Civil Engineering Mitigation of Risk from Natural Hazards

Understanding risk to design a safer future.

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perspectives for future job | course structure | why a degree in english | why in Pavia

Why this Master?

Environmentally-related risks are critical for human communities, productive activities, infrastructure network as well as the cultural heritage.
In our modern societies, civil engineers play a key role in mitigating the risks caused by natural catastrophes or extreme events.

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Perspectives for future job and career opportunities

This Course is designed to shape civil engineers with outstanding scientific and professional skills that are fully aware of the multi-faceted aspects of the seismic or hydrogeological risk.

Graduates may find employment in:

  • engineering design and consulting offices
  • construction companies
  • agencies of civil protection
  • governmental institutions and regional authorities
  • management offices
  • international organizations
  • insurance and re-insurance companies
  • research institutions

Cooperation Agreements

Cooperation agreements of the University of Pavia and the University School of Advanced Studies of Pavia with a number of renowned academic institutions and companies worldwide actively involved in risk mitigation from natural disasters are currently operational.
Formal agreements have currently been established with top universities in Europe, USA, Canada, South America, China and New Zealand.

Course structure

The programme is structured in two curricula:

Civil Engineering for Mitigation of Risk from Natural Hazards

ROSE – Reduction of Seismic Risk

This curriculum offers compulsory and elective courses on several core subjects including:

  • seismic hazard assessment and engineering seismology
  • dynamics of structures
  • geotechnical earthquake engineering
  • seismic design of bridges
  • seismic analysis and design of reinforced concrete
  • masonry and steel constructions
Civil Engineering for Mitigation of Risk from Natural Hazards

HYRIS – Hydrogeological Risk Assessment and Mitigation

Compulsory and elective courses are offered on a number of core subjects including:

  • hydrology
  • fluvial hydraulics and hydromorphology
  • hydraulic infrastructures
  • snow avalanches and landslide hazards
  • risk and emergency legislation
  • earth surface and processes

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ROSE – Reduction of Seismic Risk

This programme of study focuses on assessment and mitigation of risk caused by earthquakes to new and existing structures and infrastructures.

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HYRIS – Hydrogeological Risk Assessment and Mitigation

This programme of study focuses on the assessment of risk caused by floods, avalanches and landslides to new and existing structures and infrastructures.

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  • The Master Program has a two-year duration, starting late September and calls for a full-time commitment.

  • Courses are scheduled according to a dual system: most courses are taught as intensive, full-time courses of 4 weeks, while a few are taught over the typical semester time-frame.

  • The Master Program will provide students with the proper theoretical background in fundamental disciplines including applied mathematics, solid and fluid mechanics to fully master the topics taught in advanced technical courses.

  • As a part of their training, students will be required to spend a whole semester to work on a Master Dissertation where they will have the opportunity to participate in state-of-theart national and international projects.

  • Students may also be involved in the use of cutting edge experimental facilities such as the EUCENTRE shake tables, the largest of which is currently the most powerful earthquake simulator in Europe.

Why a degree in English?

  • To have a degree open to international students (English is the most used international scientific/technical language)

  • To introduce Italian students to an international environment in terms of technical/professional skills and interaction skills

  • To have the possibility of having qualified national and international visiting instructors teaching a number of  courses

  • To facilitate the possibility of stages in international institutions/firms for the development of the dissertation

  • To project our students towards an international job market

Why in Pavia? Why two Universities?

The course in Civil Engineering for Mitigation of Risk from Natural Hazards is jointly offered (Joint Degree) by the University of Pavia and the School of Advanced Studies of Pavia (IUSS).

The concept of the degree stems from the 18-year long experience of IUSS and the University of Pavia in creating high level, graduate courses entirely taught in English in the field of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (ROSE school), and later in Understanding and Managing Extremes (UME school).

The academic staff at the University of Pavia and IUSS have an established, internationally recognized tradition of research and teaching in the field of seismic engineering and more in general in the study of risks generated by natural hazards.

University of Pavia

The University of Pavia is one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 825. Many renowned humanists and scientists studied and taught at the Alma Ticinensis Universitas, such as Cardano, a mathematician who found out the Cardanic joint and the solution of cubic equations, and Alessandro Volta, the inventor of electric piles. Nowadays, the multidisciplinary University of Pavia includes nine faculties, three campuses covered by free WiFi access and the largest Residence Hall system in Italy. The University Sports Center (CUS) offers modern training facilities for track and field, canoeing, rowing, volleyball, rugby, fencing, archery, sports for physically disabled persons, aerobics, basketball, swimming and sailing.

IUSS Pavia

The Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori (IUSS) fulfils, since 1997, an advanced teaching and research model successfully implemented by other prestigious institutions in Italy, like the Scuola Normale Superiore and the Scuola Sant’Anna in Pisa. Due to the completeness of its education and training fields, which allows a strong interdisciplinary approach, the mission of IUSS is that of contributing to the growth of selected students by offering them, at any step of their higher education, qualified programs enhancing their capabilities and knowledge. IUSS Pavia is also committed to scientific progress by preparing young researchers and developing scientific research programs.

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