1| Page PROGRAMME HANDBOOK FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES BSc DEGREE PROGRAMMES Academic Year 2018-19 ___________________________________________ (1) WELCOME & OVERVIEW Welcome to the School of Biological & Chemical Sciences (SBCS), and specifically to one of the four Biological Science degree programmes: Biology (C100), Zoology (C300), Genetics (C400) or Medical Genetics (C431). The Biology and Zoology BSc programmes (C100 & C300) aim to provide training in the biology of animals and/or plants and other forms of life in both micro-organismal and macro-organismal groups. These two biological BSc programme are the most flexible on offer within SBCS and offer the opportunity to study biology or zoology at all levels of organisation - ranging from the molecular to the cellular/organ levels, and from the organismal to the environmental levels. The programmes include training in fundamental topics and principles applicable to all biologists and zoologists, such as taxonomy, evolution, molecular genetics and the cell as a biological unit. More specialised training is available should you wish to refine your module choices - for instance by aligning your studies into more “molecular-physiological” versus “ecological-whole organism” approaches to biology/zoology. The Genetics BSc programme (C400) provides an in-depth understanding of how measurable attributes (phenotypes) arise from inherited DNA sequences. It studies the three major types of genetics (inheritance patterns, population genetics, and molecular genetics) and provides a detailed analysis of how each of these impact on our understanding of evolution in a wide variety of organisms with an introduction to key principles of protein structure and function, the chemical sciences, cell biology, genetics and microbiology. Emphasis is given to molecular concepts of complex biological systems. The rationale for the Medical Genetics BSc programme (C431) is to provide training for students with an interest in medically orientated genetics. Genetics is at the heart of research into human diseases, because of its direct role in disease and because of the instruments used to study disease. Understanding in this area unifies areas across biology from genetics, molecular biology, physiology, statistics, biochemistry and population genetics, enabling transfer of knowledge between fields. This programme has been designed to enable you to find the value and importance of fundamental, yet targeted research in medicine.
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PROGRAMMEHANDBOOKFOR
BIOLOGICALSCIENCESBScDEGREEPROGRAMMES
AcademicYear2018-19
___________________________________________
(1)WELCOME&OVERVIEW
WelcometotheSchoolofBiological&ChemicalSciences(SBCS),andspecificallytooneofthefourBiologicalSciencedegreeprogrammes:Biology(C100),Zoology(C300),Genetics(C400)orMedicalGenetics(C431).
TheBiologyandZoologyBScprogrammes(C100&C300)aimtoprovidetraininginthebiologyofanimalsand/orplantsandotherformsoflifeinbothmicro-organismalandmacro-organismalgroups.ThesetwobiologicalBScprogrammearethemostflexibleonofferwithinSBCSandoffertheopportunitytostudybiologyorzoologyatalllevelsoforganisation-rangingfromthemoleculartothecellular/organlevels,andfromtheorganismaltotheenvironmentallevels.Theprogrammesincludetraininginfundamentaltopicsandprinciplesapplicabletoallbiologistsandzoologists,suchastaxonomy,evolution,moleculargeneticsandthecellasabiologicalunit.Morespecialisedtrainingisavailableshouldyouwishtorefineyourmodulechoices-forinstancebyaligningyourstudiesintomore“molecular-physiological”versus“ecological-wholeorganism”approachestobiology/zoology.
TheGeneticsBScprogramme(C400)providesanin-depthunderstandingofhowmeasurableattributes(phenotypes)arisefrominheritedDNAsequences.Itstudiesthethreemajortypesofgenetics(inheritancepatterns,populationgenetics,andmoleculargenetics)andprovidesadetailedanalysisofhoweachoftheseimpactonourunderstandingofevolutioninawidevarietyoforganismswithanintroductiontokeyprinciplesofproteinstructureandfunction,thechemicalsciences,cellbiology,geneticsandmicrobiology.Emphasisisgiventomolecularconceptsofcomplexbiologicalsystems.
TherationalefortheMedicalGeneticsBScprogramme(C431)istoprovidetrainingforstudentswithaninterestinmedicallyorientatedgenetics.Geneticsisattheheartofresearchintohumandiseases,becauseofitsdirectroleindiseaseandbecauseoftheinstrumentsusedtostudydisease.Understandinginthisareaunifiesareasacrossbiologyfromgenetics,molecularbiology,physiology,statistics,biochemistryandpopulationgenetics,enablingtransferofknowledgebetweenfields.Thisprogrammehasbeendesignedtoenableyoutofindthevalueandimportanceoffundamental,yettargetedresearchinmedicine.
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Eachofthefourbiologicalscienceprogrammesprepareyouforfurtherstudyatthepostgraduatelevel(MScandPhD)andcareersthatrequireknowledgeofbiology,zoology,geneticsormedicalgenetics,asappropriate.
Duetothecommoncontentofthefirstyearmodules,upuntiltheendofYear1,youcanrequestaChangeofProgramme(CoP)betweenBiology,GeneticsandZoology(seeSection14).(ShouldyouwishtorequestachangefromanyoftheseprogrammesontoMedicalGenetics,yourrequestwouldhavetobereceivedby01December2018sincestudentsenrolledontheMedicalGeneticsBScstudydifferentmodulesinSemesterB).Becauseoftheoptiontoswitchbetweenbiologicalsciencesforyoursecondandthirdyearsofstudy,thishandbookdetailseachofthebiologicalsciencedegreeprogrammes.
Inclosing,canIreiteratemywelcometoQMUL,toSBCS,andspecificallytooneofthefourbiologicalsciencedegreeprogrammes.Ihopethatyoufindthisprogrammehandbookusefulandthat,overthenext3years,youfindyourundergraduatedegreetobeasenjoyableasitiseducational.IhopethatyouwillmakethemostoftheopportunitiesforpersonalandprofessionaldevelopmentofferedbythewiderangeofcompulsoryandelectivemodulesthateachbuildonthebreadthofexpertiseofferedbyacademiccolleaguesintheDepartmentsofOrganismalBiologyandofCell&MolecularBiology,aswellasbycolleaguesfromBart’s&theLondonSchoolofMedicine&Dentistry.Allofthestaffinvolvedinyourdegreewishyougoodluckwithyourstudiesandlookforwardtosupportingyourpersonalandcareeraspirationsoverthecourseofyourdegreeand,beyondthat,whenyougraduateandbecomeanalumnusofQMUL.
