The PhD programme aims to train scholars capable of valorising, through rigorous and up-to-date methodological skills, the epistemological potential and the fundamental role of the humanities and social sciences in the contemporary world.
The primary objectives are to integrate highly specialised training within the fields of study relevant to each curriculum with a broad-ranging critical perspective aimed at identifying innovative and cross-disciplinary approaches to understanding and managing the dynamics operating within cultural, social and institutional systems, in their interrelationships and in their synchronic and diachronic phenomenology.
The PhD programme is divided into three study programmes:
Sustainable and Solidarity-based Democracy: Rights, Duties and Institutions (DeSS) – Alessandria
Linguistic and Literary Traditions (LiLet) – Vercelli
History, Society and Environment (SSAmbi) – Vercelli
Key research topics include: intra- and intergenerational solidarity and sustainability, from environmental, socio-economic, political, institutional and cultural perspectives; the study of how legal forms and processes underpin social production and reproduction; interculturality, translation and multilingualism; textual forms, genres and types from a systemic, synchronic and diachronic perspective; linguistic and literary history; didactic, rhetorical and narrative theories and practices; inter- and transmediality; differences from an intersectional perspective; local, transnational and global history of political, social and cultural phenomena; the categories of space, territory and environment over time; history of environmental resource management and of environmental and territorial cultures, also in relation to the theme of cultural heritage.
Those who obtain a PhD in "Human and Social Sciences" are distinguished specialists in the respective disciplines studied during the three-year programme, having mastered interdisciplinary methodologies from an applied perspective. In addition, they are equipped with the requisite skills and tools for the analysis and critical interpretation of the cultural, social and institutional realities of the present and the past that form the subject of their research. These include linguistic, literary, legal and historical sources and texts, as well as the discursive output of the media in the contemporary world.
This inherently interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach follows on from the PhD programmes of previous cycles and, in particular, from the PhD in Ecology of Cultural and Institutional Systems (ECSIST)
The employment and professional prospects for those holding our PhD degree are expected to be in the domain of research activities at universities, public bodies, or private organisations, both nationally and internationally.
The PhD programme in Humanities and Social Sciences aims to train a new generation of experts, equipped with up-to-date specialist knowledge in their respective disciplines and equally up-to-date cross-disciplinary skills – particularly analytical and hermeneutic skills – which are fundamental for the critical interpretation of the contemporary world from socio-economic, institutional, cultural and environmental perspectives. Graduates will be prepared to work in international, national and local institutions, in public administration, the Third Sector, education and private practice.
For the legal curriculum (“Sustainable and Solidarity-based Democracy: Rights, Duties and Institutions”), new experts will be trained who are capable of critically examining the ways in which the forms and operations of law underpin social production and reproduction, with particular attention to the themes of solidarity and intra- and intergenerational sustainability in political decisions within the institutional, socio-economic, environmental and cultural spheres.
For the linguistic and literary curriculum (“Linguistic and Literary Traditions”), the skills acquired will equip graduates for careers in research, education and training; in intercultural roles; in journalism; in text translation, digital communication; and in international cultural promotion and organisation, including innovative sectors and contexts (such as Ageing and Medical Humanities) which require narrative, communicative and expressive skills.
For the history curriculum (“History, Society and the Environment”), the skills acquired enable graduates to enter the world of European and international research, as well as to apply historical analysis in an interdisciplinary manner across a wide range of contexts, from planning and environmental education to cultural heritage management, specialist teaching and communication.
