Learning Outcomes

The Masters Degree Course in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology aims to provide specialized graduates with skills in the planning and scientific and technical-productive development of biotechnologies in the field of human health with particular reference to the design and planning of new bio-drugs and the study of their cellular and molecular mechanisms.

In particular, the course will provide graduates with theoretical and practical skills in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology so they will be able to design, produce and analyze biotechnological drugs, medicines and diagnostic products, and apply biotechnological techniques to support biomedical research. Graduates in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology have the skills to develop and apply quality control procedures, the development of diagnostic tests, the screening of drugs and biotechnological products, and the development and use of biotechnological methodologies for the clinical and toxicological monitoring of drugs. Furthermore, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology graduates have notions of drug-economy and technical-scientific information, industrial marketing and the patenting of biotechnological products, basic elements of the organization and strategies of a biotechnological company.

The Masters Degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology is a two-year course following graduation. Each year is organized into semesters, with the annual teachings distributed over two semesters. Some lessons can be part of similar teaching modules. The didactic curriculum includes theoretical lessons and practical laboratory exercises in various areas of pharmaceutical biotechnology, which are distributed according to the general framework of the Course Catalogue presented in the Didactic Regulations of the Programme.

The activities common to all biotechnological disciplines ('Cellular and Functional Biochemistry', 'Structural Biology and Protein Engineering', 'Bio-chemical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies', 'Pharmaceutical Microbiology', 'Cellular and Molecular Pathology') provide the knowledge concerning cellular systems and the biochemical and molecular bases that characterize them, and a knowledge of the physio-pathological processes and the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying them. They also allow the acquisition of biotechnological skills in programming and scientific and technical-productive development, with particular reference to the design, design and production of innovative bio-drugs, and to the study of their cellular and molecular mechanisms.

With the basic disciplines applied to biotechnologies ('Physical Methods in Organic Chemistry and Radiochemistry') students can acquire the basic notions of the basic chemical disciplines applied to biotechnologies, which have a specific interest in the analysis of organic compounds of pharmaceutical interest.

Through the study of morphology, the functions and pathologies of cells and complex organisms ('Physiology and Anatomy') students can gain an understanding of cellular systems and their anatomical and physiological characteristics, which will help them better understand the physiological processes and the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying them.

The pharmaceutical disciplines ('Computational Pharmaceutical Chemistry', 'Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology', 'Special Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies', 'Pharmacotoxicology of Biological Medicines and Pharmacognostic Biotechnologies', 'Pharmaceutical Technology and Legislation') provide knowledge regarding the field of drug-toxicology which will be important to address the pharmaceutical problems behind the design, development and testing of highly innovative drugs, together with the post-marketing monitoring of such products. Teaching will also b provided concerning the basic national and EU legislation governing the pharmaceutical sector.

The similar or supplementary educational activities included in the teachings of the pharmaceutical discipline make it possible for students to acquire more in-depth knowledge of the relevant aspects of the production and sales of biopharmaceuticals, the analysis of the pharmacological, chemical-pharmaceutical aspects, their formulation, not to mention their economic and legislative characteristics.

Students have 3 ECTS credits available for training and orientation apprenticeships that offer students the opportunity to gain practical experience regarding specific methodologies. Furthermore, students have 9 ECTS credits at their disposal for educational activities of their own choice, provided they are in line with the Educational Programme of the course. Through these activities, students can complete and/or deepen their knowledge in specific fields of the various biotechnological sectors.

Student assessment can be carried out in part during the year, for example by evaluating reports or work done in the classroom or at home, and through a final assessment consisting of an interview and/or a report. Having passed the final exam of each course, students will be attributed their relative credits and, where foreseen, a grade will be awarded expresses in thirtieths.

For the attainment of the master's degree, a final exam is required, to which the student is admitted after having obtained the formative credits divided into the specific, similar or complementary formative activities and the activities chosen by the student.

The final exam consists of the writing, presentation and discussion of a dissertation which has been written independently by students on the basis of their research activity conducted with the advice of a supervisor. This dissertation must detail the development and individual experimental activity carried out. The work will in this way enhance students' critical and methodological autonomy and favour work entry into the labour market.

Durante lo svolgimento del corso, la capacità e autonomia di giudizio viene sviluppata tramite la preparazione agli esami, che necessita della rielaborazione e assimilazione individuale del materiale presentato, e nello svolgimento, ove previsto, delle attività di laboratorio. Inoltre, alcune discipline sono organizzate in moduli culturalmente affini, atti a sviluppare la capacità di integrazione delle conoscenze e la gestione della loro complessità.
La prova finale è indirizzata a consolidare lo sviluppo delle capacità di lavoro autonomo e di giudizio critico da parte dello studente che deve dimostrare di aver acquisito la capacità di operare con sufficiente grado di autonomia nella raccolta di dati e informazioni, e nella loro organizzazione logica.
L'autonomia di giudizio nello studente viene verificata in particolare tramite esercitazioni, esposizione di elaborati e di ricerche, nonché durante l'attività preliminare alla definizione dell'argomento della prova finale.

Le abilità comunicative vengono primariamente sviluppate e verificate durante gli esami orali e incentivate attraverso la discussione di articoli scientifici e la presentazione di seminari su argomenti specifici. I laureati sono altresì in grado di comunicare problematiche, idee e soluzioni di carattere biotecnologico sia nella propria lingua che in inglese, attraverso lo studio e la consultazione costante della letteratura scientifica e delle banche dati internazionali, conseguendo addizionali abilità informatiche. Inoltre, attraverso la preparazione e la discussione pubblica della tesi di laurea verranno acquisite ulteriori abilità comunicative evidenziate con l'elaborazione, la presentazione e la discussione di dati sperimentali, e la capacità di lavorare in gruppo, che potranno essere evidenziate e valutate tramite la prova finale.
Le abilità comunicative scritte ed orali sono verificate nell'esposizione in classe di elaborati e ricerche, nella partecipazione alla discussione in occasione di seminari, laboratori, esercitazioni e sono comunque verificate in occasione di ciascuna prova d'esame.

Il corso di studi è finalizzato a formare laureati con elevate capacità di apprendimento, incentivate e verificate nelle singole prove di esame e attraverso prove in itinere. Questa capacità consente ai laureati un aggiornamento autonomo, assicurando la propria formazione permanente in campo biotecnologico, acquisire una mentalità flessibile per adattarsi a nuove problematiche, ed inserirsi rapidamente in ambienti lavorativi, sia di ricerca che industriali o, eventualmente, studi di dottorato di ricerca.
La capacità di apprendere viene conseguita dallo studente con la partecipazione attiva alle lezioni, seminari e tirocini, con le attività di studio individuale previste per il superamento di ciascun esame, con la preparazione di progetti individuali e/o di gruppo e con l'attività svolta per la preparazione della prova finale. La verifica avviene in sede di esame e nella discussione dell'elaborato presentato per la prova finale.