The programme

Overview

The PhD program in Human Sciences at the University of Verona offers highly qualified training in research on the human experience, explored from different theoretical and methodological perspectives, with a focus on the quality of educational and developmental processes, both personal and organizational, on the relationship between individual and collective actors, and environments, both natural and social, as well as on the dimensions of the human and the non-human with their interconnections.

Research training in the doctoral program in Human Sciences is divided into four curricula:

  • Philosophy
  • Education
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Studies and research in the doctoral program in Human Sciences, are located within three interdisciplinary research areas:

  • Quality education and developmental processes of individuals and organizations
  • Human relations, social justice and inclusion
  • Human and non-human

Doctoral students in Human Sciences in Verona will work within a department with a strong vocation for interdisciplinary and collaborative research, geared toward addressing the complexity of emerging phenomena in the contemporary world through the most advanced methodologies of inquiry, promoting the realization of cultural and social impact.

The Ph.D. in Human Sciences enables researchers-in-training to develop the theoretical and methodological skills necessary to design and carry out highly qualified research activities, both through the rich and diversified training offered by the Course and the Doctoral School and through the guidance of mentors and participation in the life of the Department and its Research Centers and Laboratories.

The plan of educational offerings of the Doctoral Program in Human Sciences makes use of the multidisciplinary expertise of the faculty members of the Doctoral College and numerous national and international collaborations. Researchers with a doctoral degree in Human Sciences have professional outlets in the field of basic and applied research, both in universities and research institutions and in educational and training, clinical-health, social, and organizational contexts.

Thanks to the network of its Italian and international partners, the doctoral program enables research activities involving public and private entities, and includes a mandatory period of residence at foreign universities and research centers.

In addition to participating in the vibrant research community in the Department of Human Sciences and developing specialized skills, Ph.D. and Ph.D. students will be accompanied in engaging with the national and international scientific community through participation in symposia and conferences and public presentations of their research; they will also have the opportunity to acquire solid academic writing skills and undertake projects to publish articles and contributions in Italian and international circles.

Doctoral training will also enable them to experience and strengthen the connection between research and its social impact, through participation in wide-ranging dissemination actions of research results, including to a non-specialized audience, and where applicable to the construction of pathways for the implementation of new working models and practices in the collaboration between universities and local entities.

Training plan and experience abroad

The training plan involves research and study activities, including attendance at lecture series, seminars and laboratories, also taught by foreign lecturers. The teaching is both interdisciplinary and cross-curricular, aimed at developing a high level of English language proficiency and computer and statistical skills, and aimed at the acquisition of knowledge and research methodologies specific to the field of interest. The educational plan also includes a study abroad period of at least 3 months for the Philosophy and Pedagogy curricula, at least 9 months - consecutive or not - for the Psychology curricula (see below), and encourages thesis co-tutoring arrangements.

Related to overseas experience, the Pedagogy curriculum offers an international exchange program in Education and Learning of Adults(area 2) with Aalborg University (DK). The Psychology curriculum offers an international doctoral program in Cognitive Psychology and Linguistics(area 5) in collaboration with Lund University (SE), and international exchange programs in the areas of Developmental and Educational Psychology-Language acquisition (area 3) with Ohio State University (USA) and University of Colorado, Boulder (USA), and Work and Organizational Psychology (area 2) with Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven (BE) and Eindhoven University of Technology (NL).

Additional opportunities for mobility abroad, including at other university sites, are offered by calls for internationalization.

Structure of PhD training

The training is organized in transdisciplinary macro-areas that allow an understanding of the epistemological and methodological plurality that characterizes research in the humanities and support learning to design, conduct and assess a research project.

Within the macro-areas, seminars and lecture series refer to specific topics, addressed with levels of complexity and specialization consistent with the different phases of the doctoral path, from the beginning of the research, to the construction of the researcher’s mindset, the mastery of the tools, skills and practices of inquiry, up to the dissemination and social impact of research processes.

Each training activity includes an indication of the course year (I,II, or III) for which it is recommended and in some cases an indication of the curriculum for which it is considered essential, with the understanding that all activities are open to all curricula.

