Medical Science

The Medical Science stream and program provide an interdisciplinary program offered across Disciplines in the School of Medical Sciences and Central Clinical School in the Sydney Medical School, as well as the School of Life and Environmental Sciences in the Faculty of Science. Units of study in this major are available at standard and advanced level.

About the stream

The Medical Science stream and program is designed to provide flexible pathways into the myriad of career opportunities in the biomedical sciences.

The medical sciences form the basis for research and development, medicine, dentistry, health sciences, public health, policy and pharmaceutics. They also provide foundational expertise that can be combined with other areas including engineering, information technology, data science, design, commerce and law.

This program capitalises on the diverse nature of the medical sciences by integrating disciplinary depth with multidisciplinary breadth. By providing a strong foundation in physiology, anatomy and biochemistry, alongside other essential medical sciences such as pharmacology, microbiology, pathology, immunobiology and infectious diseases, the program also provides a solid base for prerequisite knowledge for anyone interested in progressing into Medicine and Dentistry.

This program delivers a distinctive and interdisciplinary cohort experience. This starts in first year with human biology and culminates in a 3000-level capstone unit of study that is unique to the program. This capstone allows you to consolidate and demonstrate your knowledge and skills acquired over the three years in an interdisciplinary real world project.

The medical science program is research informed and enquiry-led, leveraging off the world class research and industry strengths of the medical sciences disciplines, Charles Perkins Centre as well as the developments at the Westmead campus. Importantly, the undergraduate degree structure allows students undertaking the Medical Sciences program to take a major in any other area, which provides a foundation in medical sciences that also permits personalized outcomes for students, with the flexibility to couple the program with fields as diverse as information technology, design, philosophy, chemistry, data science and many others.

Requirements for completion

A stream in Medical Science is 72 credit points, consisting of:

(i) 6 credit points of 1000-level chemistry units
(ii) 6 credit points of 2000-level biochemistry units
(iii) A 60 credit point program in Medical Science

A program in Medical Science requires 60 credit points, consisting of:

(i) A 48 credit point major in Medical Science
(ii) 12 credit points of 2000-level program core units

A major in Medical Science requires 48 credit points, consisting of:

(i) 12 credit points of 1000-level core units
(ii) 12 credit points of 2000-level core units
(iii) 6 credit points of 3000-level project and interdisciplinary capstone unit
(iv) 18 credit points of 3000-level selective units

First year

Core to Major: BIOL1XX7, MEDS1X01
Core to Stream: CHEM1XX1

Second year

Core to Major: MEDS2004, MEDS2005
Core to Stream: MEDS2003
Core to Program: MEDS2001, MEDS2002

Third year

Core to major: MEDS3001 and 18 credit points from a selection of: AMED3001, AMED3002, AMED3003, AMED3004, ANAT3X07, ANAT3XX4, ANAT3X08, ANAT3X09, BCHM3X71, BCHM3X72, HSTO3003, HSTO3004, IMMU3X11, IMMU3X12, INFD3012, MICR3X11, NEUR3X03, NEUR3X04, NEUR3X05, NEUR3X06, PATH3X11, PATH3X12, PCOL3X11, PCOL3X12, PCOL3X21, PCOL3X22, PHSI3X09, PHSI3X10, PHSI3X11, PHSI3X12, VIRO3X01, VIRO3X02.

To achieve the Medical Science major, alongside the project unit MEDS3001, you can either select from the range of third year units, or choose to do three disciplinary units. This flexibility provides a distinctive opportunity for students seeking a broader exposure to medical sciences.

In your third year you must take MEDS3001 as the designated project unit.

Fourth year

The fourth year is only offered within the combined Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Studies course.

Advanced coursework
The Bachelor of Advanced Studies advanced coursework option consists of 48 credit points, which must include a minimum of 24 credit points in a single subject area at 4000-level, including a project unit of study worth at least 12 credit points. Space is provided for 12 credit points towards the second major (if not already completed). 24 credit points of advanced study will be included in the table for 2020.

Honours
Requirements for Honours in the area of Medical Science: completion of 36 credit points of project work and 12 credit points of coursework.

Honours units of study will be available in 2020.

Contact and further information

E

T +61 2 9351 2841

Address:
School of Medical Sciences
Anderson Stuart Building F13
University of Sydney NSW 2006

Professor Philip Poronnik
E
T +61 2 9036 3207

Dr Tina Hinton
E
T +61 2 93516954

Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate from Medical Science will be able to:

1. Articulate the methods of science and explaining why current scientific knowledge is both contestable and testable by further inquiry.
2. Explain the role and relevance of biomedical science to society including the translation of biomedical science to clinical and medical outcomes.
3. Demonstrate well-developed knowledge in at least one disciplinary area in the biomedical sciences and integrate knowledge in other disciplinary areas contributing to the biomedical sciences.
4. Collect, synthesize, analyze and critically evaluate scientific data and information from a range of sources.
5. Define a biomedical science problem and formulating a hypotheses and plan an investigation.
6. Select and apply practical and/or theoretical techniques or tools in order to conduct an investigation.
7. Demonstrate creative and innovative approaches to scientific problem solving.
8. Communicate observations and experimental findings and their implications through a broad variety of media to diverse audiences
9. Apply tools to become independent self-managing life-wide learners
10. Work effectively, responsibly and safely in individual and collaborative contexts
11. Understand the ethical and regulatory frameworks relevant to biomedical science and practice academic integrity.