programme handbook for biological science bsc …

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PROGRAMMEHANDBOOKFOR

BIOLOGICALSCIENCEBScDEGREEPROGRAMMES

AcademicYear2021-22

___________________________________________

(1)WELCOME&OVERVIEW

WelcometotheSchoolofBiological&BehaviouralSciences(SBBS),andspecificallytooneofthethreeBiologicalSciencedegreeprogrammes:Biology(C100),Zoology(C300),orMedicalGenetics(C431).

TheBiologyandZoologyBScprogrammes(C100&C300)aimtoprovidetraininginthebiologyofanimalsand/orplantsandotherformsoflifeinbothmicro-organismalandmacro-organismalgroups.ThesetwobiologicalBScprogrammearethemostflexibleonofferwithinSBBSandoffertheopportunitytostudybiologyorzoologyatalllevelsoforganisation-rangingfromthemoleculartothecellular/organlevels,andfromtheorganismaltotheenvironmentallevels.Theprogrammesincludetraininginfundamentaltopicsandprinciplesapplicabletoallbiologistsandzoologists,suchastaxonomy,evolution,moleculargeneticsandthecellasabiologicalunit.Morespecialisedtrainingisavailableshouldyouwishtorefineyourmodulechoices-forinstancebyaligningyourstudiesintomore“molecular-physiological”versus“ecological-wholeorganism”approachestobiology/zoology.

TherationalefortheMedicalGeneticsBScprogramme(C431)istoprovidetrainingforstudentswithaninterestinmedicallyorientatedgenetics.Geneticsisattheheartofresearchintohumandiseases,becauseofitsdirectroleindiseaseandbecauseoftheinstrumentsusedtostudydisease.Understandinginthisareaunifiesareasacrossbiologyfromgenetics,molecularbiology,physiology,statistics,biochemistryandpopulationgenetics,enablingtransferofknowledgebetweenfields.Thisprogrammehasbeendesignedtoenableyoutofindthevalueandimportanceoffundamental,yettargetedresearchinmedicine.

Eachofthethreebiologicalscienceprogrammesprepareyouforfurtherstudyatthepostgraduatelevel(MScandPhD)andcareersthatrequireknowledgeofbiology,zoologyormedicalgenetics,asappropriate.

Duetothecommoncontentofthefirstyearmodules,upuntiltheendofYear1,youcanrequestaChangeofProgramme(CoP)betweenBiologyandZoology(seeSection14).(ShouldyouwishtorequestachangefromanyoftheseprogrammesontoMedicalGenetics,

PROGRAMMEHANDBOOK–BIOLOGICALSCIENCES–2020-21

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yourrequestwouldhavetobereceivedby01December2020sincestudentsenrolledontheMedicalGeneticsBScstudydifferentmodulesinSemesterB).Becauseoftheoptiontoswitchbetweenbiologicalsciencesforyoursecondandthirdyearsofstudy,thishandbookdetailseachofthebiologicalsciencedegreeprogrammes.

Inclosing,canIreiteratemywelcometoQMUL,toSBBS,andspecificallytooneofthethreebiologicalsciencedegreeprogrammes.Ihopethatyoufindthisprogrammehandbookusefulandthat,overthenext3years,youfindyourundergraduatedegreetobeasenjoyableasitiseducational.IhopethatyouwillmakethemostoftheopportunitiesforpersonalandprofessionaldevelopmentofferedbythewiderangeofcompulsoryandelectivemodulesthateachbuildonthebreadthofexpertiseofferedbyacademiccolleaguesintheDepartmentsofOrganismalBiologyandofCell&MolecularBiology,aswellasbycolleaguesfromBart’s&theLondonSchoolofMedicine&Dentistry.Allofthestaffinvolvedinyourdegreewishyougoodluckwithyourstudiesandlookforwardtosupportingyourpersonalandcareeraspirationsoverthecourseofyourdegreeand,beyondthat,whenyougraduateandbecomeanalumnusofQMUL.

Inclosing,canIreiteratemywelcometoQMUL,toSBBSandtotheBiology/Zoology/MedicalGeneticsBScdegreeprogramme.

DrSallyFaulknerFHEASeniorLecturerinBiologicalSciences,DirectorofTeachingandLearning,BiologicalSciencesSeptember2021


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(2)KEYNAMES/CONTACTS

ROLE NAME EMAILADDRESS

DirectorofTeaching&Learning(DTL)[BiologicalSciences]

DrSallyFaulkner [email protected]

ProgrammeDirectors:

C100Biology

C300Zoology

C431MedicalGenetics

DrSallyFaulkner

[email protected]

ProgrammeTutors:

Allprogrammes

DrJayneDennis

&DrChrisFaulkes

[email protected]

[email protected]

StudentSupportOfficer MsShahedaBatha [email protected]

DirectorofEducation,SBBS DrStevenBuckingham [email protected]

SBBSUndergraduateenquiries

Administrativeteam

[email protected]

AcademicAdvisor Duringinductionweekyouwillbeinformedofyouracademicadvisorandhowtocontactthem.

Specificquestionsaboutamoduleshould firstbedirectedto theModuleOrganiser (MO)whoisthepersoninchargeofthespecificmodule.YourAcademicAdvisorisyourfirstpointofcontactregardingquestionsaboutyourprogress,generalacademic issuesandpersonalissueswhichmayaffectyourabilitytostudy.

TheProgrammeTutorisamemberofacademicstaffwhocansupportyouonmattersbothacademicandpersonal,afteryouhavealreadygonetotheMOoryouradvisorand if theissueremains.TheTutor’sroleistotrytoadviseyouonhowresolvetheissueorguideyoutotheappropriateexternalresource(e.g.,counsellingservice),ifappropriate.

