Archives: Departments

The Chemistry Department at LdM introduces the fundamental theories of inorganic and organic compounds and structures. The Department is part of the larger Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program, enabling students to benefit from an Italian perspective in their chosen area of study.

The Department employs a rigorous theoretical curriculum designed and taught by LdM’s experienced faculty, to give students basic and advanced skills in chemical laboratory techniques, data treatment, and report writing. In-depth laboratory experience expands on the theories and concepts learned providing a thorough understanding of properties, functions and reactions of organic compounds with training in various techniques and treatments and their applications. Further to this, students explore the development of scientific thinking, its cultural contexts, and its public role giving them a complete perspective on the sciences.

The collaboration LdM has with the University of Florence offers courses in general and organic chemistry. An additional course is offered in analytical methods used in art restoration; this course is specifically designed for art conservation students.

At LdM Rome, the organic chemistry is offered in collaboration with Università Roma Tre.

The LdM Biological Sciences Department is committed to providing students with a broad exposure to biological processes and systems and a deep understanding of the subject at all levels from organismal to molecular. As part of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program, LdM’s Biology Department enables students to participate in Italian excellence in science and research. LdM strives to prepare students for graduate work and employment with the ability to contribute on a multitude of levels in the biological sciences. 

The Department offers a comprehensive set of core and specialized courses geared towards students of biological and health sciences. Specifically, the curriculum includes general biology, human anatomy, general as well as molecular genetics, general and environmental microbiology, cell biology, and neuroscience. Students and LdM’s dedicated faculty collaborate on laboratory research and fieldwork with real-world applications. Courses are taught in partnership with Università Roma Tre and are open to Italian students. LdM students also have access to state-of-the-art laboratories at Roma Tre.

Students at LdM have various opportunities to enrich their education through visits to various science museums, an electron microscopy facility, and the neuroscience laboratory. LdM students share these academic spaces with their Italian peers, lending a multicultural aspect to the experience.

The career opportunities for LdM Biological Sciences students are growing exponentially. Through STEM, the Department offers an extensive education in the field of biology unlike any other program in Italy, aimed at those who want to enter today’s workplace with confidence.

The LdM Department of Agricultural Studies and Technologies covers a broad field of study. Today we can no longer consider the agricultural sector solely as a means to food production, but as a sector that seeks to improve the quality of life for a growing population while finding solutions for hunger and health issues. Agriculture is an applied science that has students actively engage in innovative ways to interpret and implement traditional Italian agricultural practices.

This takes place under the guidance of highly qualified and experienced faculty who lead the students in building a dialogue with the local community. LdM students also learn economic and theoretical principles relating to food security and climate change that can affect policy, which give them opportunities for academic and personal development in government and related fields.

The curriculum ranges from the necessity of sustainability while respecting, preserving and enhancing the environment and landscape, to the applied sociological economics of consumer behavior in the supply chain. Experiential learning is vital to the Agricultural Studies and Technologies Department, with on-site activities at local farms and orchards using the Mediterranean landscape as a model for inspiration. All are set in the beautiful hill town of Tuscania and the surrounding area, acting as a case study that gives an overview of cultural and economic themes within its long agricultural tradition and diverse landscape dating back to the time of the Etruscans.  

The Department seeks to give students insight into Italy’s agricultural practices on an international scale. The Department also aims to teach students how to produce high-quality food products using sustainable and environmentally responsible methods, while encouraging students’ recognition of the links between agriculture, economy, social work, and other disciplines.

LdM prepares students for graduate school and employment opportunities in many diverse fields such as agricultural management, regulatory government jobs, education, and non-profit organizations.

The LdM Writing Department focuses on the development and practice of writing as a tool for dialogue with various audiences. Students learn the foundations and applications of critical and creative writing for research, analysis, art, and for the media.

Courses are both theoretical and practical in nature, and they are lead by experienced faculty who are respected in their professional fields. The goal is to spark students’ imagination through inspirational exercises aimed at producing original work. Students are guided through an exploration of the various themes of the craft, for both academic purposes and professional applications, until they glean a deeper understanding of their own experiences and cultural identity while developing critical awareness. 

LdM believes that students learn better by first-hand experiences which are enhanced through reading, practicing the craft, and excursions in and around the city center. The skills that students receive through this experiential process are turned into a creative expression via travel writing, research and report writing for entertainment and the business sector. 

Sociology is the study of the organization of human groups, their dynamics and the similarities and differences of whole societies. The methods of sociology give powerful insight into the inner workings of the social process that shapes lives in contemporary society. This Department introduces students to the major social theories and guides them on how to apply the theoretical framework to real-life situations. In fact, the Department’s mission is to teach students the scientific, interpretative and critical skills necessary to produce rigorous analyses of the social and cultural forces that underlie the human experience on a local and global scale.

The Department has designed courses to promote an understanding of complex social and cultural realities within the scope of Italian society. This understanding is then contextualized and applied to an international perspective. Through the in-depth critical analysis of economic factors and social policies, students examine the sociology of culture, race and ethnicity. All the while confronting an array of relevant subjects such as globalization and its effects, social movements, media analysis, and the dynamics of social networks.

LdM and the Department faculty developed a collaborative network of various organizations in Italy that operate on a local, national and international scale, giving students the opportunity to develop and apply methodological and research skills. 

Students who decide to explore sociology have a broad range of career, graduate and professional options. Many students take the skills developed in this discipline to work in community service organizations, government service, human resources, urban planning, and other fields.

The LdM Psychology Department is devoted to gaining a deeper understanding of how humans relate to each other. To accomplish this, faculty members embrace the diversity of the discipline by covering many factors that influence behavior, from sensory experience to complex cognition to social and cultural environments. The Department encourages students to develop critical core skills in an inclusive setting that values diversity while meeting the needs of their community and the larger multicultural marketplace. 

