Module and Programme Catalogue

Search site

Find information on

2020/21 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BSc Biology

Programme code:BS-BLGYUCAS 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:

BLGY1125Biology Practicals and Data Analysis20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY1128Living Planet20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY1211Applied Biology and Agriculture10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY1232Introduction to Genetics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY1234Practical Genetics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY1300Coastal and Upland Habitats Field Course10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY1306Research and Study Skills Level 110 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
FOBS1135The Basis of Life20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Optional modules:

Students may study up to 10 credits from the following optional modules or 10 credits of discovery modules:

BIOL1223Career and Professional Development for Life Scientists10 creditsNot running in 202021
BIOL1225How can Biological Sciences change the world10 creditsNot running in 202021
BMSC1210Biology of the Mind
Pre-requisite for: BMSC2118
10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BMSC1212Introduction to Pharmacology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MICR1202The Microbial World10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MICR1220Introduction to Immunology10 creditsSemester 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:

BLGY2163How Plants Work10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY2192Experimental Design and Analysis10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY2223Organismal Evolution10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY2294Animal Physiology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY2303Research and Study Skills Level 210 creditsSemesters 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.

BIOL2112Genes and Genomes20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY2201Introduction to Bioinformatics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY2296Human Genetics10 creditsSemester 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.

BLGY2137Parasitology10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY2142Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Pre-requisite for: Pre-requisite for: BLGY3273 Animal Metabolism and Nutrition and BLGY3105 Applied Animal Science
20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
BLGY2144Population and Community Ecology
Pre-requisite for: Pre-requisite for: BLGY3133 Advanced Topics in Ecology
20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
BLGY2175Human Populations10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY2222Animal Behaviour
Pre-requisite for: Pre-requisite for: BLGY3122 Social Insect Biology and BLGY3135
10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY2225Sustainable Food Production10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY2262Animal Developmental Biology
Pre-requisite for: Pre-requisite for: BLGY3251 Animal Developmental Biology
10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY2313Mediterranean Ecology Field Course10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY2330Terrestrial Ecology and Behaviour Field Course10 creditsSemester 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).

BIOL2210Biological Membranes and Cell Signalling10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BIOL2211Human Diseases10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BIOL2223Employment, Career planning and Professional Development for Life Scientists10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BMSC2118Neurobiology20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BMSC2210Chemotherapy10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MICR2121Molecular Virology10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MICR2221Medical Immunology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MICR2222Medical Virology10 creditsSemester 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.

BLGY3345Biology Integrated Research Projects40 creditsSemesters 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

BLGY3110Applied Genetics20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY3152Advanced Topics in Human Genetics20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY3246Evolution and Population Genetics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY3251Animal Developmental Biology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY3252Plant Developmental Biology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

GROUP B: ANIMALS

BLGY3105Applied Animal Science10 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
BLGY3122Social Insect Biology10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY3245Advanced Topics in Evolution20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY3251Animal Developmental Biology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY3273Animal Nutrition Science20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY3300Level 3 Field Course (South Africa)20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

GROUP C: PLANTS

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)

GROUP D: ECOLOGY

BLGY3133Advanced Topics in Ecology20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY3135Advanced Topics in Behaviour: from sex to death20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BLGY3245Advanced Topics in Evolution20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY3246Evolution and Population Genetics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY3247Advanced Topics in Conservation Science20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY3300Level 3 Field Course (South Africa)20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Last updated: 24/05/2021 09:25:15

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD

© Copyright Leeds 2019