DrDaveHoneSeniorLecturerinZoology,DirectorofTeachingandLearning[BiologicalSciences]September2018
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(2)KEYNAMES/CONTACTS
ROLE NAME EMAILADDRESS
DirectorofTeaching&Learning(DTL)[BiologicalSciences]
DrDaveHone [email protected]
ProgrammeDirectors:
C100Biology
C300Zoology
C400Genetics
C431MedicalGenetics
DrDaveHone
DrDaveHone
DrDaveHone
DrJayneDennis
ProgrammeTutors:
Allprogrammes
DrJayneDennis
&DrChrisFaulkes
StudentSupportOfficer MsMaggieLowe [email protected]
DirectorofTaughtProgrammes(DTP) DrChrisBray [email protected]
(3)PROGRAMMEAIMS
Becauseofthecommonmodulesandtheoptiontotransferbetweenbiologicalprogrammes,theprogrammeaimsforallfourbiologicalsciencedegreesarebroadlysimilarwithrelativelysubtledifferences.Inadditiontothespecificprogrammeaimspresentedbydegreeprogrammeoverthepage,allfourprogrammesaimto:
• Providearational,flexiblystructuredandcoherentprogrammeofstudywhichisrelevanttotheneedsofemployers,facilitatesyourprofessionaldevelopmentandlaysthefoundationsforasuccessfulcareerwhichistothebenefitoftheeconomyandsociety;
• Provideasoundknowledgebaseinthefieldsstudiedanddevelopkeytransferableskillsintheareasofcommunication,numeracy,informationtechnology,workingwithothers,problemsolving,timeandtaskmanagement;
• Fosterthedevelopmentofanenquiring,open-mindedandcreativeattitude,temperedwithscientificdisciplineandsocialawareness,whichencourageslifelonglearning.
(3.1)BIOLOGY(C100)
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TheBiologyBScprogrammeaimstoprovidestudentswithanunderstandingofthelivingworldacrossawiderangeoflevelsofbiologicalorganisation,frommoleculestoecosystems.Inlateryears,youwillbeabletochoosetospecialiseinparticularfieldswithinbiologyortotakeamoreintegratedapproachtoyourdegreebycoveringabroadrangeofmodules(subjecttotimetablingconstraints).Youwillreceiveinstructioninkeybiologicalconcepts,thetheoriesthatunderpintheseconceptsandtheapplicationsofbiologicalknowledgetoimportantproblemsfacingtheworldtoday(e.g.,emerginghumandiseasesandclimatechange).Inadditiontodevelopingkeybiologicalskills,youwillalsodevelopessentialtransferableskillsthatwillfurtherstrengthenyourfuturecareerprospects.
(3.2)GENETICS(C400)
TheGeneticsBScprogrammeaimstoprovideageneralfoundationinbiologicalscienceswithasignificantandbalancedinputofgeneticstraining.Compulsorymoduleswilldirectyoutowardsunderstandingofgeneticsincellbiologyanddevelopment,evolutionaryprocesses,speciationandgenomics.Itwillalsoprovideanenvironmenttodeveloptransferableskillsinpublicspeaking,verbalreasoning,reportwritinganddatabasemining.
(3.3)MEDICALGENETICS(C431)
TheMedicalGeneticsBScprogrammeaimstoprovideageneralfoundationinbiologicalscienceswithasignificantandbalancedinputofmedicalgeneticstraining.Compulsorymoduleswilldirectyoutowardsthegeneticsandecologyofhumandisease.Toprovideanenvironmenttodeveloptransferableskillsinpublicspeaking,verbalreasoning,reportwritinganddatabasemining.
(3.4)ZOOLOGY(C300)
TheZoologyBScprogrammeaimstoprovidestudentswithanunderstandingofthephylogeny,morphology,physiology,behaviourandecologyofanimals,exploitingthespecialistexpertiseofSBCSstaffwhostudymammals,birds,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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(4.2)GENETICS(C400)Ac
adem
icCon
tent OnsuccessfulcompletionofyourBScprogramme,youwillhavestudied:
1. Keyconceptsingenetics,developmentandevolution.2. Evolutionarytheoryandhowthisisappliedtothespeciation,biosystematicsand
development.3. Howanunderstandingofevolutioncanbederivedfromstudiesofinteraction
betweenpopulations,speciesandcommunities.4. Understandingofevolutionarygeneticsfromthemolecularperspective,derived
fromthedisciplinesofclassical,chromosomal,populationandmoleculargenetics.
Disciplin
arySkills
OnsuccessfulcompletionofyourBScprogramme,youwillbeableto:1. Reasoncritically.2. Identifyandformulateproblems.3. Applybiologicalandgeneticsknowledgeandprinciples,incombinationwith
problem-solvingskills,inawiderangeoftheoreticalandpracticalsituations.4. Useadvancedtheoriesandconceptstoexplain/rationalizephenomenaingenetics,
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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(4.3)MEDICALGENETICS(C431)Ac
adem
icCon
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
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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(4.4)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
toolsandpackages.8. Analyseandevaluate/interprettheresultsofcontrolledexperiments.9. Retrieve,filterandcollatebiologicaldatafromavarietyofinformationsources.10. Preparescientific/technicalreports.11. 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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(5)HOWWILLYOULEARN?
Youwillacquireknowledgeanddevelopyourunderstandingmainlythroughlecturesanddirectedindependentstudy(seeSection6).Yourunderstandingwillbereinforcedthroughacombinationoftutorialworkshops,problemclassesandlaboratoryclasses(dependinguponthemoduleswhichyoustudy),includingregularfeedbackonsubmittedwork.AdditionallearningsupportisprovidedthroughQueenMary'sonlinelearningenvironment,QMplus,andthefacilitiesoftheQMULStudentPCService.