The Student Support Officer is amember of the professional administrative staffwho isresponsibleforadministeringExtenuatingCircumstances.


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TheProgrammeDirectoristhememberoftheacademicstaffresponsiblefortheacademiccurriculumandoveralldevelopmentofthebiomedicalsciencesprogrammeandisavailablefordiscussingbroaderconcerns/suggestionsaboutmodulesortheprogrammeasawhole.

TheSBBSDirectorofEducationisresponsibleforoverseeingtheacademicprogrammesattheleveloftheschool.

Withadministrativequestions,pleaseemailSBBSUndergraduateEnquiries.

(3)PROGRAMMEAIMS

Becauseofthecommonmodulesandtheoptiontotransferbetweenbiologicalprogrammes,theprogrammeaimsforallthreebiologicalsciencedegreesarebroadlysimilarwithrelativelysubtledifferences.Inadditiontothespecificprogrammeaimspresentedbydegreeprogrammeoverthepage,allthreeprogrammesaimto:

• Providearational,flexiblystructuredandcoherentprogrammeofstudywhichisrelevanttotheneedsofemployers,facilitatesyourprofessionaldevelopmentandlaysthefoundationsforasuccessfulcareerwhichistothebenefitoftheeconomyandsociety;

• Provideasoundknowledgebaseinthefieldsstudiedanddevelopkeytransferableskillsintheareasofcommunication,numeracy,informationtechnology,workingwithothers,problemsolving,timeandtaskmanagement;

• Fosterthedevelopmentofanenquiring,open-mindedandcreativeattitude,temperedwithscientificdisciplineandsocialawareness,whichencourageslifelonglearning.

(3.1)BIOLOGY(C100)

TheBiologyBScprogrammeaimstoprovidestudentswithanunderstandingofthelivingworldacrossawiderangeoflevelsofbiologicalorganisation,frommoleculestoecosystems.Inlateryears,youwillbeabletochoosetospecialiseinparticularfieldswithinbiologyortotakeamoreintegratedapproachtoyourdegreebycoveringabroadrangeofmodules(subjecttotimetablingconstraints).Youwillreceiveinstructioninkeybiologicalconcepts,thetheoriesthatunderpintheseconceptsandtheapplicationsofbiologicalknowledgetoimportantproblemsfacingtheworldtoday(e.g.,emerginghumandiseasesandclimatechange).Inadditiontodevelopingkeybiologicalskills,youwillalsodevelopessentialtransferableskillsthatwillfurtherstrengthenyourfuturecareerprospects.

(3.2)MEDICALGENETICS(C431)

TheMedicalGeneticsBScprogrammeaimstoprovideageneralfoundationinbiologicalscienceswithasignificantandbalancedinputofmedicalgeneticstraining.Compulsorymoduleswilldirectyoutowardsthegeneticsandecologyofhumandisease.Toprovidean


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environmenttodeveloptransferableskillsinpublicspeaking,verbalreasoning,reportwritinganddatabasemining.

(3.3)ZOOLOGY(C300)

TheZoologyBScprogrammeaimstoprovidestudentswithanunderstandingofthephylogeny,morphology,physiology,behaviourandecologyofanimals,exploitingthespecialistexpertiseofSBBSstaffwhostudymammals,reptiles,fishandavarietyofinvertebrates.

Pleaseturntothenextpageforanoutlineofthelearningoutcomesforeachofthefourbiologicalsciencedegreeprogrammes


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(4)WHATWILLYOUBEEXPECTEDTOACHIEVE?

(4.1)BIOLOGY(C100)

Acad

emicCon

tent

OnsuccessfulcompletionofyourBScprogramme,youwillhavestudied:1. Biologyasawhole,withthepossibilitytospecialiseonparticularareas(e.g.whole

organismbiologyasopposedtomorebiochemical,molecularormicrobialaspects)ortotakeamoreholisticoverviewofthedisciplinebyintegratingacrossawiderangeoffields.

2. Howbiologicalsystemsoperateoverarangeoflevelsoforganisation,frommoleculestoecosystems.

3. Appreciationoftheimportanceofvariationinbiology(e.g.geneticdiversitywithinhumans;biodiversityandspeciesrichnessinecosystems)andhowtodealwithit(e.g.viadatahandlinganduseofstatisticaltechniques).

4. Thedynamicsandstructureofbiologicalsystems(e.g.proteinstructure;enzymekinetics;populationdynamics).

5. Cause-and-effectrelationshipsandtheroleofexperimentsintesting(anddeveloping)biologicaltheories.Studentsshoulddevelopknowledgeofthegeneralscientificprocess,andhowitisappliedtobiologicalsystemsinparticular.

6. Howbiologicalsystemsrespondtoperturbations(e.g.infectionsofpathogens;climatechangeinecosystems)andtorecognisethesymptomsofthoseresponses(e.g.diseaseinhumans;globalspeciesloss).

Disciplin

arySkills

OnsuccessfulcompletionofyourBScprogramme,youwillbeableto:1. Reasoncritically.2. Identifyandformulateproblems.3. Applybiologicalknowledgeandprinciples,incombinationwithproblem-solving

skills,inawiderangeoftheoreticalandpracticalsituations.4. Useadvancedtheoriesandconceptstoexplain/rationalizebiologicalphenomena,

andtoinvestigateunfamiliarproblems.5. Conductpracticalworkefficientlyandwithdueregardforsafety.6. Useawiderangeoflaboratoryandanalyticalequipment,aswellascomputational

toolsandpackages.7. Analyseandevaluate/interprettheresultsofcontrolledexperiments.8. Retrieve,filterandcollatebiologicaldatafromavarietyofinformationsources.9. Preparescientific/technicalreports.10. Plan,undertakeandreportabibliographically-basedpieceofresearch.

