Environmental Sciences

Benedetta Botta: botta.2204096@studenti.uniroma1.it
Lucian Nicolae Calina: calina.1990535@studenti.uniroma1.it
Mirko Damizia: damizia.2143593@studenti.uniroma1.it

https://smfn.web.uniroma1.it/it/figure-di-garanzia

Dr. Francesca Congiu
cademic Secretariat, Department of Environmental Biology
T (+39) 06 4991 2666, Room 126, first floor CU022
Office hours: Mon-Tue-Fri 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Email: didattica.dba@uniroma1.it

https://smfn.web.uniroma1.it/garante-degli-studenti

Academic Secretariat, Department of Environmental Biology
Francesca Congiu, Beatrice Bruschi
T (+39) 06 4991 2666  Room 126, first floor CU022
Office hours: Mon-Tue-Fri 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Email: didattica.dba@uniroma1.it

Student Office:

• Registration
• Enrollment
• Fees
• Infostud Degree Application
• Part-time
• Degree Certificate
• Transfers to other programs
• 24 CFU Program
• Dropping out/withdrawing from studies

Email: segrstudenti.scienzemmffnn@uniroma1.it
Page link: https://www.uniroma1.it/it/pagina/segreteria-amministrativa-studenti-di-...

NG1 Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the Degree Program in Environmental Sciences, students must have a high school diploma or another equivalent qualification obtained abroad.
Specifically, basic scientific knowledge acquired in high school in the areas of Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics is required.
The degree program has no limited enrollment.

NG2 Entry-Level Knowledge Assessment
To be admitted to the program, students must take a mandatory, but non-selective, initial knowledge assessment test. Additional Learning Obligations (OFA) may be assigned. For details, please refer to the admissions announcement.
The test consists of an online test (TOLC-S) administered through the CISIA IT platform on the dates and sessions listed on the website www.cisiaonline.it.
Through the administration of entrance tests developed by the CISIA consortium (TOLS-B and TOLC-S), the program, in collaboration with the Faculty, identifies those who must fulfill Additional Learning Obligations (OFA) and directs them to dedicated services to clear the debt.
For the Environmental Sciences degree program, students who achieve a TOLC-S score lower than 8/20 in the basic mathematics questions and an overall score (excluding the English section) lower than 22/55 are considered "OFA debtors." If at least one of these two thresholds is met or exceeded, the OFA debt will not be assigned.
The OFA debt can be repaid in two ways: by successfully passing the OFA assessment within the first academic year, or by passing the curricular exam in Mathematics and Statistics. Failure to complete the OFA will result in the inability to take exams for years subsequent to the first. Students who have successfully completed the TOLC-B or TOLC-I are not required to take the TOLC-S or TOLC@CASA. In this case, the OFA debt will be attributed to those with a score lower than 8/20 in the math questions and a total score lower than 20/50.
To assist students in recovering the additional learning debt, an asynchronous platform has been activated (trained with Of@ https://elearning.uniroma1.it/login/index.php) where they can independently access specific exercises and obtain an immediate report on errors and the correct solution. To facilitate the remediation of OFA, the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences will organize three assessments based on mandatory training activities, which will be explained on the Faculty's OFA page: https://smfn.web.uniroma1.it/ofa.

NG3 Transfers, Course Shortening, Credit Recognition
NG3.1 Transfers and Transfers
Students enrolled in the three-year degree program in Environmental Sciences (Ministerial Decree 509 of November 3, 1999) who intend to transfer to the degree program in Environmental Sciences (Ministerial Decree 270/04) may obtain credit recognition for exams passed. The Teaching Area Council (CAD), taking into account the credits and programs for the courses taken, and the grades of the exams passed, will evaluate requests for transfer to the Degree Program in Environmental Sciences on a case-by-case basis.
Transfer requests from students from other Sapienza degree programs and transfer requests from students from other universities, military academies, or other military higher education institutions are subject to approval by the CAD, which:
• evaluates the possibility of full or partial recognition of the student's academic career up to that point, validating some or all of the exams taken and any credits earned, along with the corresponding grades; in the case of transfers between programs pursuant to Ministerial Decree 270 in the same class, at least 50% of the credits earned in each SSD must be recognized.
• indicates the year of the program in which the student is enrolled;
• establishes any additional educational requirements to be fulfilled;
• formulates the completion plan for obtaining the degree.
Requests for transfer to the Environmental Sciences degree program must be submitted by the deadlines and according to the procedures specified in the University's study plan.

