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Bachelor of Medical Science

The Bachelor of Medical Science requires three years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time).

The course is offered jointly by the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements. 

Course aims

The course has been designed to produce graduates who as medical scientists are specialists in a major area of science and possess well-developed skills to liaise with other groups of scientists, such as medical practitioners and biotechnologists. It aims to:

  • prepare students for a range of careers within the medical sciences
  • enable students to specialise in particular areas of medical science as preparation for entry into, and progression through, an honours degree program and beyond
  • prepare students for entry into a variety of undergraduate courses leading to specific health professions
  • prepare students for graduate diploma courses and other postgraduate speciality programs in medical science such as radiology, pharmacology and pathology
  • provide students with preparation for entry to the graduate medical program (although admission to the medical program cannot be guaranteed as performance in an undergraduate degree is not the only criterion for selection).

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course graduates should:

  • have a sound knowledge of mammalian cellular and molecular biology, and biochemistry
  • have a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy and physiology at the individual organ and system level and the integration between body systems
  • have an understanding of how alterations to normal body systems can contribute to disease
  • be able to source, understand and be appropriately critical of scientific literature
  • be able to assess core scientific knowledge to develop new strategies to research biological and medical problems
  • have developed practical skills which enable them to conduct problem or enquiry driven research
  • have an understanding of medical research, how it is carried out, its purpose and limitations
  • be aware of the role that medical science plays in modern Australian and the global society
  • have skills in both written and oral communication of medical science for a variety of expert and general community audiences interested in or likely to be affected by medical science
  • have a detailed knowledge of the current state of knowledge in at least one significant field of medical science
  • value integrity and the importance of ethics in addressing medical problems
  • articulate a conscious understanding of their own values and demonstrate respect for the values of others and the ability to view ethical dilemmas from multiple view points.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor Medical Science, a student must complete 108 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Students wishing to transfer to the Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science)/Master of Optomtery should undertake the first two years of the program of study for the Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science)/Master of Optometry except for HLTH1003 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care (to be replaced with ENGL1012 Professional English for Medical Scientists).

Core - Year 1 topics


27 units comprising:

 BIOL1101  Evolution of Biological Diversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1102  Molecular Basis of Life  (4.5 units)
 ENGL1012  Professional English for Medical Scientists##  (4.5 units)
 MDSC1102  Skills for Medical Scientists 1  (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

 CHEM1101  Chemistry 1A  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1201  Introduction to Chemistry A  (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

 CHEM1102  Chemistry 1B  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1202  Introduction to Chemistry B  (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 1 - Listed electives*


Plus 4.5 units selected from:

 BIOL1112  Biology and Society  (4.5 units)
 BTEC1001  Introduction to Biotechnology  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1102  Chemistry 1B  (4.5 units)
 COMP1101  Information and Communications Technology 1A  (4.5 units)
 HLTH1003  Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care  (4.5 units)
 MMED1005  How Your Body Works: Human Physiology and Structure  (4.5 units)^^
 NUTD1106  Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health  (4.5 units)
 PHYS1701  Physics for the Life Sciences A  (4.5 units)
 PHYS1702  Physics for the Life Sciences B  (4.5 units)^^

Elective - Year 1 topics*


Plus a 4.5 unit first-level topic from across the University where entry requirements are met.

##With the permission of the Course Coordinator and the Topic Coordinator of ESOL1703, students from non-English speaking backgrounds may be permitted to enrol in ESOL1703 English as a Second Language 1, in place of ENGL1012 Professional English for Medical Scientists.

*Students must select one of the electives from this elective list in either first or second semester and the second elective can be selected from any topic within the University for which they have the prerequisites. CHEM1102 is only available as an elective to students who have completed CHEM1201 and CHEM1202

^^Students who wish to be eligible to transfer to the Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science), Master of Optometry course must select the following two elective topics:

  • MMED1005 How Your Body Works: Human Physiology and Structure AND
  • PHYS1702 Physics for the Life Sciences B

Core - Year 2 topics


18 units comprising:

 BIOL2771  Biochemistry  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2772  Molecular Biology  (4.5 units)
 MDSC2000  Skills for Medical Scientists 2  (4.5 units)
 MMED2931  Human Physiology  (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 2 - Listed electives^


Plus 18 units selected from:

 BIOL2702  Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2722  Disease and Immunology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2761  Virology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3761  Foundations in Microbiology  (4.5 units)
 BTEC2001  Bioscience: from the Bench to the Community  (4.5 units)
 BTEC2002  Legal, Ethical and Social Aspects of Bioscience  (4.5 units)
 MMED2932  Integrative Human Physiology  (4.5 units)**
 MMED2933  Fundamental Neuroscience  (4.5 units)**
 MMED2934  Introduction to Human Molecular Genetics  (4.5 units)
 MMED2935  Human Immunology and Infectious Diseases  (4.5 units)**
 NUTD2101  Nutrition Across the Lifecycle  (4.5 units)
 NUTD2105  Social & Ecological Perspectives on Food Choice  (4.5 units)
 PHYS2711  Physical Optics for Vision Science  (4.5 units)**

^Students should select topics so as to meet any prerequisite requirements for the third year specialisation they intend to pursue.

**Students who wish to be eligible to transfer to the Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science), Master of Optometry course must select the following four elective topics:

  • MMED2932  Integrative Human Physiology  AND
  • MMED2933  Fundamental Neuroscience AND
  • MMED2935  Human Immunology and Infectious Diseases AND
  • PHYS2711 Physical Optics for Vision Science

Core - Year 3 topic


 MDSC3000  Skills for Medical Scientists 3  (4.5 units)

Plus 31.5 units selected from the following topics. Students must complete at least one specialisation comprising 13.5 units (3 topics). A maximum of 4.5 units counted towards one Specialisation may be counted towards any other Specialisation.

Specialisation - Year 3 - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 


 BIOL3762  Protein to Proteome  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3771  DNA to Genome  (4.5 units)
 BTEC3002  Medical Biotechnology  (4.5 units)
 MDSC3100  Point-of-Care Testing: Application, Management and Effectiveness  (4.5 units)
 MMED3933  Biochemistry of Human Disease  (4.5 units)
 MMED3935  Human Molecular Genetics  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Year 3 - Biomedical Technology


 ENGR2732  Biomechanics  (4.5 units)
 ENGR2742  Biomedical Instrumentation  (4.5 units)
 ENGR3741  Physiological Measurement  (4.5 units)
 ENGR4701  Advanced Biomechanics  (4.5 units)
 ENGR4702  Biomaterials  (4.5 units)
 ENGR4771  Rehabilitation Engineering  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Year 3 - Medical Biotechnology


 BIOL3762  Protein to Proteome  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3771  DNA to Genome  (4.5 units)
 BTEC3002  Medical Biotechnology  (4.5 units)
 BTEC3003  Industrial and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology  (4.5 units)
 BTEC3005  Integrating Biotechnology  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Year 3 - Microbiology


 BIOL2761  Virology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3761  Foundations in Microbiology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3782  Advanced Microbiology: Microbial Ecology and Infectious Disease  (4.5 units)
 BTEC3003  Industrial and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Year 3 - Nutrition


 MMED3933  Biochemistry of Human Disease  (4.5 units)
 NUTD2105  Social & Ecological Perspectives on Food Choice  (4.5 units)
 NUTD3101  Fundamentals of Nutritional Epidemiology  (4.5 units)
 NUTD3102  Nutrients Role and Function  (4.5 units)
 NUTD3203  Nutrition for Sports Performance  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Year 3 - Pharmacology & Toxicology


 BTEC3002  Medical Biotechnology  (4.5 units)
 MDSC3100  Point-of-Care Testing: Application, Management and Effectiveness  (4.5 units)
 MMED3933  Biochemistry of Human Disease  (4.5 units)
 MMED3934  Principles of Pharmacology and Toxicology  (4.5 units)
 MMED3936  Human Pharmacology and Therapeutics  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Year 3 - Physiology & Neuroscience


 MDSC3100  Point-of-Care Testing: Application, Management and Effectiveness  (4.5 units)
 MMED3930  Sensory Motor Systems  (4.5 units)
 MMED3931  Advanced Neuroscience  (4.5 units)
 MMED3932  Body Systems  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Year 3 - Vision Science Specialisation topics

 Vision Science topics are being developed and will be available in 2012.

Option - Year 3 - Professional placement


Students may also select the following work experience topic:

 MDSC3102  Professional Placement Medical Science  (9 units)


Honours

Refer to Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Science (Honours) - School of Medicine

Combined degrees

CRICOS Provider: 00114A | Updated: 16 May, 2011