Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Course

This honours program is an additional year built upon the knowledge and experience gained in course 2230 Bachelor of Biomedical Science. In this course, students undertake approved research projects under the supervision of a member of the academic or research staff. There is a wide breadth of biomedical research available in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, providing a high degree of flexibility for students to pursue their honours year in a field of their choice.

Studies can be undertaken within one of the schools of the faculty including:

• Biomedical Sciences
• Psychology and Psychiatry
• Central and Eastern Clinical School
• Southern Clinical School
• Primary Health Care
• Rural Health.

Studies can also be undertaken with one of the affiliated institutes such as the:

• Baker Medical Research Institute
• MacFarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research
• Mental Health Research Institute
• Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research
• Monash Institute of Medical Research.

On completion of the Honours degree of Bachelor of Biomedical Science students will:

• be able to critically review the scientific literature in their discipline
• understand the processes involved in the design, development and implementation of a research project
• be able to execute and analyse a set of laboratory-based, or other appropriate studies
• be proficient in computer based data acquisition, analysis, presentation, and word processing
• be able to write up scientific work in a potentially publishable way
• show communication skills in both oral and written presentations to a specialist audience
• have acquired a range of technical skills appropriate to their discipline
• have the capacity to perform a variety of scientific procedures and techniques that are essential to the satisfactory completion and reporting of a research project
• have the capability to pursue higher studies and learning in selected disciplines of biomedical science
• have gained insight into the breadth and diversity of the biomedical sciences.

The entry requirements for the Honours degree of Bachelor of Biomedical Science are completion of all requirements for course 2230 Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Monash University, or a comparable qualification in biomedical science with an average of 70 per cent or higher in at least 24 points at third-year level (including at least 12 points in biomedical science core units).

Students applying for admission based on comparable qualifications in biomedical science will need to demonstrate that they have achieved an appropriate standard in comparable studies.

The research project and the writing up of a thesis constitutes the major portion of the student's work, as well as:

• a core component common to all students
• an approved component specific to the department or discipline in which the individual is undertaking their research project.

Students must complete the following units:

• BMS4100 Biomedical science research project
• BMS4200 Advanced studies in biomedical science

Honours degree of Bachelor of Biomedical Science