This Department’s courses offer a broad spectrum of theoretical approaches, including developmental, behavioral, cognitive processes, and the analysis of individual social systems. As part of their academic training, students gain knowledge and understanding of research methods and real-world approaches to examining psychological behaviors.

The Department’s learning goals focus on fostering methodological, statistical and critical thinking skills relevant to finding solutions to real-life problems.

LdM designed the courses to provide critical instruction to those whose aim it is to pursue a career in psychology as well as supporting other social sciences and humanities disciplines. Students can apply their gained skills and knowledge to professions within psychology and its related fields as well as in education, nursing, human resources, law enforcement, and marketing. 

The Political Science and International Relations Department at LdM is committed to a multidisciplinary approach to political issues and global affairs that combines intellectual curiosity with academic rigor. Experienced faculty members are dedicated to teaching the values of peace, sustainability, global solidarity and social inclusion from a multicultural perspective. Our goal is for students to have a solid understanding of the theories and practices of international institutions and politics, but also to appreciate the importance of working together for a more just and humane world.

Students are part of a multicultural community which plays a fundamental role in the educational experience. Through research, presentations, class debates, and simulations of case studies, students critically analyze topics of international relevance, such as migration, global warming, human rights protection, and nuclear threats. LdM wants students to learn the importance of empowerment and how it brings about social change.

Religion is a major force in the human experience; shaping history, literature, art, culture, politics, ethics, and economics. LdM, in collaboration with the School of Religious Studies at the Center for Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies (CAMNES), provides the necessary tools to confront and understand modern and ancient religions. Religious Studies’ interdisciplinary methods help students achieve excellent critical skills and gain a deep understanding of the differences and commonalities among the religious traditions of the world. Our intention is to support students in becoming better-informed, more nuanced thinkers who can successfully navigate a world of religious diversity.

The Religious Studies curriculum offers courses in a variety of topics emphasizing a comparative study of religions and the role they play in the world’s diverse societies, both past and present. The Department aims to foster understanding by giving students the opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge on fundamental topics such as the birth and evolution of religion in the Mediterranean area; the role played by monotheistic religions in framing our modern world; the importance of meditation in enhancing individual spiritual life. Ultimately, students are encouraged to find the means for creating a positive dialogue among the different world religions.

Our faculty’s interdisciplinary and multi-faceted teaching approach will enable the integration of pertinent, related perspectives taken from other fields to enrich the course of study through art history, archaeology, philosophy, architecture, and history. The wide-ranging perspective is a key element of the teaching philosophy of our core faculty and is enhanced by invited guest lectures as well as visits to museums, libraries, places of worship, and ancient temples.

For many students, Religious Studies is a flexible and engaging subject that combines well with other disciplines from philosophy to political science and international studies, archaeology and the physical and social sciences.

The Film and Media Arts Department aims to cover the spectrum between traditional and contemporary interactive storytelling as modes to connect and communicate with the world. The Department provides in-depth knowledge using theoretical, historical, and analytical concepts to build a vocabulary for understanding today’s media landscape.

The inspiring curriculum of the Film and Media Arts Department allows each student to expand their cultural and practical experience and, in the process, develop their voice and articulate their vision. 

Our faculty of professionals and experts guide students through the history of Italian film and media. They evaluate the international influence while engaging in a theoretical, methodological and critical debate on artistic features and cultural themes. Practical applications prepare students for all stages of the production process in any media environment: from cinema and TV to the web, gaming and mobile applications. Regarding skill acquisition, students learn the basic techniques of directing, digital editing and cinematography. Special attention is paid to the crucial intersections between cinema and gaming platforms and the evolution of consumption habits with the advent of digital devices and content providers such as Netflix and Amazon.

With putting into practice the LdM philosophy of experiential learning, students create an animated short film with a focus on film making techniques using digital media tools, covering all steps of the creative process. Students are also involved in local and national film festivals, such as the Venice Film Festival, taking place throughout the year. To complement field activities, students examine the role and influence that the festivals have had on the history of cinema, as well as attend a series of lectures held by Film and Media Arts professionals.  

The study of Film and Media Arts at LdM prepares individuals for positions as media analysts and researchers, and as the creators of film and digital media products, both in and beyond the entertainment industry, to become future leaders in the creation and development of innovative digital media.

The Literature Department at LdM is committed to research while examining the international and interdisciplinary issues surrounding literature and culture, through a comparative study in areas such as journalism and its ideas, theories of information and the art of communication. Emphasis is placed on how to consider literary works in the broader context of artistic and cultural movements, and within social and historical constructs. LdM students study literature as a way to approach philosophical, cultural and socio-political thought through time. A core element of the course offerings acquaints students with key texts and developments across several major European literatures, specifically Italian, from the Middle Ages to the present day. 

Designed by LdM and the faculty, the literature courses are a comparative analysis of Italy’s vast literary tradition and the influences of English and European literature. Students challenge perceptions of culture by analyzing the strong socio-cultural dimensions of past and contemporary literature through a complex combination of geographical, historical, political, and linguistic factors. They will look beyond the mainstream ideas of Italy and discover those who have been marginalized by cultural stereotypes. Moreover, they will look at stories as an expression of cultural traditions, and as primary forms of communication during the literary revolution of the Trecento (14th century).

Texts in Italian are studied alongside their English translations. Students develop advanced critical and analytical skills through special projects, narrative and temporal analyses. 

The courses are designed to provide critical instruction to those whose aim it is to pursue a career in literature as well as supporting other social sciences and humanities disciplines. Students can apply their gained skills and knowledge to professions in education, journalism, marketing, and publishing.