2017 Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Medical Biotechnology (Honours) | 2017

This information is for students commencing their course in 2017. Students follow the rules and requirements for the year they commenced their course. Please refer to the Archives link in the menu for years prior to 2017.

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Medical Biotechnology (Honours)

Abbreviation:

BMedBiotech(Hons)

UOW Course Code:

1781

CRICOS Code:

084862C

Total Credit Points:

192

Duration:

4 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Home Faculty:

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health

Intake Session(s):

Autumn

Delivery Mode:

On-campus (Face-to-face)

Delivery Campus / UAC Code:

Wollongong / 757611

Additional Information:

Course Finder

Overview

Through technologies such as genetic engineering, biotechnology is shaping diverse aspects of medicine (treating cancer, vaccines, therapy and diagnosis of genetic diseases) and industry (bioremediation).

UOW's Bachelor of Medical Biotechnology (Honours) provides you with the tools and knowledge to work in both of these areas.

You will complete a major in cellular and molecular biology, including genetics, immunology and bioinformatics. You will also complete a major strand of chemistry and an optional strand in human anatomy and physiology. The nature of subjects like genetic engineering means you will also complete studies in ethics and management.

If you do not qualify for direct entry to the degree you can gain admission via the Bachelor of Science, subject to satisfactory performance in first year and approval of the Course Co-ordinator and the Head of Students.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements and English requirements are available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Medical Biotechnology (Honours) will be able to:

  1. Describe and appraise broad knowledge of the principles and concepts of cell and molecular biology associated with medical science.
  2. Demonstrate skills in reviewing, analysing, interpreting and synthesising data, methodologies and other information to independently generate solutions to complex problems.
  3. Exercise critical thinking and judgement in integrating new understanding into one or more disciplinary areas.
  4. Communicate knowledge, ideas and independent research findings clearly and coherently through a range of mediums to a professional audience.
  5. Demonstrate initiative and judgement to adapt knowledge and skills associated with medical, cell or molecular biology that can be applied in a professional context.
  6. Independently plan and execute a research project associated with medical, cell or molecular biology.
  7. Appreciate the role, relevance and ethical implications of science in society and demonstrate understanding of the requirements of professional responsibility and ethical conduct. 

Course Structure

Students who have not completed HSC Mathematics at Band 4 or higher (or equivalent) are required to complete a mathematics subject (MATH151 or equivalent) normally in the first year.

Students may only count 60 credit points of 100-level subjects towards the degree.

Students must have a grade of Pass (not Pass Supplementary) or higher in 300-level core subjects which form part of a Science major.

This is a prescribed program of study comprising core and optional subjects as set out below.

Progression Requirements

Satisfactory performance must be achieved (normally a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 75% or greater in 300-level Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Health Sciences subjects) for entry into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Medical Biotechnology (Honours) degree. Students with a WAM below 75% in 300-level subjects may only progress into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Medical Biotechnology (Honours) with the approval of the Medical Biotechnology Coordinator. Students who do not gain entry into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Medical Biotechnology (Honours) degree will normally be required to transfer into the Bachelor of Science (Medical Biotechnology) degree.

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Year 1
Autumn
BIOL105 Functional Biology of Animals and Plants 6 Autumn
MATH151 General Mathematics 1A 6 Autumn
Select ONE of the following two subjects:
Note: Students who have achieved a mark of 65% or more in NSW HSC Chemistry or equivalent must select CHEM101 and CHEM102. All other students must select CHEM104 and CHEM105.
CHEM101 Chemistry IA: Introductory Physical and General Chemistry 6 Autumn
CHEM104 Foundation Chemistry: Properties of Matter 6 Autumn
Spring
BIOL103 Molecules, Cells and Organisms 6 Spring
Select ONE of the following two subjects:
CHEM102 Chemistry 1B: Structure and Reactivity of Molecules for Life 6 Spring
CHEM105 Foundation Chemistry: Reactions and Structures 6 Spring
Note: Students who have completed CHEM104 and CHEM105 and wish to enrol in CHEM212 must also complete CHEM106.
CHEM106 Foundation Chemistry: Properties and Reactivity of Matter 6 Summer 2017/2018
Plus other elective subjects to give a total 48 credit points for Year 1 of which, 6 credit points should be one of the following subjects:
BIOL104 Evolution, Biodiversity and Environment 6 Autumn
MEDI100Human Structure and Function 6 Autumn
STS 100 Knowledge, Culture & Social Change: Science, Technology & Society* 6 Autumn
PHYS155 Introduction to Biomedical Physics 6 Spring
MEDI112 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology II 6 Spring
*STS 100 is compulsory for those students taking an approved course of study which does not include SOC 251 (in Year 2).
Year 2
Autumn
BIOL213 Principles of Biochemistry 6 Autumn
Spring
BIOL214 The Biochemistry of Energy and Metabolism 6 Spring
BIOL215 Introductory Genetics 6 Spring
CHEM214 Analytical and Environmental Chemistry 6 Spring
STAT252 Statistics For the Natural Sciences 6 Spring
Plus, 18 credit points of subjects from the following list:
BIOL240 Biodiversity of Marine and Freshwater Organisms 6 Autumn
CHEM212 Organic Chemistry II 6 Autumn
MGNT208 Introduction to Management for Professionals A 6 Autumn
MEDI211 Control Mechanisms Physiology 6 Autumn
SOC 251 Social Aspects of Genetics and Biotechnology** 6 Autumn
BIOL241 Biodiversity of Terrestrial Organisms 6 Spring
**SOC 251 is compulsory for students who have not taken STS 100 in Year 1.
Year 3
Autumn
BIOL343 Techniques in Biotechnology and Medical Research 6 Not available in 2017
BIOL340 Cell and Molecular Biology 6 Not available in 2017
Plus, two subjects from the following list:
BIOL362 Ecophysiology 6 Not available in 2017
BIOL364 Advanced Biology 6 Not available in 2017
CHEM358 Pharmacology 6 Not available in 2017
MEDI312 Fundamentals of Neuroscience** 6 Not available in 2017
PHIL326 Bioethics 6 Not available in 2017
**Subject to approval from the Subject Coordinator
Or other subjects approved by the Coordinator.
Spring
BIOL341 Immunity and Infection 6 Not available in 2017
CHEM325 Bioinformatics:Genome, Genes and Biomolecules 6 Not available in 2017
Plus, two subjects from the following list:
BIOL364 Advanced Biology 6 Not available in 2017
CHEM360 Organic Synthesis III 6 Not available in 2017
MEDI323 Cardiorespiratory Studies 6 Not available in 2017
ECON318 Economics of Health and Human Resources 6 Spring
SOC 347 Sociology of Health, Illness and Medicine 6 Spring
HAS 350 Social Determinants of Indigenous Health 6 Spring
Or other subjects approved by the Coordinator.
Year 4
Select either the full-time (48cp) or 48cp of the equivalent part-time subject (2 x 24cp) option below.
BIOL420 Biotechnology Honours 48 SMAH Annual, SMAH Annual 2017/2018
BIOL418 Biotechnology Honours (Part-Time) 24 SMAH Annual, SMAH Annual 2017/2018

Honours

The Honours grade for the degree of Bachelor of Medical Biotechnology (Honours) will be calculated in accordance with Method 1 defined in the General Course Rules Section 8.

Credit Arrangements

Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.

Professional Recognition/Accreditation

Graduates qualify to apply for membership of the Australian Institute of Biology, the Australian Society of Microbiology and the Australian Biotechnology Society.

Other Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: smah-students@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 4 November, 2016