NG3.2 Course Abbreviations
Anyone who already holds a three-year diploma, a three-year degree, a four-year degree, a five-year degree, a specialist degree obtained under a previous system, or a bachelor's or master's degree obtained under a current system and intends to pursue a further qualification may apply to the CAD for enrollment in a course year subsequent to the first.
Applications are evaluated by the CAD, which:
• assesses the possibility of total or partial recognition of the study career completed up to that point, with the validation of some or all of the exams taken and any credits earned, along with the corresponding grades; in the case of transfers between courses pursuant to Ministerial Decree 270 in the same class, at least 50% of the credits earned in each SSD must be recognized.
• indicates the course year in which the student is enrolled;
• establishes any additional educational requirements to be fulfilled;
• formulates the completion plan for obtaining the qualification.

A student may not enroll in a degree program in the same class in which they have already obtained their bachelor's degree.
Requests must be submitted by the deadlines and according to the procedures specified in the University's study plan.

NG3.3 Criteria for Credit Recognition
All university credits (CFU) already earned may be recognized if they relate to courses whose content, as documented in the course syllabi, is consistent with the curriculum of the degree program. For transfers between degree programs in the same class, a minimum of 50% of the credits for each scientific-disciplinary area are guaranteed.
The CAD may decide on equivalence between Scientific-disciplinary Areas (SSD) for the allocation of CFU based on the content of the courses and in accordance with the degree program regulations.
Credits already earned for courses that, even if named differently, are clearly equivalent in content to those offered by the degree program, may be recognized as courses with the names of the degree program in which enrollment is being sought. In this case, the CAD will decide on recognition according to the following procedures:
• If the number of credits corresponding to the course for which recognition is requested coincides with that of the course for which it is being recognized, the credits will be awarded directly;
• If the number of credits corresponding to the course for which recognition is requested differs from the number of credits for the course for which it is being recognized, the CAD will examine the student's CV and, if necessary, award the credits after supplementary interviews;
The CAD may recognize as credits professional knowledge and skills certified in accordance with applicable legislation, as well as other knowledge and skills acquired in post-secondary educational activities designed and implemented by the University. These credits count toward the 12 credits for elective courses and/or the 6 credits for training and orientation internships. In any case, the maximum number of credits recognized in these areas cannot exceed 18.
The CAD provides that students, to complete their university career, may undertake training activities outside the University for the acquisition of educational credits. To this end, students must submit an authorization request to the President of the CAD 60 days before the start of the activity, specifying, in addition to their personal information, the detailed program, and the name of the University instructor who will act as tutor. If the CAD approves the activity, upon completion of the activity, the student will be awarded the appropriate number of credits, based on the final report submitted and the opinion of the tutor.
Activities already recognized for the purpose of awarding credits within the bachelor's degree program cannot be re-accredited within the master's degree program.

NG4 Study Programs
A study program contains a list of all mandatory courses included in the curriculum, including those for the 12 elective credits chosen by the student. These courses can be selected from all those available in Sapienza's entire curriculum, provided they are related to three-year degree programs of the 270th order.
Each student must obtain official approval of their study plan from the CAD (online study plan: https://gomp.uniroma1.it/WorkFlow2011/PianiDiStudio/). The study plan can be completed from each student's INFOSTUD page. Once the entire study plan form has been completed, it must be submitted electronically through the Infostud interface for approval by the assessment manager. Approval is required for exam registration.
If approved, the study plan is sent to the Student Office, where it becomes an integral part of the student's academic record. If not, the student will be asked to change their course selection.
Participation in the study plan can be made only once per academic year, starting from the first year of the course. Any deadlines for submitting the study plan will be indicated on the website.

NG4.1 Individual Study Programs
The submission of an Individual Study Program is not required.

NG4.2 Modification of Study Programs
A student who has already enrolled in a study program may, in a subsequent academic year, propose a different study program to the CAD. Likewise, a student who has already been approved for an individual study program may, in a subsequent academic year, opt to enroll in the study program prepared by the CAD.
In any case, exams already recorded cannot be replaced.