The PhD training is organized in the following areas: 

  • Research basics (epistemologies, research traditions, research ethics)
  • Research approaches and design in Human Sciences
  • Literature reviews
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Writing (project, abstract, scientific paper, writing for dissemination)
  • Research impact
  • Being a researcher
  • After the PhD


Faculty Board of PhD in Human Sciences

Coordinator
Sità Chiara
Type of body
PhD committee
Department
Scienze Umane
Tasks

The Board of the PhD programme in Human Sciences has the scientific, organizational and teaching responsibility of the Programme. In particular, the PhD Board plays a steering and supervising function of the students’ doctoral track and designates a supervisor for each PhD student. The PhD Board designs and contributes to accomplish and evaluate the specific training activities of the Doctoral Programme. These activities utilize the expertise of the members of the PhD Board (both Italian and international members), and other international collaborations. Furthemore, the PhD Board encourages the students to participate in training activities organized by other national and international doctoral programmes, and to spend extended periods of research and study abroad. Finally, the PhD Board is in charge of the evaluation of the students' work in order to admit them the following year and to send the dissertation to the external reviewers.

Board Meeting schedule, PhD Programme in Human Sciences 

Records and documents present in the year:

May 19, 2022

May 4, 2022

April 6, 2022

March 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

January 12, 2022

QA Board of PhD in Human Sciences

Coordinator
Sità Chiara
Type of body
Quality Assurance Board
Department
Scienze Umane
Tasks

Further information on MYUNIVR

Records and documents present in the year:

The Italian University system

schema_qualita

First-cycle degrees: Bachelor’s degree programme

First-cycle degrees are aimed at enabling students to achieve a command of general scientific methods and content, and to acquire specific professional knowledge.
Admission requirements: secondary school diploma after completing 13 years of study in total and passing the relevant State examination, or equivalent foreign qualification; admission may be subject to further assessment.
Duration: three years.
Graduation: in order to obtain the degree, it is necessary to gain at least 180 CFU; doing an internship and preparing a dissertation/thesis may also be required. Upon completion of a Bachelor’s degree, graduates may continue their studies by enrolling in a Master’s degree or other second-cycle degree programmes and courses.
Academic title: upon completion of a Bachelor’s degree (Laurea), graduates are awarded the title of “Dottore”.

Second-cycle degrees: Master’s degree

Second-cycle degrees aim to provide students with an advanced training and knowledge to take on highly-skilled roles.
Admission requirements: applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree, or a foreign equivalent qualification; curricular admission requirements for each course may vary depending on each University.
Duration: two years.
Graduation: in order to obtain the degree, it is necessary to gain at least 120 CFU, as well as preparing and presenting a dissertation/thesis.
Academic title: upon completion of a Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale), graduates are awarded the title of “Dottore magistrale”. Single cycle/Combined Bachelor+Master’s degrees
Some courses (Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy, Architecture and Building Engineering-Architecture, Law, Primary Education) are offered as Single cycle/Combined Bachelor+Master’s degrees (Corsi di Laurea Magistrale a Ciclo Unico).
Admission requirements: applicants must hold a secondary school diploma or equivalent foreign qualification; admission is subject to passing an admission test.
Duration: five years (six years and 360 CFU for Medicine and Surgery, and Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics).
Graduation: in order to obtain the degree, it is necessary to gain at least 300 CFU, as well as preparing and presenting a dissertation/thesis. Upon completion of a Single-cycle degree, graduates may continue their studies by applying for a PhD programme (Dottorato di Ricerca) or other third-cycle courses.
Academic title: upon completion of a Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale), graduates are awarded the title of “Dottore magistrale”.

Third-cycle degrees

PhD programmes: these courses enable students to gain reliable methodologies for advanced scientific research through innovative methodologies and new technologies, and generally include internships abroad and lab activities at research laboratories. Graduates wishing to apply for a PhD programme must have a Master’s degree (or a foreign equivalent qualification) and pass an open competition; PhD programmes have a minimum duration of three years. In order to complete the programme, students must produce a research thesis/dissertation and present it at a final examination.
Academic title: upon completion of a PhD programme, students are awarded the title of “Dottore di ricerca”, or “PhD”.
Postgraduate specialisation courses: these are third-cycle courses aimed at enabling students to develop advanced knowledge and highly-specialised skills, such as in the medical, clinical and surgical fields. To be admitted to these courses, applicants must have a Master’s degree (or a foreign equivalent qualification) and pass an open competition. Postgraduate specialisation courses may last from two (120 CFU) to 6 years (360 CFU) depending on the type. Academic title: upon completion of this programme, graduates are awarded a “Diploma di Specializzazione”.

