Name of the professional role: Civil Engineer

Role in a Work Context

The main responsibilities of this professional role are:

- working as a self-employed senior engineer, with design and coordination duties in planning, design, and management

- working as an employee of public agencies, in a managerial role

- working as an employee of private organizations and companies, in a managerial role.
 

SKILLS

The main skills of a civil engineer with a master’s degree include innovation and production development, advanced design, planning and scheduling, and the management of complex systems, whether in private practice, in manufacturing or service companies, or in public administration.

Career Opportunities

Master’s degree graduates may find employment with companies involved in the construction and maintenance of civil works, facilities, and civil infrastructure; professional firms and design firms specializing in civil works, facilities, and infrastructure; public offices responsible for the design, planning, management, and oversight of urban and regional systems; companies, organizations, consortia, and agencies involved in the management and oversight of systems for civil works and services; and service firms conducting feasibility studies on the urban and regional impact of infrastructure.

The Master’s Degree Program in Civil Engineering is a two-year program designed to provide students with:

● The ability to conceive, plan, design, and manage structures, works, infrastructure, technological systems, facilities, networks, services, and technical and organizational processes in accordance with the principles of economic, social, energy, and environmental sustainability.

● Competence in working within an interdisciplinary context, encompassing topics such as land surveying and monitoring, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydraulic engineering, water resource management, and transportation network management.

● Ability to analyze, design, monitor, maintain, and manage structures and infrastructure, taking into account their life cycle.

● In-depth knowledge of seismic engineering, structural protection, the rehabilitation of historic structures, and the economic evaluation of projects.

● Use of modern technologies to transform existing systems into physical-digital systems.

● Application of skills in the fields of construction (buildings, industrial civil works, bridges, tunnels, dams) and infrastructure (roads, railways, airports, water systems, and land conservation works).

● Ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex civil engineering problems through a systemic and interdisciplinary approach.

● Assessment of uncertainties in the planning, design, and construction of complex projects, and risk management.

● Ability to optimize and manage civil engineering systems and services, adapting them to changing conditions and utilizing advanced monitoring systems.

● Ability to assess the impacts of projects in terms of economic, energy, and environmental sustainability, designing and managing resilient and safe solutions.

● Ability to minimize fragility and optimize the robustness and resilience of systems and processes in the face of extreme natural and human-induced events and the effects of climate change.

● Use of advanced technologies for modeling, monitoring, and managing territories and infrastructure.

● Design and management of complex experiments, including the use of physical, mathematical, and numerical models for simulations and design.

Curriculum:

In the first year, students follow a curriculum designed to provide the first part of the program’s theoretical and scientific content, focused on achieving fundamental learning objectives in the field of engineering sciences.

In the second year, students take courses designed to complete the coverage of the program’s theoretical and scientific content, with a particular focus on applying the theoretical and practical aspects of the basic sciences and civil engineering disciplines to identify, formulate, and solve complex problems through the design of structures, infrastructure, networks, and services.

The second year includes elective activities—including internships—and a final exam, designed to further develop students’ ability to integrate a systems-based perspective with an interdisciplinary approach.

The Master’s program includes lectures, seminars, laboratory exercises, and internships as part of the students’ elective activities, to enable the direct application of the concepts learned.

Admission Requirements

To enroll in the Master’s Degree Program in Civil Engineering, applicants must hold a three-year Bachelor’s degree or university diploma, or another degree obtained abroad that has been recognized as equivalent. Admission to the program is contingent upon meeting academic prerequisites and verification of the applicant’s academic preparedness, which will be conducted as specified below. Any required supplementary coursework must be completed before the assessment of the applicant’s academic preparedness is conducted.

Curricular Requirements

Admission to the Master’s Degree Program in Civil Engineering is open to graduates under the system established by Ministerial Decree 270/04 or the previous system established by Ministerial Decree 509/99 who, during their prior university studies, have earned a minimum number of credit units (CFU) in the disciplinary areas and scientific disciplinary sectors (SSD) specified below.

