The Bachelor of Medical Science requires three years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time).
The course is offered by 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 Optometry should undertake the first two years of the program of study for the Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science)/Master of Optometry.
Core - Year 1 topics
22.5 units comprising:
BIOL1101 Evolution of Biological Diversity (4.5 units)
BIOL1102 Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units)
MDSC1102 Skills for Medical Scientists 1 (4.5 units)
Plus one of:
CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units)
CHEM1201 General Chemistry (4.5 units)
Plus:
CHEM1202 Chemistry for the Life Sciences (4.5 units)Elective - Year 1 - Listed electives*
Plus 9 units selected from:
BIOL1112 Biology and Society (4.5 units)
BTEC1001 Introduction to Biotechnology (4.5 units)
CHEM1102 Modern Chemistry (4.5 units) *
COMP1101 Information and Communications Technology 1A (4.5 units)
COMS1001 Academic and Professional Communication #
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 Modern World (4.5 units)
PHYS1702 Physics for Health Sciences (4.5 units) ^^
Elective - Year 1 topics*
Plus a 4.5 unit first-level topic from within the University for which they have the prerequisites.
# With the permission of the Course Coordinator and the Topic Coordinator of ESOL1101, students from non-English speaking backgrounds may be permitted to enrol in ESOL1101 English as a Second Language 1, in place of COMS1001 Academic and Professional Communication.
* Students must select two of the electives from this elective list in either first or second semester and the third 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 CHEM1101 or are enrolled in CHEM1101.
^^ Students who wish to be eligible to transfer to the Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science), Master of Optometry course must select the following three elective topics:
- HLTH1003 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care (4.5 units)
- MMED1005 How Your Body Works: Human Physiology and Structure (4.5 units) AND
- PHYS1702 Physics for Health Sciences (4.5 units)
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 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 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)
MMED3938 Advanced 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)
MMED3939 Medical Virology, Immunology and Immunopathogenesis (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)
MMED3937 Pathophysiology for Medical Science (4.5 units)
MMED3941 Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy (4.5 units)
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
