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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.
PROGRAMMEHANDBOOK–BIOLOGICALSCIENCES–2018/19
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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.