The University of Milan

Master's Degree in Chemistry

Year 1

First semester

Optional

• Analytical Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry A
• Mathematical Methods Applied to Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry A
• Patents and Management of Innovation
• Physical Chemistry A

Second semester

Optional

• (bio)nanotechnology
• Chemical Safety
• Chemometrics
• Inorganic Chemistry B
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry B
• Physical Chemistry B
• Programming C

Open sessions:

Compulsory

• English Proficiency B2

Year: 2

Compulsory

• Thesis Work and Final Dissertation

First semester

Optional

• Advanced Methods in Organic Synthesis

Graduates with a master's degree in Chemical Sciences have the ability and knowledge to carry out highly qualified professional activities in the field of business management and research laboratories in the chemical and chemical-pharmaceutical fields. In addition to an in-depth knowledge of chemical science and technology and management tasks, he also possesses the rigour necessary to promptly apply the scientific method. It is able to organize the research work, define the development themes and related programs, ensure the joint integration of the various research sectors, guarantee scientific updating as well as verify the results achieved and promote their development and their application and has the ability to adapt to the continuous evolution of chemical disciplines and to interact with culturally contiguous professionals.

Making Judgments

Acquisition of conscious autonomy of judgment with reference to:

• interpretation of experimental data and possession of adequate tools to frame specific chemical knowledge in their relationships with other scientific and technical disciplines,
• planning and carrying out an experiment, planning its times and methods, and full autonomy of judgment in evaluating and quantifying the final result,
• responsibility and management of projects, structures and personnel,
• identification of new perspectives and innovative strategies for development,
• evaluation, interpretation and re-elaboration of literature data,
• professional ethics,
• ability to formulate an analytical problem and to propose ideas and solutions, even innovative ones,
• ability to find and evaluate sources of information, data, and chemical literature.

Communication skills

Ability to comprehensively communicate the results of one's research and evaluations to interlocutors, including non-specialists in Chemical Sciences. Ability to interact with foreign partners, through the use of a European Union language, with particular reference to English. Development of relational skills, with particular reference to the ability to coordinate group activity, this ability will also be developed by encouraging interaction between the work programs of the master's student with groups of students on degree courses and doctoral students during the period of the thesis.

Learning skills

Master's graduates have the ability to update their scientific and professional training also through continuous consultation of bibliographic sources and databases. Possesses the ability to work towards objectives independently and in a group, reacting positively to the problems encountered, has an aptitude for developing and continuously updating knowledge both in the chemical field (specialist texts, scientific journals and multimedia teaching tools also in foreign languages) and in the scope of similar and integrative sectors (including legal and/or economic ones), necessary for the management of complex projects.

Chemist

• Function in a Work Context: This master's graduate conducts research, experiments, and qualitative and quantitative analyses on natural or synthetic substances. Identifies their composition and chemical and energetic variations, applies investigation methods, and formulates theories and laws based on observations. Improves the synthesis of known substances and synthesizes new ones. Graduates with a master's degree in Chemical Sciences can practice the profession of chemist independently and independently profession with registration in "Section A" of the Professional Register of Chemists (after passing the State Exam). Can carry out activities for the promotion and development of scientific and technological innovation, as well as the management and design of technologies and the exercise of functions of high responsibility in the sectors of industry, environment, healthcare, cultural heritage, and public administration.
• Skills Associated with the Function: Graduates in Chemical Sciences have in-depth knowledge in chemical sciences and therefore in the sectors of synthesis and characterization of new products and new materials, health, nutrition, and cosmetics. They are able to follow the synthesis and characterization of complex compounds, using innovative procedures and cutting-edge instrumentation. They know how to evaluate the best methodology for solving analytical problems and determining structures of complex molecules, applying chromatographic, thermal, electrochemical, and electrophoretic analysis techniques and the most advanced forms of spectroscopy such as magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). They know how to interpret and rationalize the scientific data obtained in an organic way.
• Employment Opportunities: Graduates with a master's degree in Chemical Sciences can access research bodies, public administrations, professional companies, national or international consultancy firms, companies, industries, and laboratories for research, analysis, quality control, and certification and work environments that require high qualification.

Quality Assurance Manager

• Function in a Work Context: The Quality Assurance Manager is a particularly significant professional figure in the chemical-pharmaceutical industries as good manufacturing standards and good laboratory practices require the holder of authorization to manufacture medicines to have a quality assurance system. The Quality Assurance Manager is the corporate figure called upon to coordinate the Services and Departments involved in manufacturing, to ensure that the quality assurance system is efficient, controlled, and documented. They must ensure that inspections are carried out periodically and correctly to evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of the quality assurance system.
• Skills Associated with the Function: This professional figure coordinates and collaborates with the infrastructures and services involved in the production, from this, it is clear that the skills necessary for the role are the ability to analyze and synthesize, coordinate and manage human resources, work in a group, as well as knowing how to move transversally in various business areas.
• Employment Opportunities: This professional figure finds employment opportunities in companies, chemical and chemical-pharmaceutical industries, analysis, quality control, and certification laboratories and in all those working environments that require high qualifications.

Head/Director of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Laboratories

• Function in a Work Context: The Laboratory Manager/Director defines the development themes and research programs, in line with company strategies; of integrated and joint assistance in the research and production sectors. She assigns the necessary technical resources to the various projects, proposing investments in research and formulating budgets. This professional designs and synthesizes new products, mainly in the pharmaceutical sector, and deals with the certifications, storage, and transport of these products. Her tasks, in particular, are setting up the research plan, carrying out the necessary tests and experiments, choosing methods, means, and times; study of problems relating to the implementation of research projects.
• Skills Associated with the Function: This graduate has high professional skills of a technical-scientific and specialist nature in the chemical and chemical-pharmaceutical fields. They know how to carry out research projects within predefined times and costs and are able to process, interpret, and evaluate the experimental results obtained. They also have design, planning, management, and motivation skills for the work groups they manage. They also have the ability to analyze, summarize, and manage financial resources.
• Employment Opportunities: This professional figure can access research bodies, industries, research and analysis laboratories, and work environments that require high qualifications.

Informant and Scientific Communicator

• Function in a Work Context: This graduate increases scientific knowledge in the subject, and uses, and transfers this knowledge into industry, medicine, pharmacology, and other production sectors. Introduces operators in the industrial field to the characteristics and properties of his company's products. The function of the scientific informant and communicator is to propose the adoption of specific products and develop scientific information activities at interested companies to ensure correct use.
• Skills Associated with the Function: The skills necessary for the Scientific Representative to carry out his work consist not only of scientific knowledge but also of commercial skills. In particular, they must have excellent knowledge of chemistry, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food products and their correct use. Knowledge of technical English and IT, possession of a driving license, willingness to travel, ability to communicate, and resourcefulness complete this professional profile.
• Employment Opportunities: The scientific representative works for cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food, plastic, dye, detergent, glue, or environmental companies, in general for all companies in the chemical sector and/or for specialist magazines.