Human HealtHScienceSWitHPlYmOutHuniVeRSitYUNDERGRADUATE

Human HealtH ScienceSWitHPlYmOutHuniVeRSitYDISCOVER MOREIf you would like to visit Plymouth and meet our staff, then why not come along to one of our open days.

For more information or to book a place visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/ugopenday

For further information on this course visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses or contact us via telephone on +44 (0)1752 58 58 58 or via email at admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

This publication went to print June 2012 – which may be more than two years before the start of your course. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. However, as our courses and services are regularly reviewed and updated, some details may change.

The University is committed to the promotion of equality and diversity. If you require this publication in an alternative format, please contact us onthe number above.

Human HealtH ScienceSUnderstanding and applying the science that underpins human health is an exciting, challenging and fast-moving area. We offer degree courses in biomedical science, nutrition, exercise and health and healthcare science that are accredited by professional bodies (human biosciences recognition in progress) and provide exciting opportunities for careers in research, industry, healthcare, the NHS, medicine and dentistry.

SPECIAL FEATURES

•Coursesaccreditedbyprofessional bodies

•Developpracticalskills,criticalthinkingand professional competence

•Newteachingandresearchlaboratoriesand state-of-the-art systems biology facilities (including next generation sequencing and proteomics) provides practical research experience

•Teachingisdirectlyenrichedbythe world class research activities of staff within the school

•Enhancedbylinkswithhealthcareprofessionals and the Peninsula CollegeofMedicineandDentistry

•Personaldevelopmentsupportedby a personal tutor

•Ourethosistoassistyouinacquiringthe confidence, skills, attributes and critical thinking necessary to choose and make the most of specialist topics within this rapidly expanding field.

•Optionalworkplacements(integrated work placements on BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science) and international study

•Optionalresearchinternships

BiOmeDical ScienceBiomedical science profoundly influences our understanding of human health and disease. This course provides a high quality, research-informed, scientific education that highlights current developments in biomedicine and examines how these influence clinical and diagnostic practice.

SPECIAL FEATURES

•Providesastrongfoundationina wide range of research-informed biomedical subjects and promotes an understanding of how to utilise this knowledge in a range of professional settings.

•Abilitytostudyspecialistareas of laboratory diagnostics.

•Emphasisonpracticalskills.•Optionalplacementyear.•Modulesfocusonthe

scientific understanding of pathological processes.

•Taughtcomponentsaredirectlyenriched by the research activities of the staff within the school.

•TeachingenrichedbyNHS professionals.

•CourseaccreditedbytheInstitute ofBiomedicalScience(IBMS).

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The first two years provide founding knowledge and practical skills associated with the core biomedical disciplines. Modulescoverfundamentalaspectsof human anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, haematology, cellular pathology and genetics. Students also develop the ability to work independently, critically evaluate scientific literature and communicate information in an appropriate manner. These skills are then employed in the final year personal research project and research focused modules.

RESEARCH

Students are taught by internationally recognised researchers who are active in a variety of fields relevant to the course.

Areasincludevaccinedevelopment,non-invasive diagnostics, cancer, inflammation, immune dysfunction and metabolic disorders. Students are encouraged to become actively involved in our research during their final year project and also through the availability of university research placements and internships.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Ourgraduatescanenterawiderangeofexciting career pathways. They possess the attributes and skills necessary to seek employment as a biomedical scientist in pharmaceutical and academic research laboratories and many graduates go on to study for higher degrees in these settings. The award also offers a route to NHS laboratory diagnostic practice after a suitably administered and assessed period of workplace learning. The emphasis on pathological processes and disease studies also provides a good grounding for those who wish to enter postgraduate medicine or dentistry. The transferable skills obtained throughout the course will also prepare you for careers in health service management, secondary and primary school teaching, commerce and other public laboratories.

“I chose BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences because I find human health and disease extremely interesting. The modules offered were varied and very attractive. I already had an inkling that I wanted to work in a laboratory and I decided that this course would give me the wide range of skills necessary to follow that path.”

Holly Hardy – 3rd year BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences, 2012

HealtHcaRe ScienceSProgrammestailoredtotheModernisingScientificCareersagendatoeducatethefutureclinicalworkforceinclinicalphysiologyandclinicallaboratoryscience.Degreesincorporate work training placements within professional healthcare specialising in human pathophysiology for cardiovascular, respiratory and sleep physiology or within clinical laboratories specialising in human blood, cellular or infection science.

