The course can be partially offered in Italian Language EUR-ACE® Accredited program, European quality label for engineering degree programmes
Educational objectives
Lectures in Master degree are in Italian and English, and a student can choose a curriculum in English only or with a majority of Italian classes. Master curriculum includes a group of mandatory courses, and a wide range of optional courses. These courses allow a student to study in details different fields of electronics, as detailed below. At the end of Master each student, under the supervision of a professor, prepares and defends a thesis... More...
Lectures in Master degree are in Italian and English, and a student can choose a curriculum in English only or with a majority of Italian classes. Master curriculum includes a group of mandatory courses, and a wide range of optional courses. These courses allow a student to study in details different fields of electronics, as detailed below.
At the end of Master each student, under the supervision of a professor, prepares and defends a thesis (written in Italian or English). The work for the Master thesis can also be carried out in a company or at a foreign University. For the Master it is possible to attend courses abroad, within the frame of agreements with foreign universities, achieving joint or double degrees.
The first year of Master of Science in Electronic Engineering includes some courses designed to align the basic knowledge on various subjects of Electronics, Mathematics, Electronic Measurements, as required in specialized courses later.
These courses are organized in four pairs:
1 Digital Electronics / Sistemi digitali integrati
2 Sistemi di misura e sensori / Testing and certification
3 High Speed electron devices / Optoelettronica
4 Elettronica analogica e di potenza / Analog and telecommunication Electronics
plus a choice among: a course of mathematics (Finite elements modeling); a course of telecommunications (Signal Processing and Optical Transmission Lab or Signal Processing and Wireless Transmission Lab) a course of sistems integration (Integrazione di sistemi embedded).
The curriculum must include one and only one course from each pair, plus one choice among the aforementioned courses (mathematics, telecommunications, sistems integration).
The "Automatically approved curricula" indicate a specific course for each pair, which is just an advice, not a constraint. Choosing the "proposed" course builds a coherent overall path, but you can also insert the other course from the same pair, e.g. because of language preference.
The Master of Science in Electronic Engineering proposes the curricula described below (a detailed description is at the top of the course list of each curriculum).
Electronic Micro- and Nanosystems
(Micro- e Nanosistemi elettronici)
(All courses in English)
Devices and Technologies for Integrated Electronics and Optoelectronics (Dispositivi e tecnologie per l'elettronica e l'optoelettronica integrata) (All courses in English)
Progettazione Analogica e di Potenza (Design of power and analog electronics)
(Some courses in English)
Microelettronica (Microelectronics)
(Some courses in English)
Sistemi elettronici (Electronic Systems)
(Some courses in English)
Radiofrequency Systems Design (Progettazione di Sistemi a Radio-Frequenza)
(Several courses in English)
Embedded Systems (Sistemi Embedded)
(All courses in English)
Electronics for Industrial Applications (Elettronica per Applicazioni Industriali)
(Some courses in English)
Career opportunities
The MSc course in Electronic Engineering has a broad spectrum approach, offering expertise in areas ranging from technologies to the design of circuits and systems, to applicative and algorithmic aspects. The course of study provides solid training in the various fields of specific interest in the electronics field, complemented by an in-depth study of measures, electromagnetic fields, and digital information processing. Elective courses permit... More...
Information technology and electronics in particular have become ubiquitous in industry, services and general daily life, and can offer new solutions and new opportunities in various fields of application. On the design side, the electronics engineer with a MSc degree is able to perform analyses of application requirements and convert them into design specifications, even for complex systems. After completing the curriculum, the student will be able to perform any of the following professional roles:
¿ Analyst: by analysing market requirements and the objectives set by customers of firms (not necessarily electronic companies), identifies new applicative opportunities for electronic systems and devices, performs an analysis of the components or systems, even highly complex ones, defining their specifications to achieve the objectives specified by the customer;
¿ Designer: starting from the analysis, implements the design of the component or analog or digital electronic system, also developing, where necessary, the design of new components with features not found on the market (new devices and integrated circuits), and complete integrated systems (System-On-Chip). This includes even very complex systems with innovative features and performance that require the integration of various specialized aspects of ICT;
¿ Director of laboratories and high-tech electronic facilities, with the ability to establish and manage industrial development and research activities;
¿ Researcher: working in companies and research institutions to develop new electronic devices and applications, and for advanced system applications of all types of that use electronic devices;
¿ Free-lance professional: offering professional electronic engineering consultancy to businesses, government agencies, as well as organisations in other sectors.
