2020/21 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue
BSc Biology
Programme code: | BS-BLGY | UCAS code: | C100 |
---|---|---|---|
Duration: | 3 Years | Method of Attendance: | Full Time |
Programme manager: | Dr Chris West | Contact address: | c.e.west@leeds.ac.uk |
Total credits: 360
Entry requirements:
A-level: AAA - AAB, including Biology and another science or science-related subject (Science subjects: biology, human biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics or Science-related subjects: PE, computing, environmental science, food science, geography, geology, psychology, science in society, statistics, use of mathematics). If Biology is the only science subject then an A grade is required. Critical Thinking and General Studies excluded.
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
Programme specification:
Biology is a wonderfully wide-ranging subject, and Leeds, with one of the UK's largest and most diverse biology teaching groups, is well equipped to deliver. The emphasis of the programme is the whole organism to which everything is related, be it the molecules that form proteins or communities of organisms in an ecosystem. The degree is popular - for some it's the breadth of the subject that appeals, for others it's a path to specialisation. All students have the opportunity to transfer onto our related degree programmes in Genetics, Zoology, and Ecology and Conservation Biology at the end of the first year.
Level 1 exposes students to the fundamentals of Biology, suitable for progression to all programmes within the biology programme group. Programme-specific core topics are covered at Level 2 preparing for research-led subject specialist modules at Level 3. A Leeds Biology graduate is therefore trained to appreciate how research informs teaching, according to the University and School Mission statements.
At Levels 2 and 3 students are free to choose more than half of their module credits with the proviso a range of modules are selected that reflect the complexity of life forms from molecules, through organisms, both plants and animals, to populations to ensure the breadth of knowledge expected of a graduate with a biology degree. This allows students to develop their own wide-ranging interests in organismal biology. Decisions on what to study are made with input from personal tutors.
The research ethos is developed and fostered from the start via practicals, which are either embedded in lecture modules or taught in dedicated practical modules, research seminars and tutorials. There is a compulsory field course in Level 1, which students must pass in order to progress into Level 2, and optional field courses in Levels 2 and 3. At Level 3 all students carry out an independent 40 credit research project, which may be a library, data analysis, field or laboratory based project.
Academic tutorials are held at Levels 1 and 2 with the same tutor, who is also the personal tutor, providing continuity and progressive guidance. Level 1 and 2 tutorials include a number of workshops to teach skills, eg library use and presentation skills, followed by assessed exercises, eg essays and talks, as opportunities to practice these skills in a subject-specific context.
International years and Industrial placements are also offered and individual needs are discussed with the appropriate tutor and accommodated wherever possible.
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:
BLGY1125 | Biology Practicals and Data Analysis | 20 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY1128 | Living Planet | 20 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY1211 | Applied Biology and Agriculture | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY1232 | Introduction to Genetics | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY1234 | Practical Genetics | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY1300 | Coastal and Upland Habitats Field Course | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY1306 | Research and Study Skills Level 1 | 10 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
FOBS1135 | The Basis of Life | 20 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Optional modules:
Students may study up to 10 credits from the following optional modules or 10 credits of discovery modules:
BIOL1223 | Career and Professional Development for Life Scientists | 10 credits | Not running in 202021 | |
BIOL1225 | How can Biological Sciences change the world | 10 credits | Not running in 202021 | |
BMSC1210 | Biology of the Mind Pre-requisite for: BMSC2118 | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BMSC1212 | Introduction to Pharmacology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
MICR1202 | The Microbial World | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
MICR1220 | Introduction to Immunology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Discovery modules:
Candidates may study 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:
BLGY2163 | How Plants Work | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY2192 | Experimental Design and Analysis | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY2223 | Organismal Evolution | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY2294 | Animal Physiology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY2303 | Research and Study Skills Level 2 | 10 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Optional modules:
Candidates must take overall at least 50 credits and up to 70 credits of optional modules from Group A (Genetics) & Group B (Organisms).