SPECIAL FEATURES

•AccreditedbyMedicalEducationEngland and the National School of Healthcare Science allowing graduates to apply to be registered by an appropriate professional body for their career path.

•Corefoundationmodulesfocusingonprofessional practice, biomolecular science, genetics and development, infection and immunity, anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, pharmacology and therapeutics.

•Specialistmoduleswithincardiovascular or respiratory and sleep physiology (clinical physiology) or within blood, cellular or infection sciences (life sciences).

•Workplacetraininginprofessionalpractice to consolidate learning for periods of 10 weeks (year one),

15 weeks (year two) and 25 weeks (year three). Students will specialise in year two and year three within their chosen discipline.*

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Healthcare science degrees focus on physiology or pathobiology of normal and disease processes. Students will gain expertise from specialist tutors and NHS workplace educators to allow merit in professional competencies required within modern and future healthcare practice. The first year introduces foundation knowledge and integrates rotational placement within core disciplines. Students will specialise within the second year gaining knowledge in applied, complex and advanced investigations and apply their learning to a research project in the final year.

RESEARCH

Students are taught by internationally recognised researchers active in fields ranging from cardiovascular signalling, malignant haematology, diabetes and metabolism, cellular crosstalk in inflammation. Research informed teaching promotes the latest developments within healthcare diagnostics and treatment.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Graduates will be qualified Healthcare Science Practitioners through the National School of Healthcare Science andMedicalEducationEnglandenabling employment within the NHS and associated clinical areas of expert healthcare provision. Graduates wishing to take the opportunity of further education will be eligible for direct entry onto the Scientist Training Programme.

“This degree programme is not only intellectually stimulating but it allows opportunities for real-life clinical exposure and provides a lot of patient interaction. This allows me to combine my social skills with my love of science.”Ali Wong – BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences)

“The interaction between academic learning and clinical exposure has created a more dynamic and challenging learning environment.” Jamie Walton – BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences)

“Studying this course provides an invaluable insight into the vital science that underpins medicine. Clinicalplacementsprovideauniqueopportunity to see and run diagnostic tests, as well as providing us with the opportunity to make life-long contacts within the field of healthcare and biomedical sciences.” Neil Marshall – BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Life Sciences)

* please note these courses run over an extended academic curricula similar to nursing and midwifery or medical degrees.

Human BiOScienceSWill gene therapy become an established treatment for cancer? What are the ethical issues associated with the use of stem cells? Human biosciences focuses on the scientific basis of human health and disease by developing an understanding of how we function at the molecular, cellular and physiological levels and considers how advances in this exciting field impact on society.

SPECIAL FEATURES

•Strongfoundationinthecorehumanbioscience disciplines of cellular and molecular biology, genetics, immunology, physiology, biochemistry and microbiology and their relationship with health and disease.

•Opportunitiestoincludeelements of psychology.

•Explorethemesofpersonalinterestatall stages including a range of in-depth final year option modules focussed on the latest scientific developments.

•Asubstantialfinalyearresearchprojectchosen from a diverse range of relevant topics offered by academic staff.

•BenefitfromcloselinkswiththePeninsulaCollegeofMedicineandDentistry.

•Optionalplacementopportunitiesprovide students with relevant work experience.

•Personaldevelopmentandsupportafforded by a personal tutor in individual and small group meetings.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Graduates are expected to have a thorough knowledge, understanding and practical experience of human biosciences. Subject specific skills will be complemented by a suite of generic skills. Emphasis is placed on developing the ability to work independently, to design and analyse studies, and to write and present results. We aim to produce graduates who are critical, rational and creative thinkers with the skills and confidence to shape and achieve their career goals and aspirations.

RESEARCH

Students are taught by internationally recognised researchers active in fields directly related to this programme. Currentstaffinterestsincludeantenataldiagnosis, bacterial pathogenicity, bone cell biology, cardiac physiology, cell signalling, dietary interventions, hyperbaric oxygen therapies, mitochondrial dysfunction, mucosal immunology, mutagenicity, neuroscience and pain, post genomic technologies, and toxicology among others.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The balance between breadth and depth in this degree opens up many opportunities.

