Educational Objectives

The Bachelor of Science in Economic and Social Sciences has the following specific objectives:

• provide a solid grounding in economics, quantitative disciplines, management and law, in order to understand - critically and from a multidisciplinary standpoint - the economic context in which individuals, firms, national and international institutions operate; 
• distinguish the study program through a broad and comprehensive preparation in economics (micro and macroeconomics), underpinned by advanced mathematical-statistical tools and supplemented by logical-cognitive tools and elements of social sciences. This multidisciplinary approach blends the study of economic models – describing ideal rational economic behavior – with the analysis of real-world economic behavior (thoroughly described by modern experimental and social psychology). The aim is to foster understanding of an increasingly complex set of economic and social phenomena (such as the causes of unemployment, the structure of social security systems, globalization, and the underlying reasons for financial crises).
• promote development of applied competences aimed at analyzing economic and social issues with a scientific and critical approach by:
  • designing theoretical models (using  mathematical tools) in order to understand logical connections and cause-effect relationships among the variables affecting the economic and social environment (e.g.: is it true that more immigrants cause higher unemployment rates? Is this question sound from a logical and economic point of view? What are the most suitable statistical methods for measuring the causal link between these variables on the basis of available data?)
  • testing hypotheses by empirical evidence and application of econometric tools (e.g.: if immigration grew by 1% in one year, would unemployment increase or decrease? And by how much?)
  • applying deductive and inductive methods that allow: (i) detecting valid (or invalid) arguments in probabilistic reasoning; (ii) distinguishing “truth” from “rational opinion”; (iii) understanding the differences in use of theoretical/mathematical models in natural sciences and in social sciences.
• develop competences, in addition to knowledge, through teaching activities inside and outside the classroom, by fostering student-teacher interaction and interaction among students (ability to express their opinions, work in groups and negotiate),  as well as developing problem setting and problem solving skills;
• develop competences aimed at mastering IT tools and two EU languages, for effective and efficient work in a professional context.