Pathology
Study in Pathology is offered by the Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology in the Sydney Medical School. Units of study in this minor are available at standard and advanced level.
About the minor
The immune system is an integrated network of cells and specialised organs that can respond to external and internal threats. It can be mobilized to protect humans from infections and cancer while simultaneously being the underlying mechanism of major acute and chronic pathologies.
The Pathology minor examines how it is that our immune system can be both the cause and the cure of disease in humans and animals. This is important, as an understanding of pathological mechanisms allows us to think about how our immune system can be manipulated to prevent and treat disease. This minor draws together studies in immunology, pathology, microbiology, biology, biochemistry, and physiology.
Requirements for completion
A minor in Pathology requires 36 credit points, consisting of:
(i) 6 credit points of 1000-level core units
(ii) 6 credit points of 1000-level selective units
(iii) 6 credit points of 2000-level core units
(iv) 6 credit points of 2000-level selective units
(v) 12 credit points of 3000-level core units
Pathway through the minor
The requirements for a minor in Pathology are spread out over three years of the degree.
A sample pathway for the Pathology minor is listed below.
Sample pathway: Pathology minor (36 credit points)
|
Year |
Session |
Units of study |
|---|---|---|
|
First |
Semester 1 or 2 |
Core: CHEM1XX1 Chemistry 1A |
|
Semester 1 or 2 |
Selective: BIOL1XX7 From Molecules to Ecosystems or BIOL1XX8 Human Biology (MEDS1X01 only available to students in the medical science stream.) |
|
|
Second |
Semester 1 |
Core: IMMU2101 Introductory Immunology (MIMI2X02 in 2019) (BMED2404, MEDS2004 only available to students in the medical science stream.) |
|
Semester 2 |
Selective: 2000-level units listed for major |
|
|
Third |
Semester 1 or 2 |
Core: CPAT3201 Pathogenesis of Human Disease 1 (PATH3X11 in 2019) Core: CPAT3202 Pathogenesis of Human Disease 2 (PATH3X12 in 2019) |
Please Note. This sample progression is meant as an example only. Depending on unit prerequisites, students may be able to complete these units in a different sequence from that displayed in the table above.
For details of the core and selective units of study required for the minor please refer to the Immunology and Pathology section of the unit of study table, Table S, in this handbook.
Contact and further information
W sydney.edu.au/medicine/infectious-diseases-immunology/contact/
Address:
Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Level 5 (East), Charles Perkins Centre hub (D17)
University of Sydney NSW 2006
Associate Professor Scott Byrne
E
T +61 2 9351 7308
Professor Nicholas King
E
T +61 2 9351 4553
Learning Outcomes
Students who graduate from Pathology will be able to:
- Have grasped the fundamentals of immunology and pathology and be able to apply these to a range of disease contexts;
- Understand how the cells and molecules of our immune system cooperate to keep us healthy and fight disease;
- Understand the common generic pathophysiological responses to pathological stress in disease;
- Understand that our immune system can be both the cause and the cure of pathology in humans and animals;
- Understand the cellular and molecular basis of the pathogenesis of a diverse range of human diseases;
- Think about how our immune system can be manipulated to prevent and treat disease;
- Understand that immunology can be applied to the development of novel diagnostic pathology assays;
- Be competent in a range of valuable immunological and pathological techniques/skills;
- Apply immunological and pathological approaches to address a diverse range of pathological problems;
- Appreciate that various therapeutic approaches that target cells and molecules of our immune and other organ systems are leading to breakthroughs in human disease detection, treatment and management.