English

This course provides the knowledge and understanding about how cost and environmental issues affect the choice of design solutions and which measures need a longer-term perspective than others, in order to get back the investment costs or make the building sustainable. This course also provides the knowledge and understanding related to different types of actors’ interests (city-owned property owners, private property owners, property developers (build and sell), private homeowners, builders, and manufacturers). Also included are aspects of barriers and possibilities. The course presents methodology and tools for determining life cycle perspective issues like life-cycle costs and environmental certification. This can be used for evaluation, system design and to produce convincing arguments and facts for the client.

This creative writing course is intended for students with a strong interest in writing poetry and developing their artistic craft. In this course, students begin the work of critically assessing contemporary poetry as practicing poets. It explores some key concerns of contemporary poetry, including race, sexuality and the environment, and covers a range of poets working in both traditional and non-traditional forms. Using sample poems provided in class, alongside critical materials, students develop an informed critical idiom for the discussion and critique of contemporary poetry, and also work towards writing a small portfolio of their own poems. Students must be willing to produce new poems to deadline, and be prepared to have their work discussed in class. It is the responsibility of students to offer constructive and considered feedback to their peers during these weekly sessions. *Students are required to submit an application for this course. 

This introductory course focuses on the fundamentals of investment analysis and asset pricing. The course examines modern portfolio theory, the capital asset pricing model, arbitrage pricing theory, corporate and government securities, stock and bond valuations, and derivatives. Students are equipped with a foundational understanding of various investment alternatives and the methods used to assess their value. 

Topics include Investment environment and financial instruments, Capital allocation to risky assets, Efficient diversification, Capital asset pricing models, Arbitrage pricing theory, Bond prices and yields, Term structures, Equity valuation models, Option markets, Option valuation, Future markets.  

This course introduces students to the literary genres and theological contours of the Hebrew canon and its transmission, translation and interpretation in antiquity and in contemporary culture. The variety of terms used to designate the ‘Hebrew Bible’ (e.g. Old Testament, Hebrew Scriptures, Tanak) indicate the richness of traditions related to these writings, the various ways that they are viewed, and also their life within different communities at different times. This course orients students to the literary and theological contours of the Hebrew canon, introducing them to the rich variety of genres within. The exploration of the Pentateuch and Chronicler’s History provides a historiographical framework and develops students’ ability to identify literary themes while interrogation of the Prophets, Psalms and Wisdom Literature demonstrate the incredible diversity of literary and theological genres contained within the Hebrew Bible. 

Within a theoretical and learning-by-doing context, this course focuses on solving problems in the field of wildlife ecology and conservation. The problem-based learning approach is based on the idea that it is an effective and durable way to develop into a professional. Lectures provide the needed theory, and assignments are offered to obtain hands on experience with quantitative data analyses. During these assignments, students use advanced methodologies and software (for example excel, R, and conservation planning programs) to address problems spanning a wide range of wildlife conservation issues such as threats to species, genetic analysis, population viability analysis, the role of protected areas, the human context to conservation, and ecosystem/landscape management and planning. Furthermore, students work in groups on a case study that allow them to address species conservation issues using advanced methodologies learned earlier during the course. A working experience with excel is required (ability to make graphs and perform basic calculations and statistics). Assumed Knowledge in PEN10503 Ecology I; PEN20503 Ecology II; WEC20803 Applied Animal Ecology.

This advanced course guides students through key contemporary sociological debates, presenting major theoretical and analytical paradigms and exploring how these are developed and tested through empirical research. The course tackles complex questions about inequality, justice, emotion, creativity, violence and belief, highlighting the tension between micro-, meso- and macro-level explanations. Students also discover how sociology is practiced across different countries and intellectual traditions, gaining comparative insights and deeper reflexivity about their own place in society.

This course examines how smart technologies like AI, urban digital twinning, and internet of things are reshaping urban planning, design, and decision-making processes. It explores their potential and limitations in tackling urban challenges, improving efficiency, and aligning with sustainability development goals while critically examining ethical concerns surrounding their implementation in cities.

This course delves into the theoretical underpinnings and practical applications of deep neural networks. Deep learning has revolutionized industries ranging from healthcare to finance, driving advancements in natural language processing, computer vision, and autonomous systems. 

From understanding fundamental concepts to implementing advanced architectures like convolutional and recurrent networks and transformers as well, this course covers both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience essential for navigating the complexities of deep learning. 

Topics include Deep learning basics, Neural networks, Training neural networks, Convolutional neural networks, Recurrent neural networks, Transformers, Applications: NLP, Applications: CV, Generative models. 

This course guides students through the rich tapestry of classical music by immersing them in live piano performances accompanied by humorous commentary, fostering an understanding of music history, renowned composers, and significant classical pieces. Through lively discussions and sharing among students, individuals cultivate their unique perspectives and tastes in music, while also advocating for the profound impact of arts and humanities. 

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor. This course builds the ability to analyze in a critical and professional way current social and economic issues that are relevant for public policy, using the tools of economic analysis and considering the political aspects involved. Through an in-depth discussion of selected current issues and applying, among the others, the conceptual tools developed during the first year of the program, students learn (i) how to structure an economic analysis of a particular public policy issue, (ii) how to perform the analysis, (iii) how to write a policy report or briefing, and (iv) how to summarize and present it both orally (without support) and in a presentation (with support), in order to convey effectively such analysis is a non-technical way to the policy maker or to public executives.

Course contents:

• Analysis and Discussion of Current Public Policy Issues: The selection of topics may change annually, depending on the evolving economic and political landscape and the emergence of new issues.
• Policy Making Process Management: Regardless of the specific topics, students develop the ability to manage the entire process: framing, implementing, and presenting a policy report or brief.
• Writing an Effective Policy Report/Brief: Techniques and strategies for crafting clear and compelling policy documents.
• Effective Presentation of the Policy Report/Brief: How to persuasively and professionally present the findings of the report/brief.
• Oral Briefing to a Policymaker: Skills for orally communicating with policymakers, summarizing, and conveying policy analysis clearly and concisely.