Bachelor of Biomedical Science

The degree provides a solid foundation in biomedical sciences leading to a research-based honours year. With electives in biomedical sciences, students may design a specialised program that gives them an in-depth knowledge of one area of the biomedical sciences. Electives may be chosen from other faculties for a broader program. Students are taught by experts in the biomedical sciences and gain the skills necessary to understand and investigate human biology and health. The core program consists of interdisciplinary units covering modern and traditional biomedical sciences, human biology, anatomy, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, pharmacology, physiology, biomedical basis of disease and epidemiology and preventative medicine. The Bachelor of Biomedical Science provides a non-specialised degree in biomedical sciences leading to an honours program, or an in-depth specialised program in one area of biomedical science, through the selection of relevant elective units. The course is designed as a series of interlinked and consecutive sequences of units. This allows students to readily acquire fluency and proficiency in the concepts, language and fundamentals of the biomedical sciences. The distinctive feature of this educational approach is that students are allowed some flexibility in their choice of units so that they are able to construct a sequence of studies suitable to their own requirements and career aspirations. Each semester, students will receive more detailed information about all core and elective units from unit convenors and individual unit manuals. These manuals contain detailed information on teaching staff, contact persons, timetables, textbooks, reading guides, supplementary lecture material, details and weighting of assessment methods and procedures including some specific assessment dates. Manuals are available at the commencement of each semester.
Minimum entrance requirements Equivalent Australian Year 12. Minimum entrance requirements for non-school-leavers TAFE Applicants with qualifications at a diploma level who have achieved an average of at least 80% will be considered for these courses. Those from a TAFE background with medical laboratory diplomas will be given preference. University Applicants are required to demonstrate their preparedness and aptitude for study by undertaking two single units, even if they have completed the VCE prerequisites or their equivalents. It is recommended that applicants choose units that correspond to the VCE prerequisite studies for this course (see below) or units that form part of the course. Applicants require at least a distinction average (70%) in recent studies to be considered for admission. VCE prerequisites Units 3 and 4-a study score of at least 35 in English (ESL) or 30 in any other English, a study score of at least 25 in chemistry and in one of physics, mathematical methods (CAS) or specialist mathematics. International Baccalaureate subject prerequisites •A score of at least 5 in English SL or 4 in English HL or 6 in English B SL or 5 in English B HL, and •score of at least 4 in chemistry SL or 3 in chemistry HL, and •A score of at least 4 in mathematics SL or 4 in further mathematics SL or 3 in mathematics HL or 4 in physics SL or 3 in physics HL.
On completion of this course, students will: • have acquired a basic knowledge of the biomedical sciences in a range of important multidisciplinary areas • have mastered the essential analytic procedures and method of written and oral communication relevant to the field of biomedical sciences • be graduates who are well prepared for potential employment opportunities in most facets of the health care and related industries • be well prepared to embark on further vocational training or postgraduate studies in the biomedical sciences or other discipline areas • have completed a degree which will have been as broadly-based or as specifically focused as each individual student requires • have received training relevant to a range of knowledge-intensive health care industries • understand the relationship of biomedical science to other areas of learning • have acquired skills in modern information technologies, which will enhance their effectiveness in employment as modern biomedical scientists • have been exposed to the research frontier at which advances in biomedical science are occurring • have an appreciation of the ethical and social attitudes and responsibilities which arise as a professional, practising biomedical scientist.