Attributes

OnsuccessfulcompletionofyourBScprogramme,youwillbeableto:1. Communicateeffectivelybywrittenand/orverbalmeans.2. Capacityforindependentlearning,andtoworkindependently.3. Abletoparticipateconstructivelyasamemberofagroup/team,withskillsto

influence,negotiateandlead.4. Assesstherelevance,importanceandreliabilityoftheideasofothersanddifferent

sourcesofinformation.5. Competentintheuseofcomputer-basedtechnology,includingthemanipulation

andanalysisofquantitativedata.6. Awarenessoftheroleandimpactofscienceinsociety,includingtheglobal

perspective.7. Useinformationforevidence-baseddecision-makingandcreativethinking.


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Acad

emicCon

tent OnsuccessfulcompletionofyourBScprogramme,youwillhavestudied:

1. Keyconceptsingeneticsandgeneticdiseases.2. Evolutionarytheoryandhowthisisappliedtothestudyandmanagementof

disease.3. Howthemolecularperspectiveunderstandinginmedicalgeneticsisderivedfrom

thedisciplinesofclassical,chromosomal,populationandmoleculargenetics.4. Howevolutionaryunderstandingisderivedfromstudiesfrominteractionbetween

humanpopulations,virusesandsexuallytransmitteddiseases.

Disciplin

arySkills

OnsuccessfulcompletionofyourBScprogramme,youwillbeableto:1. Reasoncritically.2. Identifyandformulateproblems.3. Applybiologicalandgeneticsknowledgeandprinciples,incombinationwith

problem-solvingskills,inawiderangeoftheoreticalandpracticalsituations.4. Useadvancedtheoriesandconceptstoexplain/rationalizephenomenainmedical

genetics,andtoinvestigateunfamiliarproblems.5. Conductpracticalworkefficientlyandwithdueregardforsafety.6. Useawiderangeoflaboratoryandanalyticalequipment,aswellascomputational


Attributes







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(4.3)ZOOLOGY(C300)Ac

adem

icCon

tent OnsuccessfulcompletionofyourBScprogramme,youwillhavestudied:

1. Animaldevelopment,morphologyandphysiology.2. Howevolutionarytheoryandcomparativegenomicsprovideframeworksfor

understandinganimaldiversity,behaviourandecology.3. Theneuralmechanismsthatunderliesensationandbehaviourinanimalsandan

understandingoftheadaptivesignificanceofanimalbehaviour.4. Currentthinkingandcontroversiesonanimalphylogeneticrelationshipsand

understandingofhowbiologicaldataisusedtoinvestigateanimalphylogeny.

Disciplin

arySkills

OnsuccessfulcompletionofyourBScprogramme,youwillbeableto:1. Reasoncritically.2. Identifyandformulateproblems.3. Applyzoologicalknowledgeandprinciples,incombinationwithproblem-solving

skills,inawiderangeoftheoreticalandpracticalsituations.4. Useadvancedtheoriesandconceptstoexplain/rationalizezoologicalphenomena,

andtoinvestigateunfamiliarproblems.5. Proposeplausibleschemesforzoologicalsynthesis(subjecttoareasof

specialisation)6. Conductpracticalworkefficientlyandwithdueregardforsafety.7. Useawiderangeoflaboratoryandanalyticalequipment,aswellascomputational


Attributes







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(5)HOWWILLYOULEARN?

In2021-22wewillbeusingthebestofonlineandin-personeducation.Thismeansthatallmoduleswillhavesomematerialonlinewhichyouareexpectedtostudyatyourownpace.Therewillalsobeoncampusteachingwhichwillenableyoutoapplyyouronlinelearning.Ouron campus sessionswill include interactive largegroup sessions (youmayoftenhearthesereferredtoas“lectures”becausethat’swhatweusedtodointheseweeklysessions),small group tutorials and lab practicals. All of these sessions are called “synchronous”becausestudentsarelearningatthesametimeandwithacademicstaff.Conversely,onlinematerial isoftencalled“asynchronous learning”andmay includereading textbooks (ore-textbooks),watchingvideosorengaginginlearningtasksonyourownorinonlinegroups.

AdditionallearningsupportisprovidedthroughQueenMary'sonlinelearningenvironment,QMplus,andthefacilitiesoftheQMULStudentPCService.

Eachpracticalclassisrepeatedtwoormoretimesinthesameweek.Youwillbeallocated(randomly)toaspecificpracticalgrouptoattendthepracticalclassonagivendate/time.Ifyouareunabletoattendontheassigneddate/time(e.g.,ifyouareallocatedtoaWednesdayafternoon,buthavesportscommitments,orifyouareallocatedtoaFridayafternoonbutneedtoattendjumahortogethomebeforeshabbat),youarerequiredto(a)negotiateaswapwithafellowstudentfromadifferentgroupandthen(b)emailtheModuleOrganiserwithdetailsofthatswap(confirmingwhoyouwillbeswappingwith).Ifyouareunabletonegotiateaswapforanassessedpracticalclass,youmaybeabletosubmitaclaimforextenuatingcircumstancesprovidedthereasonfornon-attendanceis(i)unforeseeableand(ii)beyondyourcontrol,andyoucanprovidedocumentaryevidencetosupportyourapplication.

(6)WHATIS“INDEPENDENTSTUDY”?

