Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

Master in Environmental Management of Mountain Areas

The first year is to be completed at the Free University of Bolzano and is organized into mandatory, basic courses (30 ECTS) for all students during the first semester, whereas in the second semester, students can focus their studies by choosing a specific curriculum (30 ECTS) either on sustainable agriculture or on environmental protection.

The second year at the University of Innsbruck, with one compulsory module and several elective modules, gives students the possibility to focus on environmental and resource management, nature protection, landscape ecology, and planning, agriculture as well as water management in mountain areas.

Students work in interdisciplinary teams to carry out scientific research that is result-oriented, focused on targets, and related to their Master dissertation project.

In the study plan, you can find the partner university of the courses of your interest. In the course offering instead, you can find the course descriptions.

Study Plan - Major in Sustainable Mountain Agriculture and Development

1st Year (at Free University of Bozen-Bolzano)

• Applied statistics and computer programming for environmental modeling
• Applied Statistics
• Computer programming
• Management of forests and agriculture resources in mountain areas
• Management of mountain forests
• Management of agricultural resources
• Landscape ecology and ecosystem restoration
• Basics of landscape ecology
• Ecosystem restoration
• Geomatics and Landscape Planning
• Geomatics
• Landscape planning
• Natural risk in mountain areas: processes and mitigation strategies
• Mountain agriculture
• Grassland management and feed production
• Livestock management
• Sustainable development of mountain areas
• Economic development, sustainable tourism, and regional products
• Project development and management
• Restoration ecology and economic appraisal of mountain areas
• Advanced Restoration Ecology and Ecosystem Restoration
• Rural Appraisal
• Technologies for low-input agricultural systems

2nd Year (at Faculty of Biology, University of Innsbruck)

• Free Choice Courses* (at Faculty of Biology, University of Innsbruck)
• Selected topics in environmental management (one mandatory course at the Faculty of Biology, University of Innsbruck)
• Thesis** (at either the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano or the University of Innsbruck)

* Free choice courses

Students can choose courses of their choice. Every year the Faculty publishes the list of free choice courses offered.

** Thesis

The degree can be successfully concluded after the elaboration and defense of an original thesis work, which can be performed at either university.

There is no compulsory attendance at unibz, although attendance of lessons, exercise classes, and lab work is strongly recommended. Attendance is instead compulsory for part of the courses offered at the University of Innsbruck.

Study Plan - Major in Environmental Protection

1st Year (at unibz)

• Applied statistics and computer programming for environmental modeling
• Applied Statistics
• Computer programming
• Management of forests and agriculture resources in mountain areas
• Management of mountain forests
• Management of agricultural resources
• Landscape ecology and ecosystem restoration
• Basics of landscape ecology
• Ecosystem restoration
• Geomatics and Landscape Planning
• Geomatics
• Landscape planning
• Natural risk in mountain areas: processes and mitigation strategies
• Mountain agriculture
• Grassland management and feed production
• Livestock management
• Sustainable development of mountain areas
• Economic development, sustainable tourism, and regional products
• Project development and management
• Restoration ecology and economic appraisal of mountain areas
• Advanced Restoration Ecology and Ecosystem Restoration
• Rural Appraisal
• Technologies for low-input agricultural systems

2nd Year (at Faculty of Biology, University of Innsbruck)

• Free Choice Courses* (at Faculty of Biology, University of Innsbruck)
• Selected topics in environmental management (one mandatory course at the Faculty of Biology, University of Innsbruck)
• Thesis** (at either the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano or the University of Innsbruck)

* Free choice courses

Students can choose courses of their choice. Every year the Faculty publishes the list of free choice courses offered.

** Thesis

The degree can be successfully concluded after the elaboration and defense of an original thesis work, which can be performed at either university.

There is no compulsory attendance at unibz, although attendance of lessons, exercise classes, and lab work is strongly recommended. Attendance is instead compulsory for part of the courses offered at the University of Innsbruck.

Exchange Programs and Internships

We offer exchange programs with partner universities all over the world.

This study program does not involve a compulsory internship. You can still choose to carry out a voluntary internship and choose from the long list of Italian and foreign businesses the University of Bozen is partnered with. Periods abroad elsewhere for carrying out the thesis work can be arranged as well.

The interdisciplinary and research-oriented master program opens up a wide range of occupational opportunities for graduates all over the world, in particular environmental assessment, monitoring and management of protected areas, project planning and Eco-certification in the fields of agriculture and forestry, analysis and natural hazard assessment of hydrogeological origin, and elaboration of development plans of agricultural mountain areas, as well as various scientific careers.

Well prepared and ready for the job market. On the website of AlmaLaurea, you can check statistical data about graduates’ satisfaction and their employability.