge of spoken and written Italian, reasoning skills, knowledge and aptitude for using the fundamentals of elementary mathematics and experimental science are required.
Taking into account the current system of studies, which is divided into two levels, the degree course aims to balance the needs of two parallel training programmes, one for those who only aim to obtain a first-level degree, the other for those who intend to continue towards a second-cycle degree. Since the University of Parma offers a second-cycle degree in Civil Engineering (class LM-23) and a second-cycle degree in Environmental Engineering (class LM-35), the course prepares students to access either of these second-cycle degree courses without any training gaps, following a logical sequence in terms of preparation. Moreover, so that the first-cycle degree can introduce a vocational element, it offers two curricula (civil and environmental) in the third year.
The focus on foundation subjects provides students who will be pursuing their studies with the requisite physical-mathematical preparation and methodology for studying technical-scientific disciplines. The vocational subjects provide broad knowledge of the design, construction, maintenance and management of simple civil structures and road and hydraulic infrastructures, waste treatment and applied geology, and spatial information systems. The course units on characterising areas are designed to train students to approach engineering problems methodologically. To reflect the interdisciplinary context typical of an engineer's work, the course also aims to train students to work both independently and as part of a team.
The Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry course units cover approximately 30% of the total ECTS credits and are distributed over the first and second year of the course to allow sufficient time for assimilation and to structure the courses appropriately in terms of preparation. Basic computer and English skills are also acquired during this period.
At the same time, basic civil and environmental engineering knowledge (in hydraulics, construction science, design, geotechnics) is gradually acquired, supplemented by the contents of related courses on energy issues and the characteristics and properties of materials, which are important for the completion of the cultural background. Finally, particularly in the third year, the course focuses on more professionalised engineering content in the civil field (construction technology, road and rail infrastructure, technical architecture) and the environmental field (waste and sewage treatment, georeferencing and processing of spatial data, hydrology).
The course has an average enrolment of around 90 students over the last three years, with a rate of drop-out or transfer to other courses at the end of the first year of around 25-30%. The average duration of studies is 4.8 years; 83% of graduates go on to do a second-cycle degree course.
The main employment opportunities for graduates are:
- construction and maintenance companies for civil works, installations serving civil works and civil infrastructures, works and control and soil protection systems;
- professional firms and design companies for civil, road and hydraulic works, structures and infrastructures;
- public offices for the design, planning, management and control of urban and territorial systems;
- companies, bodies, consortia and agencies for the management, control and monitoring of the territory and for soil protection;
- technical offices of public and private bodies (municipal, provincial, hospital companies, etc.).