Eachpracticalclassislikelytoberepeatedtwoormoretimesinthesameweek.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/extendandapplynewknowledgeinordertodevelopthedepthofunderstandingrequiredifyouaretoberecommendedforfirstoruppersecondclasshonours.
(7)HOWWILLYOUBEASSESSED?
Foreachmodulethatcomprisesyourbiologicalsciencedegree,yourknowledgeandunderstandingwillgenerallybetestedthroughacombinationofassessedcourseworkand
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unseenwrittenexaminations.Forthemajorityofmodules,thecourseworktoexamweightingwillbeasfollows:
Coursework ExamYear1 25% 75%Year2 25% 75%Year3 20% 80%
Forsomemodules(e.g.field-basedmodules),ahigherproportionofmarkswillbederivedfromthecoursework,andinextremecases(e.g.thefinalyearresearchprojects),themodulewillbeassessedbycourseworkonlywithnowrittenexam.(PleasecheckthemoduledetailsonQMPlustoconfirmtheexactcoursework:examweightingforeachmodule.)
Theexactnatureofthecourseworkvariesfrommoduletomoduleandmayincludeworkintheformoflaboratoryexperimentwrite-ups,essaysand/orproblemsheets.Thecourseworkmarkmayalsoincludeacontributionfromcomputer-basedassessmentsandin-coursetests.Specificmodules(iftaken)includeassessedoralexaminations,oralpresentationsandextendedreports/dissertations.
Theweightingofmarksavailableforagivencomponentshouldbereflectedintheamountoftimethatyouwillneedtocommittoworkingoneachelement.Forexample,where25%ofthemodulemarksareavailableforcoursework,youshouldexpecttodevote25%of150hours(i.e.approximately37hours)tocompletingthecourseworkelementstothebestofyourability.Theremaining75%of150hours(i.e.approximately113hours)shouldbedevotedtoattendinglectures/tutorialsandindependentstudytoensureyouunderstandthemodulecontentwellenoughtoachieveahighgradeinthemoduleexam.Thedefaultexamdurationsandstructuresalsodifferbetweenyears,asfollows:
Defaultexamduration
Numberofsections
SectionA SectionB SectionC
Year1 1.5hours 2 MultipleChoice
Questions
(50%ofmark)
ShortAnswerQuestions(choiceof1from2)
(50%ofmark)
N/A
Year2 2.5hours 3 MultipleChoice
Questions
(30%ofmark)
ShortAnswerQuestions(choiceof1from2)
(30%ofmark)
Essay(choiceof1from3)
(40%ofmark)
Year3 3hours 3 MultipleChoice
Questions
(34%ofmark)
Essay(choiceof1from3)
(33%ofmark)
Essay(choiceof1from3)
(33%ofmark)
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ToprogressbeyondYear1ofeachBSc,youmustpassatleast6modulesx15credits(i.e.90creditsintotal).ToprogressbeyondYear2,youmustpassatleast195creditscumulativelyfromYear1and2modules.TograduatewithaBScdegree,youmustpassatleast315creditsacrossyour3yearBScdegree.(Analternativewayofconsideringthesecriteriaisthatyoucanfailnomorethan3x15creditmodulesacross3years.)
(8)HOWARETHEPROGRAMMESSTRUCTURED?
Intheprogrammeoutlinesprovidedonthefollowingpages,compulsorymodulesaredenotedinstandardtextwhereaselectivemodulesaredenotedinitalicisedtext.Ineachacademicyear,anymodulesindicatedbythepostscript“F”(i.e.thecompulsoryYear1moduleBIO123andtheelectiveYear2and3modulesBIO291,BIO293,BIO391andBIO395)entailresidentialfieldtripsofbetween4consecutivenightsand2weeksinduration.
Thecreditvalueofeachmoduleisdenotedinparentheses.Ineachacademicyear,youmuststudy120credits(suchthatyoustudyatotalof360creditsoverthecourseofyour3yearBSc).Itisstronglyrecommendedthatwhereelectivemodulesareavailable,youshouldselectatotalof60creditstostudyinSemesterAandatotalof60creditsinSemesterB.(IfyouwishtostudymorecreditsinoneorotherSemester,youshoulddiscussthiswithyourAcademicAdvisorandthenwiththeDirectorofTeachingandLearningforBiologicalSciences,DrHone,beforemakingyourpre-selection.Youmaynotenrolformorethan75creditsinanygivensemester).
Toassistyourchoiceofelectivesmostappropriatetoyourinterestsandcareeraspirations,wewantyoutohaveeveryopportunitytoresearchtheelectivemodulesavailabletoyoupriortomodulepre-selection(whichhappensinthemonthofMay).WewillprovideyouwithpublishedinformationthatoutlinethemodulecontentandinSemesterB,wewillalsoorganisea“ModuleElectiveFair”atwhichyoucanmeetwithModuleOrganisersandseniorstudentswhohavestudiedeachmoduletoaskanyquestionsaboutelectivemodulesthatyoumightwishtotakeinthenextacademicyear.
Pleasenotethatsomeelectivemoduleshavetooperatecapsonthemaximumnumberofstudentsthatthemodulecanaccommodate,e.g.field-basedmoduleswhereafinitenumberofstudentscanbeaccommodatedinthefieldstation.Inthiscase,acceptanceontoamodulewithcappednumbersmaybecontingentonyouracademicperformancepriortothepointofmoduleselection(typicallyyourYear1academicperformance).
Themoduleslistedintheprogrammeoutlineswhichfollowareindicativeonly.Everyeffortwillbemadetorunallofthemodulesadvertisedinthesedegreeprogrammeoutlines.However,toofferyouthebesteducationalexperiencewhileatQMUL,inanyoneyear,amoduleadvertisedonthefollowingpagesmaynotbeofferedif:
(a) thenumbersofstudentseligibletoselectaparticularmodule(eithertoomanyortoofew)wouldprovideyouwithacompromisedstudentexperience;
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(b) academicstaffwiththerequisiteexperienceareunavailabletoteachamodule(e.g.throughillhealth,injuryorretirement)
Likewise,dependentonstaffavailabilityandappropriatequalityassurance,wemaybeabletoaddnewmodulestosubsequentyearsofyourdegreeprogrammeandimproveevenfurtheryourchoiceofelectivemodules.
