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2020/21 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BSc Biological Sciences

Programme code:BS-BIOS/BLSUCAS code:C701
Duration:3 Years Method of Attendance: Full Time
Programme manager:Dr Susan Whittle Contact address:S.R.Whittle@leeds.ac.uk

Total credits: 360

Entry requirements:

A-level: AAA - AAB, including Biology or Chemistry and another science or science-related subject. (Science subjects: biology, human biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics OR Science-related subjects: PE, geography, use of mathematics, psychology, statistics, geology, and computing). Applicants taking a Science A-level (in England) will be required to achieve a pass in the practical element in addition to the standard A-level grade requirement.
- IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any component or equivalent English language qualification.

School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme:

Biological Sciences Undergraduate School

Examination board through which the programme will be considered:

Biological Sciences Undergraduate School

Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups:

Biosciences Benchmark

Programme specification:

At the end of the programme students should:
- have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the major areas of bioscience, addressing consistency and diversity in biological systems in the first two levels of study, with a more detailed appreciation of some specialist areas at Level 3;
- have an understanding of enterprise in Biological sciences;
- have knowledge of current bioscience techniques and methodologies, with hands on practical experience of some of these;
- have the necessary transferable skills for further academic study and/or a career in the Biosciences or those that may reasonably be required of a graduate employee.


The programme will:
1. provide students with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the major areas of bioscience, addressing consistency and diversity in biological systems in the first two levels of study, with a more detailed appreciation of some specialist areas at Level 3. The latter will be research-led teaching, with the specific areas being determined by the current research expertise within the Faculty;
2. provide students with knowledge of current bioscience techniques and methodologies, with hands on practical experience of some of these;
3. provide students with e-delivered booster classes to address weakness in certain subject areas using distance-learning technology;
4. require students to undertake a project at level 3. Laboratory-, computing- and literature-based projects are available each year, featuring a wide variety of bioscience topics and exploiting the research expertise of staff and the research facilities of the Faculty;
5. give students the opportunity to study abroad or undertake an industrial placement;
6. ensure that, on graduation, students are able to: analyse, interpret and evaluate data; acquire and integrate information, and use information to solve problems; communicate effectively through a variety of media;
7. equip students with the necessary transferable skills for further academic study and/or a career in the Biosciences or those that may reasonably be required of a graduate employee;
8. manage student progress effectively and provide appropriate support and guidance;
9. provide high quality learning resources to support the objectives of the programme.


Year1 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Candidates will be required to study 120 credits

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

BIOL1302Introductory Skills for Biological Sciences40 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
BLGY1232Introduction to Genetics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
FOBS1126A Short Introduction to Systems Physiology10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
FOBS1135The Basis of Life20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MICR1125Introduction to Microbiology10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MICR1202The Microbial World10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MICR1220Introduction to Immunology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Optional modules:

Candidates may select 10 credits from the following optional modules:

BIOL1223Career and Professional Development for Life Scientists10 creditsNot running in 202021
BIOL1225How can Biological Sciences change the world10 creditsNot running in 202021
BLGY1211Applied Biology and Agriculture10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BMSC1210Biology of the Mind10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BMSC1212Introduction to Pharmacology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BMSC1214Human Endocrinology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery modules:

Candidates may select up to 10 credits of discovery modules.


Year2 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Candidates will be required to study 120 credits

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

BIOL2112Genes and Genomes20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL2210Biological Membranes and Cell Signalling10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BIOL2211Human Diseases10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BIOL2301Intermediate Skills for Biological Sciences40 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MICR2120Cell Biology of Disease10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Optional modules:

Candidates must select 30 additional credits of modules by following one of the themes listed below:
Candidates must select all the modules marked as compulsory for their chosen theme.

THEME 1: INFECTION AND DISEASE
Candidates must select 20 credits from the following compulsory modules:
a) Either BLGY2137 or MICR2121; b) MICR2221 is compulsory

BLGY2137Parasitology10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MICR2121Molecular Virology10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MICR2221Medical Immunology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

THEME 1: INFECTION AND DISEASE
Candidates will be required to select 10 credits from the following options:

BIOL2223Employment, Career planning and Professional Development for Life Scientists10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY2296Human Genetics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MICR2220Medical Bacteriology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MICR2222Medical Virology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students may select a Discovery module instead of one of the options above, normally in Semester 2.