General coordinator
Prof.ssa Stefania Irene Sini [cv]
Curricula Coordinators:
Sustainable and Solidary Democracy: Rights, Duties and Institutions: Prof. Rocco Alessio Albanese [cv]
Linguistic-Literary Traditions (LiLet): Prof.ssa Stefania Irene Sini [cv]
History, Society and Environment: Prof. Vittorio Tigrino [cv]
National
Albanese Rocco Alessio, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 12, GIUR-01/A, DeSS [cv]
Audéoud Laurence, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 10, FRAN-01/B, LiLet [cv]
Barberis Giorgio, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PO, Area 14, GSPS-03/A, DeSS [cv]
Bellezza Simone Attilio, , Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 11, HIST-03/A, SSAmbi [cv]
Bruti Liberati Eugenio, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PO, Area 12, GIUR-06/A, DeSS [cv]
Carbone Domenico, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 14, GSPS-05/A, DeSS [cv]
Fassina Filippo, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 10, FRAN-01/A, LiLet [cv]
Ferrari Daniele, Università del Piemonte Orientale, RTD, GIUR-07/A , DeSS [cv]
Ferrari Stefania, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 10, GLOT-01/B, LiLet [cv]
Ferrario Carla, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 11, GEOG-01/B, SSAmbi [cv]
Fusco Alessia, Università del Piemonte Orientale, RTT, Area 12, GIUR-05/A, DeSS [cv]
Gibellini Cecilia, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 10, ITAL-01/A, LiLet [cv]
Giovannini Elena, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 10, GERM-01/B, Lilet [cv]
Grande Elisabetta, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PO, Area 12, GIUR-11/A, DeSS [cv]
Iuli Maria Cristina, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PO, Area 10, ANGL-01/B, LiLet [cv]
Ligios Maria Antonietta, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PO, Area 12, GIUR-15/A, SciSto [cv]
Maconi Ludovica, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 10, LIFI-01/A, LiLet [cv]
Mannucci Erica Joy, Università di Milano Bicocca, PO, Area 11, HIST-02/A , SciSto [cv]
Mastropaolo Antonio, Università della Valle d'Aosta, PA, Area 12, GIUR-05/A , DeSS [cv]
Míguez Núñez Rodrigo, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 12, GIUR-01/A, DeSS [cv]
Minervini Gustavo, Università di Torino, RTT, Area 12, GIUR-09/A, DeSS [cv]
Napoli Maria, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PO, Area 10, GLOT-01/A, LiLet [cv]
Parini Ilaria, Università del Piemonte Orientale, RTT, Area 10, ANGL-01/C, Lilet [cv]
Pomarè Detto Montin Carla, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PO, Area 10, ANGL-01/A, LiLet [cv]
Provera Alessandro, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 12, GIUR-14/A, [DeSS] [cv]
Pustianaz Marco, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 10, ANGL-01/A, LiLet [cv]
Quattrocolo Serena, Università di Torino, PO, Area 12, IUS/16, DeSS [cv]
Quirico Stefano, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 14, GSPS-03/A, SSAmbi [cv]
Saluzzo Stefano, Università del Piemonte Orientale, RTDB, Area 12, GIUR-09/A, DeSS [cv]
Servetti Davide, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 12, GIUR-05/A, DeSS [cv]
Sini Stefania Irene, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PO, Area 10, COMP-01/A, LiLet [cv]
Siviero Donatella, Università di Messina, PO, Area 10, SPAN-01/A, Lilet [cv]
Talamo Roberto, Università Telematica Pegaso, RTT, Area 10, COMP-01/A, Lilet [cv]
Tigrino Vittorio, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 11, HIST-02/A, SSAmbi [cv]
Tommaso Laura, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 10, ANGL-01/C, LiLet [cv]
Tosi Dario Elia, Università di Torino, PA, Area 12 GIUR-11/B, DeSS [cv]
Trambaioli Marcella, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 10, SPAN-01/A, LiLet [cv]
Tripodina Chiara, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PO, Area 12, GIUR-05/A , DeSS [cv]
Valente Marcello, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PA, Area 10, STAN-01/A, SSAmbi [cv]
Vogliotti Massimo, Università del Piemonte Orientale, PO, Area 12, GIUR-17/A, DeSS [cv]
International
Abate RandaII S., Monmouth University, USA, Area 12, GIUR-09/A, DeSS [cv]
Acosta-Hughes Benjamin, Ohio State University, USA, Area 10, HELL-01/B, LiLet [cv]
Biasillo Roberta, Utrecht University, Nederland, Area 11, HIST-03/A, SSAmbi [cv]
Cortés Martín José Manuel, Universidad Pablo de Olavide de Sevilla, España, Area 12, GIUR-09/A, DeSS [cv]
Ingold Alice, École des hautes études en sciences sociales, Paris, France, Area 11, HIST-03/A, SSAmbi [cv]
Morosini Roberta, UCLA, USA, Area 10, ITAL-01/A, LiLet [cv]
Peruško, Tatjana, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Hrvastska (Zagreb University, Croatia), Area 10, LICO-01/A, LiLet [cv]
Pieraccini Margherita, University of Bristol, Great Britain, Area 12, GIUR-05/A, DeSS [cv]
Sládek, Ondřej, Masarykova Univerzita, Brno / Akademie věd České respubliky (Masaryk University, Brno / Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic), Area 10, COMP-01/A, LiLet [cv]
Van Gelder Maartje, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Nederland, Area 11, HIST-02/A, SSAmbi [cv]
Vester Matthew, University of West Virginia, USA, Area 11, HIST-02/A, SSAmbi [cv]
Zaleska Maria, Uniwersytet Warszawski, Rzeczpospolita Polska (University of Warsaw, Poland), Area 10, - LIFI-01/A, LiLet [cv]
XLII cycle
For previous cycles, please refer to the website https://ecsist.uniupo.it
A) COMMON MODULES: DeSS, LiLET, SSAmbi
B) CURRICULUM MODULES
C) MODULES COMMON TO THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL
A) COMMON MODULES: DeSS, LiLET, SSAmbi
'Critique': Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Perspectives
In Cycle XLII (academic year 2026/2027), an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teaching programme will be offered. This programme will be common to all three curricula and will cover law, political science, history, and literature and linguistics. Drawing upon the accumulated experience from prior cycles of the PhD programme in "Ecology of Cultural and Institutional Systems," a collaborative endeavour has been initiated. This joint undertaking will utilise diverse perspectives to explore a subject that is inherently open to numerous interpretations and possesses significant theoretical and methodological potential. The concept of "critique" has been identified as the focal point of this collaborative effort. The programme is comprised of four modules, each with a duration of two hours. The modules are as follows: one focusing on law and political science, one on linguistics and literature, one on history, and one led jointly by three lecturers from the three programmes. The latter module is designed to provide students with tools for reflection on this key concept from different and complementary perspectives. The lectures, which will be delivered by specialists – including international experts – from the relevant disciplinary fields, will be preceded by recommended reading lists. Attendance will be compulsory for all PhD students from all programmes, with the aim of enabling each student to broaden their usual frame of reference. The programme will reach its conclusion with an interdisciplinary conference in which the three perspectives will be compared and contrasted through the active participation of the PhD students. At the conclusion of the initial year of the programme, the Academic Board will determine whether to persist in exploring the same concept in subsequent years, or to direct attention towards other core concepts to be addressed using the same integrated approach.
B) CURRICULUM MODULES
Within each curriculum, there will be 8 modules, each lasting 2 hours, of which 2 are part of the core programme common to all three curricula (“Critique”: Interdisciplinary Perspectives), making a total of 10 compulsory modules for PhD students on each curriculum.
Lessons generally last 2 hours: 1 hour of lecture; approximately 1 hour of discussion; and approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes of preparatory reading at home. Each lesson is worth 1 credit. The total number of credits earned from the common modules and curriculum modules is 10 credits.
C) COMMON CROSS-CURRICULAR MODULES FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL
1. Research and knowledge management within European and international research systems
Enhancing Research: Sessions designed to develop core skills and strengthen cross-curricular knowledge relevant to research, for example: - open science, FAIR data; copyright, licences and patents in doctoral theses; - catalogue of research outputs; platforms for research and evaluation; practical exercises focused on using databases for bibliographic research; European project design; drafting proposals for applications to international calls for proposals; - promoting the impact of research. Three modules of 2 hours each are planned over the three-year period, totalling 6 hours
2 HOURS. Date to be confirmed
2. Fundamental principles of ethics, gender equality and integrity
A module designed to provide the fundamental concepts related to ethics, ensuring that research is conducted honestly, respectfully and responsibly, protecting participants (both human and animal), upholding the integrity of data and preventing fraud or plagiarism. One 3-hour module is planned for the first year.
3 HOURS. Date to be confirmed
3. Advanced IT Skills
Modules on the digital humanities, including a practical component on the use of various software programmes for textual analysis and the use of bibliographic reference management systems. The second part will address the topic of Artificial Intelligence and current developments in the humanities. Three modules of 2 hours each are planned over the three-year period, totalling 6 hours.
2 HOURS. Date to be confirmed
4. Language Skills
Dialogue, argumentation, public speaking. Modules dedicated to the analysis and refinement of language techniques and rules to improve communication, the effectiveness of argumentation, and the dissemination of science and its findings. Three modules of 2 hours each are planned over the three-year period, totalling 6 hours. NB. This cross-disciplinary course, also offered to other doctoral programmes at the University, will be delivered by lecturers from the ‘Human and Social Sciences’ department, whose core educational programme includes communication, rhetoric and dialogical theories and practices.
2 HOURS. Date to be confirmed
5. Seminars
Career guidance sessions, seminars and workshops focusing on career development tools, designed to refine, perfect and enhance the skills, tools and strategies required to approach the labour market. A practical seminar on academic English is planned, which will be useful for all three curricula. The programme will include analyses of best practice and prevailing conventions, as well as practical writing and rewriting exercises. Three modules of 2 hours each are planned for the three-year programme, totalling 6 hours.
2 HOURS. Date to be confirmed.
The descriprion and the calendar of teaching activities will be published on the pages of the respective Curricula [link]