UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE

Programme Specification

This Programme Specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.

1. Awarding Institution / Body University of Central Lancashire

2. Teaching Institution and University of Central Lancashire Location of Delivery 3. University School/Centre School of Forensic and Applied Sciences

4. External Accreditation None

5. Title of Final Award BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences

6. Modes of Attendance offered Full time

7. UCAS Code C900 BScBiol/S

8. Relevant Subject Biosciences Benchmarking Group(s) 9. Other external influences Society of Biology

10. Date of production/revision July 2015 of this form

11. Aims of the Programme

 To develop a knowledge and understanding of biological science, based on a scientific foundation, with the ability to apply knowledge and analyse and evaluate information.  To instil an understanding of the study of biological science and its importance and application in different contexts.  To involve the learner in a stimulating learning environment in which students are encouraged to achieve personal growth in terms of a wide range of skills including communication, numeracy, IT, independence, interpersonal and group-working skills.  To develop competence in the definition, implementation and monitoring of plans for self-development.  To prepare the learner for a career in biological science or in positions requiring knowledge of biological science.

12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods

A. Knowledge and Understanding

A1 Be able to engage with some of the current developments in the biosciences and their applications, and the philosophical and ethical issues involved. In addition to being aware of the contribution of biosciences to debate and controversies, and how this knowledge and understanding forms the basis for informed concern about the quality and sustainability of life. (BB 3.2). A2 Be able to critically discuss and evaluate the principles that underpin biological science and the methods used for their investigation. This could include elements where uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge within the discipline are exemplified. A3 Be able to apply theory/knowledge to new situations, including the formulation of a hypothesis, the design of experiments and the application of knowledge to new contexts in the biological sciences (BB 3.2). A4 Be able to determine an appropriate statistical test to analyse data that will be produced from various types of study and be able to apply those tests (BB 3.2 & 3.7). Teaching and Learning Methods

A range of teaching and learning methods will be used, including lectures, practical’s, IT, laboratory sessions, tutorials, presentations, reading, problem solving exercises, case studies, discussions and reflection. The final year research module will provide students the opportunity to develop research skills. Assessment methods

Students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding through a combination of workbooks; short notes; essays; reports of various types e.g. practical reports, summaries, data analysis; group and individual presentations and end of module examinations. The final module mark is based on a weighted aggregate of all assignments in that module. B. Subject-specific skills

B1. Be able to employ a variety of methods to study in investigating, recording and analysing material (BB 3.6). B2. Be able to make use of appropriate laboratory equipment to enable a biological study to be undertaken (BB 3.2). B3. Be able to discuss the safety aspects to be considered when undertaking laboratory based investigations and to work safely within a laboratory environment. B4. Be able to analyse a range of data derived experimentally or sourced from the literature or databases and present them in the most appropriate format and interpret the findings from such data (BB 3.2 & 3.7). B5. Be able to appreciate the complexity and diversity of life processes through the study of organisms, their molecular, cellular and physiological processes, their genetics and evolution, and the interrelationships between them and their environment (BB 3.3). B6. Be able 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 (BB 3.3). Teaching and Learning Methods

A range of teaching and learning methods will be used including lectures, data interpretation exercises; laboratory practical work, using workbooks or laboratory manuals and the production of appropriate written and/or oral material based on the work. Write laboratory reports. Safe working practices are included in all laboratory investigations, but particularly when designing experiments and in the final year research project. Material will also be explored in lectures, tutorials and seminars enabling students the opportunity to discuss and debate biological processes and place it in a wider scientific context.

Assessment methods

Students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding through a combination of laboratory competencies; laboratory notebooks; workbooks; presentations; examinations; reports of various types e.g. practical reports, data analysis; case studies; essays and a research project report. ascertain their understanding. The final module mark is based on a weighted aggregate of all assignments in that module.

C. Thinking Skills

C1. Be able to locate and appraise critically relevant published literature and extract pertinent information from such sources (BB 3.5). C2. Be able to define and develop strategies for solving problems. C3. Be able to analyse a range of data derived experimentally, or from the literature or databanks, and evaluate it critically with the support of a logical and structured argument (BB 3.5).

Teaching and Learning Methods A range of teaching and learning activities will be used including lectures; practical work, data interpretation exercises; case studies; problem based exercises; discussions within the group and with tutors. A final year research module will give the students the opportunity to develop their research skills, including selection and interpretative skills and mastery of using primary and secondary sources.

