Italy

This course is part of the LM degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrollment is by consent of the instructor. This course explores the genetic, epigenetic, and genomic mechanisms governing microbial physiology in a changing environment which includes selective pressure by antibiotics, vaccines, pollution, and climate. The molecular basis of the virus-host interaction is also discussed. The laboratory activity familiarizes students with molecular approaches to generate recombinant organisms, and assesses the impact of viral activity on the host’s metabolism.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale program. The course is intended for advanced level students only. Enrollment is by consent of the instructor. The course focuses on: the consequences of international trade and the effects of trade policies; the main approaches to international factor movements, organization of firms, and debates regarding globalization; exchange rates and international capital markets; complex issues raised by the economic interdependence of nations The course covers the following: why do countries trade; what are the consequences of introducing a tariff on imports; why did the EU adopt a single currency; how to make sense of Brexit and Trump's protectionism. This course aims at addressing these issues and many other relevant topics in both international trade and open economy macroeconomics. At the end of the course, students have a sound foundation in international economics and they are able to critically evaluate both micro and macro trade patterns, as well as policy issues. The first module introduces the most important theories of international trade and their predictions for consumers, firms, and governments. In particular, it addresses issues such as determinants of trade flows, gains from trade, and motivation and consequences of protectionist policies. It also covers real-world areas of international trade, such as the EU, the Americas, and Asia. The second module is organized in topics, including, among others, open macroeconomics, optimum currency areas, the European Union and the Euro experience, and the historical and recent migration waves.

Italy possesses one of the richest culinary traditions in the world, with roots reaching back to ancient times. Students explore literature detailing matters of Italian food culture in a dense array of settings. Part of the course is conducted on site, exposing students to Rome's rich network of food distribution systems, as well as touring areas in proximity of Rome to discover the close linkage between the territory, its inhabitants, and consumable food products. Topics covered include the cultural ecology of pasta, the historical evolution of spices, the special character of Alpine ecosystems, the moral implications of food consumption, modern food distribution, the globalization of taste, and responses to globalization especially through the Slow Food movement. Throughout the course attention is paid to the role of food practice in contemporary Italian society and culture, with special attention to gender. In order to put principles into practice, the structured experience of food and wines is an integral part of the course.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale program. The course is intended for advanced level students only. Admission is by consent of the instructor. The course focuses on the basic aspects of contemporary constitutionalism in Western democracies, countries in transition to democracy and beyond. Emphasis is placed on comparative constitutional law because it allows for a deeper understanding of legal systems and legal cultures. Special attention is placed on an analysis of the foundations of individual legal systems and the strengths and limits of constitutional law in regulating social and political processes. Course contents: what is a constitution; why comparative constitutional law; constitutional models; judicial enforcement of the constitution and models of constitutional adjudication; horizontal separation of powers: Presidentialism and Parliamentarism; federalism vertical separation of powers; protecting fundamental rights: equality, minority and group rights; freedom of expression; freedom of religion and belief.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrollment is by consent of the instructor. This course introduces the critical study of the main tenets, the sources, and some specific fields of contemporary international law. The three fundamental legal functions on which the legal dynamics of the international community is founded – lawmaking, law determination, and law enforcement – are analyzed within the contemporary social context. International law is presented in its different dimensions: as a tool in the hand of international actors able to handle change in the international society and safeguard stability and predictability of international legal relations; as common language useful in reaching consensus or, at least, peaceful disagreement; and as key to understanding the reality of contemporary international relations. Bringing together different perspectives, the course demonstrates how international rules, while made by governments and mostly addressed to them, can be of great relevance to private actors and to their interests.

The course analyzes how the labor market works, how agents in this special market behave, and how governments regulate and set up institutions to govern the labor market. Whether and how much to work, how much to invest in human capital (skills), unionization, and whether and where to migrate are all examples of decisions on the supply side of the labor market. The combination of labor (or different types of labor) and other factors in production, and job creation and job destruction are examples of decisions on the demand side of the labor market. Minimum wages, unemployment insurance, employment protection legislation, and collective bargaining, are examples of institutions governing the labor market. The course covers the following topics: labor supply and demand; labor market equilibrium; human capital, education, and training; compensating wage differentials; immigration; and automation and the future of work.

This intensive language course is designed for UC students who have completed at least one semester or two quarters of Italian language. The course follows the language proficiency guidelines set up by the European level and is equivalent to the A2 level according to the European framework. The course focuses on Italian language and culture and uses the city of Bologna and its inhabitants as primary sources for information regarding language use and customs. The course is conducted entirely in Italian and is designed for students who already have basic knowledge of the language and want to improve their communication skills. Students are exposed to authentic Italian material linked to the city of Bologna, its history, and culture. The course also includes material from film clips, songs, and websites. At the end of the four week intensive course, students are expected to be able to talk about themselves and their life, and to describe present, past, and future events, to give suggestions, and to discuss their choices and preferences. Students are expected to understand short dialogues, conversations, and clips from mainstream Italian films and to express their ideas on a variety of topics. The course emphasizes oral production in light of the goal of communicating with Italian university students and local residents. The course follows a communicative approach to language acquisition and involves opportunities for role playing, group activities, games, class discussions and exchanges with native University of Bologna students. Activities outside the classroom are organized in order to reinforce observation and communication skills that facilitate immersion in Italian culture. The course includes a major field trip. Students select the number of quarter units from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 6. The course is organized by inlingua with supervision from the UCEAP Bologna Study Center. Course materials are provided by inlingua. The basic text for the course is: NUOVO CONTATTO A1 (Loescher, 2018).

The course explores how sustainability is becoming an existential challenge for humanity – due to such alarming issues as climate change or growing social inequality – and a source of change for companies. Organizations are rethinking their role in society and increasingly choosing to exceed the legal requirements they face and to take action to address social and environmental problems. Students are confronted with the theoretical bases of sustainability, seen as a perspective that shapes the role of the organizations within society and promote sustainable development, and the challenges of incorporating this perspective into the practices of organizations. A strategic approach to sustainability is more complex than traditional strategy, because it requires managers to engage with the non-market environment including regulators, activists, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The course is oriented around understanding the conditions under which sustainability can benefit all the stakeholders involved. The course discusses topics including sustainable development and corporate sustainability; climate change and the road to Net Zero; the business case for sustainability; circular economy and sustainable business models; sustainable supply chains; sustainability in the marketplace; social sustainability in the workplace; sustainable finance, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria, and purpose-led shareholders; sustainability metrics and reporting; and embedding sustainability in organizations. The course recommends students should be familiar with basic concepts regarding management, organizations, and global economy as a prerequisite.