courses

3528

Monash University

Undergraduate - Course

Students who commenced study in 2013 should refer to this course entry for direction on the requirements; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course.

print version

This course entry applies to students commencing this course in 2013 and should be read in conjunction with information provided in the 'Faculty information' section of this Handbook by the Faculty of Science

Managing facultyScience
Partner facultyMedicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Abbreviated titleBBiomedSc/BSc
CRICOS code056079C
Total credit points required192
Standard duration of study (years)4 years FT, 8 years PT
Study mode and locationOn-campus (Clayton)
Admission, fee and application details http://www.monash.edu/study/coursefinder/course/3528
Contact details

Email: sci-enquiries@monash.edu or biomed@med.monash.edu.au

Notes

  • Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.
  • Students cannot take additional units that exceed the 192 credit points required for the course. Students wishing to take additional units can only do so on a single subject basis (full-fee paying basis) with the approval of the faculty.

Description

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.

Outcomes

Structure

This course consists of a minor and a major sequence in different areas of science, along with a specified number of core units in science and in biomedical sciences. The major sequence in science must be taken from a specified list of science areas of study (listed under the Science component below).

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.

Requirements

Biomedical science component

Students must complete the following units:

Science component

Students must 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.) the following core unit:

  • SCI2010 Scientific practice and communication (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/2013handbooks/undergrad/sci-aos-clayton.html.

The major sequence must be taken from offerings at the Clayton campus in 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), then 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 Academic Services staff in the Faculty of Science office (contact details at http://www.sci.monash.edu.au/contact/undergrad.html).

Recommended study sequences

Students would normally follow one of the following paths:

Major or minor in a science area that requires BIO1011 and BIO1022

Stage one
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

Major or minor in physics

Stage one

plus one pair of:

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. Students will need to seek permission to enrol in these units at the Faculty of Science, Student Academic Services office (contact details at http://www.sci.monash.edu.au/contact/undergrad.html).

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 physics
  • 12 points of science units to complete a minor sequence in a different science area of study

Major or minor 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 approved 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 Scientific practice and communication
  • 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

Progression to further studies

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.

Alternative exit(s)

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. Students who wish to graduate with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science prior to the completion of the double degree course must have completed at least 144 points of studies, including all of the biomedical science requirements for the double degree course.

Award(s)

Bachelor of Biomedical Science
Bachelor of Science