(8.1)BIOLOGY(C100)
SEMESTERA SEMESTERB
Year1
BIO100EssentialSkillsforBiologists(10)BIO111CellBiology(15)BIO113Evolution(15)BIO163MolecularGenetics(15)BIO190PracticalMolecular& CellularBiology(10)
BIO100EssentialSkillsforBiologists(10)BIO123Ecology(15)FBIO125Physiology(15)BIO161BasicBiochemistry(15)BIO192PracticalBiology(10)
Year2
BIO211Animal&PlantDiversity(15)BIO213CellBiology&DevelopmentalGenetics(15)BIO215Comparative&IntegrativePhysiology(15)BIO221EvolutionaryGenetics(15)BIO223Genes&Bioinformatics(15)BIO269TechniquesforBiological&ChemicalSciences(15)BIO291Marine&AnimalDiversity(15)F*
BIO209ResearchMethods&CommunicationI(15)
BIO231MicrobialPhysiology&Growth(15)BIO241TransmissionGenetics(15)BIO263Membrane&CellularBiochemistry(15)BIO265MetabolicPathways(15)BIO293EcologicalInteractions(15)F
Year3
BIO309ResearchMethods&CommunicationII(15)
BIO311BehaviouralEcology(15)BIO321Ecological&EvolutionaryGenomics(15)BIO323HumanGenetics&Genomics(15)BIO325Population&ChromosomeGenetics(15)BIO391TropicalEcology&Conservation(15)F*BIO395Species&TheirRelationships:DinosaurstoDNA(15)F*
BIO327FunctionalGenomics&Epigenetics(15)BIO331Mammals&Evolution(15)BIO333Neuroscience:FromMoleculestoBehaviour(15)BIO335Parasites&InfectiousDiseases(15)BIO337Reproductive&DevelopmentalBiology(15)BIO341EnvironmentalMicrobiology(15)BIO343ClimateChange&ConservationChallenges(15)
BIO600BiologicalSciencesResearchProject(30)ORBIO603ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences(30)
*Field-basedmodulewhichrunsinAugust/SeptemberpriortothestartofSemesterA.Year1:AllYear1modulesarecompulsorytoensurethatallstudentsonthedegreeprogrammehavetherequisiteunderstandingtopreparethemforYears2and3ofthedegreeprogramme.NotethatBIO100runsoverSemesterAandBandisworth10creditsintotal,not10ineachsemester.
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Year2:Thereisonly1compulsory,15creditYear2module:BIO209(ResearchMethodsandCommunicationI).YouwillalsoberequiredtoatakeoneoftheselectedavailableQMModelmodulesof15creditsinvalue.
Thiswillleaveyouwithachoiceof6electivemodules(105credits)from12potentialelectives.Whileyoucanselectvariouscombinationsfromtheelectivemoduleslistedonthepreviouspage,thefollowingcombinationsofYear2modulesarerecommendedifyouhaveaninterestinaspecificaspectofbiology:
AspectofBiology SemesterA SemesterB
Cellular&molecularbiology BIO213,BIO269 BIO209,BIO231,BIO263,BIO265
Wholeorganismbiology BIO211,BIO215 BIO209,BIO231
Ecology/ecosystems BIO211,BIO291 BIO209,BIO293
Genes/evolution BIO213,BIO221,BIO223 BIO209,BIO241
Year3:Thereisonly1compulsory,15creditYear3module:BIO309(ResearchMethodsandCommunicationII).Inaddition,youmustselectoneofthetwo30creditmodules:eitherBIO600(BiologicalSciencesResearchProject)orBIO603(ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences).Inordertohaveafreechoicebetweenthesetwo30creditoptions,youwillneedtoperformwellinYear1ofyourdegree,typicallyscoringinexcessof65%(ifnot70%)ineachofyourYear1modules.Ifyouarenotabovethe70thcentileforYear1averagemarks,youwillhavetostudyBIO603inYear3.Thisleavesyouwithachoiceof5electivemodules(75credits)from13potentialelectives.Whileyoucanselectvariouscombinationsfromthemoduleslistedabove,thefollowingcombinationsofYear3modulesarerecommendedifyouhaveaninterestinaspecificaspectofbiology:
AspectofBiology SemesterA SemesterB
Cellular&molecularbiology BIO309,
BIO600orBIO603
BIO327,BIO333,BIO335,
BIO341
Wholeorganismbiology BIO309,BIO311,BIO391,
BIO600orBIO603
BIO331,BIO333,BIO335,
BIO337,BIO341
Ecology/ecosystems BIO309,BIO311,BIO391,
BIO600orBIO603
BIO327,BIO331,
BIO341,BIO343
Genes/evolution BIO309,BIO321,BIO323,BIO325,
BIO395,BIO600orBIO603
BIO327,BIO331,BIO343
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(8.2)GENETICS(C400)
SEMESTERA SEMESTERBYe
ar1
BIO100EssentialSkillsforBiologists(10)BIO111CellBiology(15)BIO113Evolution(15)BIO163MolecularGenetics(15)BIO190PracticalMolecular& CellularBiology(15)
BIO100EssentialSkillsforBiologists(10)BIO123Ecology(15)FBIO125Physiology(15)BIO161BasicBiochemistry(15)BIO192PracticalBiology(15)
Year2
BIO221EvolutionaryGenetics(15)BIO223Genes&Bioinformatics(15)
BIO211Animal&PlantDiversity(15)BIO213CellBiology&DevelopmentalGenetics(15)BIO215Comparative&IntegrativePhysiology(15)BIO227HumanGeneticDisorders(15)BIO291Marine&AnimalDiversity(15)F*
BIO209ResearchMethods&CommunicationI(15)BIO241TransmissionGenetics(15)
BIO231MicrobialPhysiology&Growth(15)BIO263Membrane&CellularBiochemistry(15)BIO265MetabolicPathways(15)BIO293EcologicalInteractions(15)F
Year3
BIO309ResearchMethods&CommunicationII(15)BIO325Population&ChromosomeGenetics(15)
BIO311BehaviouralEcology(15)BIO321Ecological&EvolutionaryGenomics(15)BIO323HumanGenetics&Genomics(15)BIO361MembraneProteins(15)BIO391TropicalEcology&Conservation(15)F*BIO395Species&TheirRelationships:DinosaurstoDNA(15)F*
BIO327FunctionalGenomics&Epigenetics(15)
BIO331Mammals&Evolution(15)BIO333Neuroscience:FromMoleculestoBehaviour(15)BIO335Parasites&InfectiousDiseases(15)BIO337Reproductive&DevelopmentalBiology(15)BIO341EnvironmentalMicrobiology(15)BIO365EnzymeCatalysis(15)
BIO600BiologicalSciencesResearchProject(30)ORBIO603ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences(30)
*Field-basedmodulewhichrunsinAugust/SeptemberpriortothestartofSemesterA.