Anincreasingnumberofhumanbiosciences graduates have gone on to study medicine or dentistry, gaining admission via a graduate entry programme.Othershaveoptedforacareer in the teaching profession. Manyprogressontopostgraduatestudyeither to enhance their knowledge in a more specialised area (eg cancer therapeutics)viaanMSc,ortoresearchforaPhDwiththeaimoffollowingaresearch career. There is a wide range of careers in biomedical and public health laboratories, health counselling, the leisure industry, pharmaceutical sales and marketing, health product development, medical laboratory technology, environmental agencies, the cosmetics industry, food quality control and scientific publishing. The transferable and analytical skills developed can also be applied to careers outside science in commerce, management and administration.

“BSc (Hons) Human Biosciences allows you to study a wide and varied selection of subject areas without restricting you to any one in particular. This gives you more freedom and choice when it comes to final year research, postgraduate study and career opportunities.”Lorna Chapman – BSc (Hons) Human Biosciences, 2006

“MythreeyearsatPlymouthUniversityfinished far too soon. The University has been wonderful, the city is lovely, and despite being hard work my course has been fun. The passion my lecturers have for the subject and their own research has rubbed off on me. I hope to go on to doaPhD-somethingIneverwouldhavedreamed of before coming to Plymouth.” Annie Knight – BSc (Hons) Human Biosciences, 2012

nutRitiOn, eXeRciSe & HealtHIt is clear that diet and physical inactivity are important contributing factors to many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancers and diabetes. This course examines how nutritional changes and exercise affect human physiology and metabolism. It will enable you to investigate interventions for lifestyle change and will equip you with practical experience and skills for careers in this field.

SPECIAL FEATURES

•AccreditedwiththeAssociationfor Nutrition allowing graduates to apply directly to be a Registered AssociateNutritionist.

•Astrongfoundationinmajordisciplines underpinning nutritional and exercise sciences – physiology, biochemistry, genetics, psychology.

•Alargeandvariedpracticalcomponent including investigations with human volunteers such as dietary assessments, energy expenditure and body composition measurements, fitness testing, blood glucose responses to meals.

•Developscriticalawarenessand proficiencies required for professional competence.

•AnoptionalLevel3PersonalTrainercertificate may be undertaken to enhance employability.

•Interdisciplinaryteachingthatbenefitsfrom strong links with the Faculty of Health, Education and Society and the School of Psychology.

•Anoptionalworkplacementmay be taken.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

We aim to develop a strong scientific understanding of the effect of diet and exercise patterns on human metabolism and physiology. The first year focuses on the core aspects of human biology, metabolism, psychology and nutrition. The second year modules address the more applied effects of nutrition and exercise on health and disease. Students also develop skills for professional practice, practical investigations, communicating scientific findings and evaluating evidence in the literature. In the final year students apply their learning to a research project in a chosen area and evaluate nutritional and exercise interventions in public health and for athletes.

RESEARCH

Students are taught by nationally and internationally recognised researchers. Staff research interests include dietary interventions for children, obesity management, exercise and appetite regulation and the use of probiotics. Staff endeavour to draw on their own research and that of others, to inform their teaching keeping you up to date with the latest developments in the field.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Aftergraduatingyouwillbewellequipped to work in a range of areas within the nutrition, health and fitness fields. This could be within health promotion for local authorities or the NHS, community initiatives in health and lifestyle education, or with the foodindustryorhealthcharities.AsanAssociateRegisteredNutritionistyouwill be able to apply for jobs requiring a registered nutrition professional. With theLevel3PersonalTrainercertificateyou could work as a lifestyle advisor in the fitness/leisure industry or become self-employed.Ourgraduateshavealso taken opportunities for further education through masters programmes in related areas. The transferable and analytical skills developed can also be applied to other careers such as teaching and medical/health writing.

“Studying at Plymouth University has been an absolute pleasure, with great teaching staff and modern facilities. The course has provided me with a solid grounding in nutrition and exercise science. It has also highlighted the huge problems faced by the UK regarding diet-related disease and physical inactivity, and opened my eyes to possible effective solutions. I have not only acquired knowledge but developed essential skills which I will take into my future career.”Alex Mateus – BSc (Hons) Exercise, Nutrition and Health, 2012

“Studying this course at Plymouth University has provided lots of opportunities to learn and develop practical skills. Sessions with real clients were excellent ways to learn about nutritional assessment and exercise physiology in a practical setting. The course provided a lot of opportunity for interaction with staff due to some smallclasssizes.Learningwitha‘hands-on approach’ has been a particular advantage of this course which I have thoroughly enjoyed.”Katherine Palmer – BSc (Hons) Exercise, Nutrition and Health, 2012