Biological Sciences

Contents

Assessment

All activities concerning ECTS must be assessed. The assessment is expressed by specific
committees chaired by the staff in charge of the training activities. Courses can be either
individual or integrated with a corresponding laboratory module. In case of
complementary courses there will be one single exam.

Course examinations are usually carried out in written and/or oral form. In case of integrated courses specific tests may be required in addition to the written and oral examination. Unless otherwise indicated, training activities are assessed by a grade expressed in 30ths with the possibility of the additional recognition of “lode” (with honors). To gain credits for internships a report on the performed activities countersigned by the teacher is required. In this case the assessment would be either pass (idoneo) or fail (non idoneo).

Final exam and title acquisition

The candidate must prepare a written dissertation in English concerning an original
research project carried out in a public or private research laboratory. The number of
credits assigned to this experimental thesis is 30. Upon completion of the required 120
course credits, the student is admitted to the final examination (esame di laurea) which
consists in the oral presentation (in English) of the experimental work to a Committee
(commissione di Laurea) constituted in accordance with the University rules.

The presentation will be followed by a discussion to assess the real contribution of the
student to the project and the preparation achieved at the end of the degree course. On
the basis of the quality of the written dissertation, the presentation and the student's
curriculum the Committee will assign the final grade, expressed in 110th. If the calculated
grade is equal to or greater than 111, the committee may confer the label “lode” (with
honors) with a unanimous vote.

Tutoring, vocational guidance and placement

The Class Advisory Board will assign to each student a tutor to provide individual
guidance throughout the student’s university career. During the course of each semester, the tutoring coordinator will organize regular group meetings to discuss problems which may arise in any of the training activities. Students are encouraged to contact instructors
by e-mail to request additional explanations on topics covered in class. Furthermore, the
Class Advisory Board will provide vocational guidance to students in the third and final
year of the program.

Double Degree programs

It has been established a Degree program between Escola Superior Agrária (ESAS) of
Instituto Politécnico de Santarém (IPS) and the School of Biosciences and
Biotechnologies of UNICAM.

This program allows graduate students from ESAS-IPS and graduate students from the
School of Biosciences and Biotechnologies of UNICAM to simultaneously pursue the M.Sc.
degree at ESAS and the M.Sc. degree (Laurea Magistrale) in Biological Sciences – at UNICAM.

The enrolled students are asked to attend the second year in the host institution, where
they will also conduct the experimental thesys assignment.

Degree programs and curricula

The “first level” degree in Biological Sciences offers two degree programs:

* Molecular Diagnostics and Biotechnology
* Nutrition and functional foods

Molecular dignostics and Biotechnology

The degree program in Molecular Diagnostics and Biotechnology is characterized by
courses aimed at teaching:

* the molecular interactions and the chemical and biological mechanisms involved in the transformation processes of the biological components;
* structure, activity, interactions, genetics and differentiation processes of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
* medical, biotechnological, ecological and forensic applications of the molecular biology;
* set up of diagnostic protocols in the clinical, nutritional or environmental sphere;

The degree program in Molecular diagnostic and Biotechnology is divided in core courses
(72 CFU) and elective courses (12 CFU). The remaining credits are devoted to: practical
laboratory courses (6 CFU), the experimental thesis and the final exam (30 CFU).

Note that a student may submit for approval by the Class Advisory Board individual
curriculum for the following academic year, proposing learning goals other than those
proposed in the standard curriculum. The deadline for the presentation of the individual
curricula is the 15th of October of the academic year to which the curriculum refers.

Nutrition and Functional foods

The degree program in Nutrition and Functional foods is characterized by courses aimed
at teaching:

* properties of nutrients and non-nutrients presents in foods and their possible modifications produced by the transformation processes;
* biochemical and physiological mechanisms of the digestion and uptake and of the metabolism of nutrients;
* functionality and health benefits of foods
* effects of malnutrition (poor nutrition or over nutrition)
* Diet programs both personal and for communities.
* Interplay between endocrine system and nutritional state.

The degree program in Molecular diagnostic and Biotechnology is divided in core courses
(72 CFU) and elective courses (12 CFU). The remaining credits are devoted to: practical
laboratory courses (6 CFU), the experimental thesis and the final exam (30 CFU).

Note that a student may submit for approval by the Class Advisory Board individual
curriculum for the following academic year, proposing learning goals other than those
proposed in the standard curriculum. The deadline for the presentation of the individual
curricula is the 15th of October of the academic year to which the curriculum refers.