Year1:AllYear1modulesarecompulsorytoensurethatallstudentsonthedegreeprogrammehavetherequisiteunderstandingtopreparethemforYears2and3ofthedegreeprogramme.NotethatBIO100runsoverSemesterAandBandisworth10creditsintotal,not10ineachsemester.
Year2:Thereare4compulsory,15creditYear2modules:BIO209(ResearchMethodsandCommunication I),BIO221 (Evolutionary Genetics),BIO223 (Genes & Bioinformatics) andBIO241 (TransmissionGenetics). Youwill also be required to a take one of the selectedavailableQMModelmodulesof15credits invalue.Thiswill leaveyouwithachoiceof3elective modules (60 credits) from 9 potential electives. While you can select variouscombinationsfromthemoduleslistedabove,thefollowingcombinationsofYear2modulesarerecommendedifyouhaveaninterestinaspecificaspectofgenetics:
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Year3:Thereare3compulsory,15creditYear3modules:BIO309(ResearchMethodsandCommunicationII),BIO325(Population&ChromosomeGenetics)andBIO327(FunctionalGenomics&Epigenetics).Inaddition,youmustselectoneofthetwo30creditmodules:eitherBIO600(BiologicalSciencesResearchProject)orBIO603(ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences).Inordertohaveafreechoicebetweenthesetwo30creditoptions,youwillneedtoperformwellinYear1ofyourdegree,typicallyscoringinexcessof65%(ifnot70%)ineachofyourYear1modules.Ifyouarenotabovethe70thcentileforYear1averagemarks,youwillhavetostudyBIO603inYear3.Thisleavesyouwithachoiceof3electivemodules(45credits)from12potentialelectives.Whileyoucanselectvariouscombinationsfromthemoduleslistedabove,thefollowingmodulecombinationsarerecommendedifyouhaveaninterestinaspecificaspectofgenetics:
AspectofGenetics SemesterA SemesterB
Cellular&molecularbiology BIO309,BIO361,
BIO600orBIO603
BIO327,BIO333,BIO335,BIO341,BIO365
Wholeorganismbiology BIO309,BIO311,BIO391,
BIO600orBIO603
BIO331,BIO333,BIO335,BIO337,BIO341
Ecology/ecosystems BIO309,BIO311,BIO391,
BIO600orBIO603
BIO327,BIO331,BIO341
Genes/evolution BIO309,BIO321,BIO323,BIO325,BIO395,
BIO600orBIO603
BIO327,BIO331
AspectofGenetics SemesterA SemesterB
Cellular&molecularbiology BIO213,BIO269 BIO209,BIO231,BIO263,BIO265
Wholeorganismbiology BIO211,BIO215 BIO209,BIO231
Ecology/ecosystems BIO211,BIO291 BIO209,BIO293
Genes/evolution BIO213,BIO221,BIO223 BIO209,BIO241
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(8.3)MEDICALGENETICS(C431)
SEMESTERA SEMESTERBYe
ar1
BIO100EssentialSkillsforBiologists(10)BIO111CellBiology(15)BIO113Evolution(15)BIO163MolecularGenetics(15)BIO191PracticalMolecular& CellularBiology(15)
BIO100EssentialSkillsforBiologists(10)BIO123Ecology(15)FBIO125Physiology(15)BIO161BasicBiochemistry(15)BIO193PracticalBiology(15)
Year2
BIO221EvolutionaryGenetics(15)BIO227HumanGeneticDisorders(15)
BIO213CellBiology&DevelopmentalGenetics(15)BIO215Comparative&IntegrativePhysiology(15)BMD211HumanMolecularBiology(15)
BIO209ResearchMethods&CommunicationI(15)BIO241TransmissionGenetics(15)
BIO231MicrobialPhysiology&Growth(15)BIO265MetabolicPathways(15)BMD251BasicImmunology(15)
Year3
BIO309ResearchMethods&CommunicationII(15)BIO323HumanGenetics&Genomics(15)BIO325Population&ChromosomeGenetics(15)
BIO361MembraneProteins(15)BIO363MolecularBasisofDisease(15)BMD311EndocrinePhysiology&Biochemistry(15)
BIO327FunctionalGenomics&Epigenetics(15)
BIO333Neuroscience:FromMoleculestoBehaviour(15)BIO335Parasites&InfectiousDiseases(15)BIO337Reproductive&DevelopmentalBiology(15)BMD351AdvancedImmunology(15)BMD381CancerBiology(15)BMD383MolecularBasisofPersonalisedMedicine(15)
BIO600BiologicalSciencesResearchProject(30)ORBIO603ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences(30)
*Field-basedmodulewhichrunsinAugust/SeptemberpriortothestartofSemesterA.
Year1:AllYear1modulesarecompulsorytoensurethatallstudentsonthedegreeprogrammehavetherequisiteunderstandingtopreparethemforYears2and3ofthedegreeprogramme.NotethatBIO100runsoverSemesterAandBandisworth10creditsintotal,not10ineachsemester.
Year2:Thereare4compulsory,15creditYear2modules:BIO209(ResearchMethodsandCommunicationI),BIO221(EvolutionaryGenetics),BIO227(HumanGeneticsDisorders)andBIO241 (Transmission Genetics). You will also be required to a take one of the selectedavailableQMModelmodulesof15credits invalue.Thiswill leaveyouwithachoiceof3elective modules (60 credits) from 6 potential electives. (There are no specific,recommendedmodulesforYear2ontheMedicalGeneticsdegree;all6potentialelectivesareequallyrelevant.)
