PHY4000

Physiology honours

Dr Igor Wendt and Dr Richard Lang (Co-conveners)

48 points - Full-year subject - Clayton

Objectives On the completion of this subject students will understand the use of the scientific method, and experience the organisational and intellectual effort required to complete a research project which makes a contribution to scientific knowledge; understand the scientific background relevant to the area of their research project, as well as obtain an introduction to other research areas currently being undertaken in physiology; be able to use the specialised skills required to apply successfully a variety of different research techniques to the study of physiology; have acquired scientific writing skills; be able to use computer techniques for the analysis and graphical presentation of experimental data; be able to assemble and illustrate experimental data effectively with audio-visual aids and to present it to an audience of their peers.

Synopsis The minimum entry requirement for PHY4000 is a credit average in third-year physiology. Students achieving this will be invited to proceed to a fourth year for the honours degree of BSc in physiology, subject to acceptance by the head of the department. Each student will work under the direction of a supervisor within the department. Students wishing to undertake a project based in an affiliated research institute or a clinical department of the Faculty of Medicine may also enrol for an honours degree through the Department of Physiology. Students will undertake a project which will form the basis of a research report to be presented at the end of the year and will involve experiments of a publishable standard. In addition to the research project, the year's work will include training in advanced scientific techniques, lectures and tutorials on advanced aspects of physiology, critical reading of the literature, and the preparation of an essay in an area outside the student's field of research.

Assessment Research report: 60% - Written examinations: 20% - Essay, seminars, supervisor assessment: 20%

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