GROUP A: GENETICS
Candidates must take at least 10 credits and up to a maximum of 40 credits from the following group of modules.
BIOL2112 | Genes and Genomes | 20 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY2201 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY2296 | Human Genetics | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
GROUP B: ORGANISMS
Candidates must take at least 20 credits and up to a maximum of 60 credits from the following group of modules.
BLGY2137 | Parasitology | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY2142 | Animal Nutrition and Metabolism Pre-requisite for: Pre-requisite for: BLGY3273 Animal Metabolism and Nutrition and BLGY3105 Applied Animal Science | 20 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
BLGY2144 | Population and Community Ecology Pre-requisite for: Pre-requisite for: BLGY3133 Advanced Topics in Ecology | 20 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
BLGY2175 | Human Populations | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY2222 | Animal Behaviour Pre-requisite for: Pre-requisite for: BLGY3122 Social Insect Biology and BLGY3135 | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY2225 | Sustainable Food Production | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY2262 | Animal Developmental Biology Pre-requisite for: Pre-requisite for: BLGY3251 Animal Developmental Biology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY2313 | Mediterranean Ecology Field Course | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY2330 | Terrestrial Ecology and Behaviour Field Course | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates can only choose either BLGY2313 or BLGY2330, not both.
If BLGY2330 is taken students must also take either or both BLGY2222 and BLGY2223.
Candidates may study up to 20 credits of the following optional modules or may take up to 20 credits of discovery modules.
Candidates must ensure that these modules do not clash with core or group options (A or B).
BIOL2210 | Biological Membranes and Cell Signalling | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BIOL2211 | Human Diseases | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BIOL2223 | Employment, Career planning and Professional Development for Life Scientists | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BMSC2118 | Neurobiology | 20 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BMSC2210 | Chemotherapy | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
MICR2121 | Molecular Virology | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
MICR2221 | Medical Immunology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
MICR2222 | Medical Virology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Discovery modules:
Candidates may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules if they have not already taken 20 credits of optional modules.
Year3 - View timetable
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
Candidates will be required to study 120 credits
Compulsory modules:
Candidates must choose a 40 credit project module.
BLGY3345 | Biology Integrated Research Projects | 40 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Optional modules:
Students will be required to study a minimum of 80 credits of optional modules. Candidates must choose at least 10 credits from each of the 'organisational' groups: A) Genetics, B) Animals, C) Plants, D) Ecology. A single module may not be used to represent more than one of these groups. For example, students choosing BLGY3245 Advanced Topics in Evolution as their Group B Animal module are required to choose a different module to represent their Group D Ecology selection.
GROUP A: GENETICS
BLGY3110 | Applied Genetics | 20 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY3152 | Advanced Topics in Human Genetics | 20 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY3246 | Evolution and Population Genetics | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY3251 | Animal Developmental Biology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY3252 | Plant Developmental Biology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
GROUP B: ANIMALS
BLGY3105 | Applied Animal Science | 10 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
BLGY3122 | Social Insect Biology | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY3245 | Advanced Topics in Evolution | 20 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY3251 | Animal Developmental Biology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY3273 | Animal Nutrition Science | 20 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY3300 | Level 3 Field Course (South Africa) | 20 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
GROUP C: PLANTS
BLGY3173 | Plant Growth, Resources and Food Security | 20 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY3205 | Applied Plant Science | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY3252 | Plant Developmental Biology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
GROUP D: ECOLOGY
BLGY3133 | Advanced Topics in Ecology | 20 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY3135 | Advanced Topics in Behaviour: from sex to death | 20 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
BLGY3245 | Advanced Topics in Evolution | 20 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY3246 | Evolution and Population Genetics | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY3247 | Advanced Topics in Conservation Science | 20 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
BLGY3300 | Level 3 Field Course (South Africa) | 20 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Last updated: 24/05/2021 09:25:15
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