Year3:Thereare4compulsory,15creditYear3modules:BIO309(ResearchMethodsandCommunicationII),BIO323(HumanGenetics&Genomics),BIO325(Population&ChromosomeGenetics)andBIO327(FunctionalGenomics&Epigenetics).Inaddition,you
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mustselectoneofthetwo30creditmodules:eitherBIO600(BiologicalSciencesResearchProject)orBIO603(ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences).Inordertohaveafreechoicebetweenthesetwo30creditoptions,youwillneedtoperformwellinYear1ofyourdegree,typicallyscoringinexcessof65%(ifnot70%)ineachofyourYear1modules.Ifyouarenotabovethe70thcentileforYear1averagemarks,youwillhavetostudyBIO603inYear3.Thisleavesyouwithachoiceof2electivemodules(30credits)from9potentialelectives.Oftheelectivemoduleslistedonthepreviouspage,thetwowiththemostdirectrelevancetomedical(human)geneticsareBIO363andBMD383.
(8.4)ZOOLOGY(C300)
SEMESTERA SEMESTERB
Year1
BIO100EssentialSkillsforBiologists(10)BIO111CellBiology(15)BIO113Evolution(15)BIO163MolecularGenetics(15)BIO191PracticalMolecular& CellularBiology(15)
BIO100EssentialSkillsforBiologists(10)BIO123Ecology(15)FBIO125Physiology(15)BIO161BasicBiochemistry(15)BIO193PracticalBiology(15)
Year2
BIO211Animal&PlantDiversity(15)BIO215Comparative&IntegrativePhysiology(15)
BIO213CellBiology&DevelopmentalGenetics(15)BIO221EvolutionaryGenetics(15)BIO223Genes&Bioinformatics(15)BIO291Marine&AnimalDiversity(15)F*
BIO209ResearchMethods&CommunicationI(15)
BIO231MicrobialPhysiology&Growth(15)BIO241TransmissionGenetics(15)BIO293EcologicalInteractions(15)F
Year3
BIO309ResearchMethods&CommunicationII(15)
BIO311BehaviouralEcology(15)BIO321Ecological&EvolutionaryGenomics(15)BIO323HumanGenetics&Genomics(15)BIO325Population&ChromosomeGenetics(15)BIO391TropicalEcology&Conservation(15)F*BIO395Species&TheirRelationships:DinosaurstoDNA(15)F*PSY315AnimalBehaviour&Cognition(15)
BIO327FunctionalGenomics&Epigenetics(15)BIO331Mammals&Evolution(15)BIO333Neuroscience:FromMoleculestoBehaviour(15)BIO335Parasites&InfectiousDiseases(15)BIO337Reproductive&DevelopmentalBiology(15)BIO341EnvironmentalMicrobiology(15)BIO343ClimateChange&ConservationChallenges(15)
BIO600BiologicalSciencesResearchProject(30)ORBIO603ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences(30)
*Field-basedmodulewhichrunsinAugust/SeptemberpriortothestartofSemesterA.
Year1:AllYear1modulesarecompulsorytoensurethatallstudentsonthedegreeprogrammehavetherequisiteunderstandingtopreparethemforYears2and3ofthedegreeprogramme.NotethatBIO100runsoverSemesterAandBandisworth10creditsintotal,not10ineachsemester.
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Year2:Thereare3compulsory,15creditYear2modules:BIO209(ResearchMethodsandCommunication I), BIO211 (Animal & Plant Diversity) and BIO215 (Comparative &IntegrativePhysiology).YouwillalsoberequiredtoatakeoneoftheselectedavailableQMModelmodulesof15creditsinvalue.Thiswillleaveyouwithachoiceof4electivemodules(75credits)from7potentialelectives.Whileyoucanselectvariouscombinationsfromthemodules listedabove, the followingcombinationsofYear2modulesarerecommended ifyouhaveaninterestinaspecificaspectofzoology:
AspectofZoology SemesterA SemesterB
Cellular&molecularbiology BIO213 BIO209,BIO231
Wholeorganismbiology BIO211,BIO215 BIO209,BIO231
Ecology/ecosystems BIO211,BIO291 BIO209,BIO293
Genes/evolution BIO213,BIO221,BIO223 BIO209,BIO241
Year3:Thereisonly1compulsory,15creditYear3module:BIO309(ResearchMethodsandCommunicationII).Inaddition,youmustselectoneofthetwo30creditmodules:eitherBIO600(BiologicalSciencesResearchProject)orBIO603(ProjectSkillsintheLifeSciences).Inordertohaveafreechoicebetweenthesetwo30creditoptions,youwillneedtoperformwellinYear1ofyourdegree,typicallyscoringinexcessof65%(ifnot70%)ineachofyourYear1modules.Ifyouarenotabovethe70thcentileforYear1averagemarks,youwillhavetostudyBIO603inYear3.Thisleavesyouwithachoiceof5electivemodules(75credits)from14potentialelectives.Whileyoucanselectvariouscombinationsfromthemoduleslistedonthepreviouspage,thefollowingcombinationsofYear3modulesarerecommendedifyouhaveaninterestinaspecificaspectofzoology:
AspectofZoology SemesterA SemesterB
Cellular&molecularbiology BIO309,
BIO600orBIO603
BIO327,BIO333,BIO335,BIO341
Wholeorganismbiology BIO309,BIO311,BIO391,PSY315,
BIO600orBIO603
BIO331,BIO333,BIO335,BIO337,BIO341
Ecology/ecosystems BIO309,BIO311,BIO391,
BIO600orBIO603
BIO327,BIO331,BIO341,BIO343
Genes/evolution BIO309,BIO321,BIO323,BIO325,BIO395,
BIO600orBIO603
BIO327,BIO331,BIO343
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(9)HOWDOWELISTENANDACTONYOURFEEDBACK?
