A two-year Master's Degree Programme in Neuroscience, completely in English, has been running since the academic year 2016-17 as a collaboration between the University of Pisa and the Scuola Normale Superiore, with the contribution of the Institute of Neuroscience of CNR. This Master's Degree will continue the tradition of excellence in Neuroscience in Pisa, pioneered by Giuseppe Moruzzi in the 1950’s and 60’s and flourished thereafter with Lamberto Maffei. With such a strong scientific legacy, Pisa offers a very active and competitive scientific environment for studies in Neuroscience. Aim of the Course is to provide an interdisciplinary training spanning across a wide variety of experimental and computational approaches to contemporary Neuroscience, from the molecular and cellular level to the analysis of higher cognitive functions in the human brain. We wish to attract into Neuroscience programme not only Students possessing a BSc (or equivalent) degree in a strictly biological field, but also Students coming from a wide range of different educational routes. 

PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES
The Master's Degree in Neuroscience completes the training in biological disciplines begun with the Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences. This master's degree program aims to train graduates who have a solid basic biological cultural background and specific training in the understanding and experimental investigation of the many aspects related to the functioning of the nervous system both at the molecular and cellular level, and at the level of integrated circuitry, under physiological conditions or genetic or pathological alteration. A highly multidisciplinary preparation will be provided, whose core competencies in training in molecular and cellular neurobiology, developmental neurobiology, systems neurobiology, and neurophysiology will need to be integrated by training students in quantitative-mathematical reasoning, exposing them to advanced biophysical, computational, and approaches, of neuropsychology, cognitive science, and brain imaging.

The aim of the Master's degree course is thus to train students who, regardless of the research direction they choose, are able to fruitfully dialogue and interact with specialists using other approaches so that they can address complex biological questions. This didactic model is already partly implemented within the Scuola Normale Superiore and would be extended and expanded here as a distinguishing element of the new Master's Degree Course.
In the didactic path of the Master's Degree Course in Neuroscience special attention will be paid to cultural and methodological tools for the acquisition of advanced knowledge on:

• cellular biology of nerve cells, neurobiology and neurochemistry of intercellular communication, morphological and functional development of neural structures, organization of stereotyped hereditary-based behaviors, cognitive functions and physiology of emotions, mechanisms of action of endogenous and exogenous natural substances affecting the nervous system and behavior;
• knowledge mathematical and statistical methodologies necessary for proper use and evaluation of experimental data.

In the second year of the degree program, considerable student effort is expected in the development of the dissertation. The goal is to provide the student, through significant experience in experimental work, with the opportunity to acquire both the cultural tools and critical analysis skills necessary to carry out research activities or to assume responsibility for projects and facilities. The Master's thesis constitutes an original paper related to the experimental work experience carried out by the student at the facilities of the University or the Scuola Normale Superiore or in affiliated laboratories or research centers.

The proposed course of study is characterized by a solid preparation in the basic biological disciplines, development in particular of various aspects of neuroscience, and in-depth study of data-processing methodologies using mathematical-statistical methods.
To acquire the skills described, the degree program includes lectures, tutorials, and laboratory and field activities embedded in the courses.

The fact that the Master's degree course is taught in English will also promote internationalization both inbound and outbound.

The educational path is complemented by the choice disciplines; without prejudice to the freedom of choice among the teachings activated by the University, the optional teachings provided for the Degree Course can offer wide choice for further in-depth study of topics of interest to the student of a Master's Degree course such as Neuroscience. The expected skills and the ability to apply knowledge and understanding will be acquired through attendance of lectures and seminars provided for some teaching units, as well as through laboratory activities, including the use of computer support tools, and will be consolidated through individual study. Achievement of the educational objectives of each didactic unit will be verified through oral and/or written examination tests. In specific cases, in itinere tests will be provided.

Finally, to complete the training course, with the thesis work, for which an adequate number of University Training Credits (CFU) is reserved, the student deepens the knowledge of specific experimental topics and acquires the ability to consult specialized databases, learn innovative technologies, evaluate, interpret and rework data from the scientific literature as well as develop original ideas and research projects.

These skills will be verified both by the lecturer supervisor, during the preparation of the thesis, and with the final test, which will also allow, to verify the ability to illustrate the results of the research.
The expected learning outcomes developed by master's graduates in Neuroscience meet the specific requirements identified by the Dublin Descriptors system according to the Tuning table prepared at the national level for the LM-6 - Biology class.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE AND OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES
The Master's Degree Program in “Neuroscience” prepares graduates who are able to: conduct research in fundamental fields of modern neuroscience, increase neurobiological knowledge and apply it in research activities, laboratory experiments, technological perspective, and scientific popularization, apply neurobiological knowledge to diagnostics, medicine, and drug production.

Students who graduate from this degree program, in addition to the professional outlets provided for master's degree graduates of the LM-6 class, will also have the opportunity to successfully participate in national and international doctoral programs in various branches of Neuroscience, thanks to their multidisciplinary, integrated and quantitative preparation, which can direct them toward the employment outlets indicated below.

The target job market is academic research and industrial research. Regarding outlets in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in particular, neuroscience is a very active field that could absorb master's graduates from this course.
Another industrial field that could absorb master's graduates in neuroscience is that related to the production of medical devices both diagnostic and especially rehabilitative and assistive as well as in the expanding field of neuroprosthetics.
Other professional outlets are:

• popularization and scientific communication, as the field of brain research attracts great interest in society;
• institutional communication including within European political institutions;
• functions of high responsibility in activities related to the development and application of methods of investigation and diagnostics of nervous system functions;
• placement in research through continued studies in Ph.D. programs in disciplines related to Neuroscience or other biological disciplines or, more generally, in other scientific disciplines.

COHERENCE BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES AND PROFESSIONAL PROFILES
The Master's Degree in Neuroscience provides an ideal cultural foundation for pursuing advanced training through the Ph.D. degree. The Master's Degree in Neuroscience also represents an ideal educational base for carrying out research and applied activities in the field of neurobiological disciplines that are currently rapidly expanding and subject to continuous technological innovations, while also taking into consideration, however, the requirements for entry into the profession of biology in that the solid preparation in various areas of learning in the biological field represents a fully suitable educational base for carrying out functions of high responsibility in activities related to the development and application of methods for the advanced study of biological processes as a whole.