NG4.3 Completion Plans
A completion plan contains the list of courses from the three-year study program that the CAD deems necessary for a student transferring from a previous academic system or from a different university to obtain a degree. These courses are assigned to students after the recognition of the courses (see NG3) and the credits already earned in the previous program. Once accepted by the student, the completion plan is forwarded to the Student Office, where it becomes an integral part of the student's academic record.
From the thirtieth day following receipt of the CAD resolution by the Student Office, the student is authorized to register the assigned exams.

NG5 Teaching Methods
Teaching activities are conventional and distributed on a semester-by-semester basis.
Teaching is delivered through lectures and exercises in the classroom, as well as laboratory and field activities. The schedules of lectures and practical activities are designed to allow students adequate time for personal study.
The nominal duration of the degree program is 6 semesters, equal to three years.

NG5.1 University Credits
University credits (CFU) measure the amount of work a student undertakes to achieve an educational objective. CFUs are earned by students by passing exams or obtaining qualifications, where applicable.
The credit system adopted by Italian and European universities stipulates that one CFU corresponds to 25 hours of student commitment, distributed between institutionally mandated group learning activities (e.g., lectures, exercises, laboratory work) and individual study.
In the Environmental Sciences degree program, in accordance with Article 23 of the University Teaching Regulations, one credit corresponds to 8 hours of lectures, or 12 hours of laboratory or guided exercises, or 20 hours of professional development (with instructor guidance in small groups) or supervised study (independent student exercises in the classroom/laboratory, with teaching assistance), or 20 hours of fieldwork.
The individual course descriptions, available on the degree program website, show the breakdown of credits and teaching hours for the various activities, along with prerequisites, learning objectives, and outline programs.
The total workload for the degree is 180 credits.
In the Environmental Sciences degree program, the portion of the total time available to students for personal study or other individual learning activities is at least 50% of the total time commitment.

NG5.2 Academic Calendar
1) Maximum Weekly Hours of In-Depth Teaching
The teaching schedule is spread over five days a week, with a maximum of 20 hours of in-depth teaching per week (4 hours/week for 6-credit courses; 6 hours/week for 9-credit courses).
2) Lesson Schedule
Each academic year of the three-year program is divided into two semesters, each approximately 15 weeks long, separated by a time slot for exams. Classes generally begin at the end of September and no later than the second week of October and end by mid-January. The second semester generally begins at the end of February and ends approximately by the second week of June.
The CAD proposes the lesson schedule for all courses for an academic year by the end of the second semester of the previous year, preferably in conjunction with the assignment of teaching assignments, taking into account any OFA remediation as per NG6. The AdF decides on the calendar for all degree programs in the Faculty.

3) Exam Periods
Exam periods (*) are conducted in strict compliance with the Charter of Student Rights as incorporated into the University Academic Regulations [Art. 22].
(*) In derogation of the general rules. For the exam referred to in point NG2 only, those with OFA will also be admitted to the extraordinary November session.

4) Equal temporal distribution of exam dates
The CAD proposes the dates of the regular exam sessions for all courses in an academic year before the start of the first semester of the academic year, possibly coinciding with the assignment of teaching assignments, ensuring that, for each semester, the exam dates are evenly distributed across the available timeframe. In accordance with the procedures set forth in Art. 22 of the University Academic Regulations, the AdF approves the academic calendars.

NG5.3 Exams
The assessment of individual student performance for each course is expressed through the assignment of a grade out of 30, in which case the minimum passing grade is 18/30, or a passing grade.
The following elements may contribute to the final assessment:
• a written exam, generally consisting of several written tests to be taken during and at the end of the course;
• an oral exam;
• the student's independent work.

NG5.4 Language Proficiency Assessment
The 3 credits awarded for the English language can be earned by passing a single test, which can be taken in each of the three exam sessions.
Anyone with a language certification of at least level B1 issued by an accredited certification body (https://piattaformaenticert.pubblica.istruzione.it/pocl-piattaforma-enti...) is entitled to recognition of their English language proficiency. To be valid, this certification must have been obtained no more than three years prior to the current academic year. Certificates at level C1 or higher do not expire.
The Faculty of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences generally offers final-year high school students in Lazio the opportunity to take the scientific English exam at the University Language Center of Sapienza University of Rome. Passing the exam entitles students to 3 credits for language skills. A successful English language assessment will be automatically recorded in their academic records.