Foreveryhourofcontactwithacademicstaff,youwillbeexpectedtodevotebetween3and5hourstoindependentstudy.Thismayincludestaff-directedexercises(e.g.completionofcourseworkassignments)orself-directedindependentstudy.Therearevariousformsofindependentstudywhichinclude:

• preparation(inadvanceofalecture/tutorial/practicalclass)• consolidationofmaterialintroducedbythelecturer/tutor(e.g.writingupyour

lecturenotes)• elaboration/extension(e.g.readingaroundthetopicafterthelecture)• application(i.e.reinforcingyourunderstandingofatopicbyapplyinganyprinciples

introducedinalecture/tutorial/practicalclasstoanewscenario)Youmightbeexpectingtoprepareandconsolidate,sincetheseactivitiesmostcloselyresemblethe“homework”forSecondary/FurtherEducation.However,tosucceedinyourundergraduatedegreeatuniversity,youwillhavetomaketimetoelaborate/extendand


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applynewknowledgeinordertodevelopthedepthofunderstandingrequiredifyouaretoberecommendedforfirstoruppersecondclasshonours.

(7)HOWWILLYOUBEASSESSED?

Foreachmodulethatcomprisesyourbiologicalsciencedegree,yourknowledgeandunderstandingwillgenerallybetestedthroughacombinationofassessedcourseworkandunseenwrittenexaminations.Forthemajorityofmodules,thecourseworktoexamweightingwillbeasfollows:

Coursework ExamYear1 50% 50%Year2 25% 75%Year3 20% 80%

Forsomemodules(e.g.field-basedmodules),ahigherproportionofmarkswillbederivedfromthecoursework,andinsomecases(e.g.thefinalyearresearchprojects),themodulewillbeassessedbycourseworkonlywithnowrittenexam.(PleasecheckthemoduledetailsonQMPlustoconfirmtheexactcoursework:examweightingforeachmodule.)

Theexactnatureofthecourseworkvariesfrommoduletomoduleandmayincludeworkintheformoflaboratoryexperimentwrite-ups,essaysand/orproblemsheets.Thecourseworkmarkmayalsoincludeacontributionfromcomputer-basedassessmentsandin-coursetests.Specificmodules(iftaken)includeassessedoralexaminations,oralpresentationsandextendedreports/dissertations.

Transferable skills are developed in a contextual manner throughout the teaching andlearning programme, and are indirectly assessed as part of the normal assessmentprocesses for the programme. For example, the assessment of the projects includesconsiderationofdata-retrievalskills,report-writingskillsandpresentationalskills.

Theweightingofmarksavailableforagivencomponentshouldbereflectedintheamountoftimethatyouwillneedtocommittoworkingoneachelement.Forexample,where25%ofthemodulemarksareavailableforcoursework,youshouldexpecttodevote25%of150hours(i.e.approximately37hours)tocompletingthecourseworkelementstothebestofyourability.Theremaining75%of150hours(i.e.approximately113hours)shouldbedevotedtoattendinglectures/tutorialsandindependentstudytoensureyouunderstandthemodulecontentwellenoughtoachieveahighgradeinthemoduleexam.

QMULwillhastwomainexamperiods.Thefirstperiod,lastingtwoweeks,willtakeplaceinJanuary and will assess modules completed in Semester A. The second exam period,predominantlyinMay,willlastfourweeksandwillincludeexamsformodulescompletedinSemester B and year-longmodules. The exam timetable will be released to students inapproximately week 10 of each semester. Answers to frequently asked questions about


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semester-based exams are available on the QMUL website:http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/students/exams/semester-based-exams/

Given theon-goingcircumstances regardingCovid-19,QueenMarywillnotbeconductingexaminationsinpersonin2021-22.Instead,endofmoduleassessmentswillbeconductedonline,accordingtoaschedulereleasedbyQMUL. Furtherdetailsabouttheassignmentswill be available onQMplus nearer to the assessment periods. The default online examstructuresdifferbetweenyears,asfollows:

Year1 25MCQs

Year2 Oneessayfromachoiceoftwo,1000words

Year3 Oneessayfromachoiceoftwo,1500words

ToprogressbeyondYear1ofeachBSc,youmustpassatleast6modulesx15credits(i.e.90creditsintotal).ToprogressbeyondYear2,youmustpassatleast195creditscumulativelyfromYear1and2modules.TograduatewithaBScdegree,youmustpassatleast315creditsacrossyour3yearBScdegree.(Analternativewayofconsideringthesecriteriaisthatyoucanfailnomorethan3x15creditmodulesacross3yearsandnotmorethan2inanygivenyear.)

(8)ACADEMICINTEGRITY

Academic honesty is a very important consideration in this course and in your universitycareer. We take a zero-tolerance approach to any form of academic dishonesty andmisconduct, including but not limited to plagiarism, collusion, cheating (i.e., providing orreceivingunauthorizedassistanceonassignmentsorexams),and impersonation. It isyourresponsibility to be aware of the rules and policies associatedwith academic dishonesty.TheUniversity’sAcademicMisconductPolicyandRegulations forAssessmentOffencecanbe found on the QMUL website. At QMUL, any instance of academic dishonesty ornegligence must be reported confidentially to the department’s Plagiarism Officer, whofollowsproceduresoutlinedbytheuniversity.

(9)QUALITYASSURANCEOFMARKS

The quality assurance measures for assessments and their marking are conducted inaccordancewith regulations set by theAcademicRegistry andCouncil Secretariat (ARCS),whichsetsregulationsfortheentireUniversity.

Coursework is usuallymarked by lecturers. If there ismore than one personmarking anassignment,thenthemarkingisusuallymoderatedbycheckingasampleofpaperstomakesurethemarkinghasbeendoneconsistentlyacrossmarkers.


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In preparing exams, a minimum of two staff members plus an expert external to theUniversitywillscrutinizeeachpaperinanattempttomakequestionsasclearaspossibleaswellastominimizeerrors.

Examsaremarkedonlybylecturersandacertainpercentage(dependingonthelevelofthemoduleandthenumberofstudentsinthemodule)willbemoderatedorsecond-markedbyanotherlecturer.