Assessment methods

Students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding through a combination of workbooks; short notes; essays; presentations; examinations; reports of various types e.g. practical reports, summaries, data analysis and the final year research project. The final module mark is based on a weighted aggregate of all assignments in that module.

D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development

D1. Be able to write using an appropriate scientific style (BB 3.2 & 3.7). D2. Be able to work as a useful contributor to a group or independently (BB 3.9). D3. Be able to use IT effectively for information retrieval, analysis, communication and presentations (BB 3.7 & BB 3.8). D4. Be able to communicate appropriately to a variety of audiences using a range of formats and approaches, using appropriate scientific language (BB 3.8) D5. Be able to develop the skills necessary for self-managed and lifelong learning to include working independently, time management, organisational, enterprise and knowledge transfer skills (BB 3.10).

Teaching and Learning Methods

Coursework is generally required to be word processed; workshops developing skills in the use of appropriate IT sources, including the World Wide Web, the use of databases and suitable IT analytical packages; workshops on library and literature searching; presentations; practical work incorporating numeracy and statistics; teamwork through tutorials, case studies, practical’s and problem solving activities. Students are given guidance on the development of skills via the personal tutor system. Assessment methods

Students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding through a combination of written reports, presentations; laboratory notebooks; group and individual project; data analysis and presentations and a final year research project report. The final module mark is based on a weighted aggregate of all assignments in that module.

13. Programme Structures* 14. Awards and Credits*

Level Module Module Title Credit Code rating BL 3299* Research Project (C) 40 or BL 3298* Group Research Project (C) 40 or BSc (Hons) Biological BL 3297* International Research Project 40 Sciences (C)

BL 3236 Biological Control Systems (O) 20 Requires 360 credits, including a minimum of 220 at Level 5 or BL 3235 Current Practices in Clinical 10 above, and including 100 at Microbiology (O) Level 6. BL 3220 Advanced Systems 20 Pharmacology (O)

BL 3219 Current Practice in 10 BSc Biological Sciences Haematology (O) Requires 320 credits including a minimum of 180 at Level 5 or BL 3218 Current Practice in Clinical 10 above, and including 60 at Biochemistry (O) Level 6. BL 3217 Molecular Biomedicine (O) 10

BL 3216 Current Practice in Cell 10 Science (O)

BL3215 Immunology (O) 10

BL 3214 Evolution (COMP) 10

BL 3213 Molecular Neurobiology (O) 20

BL3212 Drug Therapies: II 20 Pathophysiology & Treatment of CNS, Cancer & Pain (O)

BL3206 Biology of Disease (O) 20

BL3202 Drugs: From Discovery to Use 20 & Abuse (O) Le PJ3202 Microbiological & 20 ve Immunological bases of l Disease (O) 6 ELECTIVE 10 DipHE

BL2298 International Work Placement 20 Requires 240 credits including (O) a minimum of 100 at Level 5 or above. BL2297 Student Work Place Module 20 (O)

BL 2219 Genetics & Biodiversity 10 (COMP)

BL 2217 Systems Pharmacology (O) 10

BL 2216 Cellular Investigations (O) 20

BL 2215 Biostatistics (COMP) 10 Le BL 2214 Physiological Systems (O) 20 ve l 5 BL 2211 Practical Skills and their 20 Application to Diagnostic Analysis (COMP)

BL 2210 Cell Culture Approaches to 10 Drug Testing & Toxicology (O)

BL2206 The Investigation of Disease 20 (O)

Molecular & Cellular Biology BL2203 20 (COMP) 10 PS2860 Physiology – Organisms and their Environment (O)

ELECTIVES 20 BL 1221 Introduction to Healthcare 20 Sciences (O) CertHE

BL 1220 Integrative Biological Sciences 40 Requires 120 credits at Level 4 (COMP) or above. BL 1219 Biological Chemistry and 20 Foundation Mathematics (COMP) Le BL 1217 Introduction to Pharmacology 10 ve (COMP) l 4 BL 1216 Research Skills (COMP) 10

BL 1214 Blood Bone and the Special 10 Senses (O)

BL1212 Biosciences in the News 10 (COMP)

ELECTIVE 10 *A project module (either BL3299, BL3298 or BL3297) is a core requirement for an honours degree

15 Personal Development Planning

Students are introduced to the idea of PDP and career planning through sessions in induction week, including a talk from a careers advisor or employer and meetings with their personal tutor. Reflection and self-assessment on their achievements and goal setting is supported by linking selected coursework to the reflection process. Students are asked to reflect (and record their reflections) on these pieces of work both before submission and after obtaining the mark and feedback. The students have meetings with their personal tutors who are responsible for discussing the reflection and notifying the module tutors that it has occurred. Reflection is encouraged and a small percentage of the coursework mark is directly linked to providing evidence of engaging in the PDP process.

