BMS5003 - Infectious diseases and population health - 2019

6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Organisational Unit

School of Biomedical Sciences

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Brian Cooke

Coordinator(s)

Professor Brian Cooke

Unit guides

Offered

Clayton

  • First semester 2019 (On-campus)

Prerequisites

A background of study in biomedical, biotechnology, medical or allied health sciences is required for admission into the unit.

Synopsis

This unit aims to develop in-depth knowledge of infectious diseases affecting humans including diarrhoea, respiratory infections, Tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other parasitic diseases with a particular focus on resource-poor or low and middle income countries.

This unit will consist of a mixture of seminars and small group teaching from specialists in microbiology, infectious diseases, epidemiology and public health. Students will evaluate and review relevant literature to explore specific organisms or diseases and present this information via oral presentations and a written end-of-semester report.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Apply knowledge of some of the most important bacterial, viral and parasitic infectious diseases affecting humans (and animals) to assessment of their importance, impact and treatment and control, particularly in resource poor or low and middle income communities.
  2. Apply the concept of 'One Health' in the context of infectious diseases including vector-borne and zoonotic infections.
  3. Evaluate emerging and re-emerging pathogens and their implications on human health.
  4. Explain the application of recombinant DNA technology, molecular and cell biology and biochemical and biophysical techniques as research (and diagnostic) tools in infectious diseases.
  5. Evaluate the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases including chemoprophylaxis, Chemotherapy, drug resistance and vaccinology.
  6. Communicate complicated concepts, scientific data and results and current opinions accurately and effectively through oral presentations and reports.

Assessment

  • 10 x Tutorial and Workshop activities (5% each, 50% total) (hurdle)
  • Oral presentation (10 minutes) (15%)
  • Scientific report (2,100 words) (35%)

Workload requirements

On-campus: 6 of hours of contact per week, and will include a mix of lectures and small group teaching.

Off-campus: A minimum of 6 hours of private study.

See also Unit timetable information

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study