Following themarking of exam scripts, the departmentmeetswith an external expert todiscuss themarks for eachmodule and to discuss any issues that have takenplace in anexam, in effort to make the experience as fair as possible for all students. After thedepartmenthasdeterminedthatthegradesarecorrectandfair,toourbestknowledgeandability,theexamproceduresandmarksareratifiedattheleveloftheUniversityaswell.

FormoreinformationaboutqualityassuranceofmarksyoucanreadtheARCSregulationsforthecurrentacademicyearontheQMULwebsite.

(10)HOWARETHEPROGRAMMESSTRUCTURED?

Intheprogrammeoutlinesprovidedonthefollowingpages,compulsorymodulesaredenotedinstandardtextwhereaselectivemodulesaredenotedinitalicisedtext.Somemodulesareinexclusivepairs(i.e.youmaytakeoneortheother,butnotboth)andothersareelectivebutyoumusttakeatleastoneofthem(i.e.youmaytakemorethanoneifyouwish).Ineachacademicyear,anymodulesindicatedbythepostscript“F”entailresidentialfieldtripsofbetween1and2weeksinduration.

Thecreditvalueofeachmoduleisdenotedinparentheses.Ineachacademicyear,youmuststudy120credits(suchthatyoustudyatotalof360creditsoverthecourseofyour3yearBSc).Itisstronglyrecommendedthatwhereelectivemodulesareavailable,youshouldselectatotalof60creditstostudyinSemesterAandatotalof60creditsinSemesterB.(IfyouwishtostudymorecreditsinoneorotherSemester,youshoulddiscussthiswithyourAcademicAdvisorandthenwiththeDirectorofTeachingandLearningforBiologicalSciences,beforemakingyourpre-selection.Youmaynotenrolformorethan75creditsinanygivensemester).

Toassistyourchoiceofelectivesmostappropriatetoyourinterestsandcareeraspirations,wewantyoutohaveeveryopportunitytoresearchtheelectivemodulesavailabletoyoupriortomodulepre-selection(whichnormallyhappensinthemonthofMay).WewillprovideyouwithpublishedinformationthatoutlinethemodulecontentandinSemesterB,wewillalsoorganisea“ModuleElectiveFair”atwhichyoucanmeetwithModuleOrganisersandseniorstudentswhohavestudiedeachmoduletoaskanyquestionsaboutelectivemodulesthatyoumightwishtotakeinthenextacademicyear.


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Pleasenotethatsomeelectivemoduleshavetooperatecapsonthemaximumnumberofstudentsthatthemodulecanaccommodate,e.g.field-basedmoduleswhereafinitenumberofstudentscanbeaccommodatedinthefieldstation.Inthiscase,acceptanceontoamodulewithcappednumbersmaybecontingentonyouracademicperformancepriortothepointofmoduleselection(typicallyyourYear1academicperformance).

Themoduleslistedintheprogrammeoutlineswhichfollowareindicativeonly.Everyeffortwillbemadetorunallofthemodulesadvertisedinthesedegreeprogrammeoutlines.However,toofferyouthebesteducationalexperiencewhileatQMUL,inanyoneyear,amoduleadvertisedonthefollowingpagesmaynotbeofferedif:

(a) thenumbersofstudentseligibletoselectaparticularmodule(eithertoomanyortoofew)wouldprovideyouwithacompromisedstudentexperience;

(b) academicstaffwiththerequisiteexperienceareunavailabletoteachamodule(e.g.throughillhealth,injuryorretirement)

Likewise,dependentonstaffavailabilityandappropriatequalityassurance,wemaybeabletoaddnewmodulestosubsequentyearsofyourdegreeprogrammeandimproveevenfurtheryourchoiceofelectivemodules.

(10.1)BIOLOGY(C100)

SEMESTERA SEMESTERB

Year1

BIO100EssentialSkillsforBiologists(10)BMD116Cells(15)BIO113Evolution(15)BIO163MolecularGenetics(15)BIO190PracticalMolecular& CellularBiology(10)

BIO100EssentialSkillsforBiologists(10)BIO123Ecology(15)BIO161BasicBiochemistry(15)BIO192PracticalBiology(10)BIO125Physiology(15)

Year2

BIO209ResearchMethods&Communication(15)BIO212DiversityofLife(30across2semesters)BIO234EcologicalInteractionsI(15)BIO215Comparative&IntegrativePhysiology(15)BIO223Genes&Bioinformatics(15)musttakeatleastoneoftheseBIO269TechniquesforBiological&ChemicalSciences(15)BIO214InfectiousDiseaseBiology(15)

BIO212DiversityofLife(30)BIO213CellBiology&DevelopmentalGenetics(15)BIO231MicrobialPhysiology&Growth(15)musttakeatleastoneoftheseBIO263Membrane&CellularBiochemistry(15)BIO265MetabolicPathways(15)BIO294EcologicalInteractionsII(15)Fmusttakeatleastoneofthese


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Year3

BIO329ProfessionalSkillsandDevelopmentforBiologists(15)BIO311BehaviouralEcology(15)either/orBIO361MembraneProteins(15)either/orBMD311EndocrinePhysiologyandBiochemistry(15)BIO325Population&ChromosomeGenetics(15)BIO392SavannahEcologyandConservation(15)F*atleastoneoftheseBIO214InfectiousDiseaseBiology(15)

BIO327FunctionalGenomics&Epigenetics(15)BIO331Mammals&Evolution(15)atleastoneoftheseBIO333Neuroscience:FromMoleculestoBehaviour(15)BIO337Reproductive&DevelopmentalBiology(15)BIO343ClimateChange&ConservationChallenges(15)atleastoneoftheseBMD383MolecularBasisofDisease(15)

BIO600BiologicalSciencesResearchProject(30)ORBIO603ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences(30)ORBMD606EngagingthePublicinScience

*Field-basedmodulewhichrunsinAugust/SeptemberpriortothestartofSemesterA.Year1:AllYear1modulesarecompulsorytoensurethatallstudentsonthedegreeprogrammehavetherequisiteunderstandingtopreparethemforYears2and3ofthedegreeprogramme.NotethatBIO100runsoverSemesterAandBandisworth10creditsintotal,not10ineachsemester.

