Educational goals

The aim of this course is to provide students with essential, solid methodological training, equipping them with the basic knowledge required to understand the protection, management and use of cultural heritage, as well as literary, artistic and historical culture, from ancient to contemporary times. In the first two years, the course will focus on the fundamental topics related to both areas. The relevant professional profiles include the positions offered by organisations engaging in the cultural heritage and activities sector (e.g. museums, archives, libraries, photographic and video archives, phonotheques), as well as positions in other public institutions (e.g. local authorities) and/or companies engaging in sectors pertaining to literary and cultural assets in general and the media. The course has been designed to equip learners with the necessary skills and knowledge to progress to higher levels of education or employment, including opportunities in course subjects or management roles within museums, libraries, and research institutions. The Bachelor's degree consists of two parts. The first part comprises fundamental and institutional course subjects common to both degree classes, totalling 120 credits. The common goal is to provide students with the opportunity to develop skills in philological, linguistic and critical analysis of texts, and to foster an understanding of cultural events, most notably literary and artistic events, in their interaction and in different historical contexts. The second part, which is differentiated, entails a qualification and specialisation of studies corresponding to the different cultural and scientific domains of the two degree classes. The aim is twofold: (1) to train specific skills as part of the activities relating to the study and enhancement of museum, artistic, book, documentary and performing arts heritage, together with the ability to analyse, identify, date, describe, preserve, manage and disseminate such heritage; and (2) to gain further knowledge of literature, linguistics, philology, history and art history from the classical period up to the present times. Throughout the three-year course, training in the first two years will primarily cover basic subjects and subjects that characterise the course itself. In contrast, the third year will provide a diverse selection of course subjects across numerous humanities disciplines, with a view to integrating and completing the training. Other aspects include credits allocated for activities chosen by the students, gaining language and IT skills, participating in curricular traineeship, and sitting for the final examination. The disciplines can be related to the following learning areas: A) Literature and philology (classical, medieval, modern and contemporary) B) Arts, performance and performing arts disciplines C) Archival and book heritage D) Cultural heritage management, legislation and diagnostics E) Philosophical, historical (classical, modern and contemporary), geographical, anthropological and humanistic disciplines The course is designed to equip students with the necessary linguistic skills (written and oral) in one or more languages of the European Community, with full command of the relevant vocabulary across various disciplines. Moreover, to help students to gain life and career-oriented skills, the course incorporates a curricular traineeship programmes, totalling approximately 150 hours (equivalent to 6 CFUs) at public and private affiliated institutions. The Bachelor's degree relies on cutting-edge teaching methods, comprising lectures, tutorials, seminars and in-person guided tours with a range of modules specifically designed for distance and asynchronous learning. The individual course subjects also include workshops that focus on the practical application of teaching methods and content. The Bachelor's degree may represent the initial phase of a broader educational process that, with regard to the specific classes L-10 and L-1, may include the Master's degree, various types of Master's degrees, pathways to course subjects and Doctorate programmes.

Career opportunities

Organisers of fairs, exhibitions and cultural events. Employment in public and private institutions, foundations and cultural associations, trade fair organisations. Tourist guides. Employment as a tour guide or tour leader with public and private organisations, agencies and companies. Museum technicians. Employment in museums, foundations, superintendent's offices, local authorities, public and private exhibition spaces, museum service management companies. Library technicians. Employment in public and private libraries, documentation centres, cultural foundations and historical archives.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to the Bachelor's degree course in Literary Sciences and Cultural Heritage, students must hold an upper secondary school diploma or an equivalent academic qualification obtained abroad that has been recognised as such by the University's relevant bodies. Students enrolling on the Bachelor's degree programme must also demonstrate an adequate level of prior education, particularly in the humanities. This should include basic knowledge of history, literature and art, as well as full command of the Italian language. Good logical and reasoning skills and understanding of texts (historical and Italian literature) are also required. An ad-hoc Panel appointed by the Department Board will evaluate this level of prior education in an individual interview before the start of the academic year. If any gaps are identified that could jeopardise progress, additional training will be required. Any such additional training must be completed within the first year of the course through guided individual study and personalised tutoring activities. Specific remedial courses may also be arranged to help students fulfil their educational obligations. Students who attend special educational sessions will not be prevented from taking courses or sitting for related exams. The successful outcome of these sessions will be assessed through subsequent interviews before the Panel. Further details regarding the aforementioned interview and fulfilment of training obligations will be provided in a separate notice, which will be posted on the Course of Studies website.