Program Overview
Through a research-informed curriculum, students gain a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, and immunology, preparing them for careers in research, healthcare, or further academic pursuits. The program emphasizes hands-on laboratory experience, critical thinking, and transferable skills, equipping graduates for success in various scientific and technical fields.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This program offers a contemporary and dynamic curriculum that investigates the human body, its functions, diseases, and interaction with the environment. Students gain a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, and immunology, while exploring specific areas like chronic disease, cancer, and infectious diseases. The curriculum emphasizes research-informed teaching, preparing students for future careers in research, healthcare, or further academic pursuits.
Outline:
Year One:
- Origins of Life: Introduces cell biology, structure, function, division, and specialization.
- Human Reproduction and Development: Explores the development of the human body from conception to birth.
- Systems of the Human Body: Examines the major human body systems, their functions, and their integration through neural and hormonal controls.
- Genetics, Heredity, and Human Evolution: Delves into genetics, chromosomes, cell division, heredity, and human evolution, including biotechnology applications.
- Essential Laboratory Techniques: Develops foundational competency in laboratory techniques for biological experimentation and problem solving.
- Study Skills & Research Methods: Enhances transferable skills in scientific writing, presentations, referencing, teamwork, data interpretation, and analysis.
Year Two:
- Immunology: Explores innate, active/passive, and adaptive immunity, including inflammation and disease processes.
- Human Diseases: Studies the physiology and pathology of various diseases across multiple organ systems, including chronic, infectious, and age-related diseases.
- Investigative Methods in Disease Biology: Furthers development of advanced laboratory skills and research methodologies through practical sessions.
Year Three:
- Degenerative Disease Biology: Investigates the causes and progression of degenerative diseases.
- Oncology and Immunology: Explores the complexities of the immune system in cancer, exploring immunotherapies.
- Cell Signalling: Investigates cell-signalling pathways and dysfunction in diabetes and asthma.
- Pharmacology and Research Methods: Develops skills in research methods, clinical trial design, and analysis, along with knowledge of drug mechanisms.
- Clinical Genetics: Explores advanced topics in clinical genetics, including epigenetics and its role in disease.
- Human Biology Research Project: 15-credit laboratory-based project allows students to independently design and execute research, furthering critical skills development.
Assessment:
The program uses a variety of assessment methods to evaluate student learning. These include:
- Scientific and laboratory reports
- Critiques and essays
- Individual and group oral presentations
- Multiple-choice tests (MCTs)
- Portfolios
- Case studies
- Practical laboratory tests
- Written examinations (25% of second and third year grades)
Teaching:
The program utilizes a diverse array of teaching methods including:
- Lectures with all students
- Smaller seminar and lab group sessions (approximately 15-20 students)
- Small group tutorials for personalized learning
- Research-active staff with specialization in different areas of human biology The curriculum fosters independent, deep, and supported learning through its diverse teaching approaches.
Careers:
Human Biology graduates are highly sought after in various fields. They possess specialized skills in lab work, scientific writing, data analysis, and communication, making them well-prepared for careers in:
- Bioscience/biomedicine research
- Biotechnology
- Medical writing
- Healthcare
- Diagnostic and forensic laboratories
- Similar scientific and technical roles
- Postgraduate studies (leading to Masters or PhD degrees)
- General graduate positions in business, management, accountancy, etc.
Other:
- Service and Leadership Award (SALA)
- Study Abroad program
- The tuition fees for the 2024/25 academic year are £9,250 for full-time undergraduate courses.
- If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,250.
- The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
- Additional costs: You will also need to consider the cost of field trips, text books, and a laboratory coat, which we estimate to cost around £300 per academic year.