THEME 2: MOLECULAR MEDICINE
Candidates must select at least two of the following modules:

BLGY2296Human Genetics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BMSC2125Molecular Pharmacology10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BMSC2210Chemotherapy10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students may select a Discovery module instead of one of the options above in Semester 1 or 2.

THEME 3: GENOME BIOLOGY AND DISEASE:
Candidates must select the following compulsory modules.

BLGY2201Introduction to Bioinformatics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY2296Human Genetics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

THEME 3: GENOME BIOLOGY AND DISEASE:
Candidates will be required to select a minimum of 10 credits from the following options.

BLGY2137Parasitology10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY2175Human Populations10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BMSC2124Neurotransmitters and Disease10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MICR2121Molecular Virology10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Students may select a Discovery module instead of one of the options above, in Semester 1.

THEME 4: PLANTS AND AGRICULTURE:
Candidates will be required to study 20 credits from the following modules.

BLGY2163How Plants Work10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY2225Sustainable Food Production10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

THEME 5: MOLECULAR ZOOLOGY
Candidates will be required to select the following compulsory modules.

BLGY2137Parasitology10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY2262Animal Developmental Biology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

THEME 5: MOLECULAR ZOOLOGY
Candidates will be required to select a minimum of 10 credits from the following optional modules:

BIOL2223Employment, Career planning and Professional Development for Life Scientists10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY2294Animal Physiology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY2296Human Genetics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MICR2221Medical Immunology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Candidates must seek advice from the programme manager in order to select a coherent programme of modules which satisfies the pre-requisites for their chosen level 3 specialisms.

Candidates who wish to study a modern foreign language module as part of their degree programme should discuss this with the programme leader.

Discovery modules:


Year3 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Candidates will be required to study 120 credits

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory module:

BIOL3305Advanced Skills in the Biosciences20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Optional modules:

Students will select 40 credits of modules, either Option A, Option B or Option C.

However Option C is only available to students taking Theme 3: Plants & Agriculture or Theme 5 Molecular Zoology, in place of Option A or Option B.

Option A:

BIOL3306Biological Sciences Research Project40 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Option B: This subset of modules can only be offered to students who meet the selection criteria and are approved to take the module BIOL3230: Covid-19 LAMP Testing placement.

BIOL3230COVID-19 LAMP Testing Placement (contributing to the UK testing programme)20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BIOL3397Biotechnology Research Project20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Option C is only available to students taking Theme 3: Plants & Agriculture or Theme 5 Molecular Zoology, in place of Option A or Option B.

BLGY3345Biology Integrated Research Projects40 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

THEME 1: INFECTION AND DISEASE and THEME 2: MOLECULAR MEDICINE
Students must select all of the following compulsory modules:

BIOL3112Advanced Topics for Biological Sciences 120 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL3210Advanced Topics for Biological Sciences 220 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)

THEME 1: INFECTION AND DISEASE and THEME 2: MOLECULAR MEDICINE
Students must select one of the following compulsory modules:

BIOL3211Advanced Topics for Biological Sciences 320 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BIOL3215Cancer Biology20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

THEME 3: GENOME BIOLOGY AND DISEASE
Students must take the following compulsory modules:

BLGY3152Advanced Topics in Human Genetics20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MEDM3221Reproductive Medical Science20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

THEME 3: GENOME BIOLOGY AND DISEASE.
Students must select one of the following modules:

BIOL3210Advanced Topics for Biological Sciences 220 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL3211Advanced Topics for Biological Sciences 320 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BIOL3215Cancer Biology20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

THEME 4: PLANTS AND AGRICULTURE.
Students must select all of the following modules:

BLGY3173Plant Growth, Resources and Food Security20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY3205Applied Plant Science10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY3252Plant Developmental Biology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

THEME 4: PLANTS AND AGRICULTURE.
Students must select one of the following two optional modules.

BIOL3210Advanced Topics for Biological Sciences 220 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL3211Advanced Topics for Biological Sciences 320 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

THEME: MOLECULAR ZOOLOGY.
Students must select BLGY3251 and one other module from the following list:

BIOL3112Advanced Topics for Biological Sciences 120 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY3110Applied Genetics20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY3251Animal Developmental Biology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

THEME 5: MOLECULAR ZOOLOGY.
Students must select one of the following two modules:

BIOL3210Advanced Topics for Biological Sciences 220 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL3211Advanced Topics for Biological Sciences 320 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery modules:

An appropriate 10 credit discovery module (preferably at Level 3) should be selected. Please discuss this with your programme leader.

Last updated: 07/12/2020 12:16:40

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