Chemistry and Geology

The Undergraduate Course in Chemistry and Geology consists of a three-year Bachelor's level cycle followed by a two-year Master's level cycle. It is a programme within the Faculty of Sciences at the Scuola Normale Superiore, integrated and complementary to the corresponding degree programmes at the University of Pisa. Therefore, students of the Scuola are also concurrently enrolled in the University of Pisa (three-year course or Master's degree). Admission is to the first or fourth year via a competitive exam with written and oral tests in mathematics/physics and chemistry (for the first year) or in chemistry alone (for the fourth year). The first three years, partially shared with the Mathematics and Physics programmes, are intended to provide students with a solid foundation in the quantitative natural sciences, along with in-depth courses in specific fields of chemistry, and in particular in physical chemistry and theoretical/computational chemistry. During this period, students are also introduced to the scientific research areas pursued by lecturers at the Scuola Normale Superiore. In the subsequent two-year cycle, where course selection is more flexible, teaching and research are more tightly integrated. Advanced topics in various areas of chemistryómainly physical, theoretical and computational chemistryóare studied in depth. Students engage in individual research projects with groups and labs in their areas of interest. The programme concludes with a public defense of a research topic, upon which the diploma is awarded. The Undergraduate Course in Chemistry and Geology prepares students for both PhD studies and highly qualified professional careers in industry or research institutions in Italy and abroad.