NG6 Attendance, Prerequisites, and Advancement
Regular attendance in all courses is essential for students' successful integration into the program and is therefore highly recommended.
There are no formal prerequisites for the Environmental Sciences degree program. However, the placement of courses in the curriculum clearly indicates the optimal order in which to take them and take the exams. Students who fail an exam will not face administrative barriers to taking subsequent exams; however, it is strongly recommended that students schedule a retake of the failed exam to avoid creating a gap between courses taken and exams to be prepared for.
The SMFN Faculty offers all students the opportunity to attend pre-courses in mathematics, which typically take place in September and in any case before the start of first-semester classes.
Students with OFA (Additional Learning Requirements) will be able to take specific remedial courses that will begin in early October, concurrently with the first-semester courses. Attendance at these courses is strongly recommended. Please remember to schedule these courses within the academic calendar. Courses will conclude with a standardized OFA test for all Faculty programs, which will verify completion of the required learning requirements. Students who fail the OFA test must pass the Mathematics course exam by the University deadlines. Students who fail the OFA tests may continue to attend the first-year courses and take the related exams at the scheduled exam dates. If they fail the OFA test, these students will not be able to enroll in the second year but will be forced to repeat the first year.

NG7 Part-time Program
The deadlines and procedures for requesting part-time program, as well as the related regulations, are set forth in Article 24 of the University Manifesto and are available on the Sapienza website.

NG8 Students who are behind schedule and validity of earned credits
Pursuant to Article 32 of the University Manifesto, a student is considered behind schedule when, having attended all the educational activities required by these Academic Regulations, he or she has not passed all the exams and has not acquired the number of credits required to obtain the degree within three years.
Pursuant to Article 33 of the University Manifesto:
• A full-time student who is behind schedule must pass the remaining exams to complete his or her university career within nine years of enrollment;
• A part-time student who is not on track must pass the remaining exams to complete their university career by the deadline established by the CAD.

NG9 Tutoring
Students in the Environmental Sciences degree program may benefit from tutoring provided by instructors designated by the CAD. Any additional instructors available as tutors and the tutoring options will be advertised for each academic year by posting notices at the Academic Secretariat and on the degree program website.

NG10 Excellence Paths
There are no excellence paths.

NG11 Final Exam
To be admitted to the final exam, students must have earned all the credits required by the academic regulations for activities other than the final exam and must have completed the administrative formalities set forth in the University Academic Regulations.
6 credits are required for the final exam, which is used to prepare and defend a paper certifying the acquisition of the theoretical knowledge and practical skills developed during the course of study.
The degree grade takes into account the weighted average, based on credits, of the grades achieved in the various courses, the student's academic career (honors, year of study, participation in European Erasmus projects, etc.), the final paper, and its presentation and defense at the graduation ceremony. A maximum of 10 points can be added to the final exam. The Degree Committee expresses the grade out of 110 and may, if the candidate, after adding additional points, achieves a grade of 110/110 or higher, unanimously award honors.
The 10 additional points are distributed as follows: 4 points at the discretion of the thesis supervisor; up to 3 points at the discretion of the Degree Committee, taking into account the presentation of the thesis and its discussion; 1 point if the training program is completed within the legal duration of the degree program; 0.5 points if it is completed within the first year outside the prescribed timeframe; 0.4 points for each honor, up to a maximum of 2 points. In the case of participation in the ERASMUS project, the period spent abroad will be deducted from the calculation of the completion period of the training program.

NG12 Application of art. 6 of the Student Regulations (Royal Decree No. 1269 of June 4, 1938)
Students enrolled in the Environmental Sciences degree program, in order to enhance their academic curriculum, may, pursuant to Art. 6 of Royal Decree No. 1239 of June 4, 1938, by submitting an application to the Student Office by February of each year, attend two courses and take two exams per year in courses from another degree program (See Student Regulations, Article 42).
Given the scientific and cultural significance of this provision, the CAD has decided that this request may only be made by students who have earned at least 18 credits in the Environmental Sciences degree program.