YouarestronglyencouragedtoprovideinformalfeedbacktoModuleOrganisersand/ortotherelevantProgrammeDirectorwhereyoucanseeawaythatyourteachingcouldbesignificantlyimprovedoryouhavecauseforcomplaint.IfyoufeeluncomfortableapproachingaModuleOrganiserand/orProgrammeDirector,youcanalsomakeanysuggestions/raiseanyconcernsbyemailto:sbcs-studentvoice@qmul.ac.uk.Thisemailaddressismonitoreddailybyseveralcolleaguessoyoucanreasonablyexpectaresponsewithin3workingdaysifyouusethe“studentvoice”emailaccount.
TheStudent-StaffLiaisonCommittee(SSLC),ChairedbytheDirectorforStudentExperience,DrDennis,providesaformalmeansofcommunicationanddiscussionbetweentheSchoolanditsstudents.ThecommitteeconsistsofelectedstudentrepresentativesfromeachyearintheSchool,togetherwithappropriaterepresentationfromstaffwithintheSchool.SSLCisdesignedtorespondtotheneedsofstudents,aswellasactasaforumfordiscussingprogrammeandmoduledevelopments.TheSSLCmeetsregularlythroughouttheyear.
TheTeaching&LearningCommittee(TLC)advisestheSchool'sDirectorofTaughtProgrammes(DTP),DrMichael,onallmattersrelatingtothedeliveryoftaughtprogrammesatschoollevel,includingmonitoringtheapplicationofrelevantQMpoliciesandreviewingproposalsformoduleandprogrammeapprovalandamendmentbeforesubmissiontoTaughtProgrammesBoard(TPB).Studentviewsareincorporatedinthecommittee’sworkinanumberofways,suchasthroughconsiderationofstudentsurveysandinputfromtheSSLC.
Allschools/institutesoperateanAnnualProgrammeReview(APR)oftheirtaughtundergraduateandpostgraduateprovision.APRisacontinuousprocessofreflectionandactionplanningwhichisownedbythoseresponsibleforprogrammedelivery;themaindocumentofreferenceforthisprocessistheTaughtProgrammesActionPlan(TPAP)whichisthesummaryoftheschool/institute'sworkthroughouttheyeartomonitoracademicstandardsandtoimprovethestudentexperience.Students’viewsareconsideredinthisprocessthroughanalysisoftheNationalStudentSurvey(NSS),QueenMaryStudentSurvey(QMSS)andmoduleevaluations.
(10)ACADEMICSUPPORT
Youwillbeprovidedwithapersonaltutor,referredtoasanAcademicAdvisor,whowillserveasyourmainpointofcontactforadviceregardingacademicmattersandforassistancewithpastoralconcerns,throughoutyourwholeprogramme.SBCSnolongeroperatesthesystemof“officehours”sincealladviseesmayhaveverydifferentpatternsofavailabilitydependentontheirchoiceofelectivemodules.InsteadyoucanscheduleanappointmenttomeetwithyourAdvisorviaemail.Moreover,ifandwhenyourAdvisoris
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unavailableorcannothelpwithaspecificproblem,theSchoolhasseveralexperiencedProgrammeTutorsandaStudentSupportOfficerplusStudentSupportAssistantwhocanaddressanyconcernsthatyoumighthave.(TheDTPisalwayshappytoschedulemeetingswithindividualstudentsand/orsmallgroupsofstudents,butonlywheretheyhavenotbeenabletoresolveissueswiththeirAcademicAdvisors/ProgrammeTutorsortheStudentSupportOfficer/Assistant).
SBCSalsooperatesaPeerAssistedStudySupport(PASS)programmeforpeerguidance.
(11)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.
(12)ADVICEANDCOUNSELLING
QueenMaryhasanAdviceandCounsellingService(ACS),basedinGeographySquare,thatofferssupportforallstudentsatallstagesoftheirdegreestudies.ThefullrangeofservicesofferedbytheACSisdetailedontheirwebsite(www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk).Onthiswebsite,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.
(13)SUPPORTING“THESTUDENTTRANSITION”ANDIMPROVINGYOURPREPARATIONFORPOSTGRADUATESTUDYAND/OREMPLOYMENT
Alongsidestudyingcompulsoryandelectivemodulescoveringarangeofbiologicaland/orgenetictopics,therewillalsobeopportunitiesforyourpersonalgrowthandtodevelop‘graduateattributes’alongsideyourBScdegree.Tosupportyourtransitionintoand
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throughHigherEducation,colleaguesinSBCShavedevisedonlinematerialsandexercisesinthePersonal&ProfessionalDevelopment(PPD)pagesofQMPlusat:
• https://qmplus.qmul.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6200• https://qmplus.qmul.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6201.
Inaddition,theQMULTeaching&LearningInitiative,referredtomorecommonlyasthe“QMModel”,supportsthedevelopmentofstudents’socialcapitalandtransferableskillswithaviewtoimprovingyourpreparationforpostgraduatestudyand/oremployment.Theseobjectiveswillbeachievedthroughaseriesofmodulesineachacademicyear,designedtoidentifyandaddresswhichofyourpersonalcompetenciesandskillswhichwouldbenefitfromfurtherdevelopment.
InYear1,theobjectivesoftheQMModelwillbeaddressedthroughthetutorialelementsofthemodulesBIO190,and191or193.InYear2theQMModelmoduleswillbetaughtasdistinctandseparateentities.Thisfurtherincreasesthepersonalisationofyourdegreeprogramme(overandaboveyourabilitytoselectauniquecombinationofelectivemodulesinYears2and3ofyourdegree).InYear3theQMModelisaddressedbyattributesoftheResearchProjectorProjectSkillsmodule.
(14)CHANGEOFPROGRAMME
Duetothecommoncontentofthefirstyearmodules,upuntiltheendofYear1(01August2019),youcanrequestaChangeofProgramme(CoP)betweenBiology,Genetics&Zoology.(ShouldyouwishtorequestsachangefromBiology,GeneticsorZoologyontoC431MedicalGeneticsorfromMedicalGeneticsontoBiology,GeneticsorZoology,yourrequestwouldhavetobereceivedby01December2018sincestudentsenrolledontheMedicalGeneticsprogrammestudydifferentmodulestostudentsreadingBiology,GeneticsorZoologyinSemesterB).