Year2:Thereare3compulsorymodulesinYear2,thoughoneoftheseisworth30credits.Thusyoucanselect4oftheavailable15creditmoduleoptions,thoughwithsomerestrictions.

Year3:Thereare2compulsorymodules,inthirdyear,one15creditmoduleandinaddition,youmustselectoneofthe30creditmodules:eitherBIO600(BiologicalSciencesResearchProject)orBIO603(ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences).Inordertohaveafreechoicebetweenthesetwo30creditoptions,youwillneedtoperformwellinYear1ofyourdegree,typicallyscoringinexcessof65%(ifnot70%)ineachofyourYear1modules.Ifyouarenotabovethe70thcentileforYear1averagemarks,youwillhavetostudyBIO603inYear3.Thisleavesyouwithachoiceof5electivemodules(75credits,thoughwithsomerestrictions.


SEMESTERA SEMESTERB

Year1


BIO100EssentialSkillsforBiologists(10)BMD181TissueBiology(15)BIO161BasicBiochemistry(15)BIO192PracticalBiology(10)BIO125Physiology(15)


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Year2

BIO209ResearchMethods&Communication(15)BIO223GenesandBioinformatics(15)BIO227HumanGeneticDisorders(15)BIO214InfectiousDiseaseBiology(15)BIO215Comparative&IntegrativePhysiology(15)

BIO213CellBiologyandDevelopmentalGenetics(15)BIO231MicrobialPhysiology&Growth(15)BIO265MetabolicPathways(15)BMD251BasicImmunology(15)BMD225BiomedicalPharmacology

Year3

BIO329ProfessionalSkillsandDevelopmentforBiologists(15)BIO325Population&ChromosomeGenetics(15)BIO214InfectiousDiseaseBiology(15)BMD311EndocrinePhysiology&Biochemistry(15)BMD381CancerBiology(15)BMD351Advancedimmunology(15)BMD325BiomedicalNeuroscience(15)

BIO327FunctionalGenomics&Epigenetics(15)BIO324AdvancedHumanGeneticDisorders(15)

BIO337Reproductive&DevelopmentalBiology(15)BMD383MolecularBasisofPersonalisedMedicine(15)

BIO600BiologicalSciencesResearchProject(30)ORBIO603ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences(30))ORBMD606EngagingthePublicinScience

*Field-basedmodulewhichrunsinAugust/SeptemberpriortothestartofSemesterA.

Year1:AllYear1modulesarecompulsorytoensurethatallstudentsonthedegreeprogrammehavetherequisiteunderstandingtopreparethemforYears2and3ofthedegreeprogramme.NotethatBIO100runsoverSemesterAandBandisworth10creditsintotal,not10ineachsemester.

Year2:Thereare4compulsory,15creditYear2modules.

Year3:Thereare5compulsoryYear3modules,4ofthemare15creditsandinaddition,youmustselectoneofthetwo30creditmodules:eitherBIO600(BiologicalSciencesResearchProject)orBIO603(ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences).Inordertohaveafreechoicebetweenthesetwo30creditoptions,youwillneedtoperformwellinYear1ofyourdegree,typicallyscoringinexcessof65%(ifnot70%)ineachofyourYear1modules.Ifyouarenotabovethe70thcentileforYear1averagemarks,youwillhavetostudyBIO603inYear3.


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(10.3)ZOOLOGY(C300)

SEMESTERA SEMESTERBYe

ar1


BIO100EssentialSkillsforBiologists(10)BIO123Ecology(15)BIO161BasicBiochemistry(15)BIO192PracticalBiology(10)BIO125Physiology(15)

Year2

BIO209ResearchMethods&Communication(15)BIO212DiversityofLife(30acrosstwosemesters)BIO234EcologicalInteractionsI(15)FBIO215Comparative&IntegrativePhysiology(15)BIO214InfectiousDiseaseBiologyBIO223Genes&Bioinformatics(15)

BIO212DiversityofLife(30acrosstwosemesters)BIO213CellBiologyandDevelopmentalGenetics(15)BIO263MembraneandCellBiochemistry(25)BIO265Metabolicpathways(15)BIO231MicrobialPhysiology&Growth(15)BIO294EcologicalInteractionsII(15)FGEG5224EcosystemSciences(15)

Year3

BIO329ProfessionalSkillsandDevelopmentforBiologists(15)BIO311BehaviouralEcology(15)BIO325Population&ChromosomeGenetics(15)BIO214InfectiousDiseaseBiologyBIO392SavannahEcology&Conservation(15)F*AtleastoneoftheseBMD311EndocrinePhysiologyandBiochemistry(15)

BIO331Mammals&Evolution(15)BIO327FunctionalGenomics&Epigenetics(15)BIO333Neuroscience:FromMoleculestoBehaviour(15)BIO337Reproductive&DevelopmentalBiology(15)BIO343ClimateChange&ConservationChallenges(15)Atleastoneofthese

BIO600BiologicalSciencesResearchProject(30)ORBIO603ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences(30)ORBMD606EngagingthePublicinScience

*Field-basedmodulewhichrunsinAugust/SeptemberpriortothestartofSemesterA.

Year1:AllYear1modulesarecompulsorytoensurethatallstudentsonthedegreeprogrammehavetherequisiteunderstandingtopreparethemforYears2and3ofthedegreeprogramme.NotethatBIO100runsoverSemesterAandBandisworth10creditsintotal,not10ineachsemester.

