Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Course

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.

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.

This course comprises a minor and a major sequence in science, along with a specified number of core units in science and in biomedical sciences.

Students in this course may not take elective units other than science units and approved units from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Biomedical science 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
• at least two level three elective units from the biomedical sciences areas (generally these are units with the prefixes BCH, BME, BMS, BND, BNS, DEV, GEN, HUP, IMM, MIC, PHA and PHY - information about units is available via http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2011handbooks/units/index-bycode.html).

Science component

Students complete 96 points of science units including:

(a.) a major sequence in one of the available science areas of study listed below (48 points)

(b.) a minor sequence in a different science area of study (24 points)

(c.) SCI2010 The practice and application of science (6 points)

(d.) science electives to complete a total of 96 points of science studies.

Available areas of study

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 available via http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2011handbooks/undergrad/sci-aos-clayton.html.

The major sequence must be taken from one of the following:

• chemistry
• ecology and conservation biology
• genetics
• marine and freshwater biology
• mathematics and statistics
• physics
• plant sciences
• zoology

Notes:

Depending on the science major and/or minor sequences chosen, some of these units must be replaced with equivalent biomedical science units as follows:

(i.) if a major or minor sequence requires BIO1011 (Biology I) and BIO1022 (Biology II), BMS1021 must be replaced with an elective unit from the biomedical science areas

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

Within the science component students must complete a minimum of four level-three science units (24 points), and a maximum of six level-one science units (36 points) can be taken overall.

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.

Recommended 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
• one 12-point level one science sequence

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 sequence in ecology and conservation biology, genetics, marine and freshwater biology, plant sciences or zoology
• 12 points of science units to complete a minor sequence in a different 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 or PHS1080 Foundation physics
• PHS1022 Physics

plus one pair of:

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

Note: Students with a strong mathematics background and a keen interest in the subject could replace the units MTH1030 and MTH2010 with their advanced versions MTH1035 and MTH2015 respectively. Enrolment in these units is with permission from the head of the School of Mathematics.

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 and statistics

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 or mathematics and 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 science 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, ecology and conservation biology, genetics, marine and freshwater biology, physics, plant sciences, mathematics and statistics, or zoology

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 science requirements' above)
• 12 points of science units to complete a major sequence in chemistry, ecology and conservation biology, genetics, marine and freshwater biology, physics, plant sciences, mathematics and statistics, or zoology
• 12 points of elective science units

Students may apply for admission to an honours program in science, following the completion of an approved combination of at least 144 points of units including all of the science requirements for the double degree course. Students who are considering doing honours in science prior to completing the double degree should consult with the Faculty of Science regarding their unit selection prior to re-enrolling for level three.

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.

Students may be eligible to exit the double degree program and graduate with either a Bachelor of Biomedical Science or a Bachelor of Science after three years, depending on the units studied. Students who wish to graduate with a Bachelor of Science prior to the completion of the double degree course must have completed at least 144 points of studies, including all of the science requirements for the double degree course.

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Biomedical Science