Students are advised to keep a progress file containing the reflections and examples of work. In the 3rd year, students are asked to supply to their personal tutor their best examples and reflections showing achievement in a list of skills. Any references are based on the information the student has provided plus module results. Work on career development, CV writing etc is incorporated in group sessions scheduled in induction/reading weeks.

16. Admissions criteria

260 points including Biology or Chemistry at A2 level or Science at Advanced VCE or appropriate combination and Maths and English GCSE Grade C or above. Other acceptable qualifications include:

 Scottish Certificate of Higher Education Higher Grade passes  Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Grade  International Baccalaureate  BTEC National Certificate/Diploma (DDD)  Kite marked Access Course

Students where English is not the first language need to demonstrate their ability in the English language through obtaining an IELTS score of 6 or above or equivalent.

Applications from people with relevant work or life experience and/or non-standard qualifications are welcome.

17. Key sources of information about the programme  Outside the University – QAA website, including the Biosciences benchmarks statements; UCAS handbooks and web site; National Occupational Standards.  University sources – University School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences web sites; School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences brochures; University prospectus, Student Handbook. 18. Curriculum Skills Map – BSc(Hons) Biological Sciences

Programme Learning Outcomes

Core (C), Level Module Title Compulsory Knowledge and Thinking Other skills relevant to (COMP) or understanding Subject-specific Skills Skills employability and personal Option (O) development B5 A2 A3 A4 B1 B3 B6 C2 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5

LBL3299 Res C              E earc BL3298 h C              VBL3297 Proj C              E ect L OR Grou p 6 Res earc h Proj ect OR Inter natio nal Res earc h Proj ect BL3236 Biolo O            gical Cont rol Syst ems BL3235 Curr O           ent Prac tices in Clini cal Micr obiol ogy BL3220 Adva O         nced Syst ems Phar mac olog y BL3219 Curr O          ent Prac tice in Hae mato logy BL3218 Curr O         ent Prac tice in Clini cal Bioc hemi stry BL3217 Mole O          cular Biom edici ne BL3216 Curr O         ent Prac tice in Cell Scie nce BL3215 Imm O       unol ogy BL3214 Evol COMP           ution BL3213 Mole O             cular Neur obiol ogy BL3212 Drug O           Ther apie s: II Path ophy siolo gy & Trea tmen t of CNS , Can cer & Pain BL3206 Biolo O          gy of Dise ase BL3202 Drug O        s: Fro m Disc over y to Use & Abus e PJ3202 Micr O          obiol ogic al & Imm unol ogic al Base s of Dise ase

18. Curriculum Skills Map – BSc(Hons) Biological Sciences

Level Module Title Programme Learning Outcomes Core (C), Compulsory Knowledge and Thinking Other skills relevant to (COMP) or understanding Subject-specific Skills Skills employability and personal Option (O) development

A2 A4 B1 B2 B3 B5 C1 C2 D1 D3 D4 D5 PS2860 Phy O      siolo gy – Org anis ms & their Envi ron men t BL2298 Inter O            nati onal Wor k Plac eme nt BL2297 Stud O           ent Wor k Plac e Mod ule LEV BL2219 Gen COMP              EL etics 5 & Biod iver sity BL2217 Syst O          ems Pha rma colo gy BL2216 Cell O       ular Inve stig atio ns BL2215 Bios           tatis tics COMP BL2214 Phy O            siolo gical Syst ems BL2211 Prac  tical            Skill s & their Appl icati on to Diag nost ic Anal COMP ysis BL2210 Cell O          Cult ure App roac hes to Dru g Test ing & Toxi colo gy BL2206 The O          Inve stig atio n of Dise ase BL2203 Mol           ecul ar & Cell ular Biol ogy COMP LEV BL1221 Intro O          EL duct 4 ion to Heal thca re Scie nce s BL1220 Inte COMP             grati ve Biol ogic al Scie nce s BL1219 Biol COMP          ogic al Che mist ry & Fou ndat ion Mat hem atics BL1217 Intro COMP        duct ion to Pha rma colo gy BL1216 Res COMP         earc h Skill s BL1214 Bloo O       d Bon e and the Spe cial Sen ses BL1212 Bios COMP          cien ces in the New s