Year2:Thereare3compulsory,Year2modules,twoofwhichare15creditsandoneis30credits.

Year3:Thereare4compulsorymodulesinYear3,threeoftheseare15creditmodulesandinaddition,youmustselectoneofthetwo30creditmodules:eitherBIO600(BiologicalSciencesResearchProject)orBIO603(ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences).Inordertohavea


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freechoicebetweenthesetwo30creditoptions,youwillneedtoperformwellinYear1ofyourdegree,typicallyscoringinexcessof65%(ifnot70%)ineachofyourYear1modules.Ifyouarenotabovethe70thcentileforYear1averagemarks,youwillhavetostudyBIO603inYear3.

(11)USINGYOURSTUDENTVOICE

YouarestronglyencouragedtoprovideinformalfeedbacktoModuleOrganisersand/ortotheProgrammeDirectorwhereyoucanseeawaythatyourteachingcouldbesignificantlyimprovedoryouhavecauseforcomplaint.IfyoufeeluncomfortableapproachingaModuleOrganiser and/or Programme Director, you can also make any suggestions/raise anyconcernsbyemailto:sbcs-studentvoice@qmul.ac.uk.Thisemailaddressismonitoreddailybyseveralcolleaguessoyoucanreasonablyexpectaresponsewithin3workingdays.

TheStudent-StaffLiaisonCommittee(SSLC),ChairedbytheDirectorforStudentExperience,Dr SophiePettit, provides a formalmeansof communication anddiscussionbetween theSchool and its students. The committee consists of elected student representatives fromeach year of our degree programmes, together with staff representation from SBBS andSMD. SSLC isdesignedtorespondtotheneedsofstudents,aswellasactasa forumfordiscussingprogrammeandmoduledevelopments.TheSSLCmeetsregularlythroughouttheyear.

TheSBBSTeaching&LearningCommittee(TLC)advisestheDirectorofEducation(DoE),DrBuckingham,onallmatters relating to thedeliveryof taughtprogrammesat school level.ThisincludesmonitoringtheapplicationofrelevantQMpoliciesandreviewingproposalsformoduleandprogrammeamendmentbeforesubmissiontoTaughtProgrammesBoard(TPB).The SMD Science & Undergraduate Teaching & Learning (SUTL) Committee performs anequivalent role toTLC,advising theDeputyDeanofUndergraduateScienceEducation forSMD, Dr Grose, who works very closely with Dr Buckingham and with the ProgrammeDirector, DrDennis, to ensure that all student concerns are identified, shared, and actedupon,asappropriate.StudentviewsareincorporatedintotheworkofbothTLCandSUTLina number ofways, such as through consideration of student surveys and input from theSSLC.

All schools/institutes operate an Annual Programme Review (APR) of their taughtundergraduate andpostgraduateprovision.APR is a continuousprocess of reflection andactionplanningwhichisownedbythoseresponsibleforprogrammedelivery.

Duringthespringoftheirfinalyear,studentsareinvitedtoparticipateinanationalsurveyof all publicly funded universities in the UK. This National Student Survey (NSS) iscommissionedby theOffice for Students onbehalf of various government education andhealthagencies. It is independentofQMUL,whichmeanswedonothaveanysay in thequestions asked. The data are very important to us:we examine the results carefully to


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improveourprogrammesandpeopleexternaltoQMUL,suchasprospectivestudents,usethedatatolearnmoreaboutQMULandourprogrammes.

(12)ACADEMICSUPPORT

Youwillbeprovidedwithapersonaltutor,referredtoasanAcademicAdvisor,whowillserveasyourmainpointofcontactforadviceregardingacademicmattersandforassistancewithpastoralconcerns,throughoutyourwholeprogramme.SBBSnolongeroperatesthesystemof“officehours”sincealladviseesmayhaveverydifferentpatternsofavailabilitydependentontheirchoiceofelectivemodules.InsteadyoucanscheduleanappointmenttomeetwithyourAdvisorviaemail.Moreover,ifandwhenyourAdvisorisunavailableorcannothelpwithaspecificproblem,theSchoolhasseveralexperiencedProgrammeTutorsandaStudentSupportOfficerplusStudentSupportAssistantwhocanaddressanyconcernsthatyoumighthave.(TheDTPisalwayshappytoschedulemeetingswithindividualstudentsand/orsmallgroupsofstudents,butonlywheretheyhavenotbeenabletoresolveissueswiththeirAcademicAdvisors/ProgrammeTutorsortheStudentSupportOfficer/Assistant).

SBBSalsooperatesaPeerAssistedStudySupport(PASS)programmeforpeerguidance.

(13)SPECIFICSUPPORTFORDISABLEDSTUDENTS

QueenMaryhasacentralDisabilityandDyslexiaService(DDS)thatofferssupportforallstudentswithdisabilities,specificlearningdifficultiesandmentalhealthissues.TheDDSsupportsallQueenMarystudents:full-time,part-time,undergraduate,postgraduate,UKandinternationalatallcampusesandallsites.

Studentscanaccessadvice,guidanceandsupportinthefollowingareas:• Findingoutifyouhaveaspecificlearningdifficultylikedyslexia• ApplyingforfundingthroughtheDisabledStudents'Allowance(DSA)• ArrangingDSAassessmentsofneed• Specialarrangementsinexaminations• Accessingloanedequipment(e.g.digitalrecorders)• Specialistone-to-one"studyskills"tuition• Ensuringaccesstocoursematerialsinalternativeformats(e.g.Braille)• Providingeducationalsupportworkers(e.g.note-takers,readers,libraryassistants)• Mentoring support for students with mental health issues and conditions on the

autisticspectrum.