ShouldyouwishtobeconsideredforaChangeofProgramme,youwillneedtocompleteaCoPform,availablefromtheSBCSreception.BeforesigningandsubmittingyourformyoushouldmeetwithyourAcademicAdvisororarelevantProgrammeTutortodiscusstheprosandconsofswitchingprogrammes.YoushouldthenreturnthecompletedandsignedformtotheSBCSreceptiontobeconsideredand,ifpossible,approvedbyDrMichaelastheDTP.Assoonasadecisionhasbeenreached,youwillbeemailedandadvisedoftheoutcomeofyourapplicationbytheSBCSSSO.
YoumayrequestasingleCoPduringyourdegree.Ineachacademicyear,therearefourdeadlinesforrequestingaCoP,thesebeing:
• 01December2018 wherethereareimplicationsfortheSemesterBmodulesrequiredonthenewprogramme;
• 01February2019 whereyouwouldlikeyourCoPtobeapprovedbeforeentrytotheexams;
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• 01April2019 approvaloftheCoPwillbeconsideredattheJuneExamBoardmeeting,contingentonpassingtherequisitenumberofcredits;
• 01August2019 approvaloftheCoPwillbeconsideredattheSeptemberExamBoardmeeting,contingentonpassingtherequisitenumberofcredits.
Approvalwillbecontingenton(a)therebeingplacesavailableontheprogrammeontowhichyouwouldliketotransfer,and(b)meetingtheadmissionscriteriaforthenewprogramme.(AlthoughtheadmissionscriteriaareidenticalforBiology,GeneticsandZoology,youmayrequirehigherAlevelgrades/anIBscoretotransferontoC431MedicalGenetics.)
(15)OPPORTUNITIESFORPOSTGRADUATESTUDYINTHESCHOOLOFBIOLOGICAL&CHEMICALSCIENCES
OncompletionofyourBScdegree,youmightwishtoembarkonapostgraduateresearchdegreetobecomeaDoctorofPhilosophy(PhD).Increasingly,competitiveapplicantsforPhDopportunitieshavenotonlyahighclasshonoursdegree(firstoruppersecondclasshonours),buttheywillalsohavecompletedapostgraduatetaughtMasterofScience(MSc)orMastersbyResearch(MRes)degree(commonlywithaMeritorDistinction).
Atthetimeofwriting,SBCSoffersthefollowingbiologicalMScdegreeswhichexploittheresearchexpertiseofstaffintheDepartmentsofOrganismalBiologyandofCell&MolecularBiology:
• MScAquaticEcologybyResearch(AER)• MScBioinformatics• MScEcologyandEvolutionaryBiology(EEB)• MScEcologyandEvolutionaryGenomics(EEG)• MScFreshwaterandMarineEcology(EEB)• MScPlant&FungalTaxonomy,Diversity&Conservation
(runinassociationwiththeRoyalBotanicalGardensatKew)
IfyouwishtoknowmoreaboutanyoftheMScprogrammeslistedabove,youcancontacttheDirectorforTeaching&Learning[Postgraduate],DrChristophEizaguirre([email protected]).
(16)LINKSWITHEMPLOYERS,PLACEMENTOPPORTUNITIESANDTRANSFERABLESKILLS
TheBiologyandZoologydegreesprovidetheidealtrainingforgraduatesthatwantanear-medicalcareerinthelifesciences.Halfofourgraduatesfindworkorfurthertraininginthelifesciencesincludingteaching,researchorenvironmentalmonitoringandregulation,salesworkandcareersinthegrowingbiotechnologyindustry.Theremaininghalfmoveonto
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otherjobsorfurthertrainingbuttaketransferableskillsfromascientificeducation:numeracy,computerliteracy,datahandlingandanalysis,descriptiveandcriticalwriting,familiaritywithbiotechnologyandscientificmethods.RecentrolesforBiologyandZoologygraduatesincludelaboratorytechnician,dataanalyst,publichealthofficer,marketresearcher,NHSadministrator,medicalrepresentativeandenvironmentalconsultant.
OurGeneticsandMedicalGeneticsgraduateswillbeatthecuttingedgeofmodernbiology.SomewillchoosetoenterfrontlineresearchthroughfurthertraininginMaster'sandPhDmodules.Othersmayputtheirskillstoworkinconsulting,biomedicalpublishing,ormedicalsales.Theflourishingbiotechnologyindustry,healthcareandforensicservicesalsoofferavarietyofcareers.Finallyagooddegree,togetherwitharangeoftransferableskills,willmakeyouattractivetoawidevarietyofemployersseekingtorecruittop-classgraduates.
UnderQMUL’sInternationalExchangeProgramme(‘GlobalOpportunities’),studentsonmostBScandMSciprogrammesmayhavetheopportunityto‘studyabroad’atoneofQMUL’spartneruniversitiesforafullyearbetweenYears1and2oftheirBScdegree.Ifyouwishtotakeadvantageofthisopportunity,youwouldhavetorequestaCoPontoBiology/Genetics/MedicalGenetics/ZoologywithaYearAbroad.WhiletheyearoverseaswouldnotcounttowardsyourS3CollegeMarkandhencetoyourBSc/MSciclassification,anyYearAbroadshouldincluderelevantmodulesandyouwouldneedtomeetthepassstandardsoftheoverseasuniversityinordertograduatewiththetitle“Biology/Genetics/MedicalGenetics/ZoologywithaYearAbroad”.Asyouwillappreciate,positionsonsuchinternationalexchangesaresubjecttoasuccessfulapplicationandareawardedonacompetitivebasis.(IfyouwishtoapplytotransferontoaYearAbroadprogramme,inthefirstinstance,youshoulddiscusstheprosandconswithyourAcademicAdvisorandaProgrammeTutor,asappropriate.)SBCSoffersseveraldegrees“withaYearAbroad”becauseweappreciatetheopportunitiesthatthiscanprovideforpersonalandprofessionalgrowth,andfortheacquisitionoftransferableskillsthatwillenrichyourCVandbolsteryourprospectsforagraduatecareer.
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