Scientific High Schools

The curriculum of the Scientific high school promotes the acquisition of knowledge and methods in mathematics, physics and the natural sciences. It guides the students to broaden and develop their knowledge and skills, to acquire the necessary competences to follow the development of scientific and technological research and to identify the interactions between the various forms of knowledge, ensuring the mastery of the relevant languages, techniques and methodologies, including through laboratory work.
The 'applied sciences' option provides students with particularly advanced skills in studies relating to scientific-technological culture, with particular reference to mathematical, physical, chemical, biological and earth sciences, information technology and their applications (Article 8 of Presidential Decree 89 of 15 March 2010).

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Compulsory activities and subjects for all students

Annual timetable

Activities and subjects
	1st two-year period		2nd two-year period
	1st year	2nd year	3rd year	4th year	5th year
Italian language and literature	132	132	132	132	132
Foreign language and culture	99	99	99	99	99
History and geography	99	99
History			66	66	66
Philosophy			66	66	66
Mathematics	165	132	132	132	132
Computer Science	66	66	66	66	66
Physics	66	66	99	99	99
Natural sciences*	99	132	165	165	165
Drawing and art history	66	66	66	66	66
Motor and sport sciences	66	66	66	66	66
Catholic religion or alternative activities	33	33	33	33	33
Total hours	891	891	990	990	990

* Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences
N.B. There is provision for the teaching, in a foreign language, of a non-linguistic subject (CLIL) included in the area of compulsory activities and subjects for all students or in the area of subjects that can be activated by the educational institutions within the limits of the staff quota allocated to them each year.

The Scientific High School with Applied Sciences option curriculum is defined in Appendix F of Presidential Decree 89 of 15 March 2010.
To find out more about the specific learning objectives for Scientific High School with Applied Sciences option, see Appendix F of Ministerial Decree 211 of 7 October 2010 'National Guidelines'.

Courses and orientations - Biology with a biomedical orientation

In a number of schools, an experimental specialisation-orientation course is in operation, which provides for the introduction of the subject of Biology with a biomedical focus from the third year onward.

This three-year course allows students to acquire skills in the biological field, including through laboratory work, and enables those interested in pursuing studies in the chemical-biological and health fields to make an informed choice.

The annual total is 50 hours, 40 of which are spent at the school's laboratories (both with teachers and with medical experts) and 10 hours, in cross-disciplinary skills and PCTO orientation courses, at healthcare facilities identified by the Provincial Association of Surgeons and Dentists.