(14)ADVICEANDCOUNSELLING

QueenMaryhasanAdviceandCounsellingService(ACS),basedinGeographySquare,thatofferssupportforallstudentsatallstagesoftheirdegreestudies.ThefullrangeofservicesofferedbytheACSisdetailedontheirwebsite(www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk).Onthiswebsite,


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you will find a series of self-help and guidance booklets covering such diverse issues asadapting to life as a student at university through making a claim for extenuatingcircumstancestorequestinganinterruptionofstudiesorwithdrawing.

(15)SUPPORTING“THESTUDENTTRANSITION”ANDIMPROVINGYOURPREPARATIONFORPOSTGRADUATESTUDYAND/OREMPLOYMENT

Alongsidestudyingcompulsoryandelectivemodulescoveringarangeofbiologicaland/orgenetictopics,therewillalsobeopportunitiesforyourpersonalgrowthandtodevelop‘graduateattributes’alongsideyourBScdegree.TosupportyourtransitionintoandthroughHigherEducation,colleaguesinSBBSSBBSSBBShavedevisedonlinematerialsandexercisesinthePersonal&ProfessionalDevelopment(PPD)pagesofQMPlusat:

• https://qmplus.qmul.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6200• https://qmplus.qmul.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6201.

(16)CHANGEOFPROGRAMME

Duetothecommoncontentofthefirstyearmodules,upuntiltheendofYear1(01August2021),youcanrequestaChangeofProgramme(CoP)betweenBiology,Genetics&Zoology.(ShouldyouwishtorequestsachangefromBiology,GeneticsorZoologyontoC431MedicalGeneticsorfromMedicalGeneticsontoBiology,GeneticsorZoology,yourrequestwouldhavetobereceivedby01December2020sincestudentsenrolledontheMedicalGeneticsprogrammestudydifferentmodulestostudentsreadingBiology,GeneticsorZoologyinSemesterB).

ShouldyouwishtobeconsideredforaChangeofProgramme,youwillneedtocompleteaCoPform,availablefromtheSBBSreception.BeforesigningandsubmittingyourformyoushouldmeetwithyourAcademicAdvisororarelevantProgrammeTutortodiscusstheprosandconsofswitchingprogrammes.YoushouldthenreturnthecompletedandsignedformtotheSBBSreceptiontobeconsideredand,ifpossible,approvedbyDrBrayastheDTP.Assoonasadecisionhasbeenreached,youwillbeemailedandadvisedoftheoutcomeofyourapplicationbytheSBBSSSO.

YoumayrequestasingleCoPduringyourdegree.Ineachacademicyear,therearefourdeadlinesforrequestingaCoP,thesebeing:

• 01December2020 wherethereareimplicationsfortheSemesterBmodulesrequiredonthenewprogramme;

• 01February2021 whereyouwouldlikeyourCoPtobeapprovedbeforeentrytotheexams;

• 01April2021 approvaloftheCoPwillbeconsideredattheJuneExamBoardmeeting,contingentonpassingtherequisitenumberofcredits;


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• 01August2021 approvaloftheCoPwillbeconsideredattheSeptemberExamBoardmeeting,contingentonpassingtherequisitenumberofcredits.

Approvalwillbecontingenton(a)therebeingplacesavailableontheprogrammeontowhichyouwouldliketotransfer,and(b)meetingtheadmissionscriteriaforthenewprogramme.(AlthoughtheadmissionscriteriaareidenticalforBiology,GeneticsandZoology,youmayrequirehigherAlevelgrades/anIBscoretotransferontoC431MedicalGenetics.)

(17)OPPORTUNITIESFORPOSTGRADUATESTUDYINTHESCHOOLOFBIOLOGICAL&CHEMICALSCIENCES

OncompletionofyourBScdegree,youmightwishtoembarkonapostgraduateresearchdegreetobecomeaDoctorofPhilosophy(PhD).Increasingly,competitiveapplicantsforPhDopportunitieshavenotonlyahighclasshonoursdegree(firstoruppersecondclasshonours),buttheywillalsohavecompletedapostgraduatetaughtMasterofScience(MSc)orMastersbyResearch(MRes)degree(commonlywithaMeritorDistinction).

Atthetimeofwriting,SBBSoffersseveralbiologicalMScdegreeswhichexploittheresearchexpertiseofstaffintheDepartmentsofOrganismalBiologyandofCell&MolecularBiology.IfyouwishtoknowmoreaboutanyoftheMScprogrammeslistedabove,youcancontacttheDirectorforTeaching&Learning[Postgraduate],ProfessorAndrewLeitch([email protected]).

(18)LINKSWITHEMPLOYERS,PLACEMENTOPPORTUNITIESANDTRANSFERABLESKILLS

TheBiologyandZoologydegreesprovidetheidealtrainingforgraduatesthatwantanear-medicalcareerinthelifesciences.Halfofourgraduatesfindworkorfurthertraininginthelifesciencesincludingteaching,researchorenvironmentalmonitoringandregulation,salesworkandcareersinthegrowingbiotechnologyindustry.Theremaininghalfmoveontootherjobsorfurthertrainingbuttaketransferableskillsfromascientificeducation:numeracy,computerliteracy,datahandlingandanalysis,descriptiveandcriticalwriting,familiaritywithbiotechnologyandscientificmethods.

OurGeneticsandMedicalGeneticsgraduateswillbeatthecuttingedgeofmodernbiology.SomewillchoosetoenterfrontlineresearchthroughfurthertraininginMaster'sandPhDmodules.Othersmayputtheirskillstoworkinconsulting,biomedicalpublishing,ormedicalsales.Theflourishingbiotechnologyindustry,healthcareandforensicservicesalsoofferavarietyofcareers.Finally,agooddegree,togetherwitharangeoftransferableskills,willmakeyouattractivetoawidevarietyofemployersseekingtorecruittop-classgraduates.


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programme handbook for biological science bsc …

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