1) 40 CFU in the SSDs ING-INF/05, MAT/02, MAT/03, MAT/05, MAT/06, MAT/07, MAT/08, CHIM/07, FIS/01

Of which at least:

15 CFU in the SSD MAT/05.

15 CFU in the SSDs CHIM/07, FIS/01

2) 55 CFU in the following SSDs: GEO/05, ICAR/01, ICAR/02, ICAR/03, ICAR/04, ICAR/05, ICAR/06, ICAR/07, ICAR/08, ICAR/09, ICAR/10, ICAR/20, ING-IND/35, ING-INF/04

Of which at least:

5 CFU in the ICAR/01 or ICAR/02 scientific disciplines

5 CFU in the ICAR/08 scientific discipline

3) 5 CFU in the following academic subject areas (SSD): ICAR/11, ICAR/17, ICAR/21, ICAR/22, ING-IND/10, ING-IND/11, MAT/02, SECS-P/06, SPS/09

The procedures for verifying these requirements are outlined in the program’s Academic Regulations.

For holders of a three-year university diploma and for graduates under the system prior to Ministerial Decree 509/99

(for whom completed courses are not quantified in university academic credits) or for candidates holding an eligible degree obtained abroad, given the wide variety of possible program structures and the content of their prior academic background, verification of curricular requirements will be conducted on a case-by-case basis based on the courses taken and their content.

If an applicant does not meet the required curricular prerequisites, the Academic Coordination Committee (CCS) will specify the necessary curricular supplements—either in terms of university credits or specific courses—that must be completed before resubmitting an application for admission.

To be admitted to the Master’s Degree Program in Civil Engineering, knowledge of a European Union language in addition to Italian is also required, at a level of at least B1. The required proficiency levels and assessment methods are established in the Academic Regulations for the degree program.

Sufficiency of Prior Academic Preparation

The procedures for assessing the sufficiency of prior academic preparation are established in the Academic Regulations of the degree program, based on the student’s previous academic record, taking into account the results obtained by the student in earning the degree used to gain admission to the program.

Admission Procedures

For the purpose of verifying these requirements, appropriate equivalencies between the CFU credits earned by the student in their previous academic curriculum and the CFU credits required in the scientific-disciplinary sectors indicated above may be considered, subject to specific evaluations expressly indicated in the CCSA resolution. In the CCSA resolution, the results of the assessment may be expressed in aggregate terms for each of the scientific-disciplinary sectors (SSD) related to the educational activities of the Civil Engineering degree program.

When verifying curricular requirements and reviewing the student’s prior academic record, the CCSA may assign specific individual study plans to admitted students, or impose requirements regarding the formulation of the study plan, taking into account the content already acquired in the student’s prior academic career and the academic credits already earned that may be recognized toward a potential shortening of the duration of the Master’s Degree Program.

If a candidate does not meet the required curricular prerequisites, the CCSA will specify the necessary curricular supplements—in terms of academic credits or specific courses—that must be completed before resubmitting an application for admission.

Graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or Environmental and Land-Use Engineering from the University of Brescia are eligible for admission with full recognition of their earned university academic credits (CFU).

Special Cases in the Verification of Curricular Requirements

1) For applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or Environmental and Land Engineering from the University of Brescia under the regulations set forth in Ministerial Decree 509/99, the curricular requirements are deemed to be implicitly met.

2) The applicant holds a degree obtained in Italy under the regulations set forth in Ministerial Decree 509/99 or Ministerial Decree 270/04. In this case, verification of the curricular requirements will be necessary and will be conducted through an examination of the candidate’s prior academic record, including, where possible, the establishment of appropriate simplified and general procedures for recognizing equivalencies between the academic credits (CFU) earned by the student in their previous academic program and the academic credits required to satisfy the curricular requirements.

General guidelines may be established regarding the formulation of the study plan, taking into account the content already acquired during the previous academic career and the academic credits already earned that may be recognized toward a potential shortening of the duration of the Master’s Degree Program.

3) The applicant holds a degree obtained in Italy under the regulations in effect prior to Ministerial Decree 509/99. Verification of curricular requirements will be conducted through a detailed review of the applicant’s prior academic record, including, where possible, establishing appropriate correspondences between the exams successfully passed by the student and the scientific-disciplinary sectors required as previously specified. In the CCSA resolution, the outcome of the review and the related justifications will be explicitly stated and may be expressed in general terms with reference to each of the scientific-disciplinary sectors (SSD) pertaining to the educational activities of the Civil Engineering degree program.