Professional Master’s programme

1st-level Professional Master’s programmes: these courses enable students to further enhance their scientific knowledge and professional skills. In order to apply, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree, or foreign equivalent qualification. The minimum duration is one year (60 CFU). Please note that completing this course will not provide you with direct access to a PhD programme (Dottorato di Ricerca), or other third-cycle courses, as these courses are run and managed by each University at the local level. Upon completion of this programme, students are awarded a “Master universitario di primo livello”.
2nd-level Professional Master’s programmes: these courses enable students to further enhance their scientific knowledge and professional skills. In order to apply, applicants must have a Master’s degree, or foreign equivalent qualification. The minimum duration is one year (60 CFU). Please note that completing this course will not provide you with direct access to a PhD programme (Dottorato di Ricerca), or other third-cycle courses, as these courses are run and managed by each University at the local level. Upon completion of this programme, students are awarded a “Master universitario di secondo livello”.

Other useful things

Crediti Formativi Universitari (CFU/ECTS credits): Italian university courses are based on the CFU system. 1 CFU is equal to 25 hours of study. The average annual academic workload for a full-time student is generally assumed to be 60 CFU. CFU and ECTS credits serve the same purpose and generally have the same value.
Degree class: Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes that have the same learning objectives and activities are grouped into “degree classes". The educational content of each programme is set autonomously by each university; however, universities are required to include certain educational activities (and the corresponding number of CFU credits) set at the national level. These requirements are established in relation to each degree class. Degrees in the same class have the same legal value.
Double/Joint degrees: the Italian universities may establish degree programmes in partnership with other Italian or foreign universities. Upon completion of these courses, graduates are awarded a joint or double/multiple degree, one from each Partner University.

Partnerships

Academic and scientific partnerships are currently running with Italian and international universities/research institutions in order to enrich the education path of Ph.D. students.

Documents

Title Info File
File pdf UniVr - Jaume pdf, it, 211 KB, 10/04/24

Research lines

  • Quality education, personal and organizational development
    This research area focuses on several interconnected directions, exploring the complex dynamics of growth and development pathways, training, and transformative learning throughout the life course. It aims to promote individual capacity and counter collective vulnerabilities.
    Along these lines, special attention is devoted to teacher training under the banner of quality education for learners and teachers.
    Organizational learning thus becomes a lever for enhancing the processes of developing professional and cross-cutting competencies within the framework of lifelong learning as a perspective necessary to cope with the challenges of professions and work environments.
    The study of formal, informal, and nonformal educational policies and processes and the design of inclusive and innovative environments and pathways aimed at promoting learning and the well-being of individuals, groups, communities, and organizations aims to respond to the needs of an ever-changing society and ensure an effective impact on the quality of individual life and the common good.
  • Human relations, social justice, and inclusion
    This research area encompasses the study of identity, social, cultural, and political processes that contribute to the development and maintenance of inclusion, well-being, and social justice. The objects of investigation in this area involve interpersonal, intergenerational, inter-species relationships, interactions in groups and social networks with their symbolic and ethical content, consumption dynamics, care for the self, the other, and the world, the concept of dialogue as a communicative, moral and collective truth-seeking practice, and the history of ideas as both a key to understanding the present and a reservoir of meaning for the present. Specific attention is paid to the analysis of conditions of inequality, power dynamics, and individual, social, and cultural factors that impact the possibility for individuals and groups to actively inhabit contexts that are marked by a plurality of differences, also using critical and intersectional theories and methodologies (e.g., gender studies and queer theories).
  • Human and non-human
    This area of research focuses on theories and methods for studying behavioral and cognitive processes, processing and interpreting sensory stimuli, and how the environment acquires meaning. The central interest is in personal and emotional psychic characteristics, behaviors that form the basis for individual differences, motivational processes, interaction with natural and artificial environments, and unconscious processes of individual and collective life.
    Thinking processes about the development of ideas, concepts, memory, consciousness, creativity, imagination, needs, criticism, judgment, and any representation of the world are fundamental to this area.
    Emphasis is given to analyzing the human capacity to interact with information technologies, artificial intelligence systems, and devices, as well as theoretical reflection on the definition of the human and the ethical and political relations between human and non-human.
    The area promotes the study of well-being as a key to support and prevention, to improve the quality of life for individuals and groups, taking also into account stressful and risky situations.