Programme Specifications

N/A

Biosciences 2015

September 2017

Microbiology graduates will have gained:

• An appreciation of the complexity and diversity of life processes through the study of micro-organisms, their molecular, cellular and physiological processes, their genetics and evolution, and the interrelationships between them and their environment.

Subject specific skills

Microbiology graduates will have gained:

• Knowledge of the importance of microorganisms in environment, health and biotechnology

• Ability to handle Hazard Group 1 microorganisms safely in the laboratory

Generic and graduate skills

Microbiology graduates will have gained:

• The ability to read and use appropriate literature with a full and critical understanding, while addressing such questions as content, context, aims, objectives, quality of information, and its interpretation and application;

• The capacity to give a clear and accurate account of a subject, marshal arguments in a mature way and engage in debate and dialogue both with specialists and non-specialists;

• Critical and analytical skills: a recognition that statements should be tested and that evidence is subject to assessment and critical evaluation;

• The ability to employ a variety of methods of study in investigating, recording and analysing material;

• The ability to think independently, set tasks and solve problems.

Overall aim of the scheme

To produce graduates who are able to work in the field of microbiology, who can operate efficiently and safely in a laboratory, are able to communicate and understand microbiological data and concepts, are able to apply microbiological skills to diverse biological problems, and are able to direct their own research/learning.

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

• a broadly based core of knowledge covering the major elements of biology, together with specialised in-depth study of microbiology

• engagement with the essential facts, major concepts, principles and theories of microbiology

• competence in the core experimental methods in microbiology

• familiarity with the terminology, nomenclature and classification systems used in microbiology

• awareness of the contribution of microbiological research to the development of knowledge about the diversity of life and its evolution

Learning and Teaching

Lectures; tutorials; student-led seminars; problem-based learning workshops, laboratory practical classes; literature based research; computer-assisted learning; research leading to a dissertation.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, essay writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of a dissertation, problem-solving exercises.

10.2.1 Intellectual Skills

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

• the ability to recognise and apply subject-specific theories, paradigms, concepts or principles. For example, the relationship between genes and proteins,

• ability for analysing, synthesising and summarising information critically, including published research or reports

• how to obtain and integrate several lines of subject-specific evidence to formulate and test hypotheses

• an appreciation of the moral and ethical issues of investigations and the need for ethical standards and professional codes of conduct

• how their knowledge and comprehension can be used to address familiar and novel problems

Learning and Teaching

Lectures; tutorials; student-led seminars; problem-based learning workshops, laboratory practical classes; literature based research; computer-assisted learning; research leading to a dissertation.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, essay writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of a dissertation, problem-solving exercises.

10.2.2 Professional practical skills (where applicable)

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

• competence and progressive development in the basic and core experimental skills needed for a career in microbiology

• an ability to design, plan, conduct and report on investigations, which may involve primary or secondary data (for example from a survey database)

• skills needed to obtain, record, collate and analyse data using appropriate techniques in the field and/or laboratory, working individually or in a group

• knowledge required to undertake field and/or laboratory investigations of living systems in a responsible, safe and ethical manner

• use and interpretation of a variety of sources of information: textual, numerical, verbal, graphical

Learning and Teaching

Practical skills are acquired and promoted through practical laboratory classes, class activities, and experimental research for the dissertation. Coursework develops research skills and PDP is used for career planning and skills auditing.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Coursework to include: the submission of scientific reports, oral presentations, research posters and essays. Students are expected to demonstrate advanced critical, interpretative and analytical skills in both their course work and written examinations. The dissertation should demonstrate student competence in practical and academic skills.

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

• the ability to access and evaluate bioscience information from a variety of sources and to communicate the principles both orally and in writing in a way that is organised and topical, and recognises the limits of current hypotheses

• an appreciation of the impact on society of advances in the biosciences

• the ability to record data accurately, and to carry out basic manipulation of data

• strategies that enable them to update their knowledge of the biosciences

• an awareness of professional standards

Learning and Teaching

Coursework develops research skills and PDP is used for career planning and skills auditing. Skills modules in years 1 and 2 develop sourcing and referencing information. Team working takes place in tutorials, practicals and workshops

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Essays, reports, oral presentations