Assessment of Personal Preparation

The assessment of personal preparation is based on the grade obtained upon earning the degree required for admission to the Master’s program and on the candidate’s level of proficiency in the English language.

For candidates who have earned or will earn their bachelor’s degree at this Faculty of Engineering, the assessment of personal preparation is based solely on their proficiency in the English language. The applicant must possess adequate knowledge of the English language at least at the B1 level of the CEFR.

For applicants who have earned their bachelor’s degree at another Italian faculty, the assessment of personal qualifications is based on both their knowledge of the English language and the grade obtained upon completion of their bachelor’s degree. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English certified at the B1 level of the CEFR; furthermore, they must have earned their bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade of 85/110 or 77/100.

If an applicant’s qualifications are not deemed adequate, they will not be admitted to the Master’s degree program.

New Student Orientation

The degree program participates in new student orientation and ongoing academic advising initiatives, which are managed at both the macro-area and University levels and described on the dedicated page of the University portal, where you can also access the specific initiatives for each macro-area. These initiatives are coordinated by a working group consisting of the Rector’s Delegate for Orientation, the Departmental Delegates for Orientation, and staff from a dedicated organizational unit. The design and delivery of orientation activities, developed by the specific organizational unit, are certified according to the UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 standard. Regular activities, news, and updated initiatives can be found on the dedicated page of the University website.

Academic Advising

Ongoing Academic Advising

Tutoring initiatives are organized at the University level in accordance with the annual tutoring plan, which is defined each year by the University Commission for Tutoring—chaired by the Rector’s Delegate for Teaching—and approved by the Academic Senate. The Tutoring Service contributes to ongoing academic guidance with the aim of promoting consistent academic progress and identifying the critical issues that contribute to student dropouts. The administrative management of the student tutoring service is certified according to the UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 standard and is ensured within the framework of services supporting the right to education by a dedicated organizational unit.

Tutoring

Final Exam Details

The final examination consists of the preparation, presentation, and defense before a designated committee established in accordance with the University’s Academic Regulations of a comprehensive thesis developed independently and in an original manner, with significant personal contribution. During the preparation for the final examination, the student will be assigned to one or more advisors with whom they will agree on the thesis topic.

The thesis project will involve the preparation of a written paper and/or design project, which may also be written in a European Union language other than Italian, as provided for in the Academic Regulations of the degree program.

The work in preparation for the final examination—which may be theoretical, experimental, or project-based—provides an opportunity to apply and deepen (including through interdisciplinary approaches) the concepts and skills acquired; to learn and use new techniques and tools for investigation and analysis; to acquire additional practical skills; and to independently develop interpretive frameworks and models.

The final examination aims to assess the student’s technical and scientific maturity, the competence, comprehension, and independent judgment acquired, the ability to apply knowledge and skills, any innovative contributions made through independent research and analysis, and technical proficiency and effective communication.

Procedures for the Final Examination

The final examination consists of the graduate student’s preparation, presentation, and defense of the Master’s thesis: a written and/or graphic work, originally developed by the student, resulting from design, study, and research activities, and demonstrating mastery of the subject matter, the ability to work independently to solve problems of significant complexity, and a good level of communication skills.

Admission to the final examination requires the completion of all credits specified in the academic regulations, with the exception of those earned through the examination itself. However, only students who have certified their compliance with the academic assessment procedures will be admitted to the final examination.

The procedures for submitting the application for the master’s degree, the exam format, and the related evaluation criteria are governed by the documents available on the University’s website under “Degree Exams, Forms, and Deadlines – Engineering,” as well as by the Regulations for the Final Master’s Degree Exam of the CCSA in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

It is also possible to complete the thesis abroad, with an advisor from the University of Brescia.

In the case of a thesis completed abroad, the advisor proposes to the Degree Program Council that a portion of the credits related to the final exam be recognized from the foreign institution.

The proposed number of credits to be awarded may range from 1 to 9 CFU, depending on the student’s research program and the duration of their stay abroad. The credits will be considered as earned abroad without any further evaluation.

Graduation sessions are held according to the annually approved calendar.