Bachelor of Biomedical Science/Bachelor of Science

Course code: 3528 + Course abbreviation: BBiomedSc/BSc + Total credit points required: 192 + 4 years full-time, 8 years part-time + Managing faculty: Science

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Clayton)

Course description

This double degree course allows students to qualify with both the Bachelor of Biomedical Science and Bachelor of Science degrees.

The course provides students with an opportunity to combine studies in biomedical sciences with studies in a number of areas of science, and prepares students for honours and postgraduate study or for employment.

Course objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will have a broad knowledge in biomedical sciences with the skills necessary to understand and investigate human biology and health as well as advanced training in a 'basic' science and advanced knowledge and training in at least one science discipline. Graduates will be experienced in oral, written and practical skills in relation to this knowledge. Depending on the choice of majors, graduates may gain an in-depth knowledge in a particular biomedical science.

Course structure

Areas of study

Students must complete a minor and a major sequence in science towards the course, along with a specified number of core units in science and in biomedical sciences. The Faculty of Science requires science studies to be chosen from the science units listed in the section 'Science areas of study and sequences' in this handbook. Students in the BBiomedSc/BSc course may not take elective units other than science units and approved units from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Course requirements

Science component

Students must complete at least one major sequence and one minor sequence in a different science area of study. The major sequence must be taken from the areas of chemistry, biological sciences, genetics, physics, mathematics or statistics. The science major and minor sequences are listed in the section 'Science areas of study and sequences' in this handbook.

Students must also satisfy the core requirement for the Bachelor of Science as part of their science studies by completing the unit SCI2010 (The practice and application of science). Students must complete 96 points of science units, including the core unit, and must take at least 24 points of level three science units and no more than 36 points of level one science units.

Biomedical sciences component

Students must complete the following units:

BMS1011 Biomedical chemistry
BMS1021 Cells, tissues and organisms
BMS1031 Medical biophysics
BMS1042 Biomedical sciences and society
BMS1052 Human neurobiology
BMS1062 Molecular biology
BMS2011 Structure of the human body
BMS2021 Biochemistry of human function
BMS2031 Body systems
BMS2042 Human genetics
BMS2052 Microbes in health and disease
BMS2062 Introduction to bioinformatics
BMS3021 Molecular medicine and biotechnology
BMS3042 Biomedical basis of disease 2

and:

at least two level three elective units from the biomedical sciences areas (generally these are units with the prefixes ANT, BCH, BME, BMS, BND, BNS, CEL, GEN, HUP, IMM, MIC, PHA and PHY).

For particular combinations with science major and/or minor sequences, some of these units must be replaced with equivalent biomedical science units:

(i) when the student chooses a major or minor sequence in an area of study that requires BIO1011 (Biology I) and BIO1022 (Biology II), BMS1021 must be replaced with an elective unit from the biomedical science areas.

(ii) when the student chooses physics as a major or minor sequence, BMS1031 must be replaced with an elective unit from the biomedical science areas.

Note it is highly recommended that students discuss their choice of science units at each stage with the student services staff in the Faculty of Science office.

Study sequences

Students would normally follow one of the following paths:

BBiomedSc/BSc with a major or minor in a science area that requires BIO1011 and BIO1022:

Stage one

BIO1011 Biology I
BIO1022 Biology II
BMS1011 Biomedical chemistry
BMS1031 Medical biophysics
BMS1042 Biomedical sciences and society
BMS1062 Molecular biology
A 12-point level one science sequence

Stage two

BMS1052 Human nuerobiology
BMS2011 Structure of the human body
BMS2021 Biochemistry of human function
BMS2042 Human genetics
12 points of science units to complete a minor sequence in biological sciences or genetics
12 points of science units to complete a minor sequence in a science area of study

BBiomedSc/BSc with a major in physics

Stage one

BMS1011 Biomedical chemistry
BMS1021 Cells, tissues and organisms
BMS1042 Biomedical sciences and society
BMS1062 Molecular biology
PHS1011 Physics
PHS1022 Physics

either:

MTH1020 Analysis of change and MTH1030 Techniques for modelling, or
MTH1030 and MTH2010 Multivariable calculus

Stage two

BMS1052 Human neurobiology
BMS2011 Structure of the human body
BMS2021 Biochemistry of human function
BMS2042 Human genetics
12 points of science units to complete a minor in physics
12 points of science units to complete a minor sequence in a different science area of study

BBiomedSc/BSc with a major in chemistry or mathematics

Stage one

BMS1011 Biomedical chemistry
BMS1021 Cells, tissues and organisms
BMS1042 Biomedical sciences and society
BMS1062 Molecular biology
two 12-point level one science sequences

Stage two

BMS1031 Medical biophysics
BMS1052 Human neurobiology
BMS2021 Biochemistry of human function
BMS2042 Human genetics
12 points of science units to complete a minor sequence in chemistry, mathematics or statistics
12 points of science units to complete a minor sequence in a different science area of study

For all sequence combinations

Stage three

BMS2031 Body systems
BMS2052 Microbes in health and disease
BMS2062 Introduction to bioinformatics
SCI2010 The practice and application of science
one science elective unit
6 points of elective units from the biomedical science areas (see 'Biomedical sciences requirements' above), except for students undertaking a major sequence in chemistry or mathematics, in which case BMS2011 will be taken
12 points of science units towards a major sequence in chemistry, biological sciences, genetics, physics, mathematics or statistics

Stage four

BMS3021 Molecular medicine and biotechnology
BMS3042 Biomedical basis of disease 2
at least two level three elective units from the biomedical sciences areas (see 'Biomedical sciences requirements' above)
12 points of science units to complete a major sequence in chemistry, biological sciences, genetics, physics, mathematics or statistics
12 points of elective science units

Course progression requirements

Students who wish to undertake honours in science prior to the completion of the BBiomedSc/BSc course must have completed at least 144 points of studies, including all of the BSc requirements. Students who wish to undertake honours in biomedical sciences prior to the completion of the BBiomedSc/Bsc course must have completed at least 144 units of study, including all of the BBiomedSc requirements.

Contact details

Email: enquiries@sci.monash.edu.au

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