| The Study program qualifies the following professional profile/s: | Roles and skills: |
| Analyst Engineer | JOB ROLES:
The MSc electronic engineer covering the role of analyst defines the technical requirements of a device, system or electronic apparatus, even of high complexity, and is capable of directing the development of specific elements for its application. He draws the project specifications and uses simulation models to define the expected behaviour of the product, which must be subsequently designed. He acts as an interface between customers and designers during the development and testing phases to ensure compliance to specifications. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: The analyst knows even the highly complex devices and basic components, electronic circuits and systems and their applications in information technology, telecommunications, automation and related fields. The key issue is system-level expertise: the ability to define the general functionality, and, with it, the performance and overall costs with the use and connection of basic blocks. The analyst's training is completed with skills in electronic measures, even advanced ones, necessary for measuring, testing and subsequent compliance analysis with specification. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Companies producing goods or services in ICT and in various economic sectors, such as the mechanical. Project design studios. Public and private organizations. |
| Systems Designer | JOB ROLES:
The MSc electronic engineer that operates as a system designer, starting from the specifications, designs integrated systems consisting of either a single component with complex functionalities all implemented in the same integrated circuit or more integrated circuits. The activity includes both the integration of basic already designed or readily available components and the design of new components, for the creation of electronic systems of even high complexity. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: For this role, the MSc electronic engineer is particularly competent on devices and on integrated and not integrated circuits, and on the design methodologies (trade-offs between HW and SW, project optimization and testing techniques, use of CAD). The engineer is able to evaluate the best compromise between parameters such as performance, power consumption, cost and reliability. He also has the ability to manage the production and the installation of an electronic system, and the process and product quality control. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Companies producing goods both in the ICT sector and in other industries. |
| Circuit designer | JOB ROLES:
The MSc electronic engineer designs manufactures electronic systems, either by using commercial subsystems and components, or with the design of also integrated ad-hoc components. This activity includes the board's design and its layout, the organization of production, and the final testing. In this context, the circuit designer defines and designs, according to the specifications, the analog, digital or mixed (A/D) circuits and the various functional units. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: The circuit designer has an in-depth knowledge of the principles and the state-of-the-art of analog and digital electronic devices, of the technologies used, and of CAD. The engineer must also have skills related to devices and technology of active devices, sensors and actuators. The MSc engineer is able to perform measurements in a laboratory and to calibrate measuring devices. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Companies in manufacturing, marketing and distribution of products and electronic equipment, information technology, biomedical. |
| Radio Frequency and communication systems designer | JOB ROLES:
An electronic designer of RF and communication systems, designs the HW and SW elements of electronic systems operating in telecommunications both in wireless (mobile systems, satellite systems, LAN, home automation, broadcasting) and wired (optoelectronic type, LAN, WAN, automotive applications). The activity focuses mainly on the design of the system and its functional parts, with the use of integrated circuits and functional units at different levels of complexity: from a single device to a complete radio system. In this context, the MSc Electronic engineer works on the aspects more related to the equipment and hardware in general. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: The skills for this role range from in-depth knowledge of analog and digital electronics, including Radio Frequency and microwave, to reconfigurable systems, to circuits for A/D and D/A conversion, to design methods (trade-off between HW and SW, project optimization and testing techniques) for wireless and cable systems. In addition, the MSc electronic engineer with a role in this field is able to install and manage various kinds of communication systems. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Companies in manufacturing, marketing and distribution of products and electronic equipment, information technology, bio-medical. |
| R&D Engineer | JOB ROLES:
The MSc electronics engineer who works in research and development, deals with the design of prototypes at various levels in all areas of analog, digital or RF electronics. The Engineer characterizes the prototypes in the lab using advanced instrumentation; studies new manufacturing techniques of integrated circuits on very large scale integration; patents new devices and manufacturing techniques; and finally presents the results of his/her work electronic and microelectronic industry conferences and publishes them in magazines. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: The skills of an electronics researcher are wide-ranging and cover: semiconductor physics and materials used in microelectronics; device and integrated circuit manufacturing technology and their design techniques; characterization methods by means of electronic measuring and testing systems; electronic applications in IT industry and related fields. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Research centres and companies that produce innovation. |
| Laboratory Manager | JOB ROLES:
The MSc electronic engineer can be employed or be the manager of electronic development and production laboratories for highly specialized technical tasks. As a manager, he deals with: the organization of work within the technical personnel team, the definition of the client's research and development strategies, the selection of highly specialized technical personnel necessary for lab's operation. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: The responsibilities of an electronic laboratory manager are related to all phases of design, prototyping and production of a system or electronic device, with even highly complex technologies and built on very large scale integration. In particular the engineer covering this role understands project and production technology of integrated circuits and circuit boards; he is able to select the basic electronic components to be used in a given project, according to the best cost-performance trade-off; he knows how to competently use laboratory instrumentation and design software; he has the automatic controls expertise to manage, and if necessary to prepare, the production tools. Finally he also has skills in human resource management. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Research and development labs, test facilities, measurement and characterization of systems and electronic devices, in public and private companies and research institutes. |
| Expert Sales Engineer | JOB ROLES:
The electronics engineer who carries out technical and commercial tasks assists the customer in all stages, from defining specifications to sales and after-sales services, regarding electronic products with high technological content or that employ electronic systems. He is able to organize and make presentations and demonstrations of electronic systems and devices, in trade fairs or directly to customers. He also acts as interface between designers and marketing experts. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: The relationship with the customer, be it private, company or institutional, that is buying electronic equipment, especially with high added value and significant complexity, requires specific technical skills as well as communication skills and management of the sales process. The MSc electronic engineer employed in the Technical Sales department of a company has a thorough knowledge of component technologies and electronic systems, as well as the aspects of reliability, maintenance, performance, and energy consumption. Moreover, he/she is able to assess various parameters related to the development of applications based on electronic systems of various complexity, and to the process and product quality. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Companies in manufacturing, marketing and distribution of products and electronic equipment, information technology, biomedical. |
| Professional consultant | JOB ROLES:
The freelance electrical engineer proposes solutions for the start-up of new activities and products that require the use of electronic devices both as production systems and as end products. He/she suggests the best circuit or system solutions, even integrated ones, for a given application in IT and related fields. He designs the device, integrated circuit or required electronic system and manages the manufacturing steps relying on other third party suppliers if the consultancy is provided to companies that are not from the industry. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: The freelancer's skills include all phases of design, prototyping and production of systems or electronic devices, even of very high complexity and made with very large-scale integration technologies. He is able to select the basic electronic components to be used in a given project according to the best cost-performance trade-off; proposes the creation and is capable of designing new components responding to the required specifications, if they are not already present on the market; knows how to skilfully use the configuration software. The engineer also has the automatic controls expertise to suggest the purchase and, where appropriate, to design new production equipment. Finally, he is able to provide advice on existing patents and procedures for new patents. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Consulting services for companies, government agencies, courthouses and other organizations. |
The subjects contained in the study program are divided in learning areas and defined by the "Dublin descriptors" shown in the chart on panel A4b - expected learning outcomes.
