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 Faculty of Medicine and Health, as well as the School of Life and Environmental Sciences in the Faculty of Science.
About the stream and program
The Medical Science stream and program are 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, immunology and infectious diseases, the program also provides a solid base of 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 stream core units
(ii) 6 credit points of 2000-level stream core 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
This program is only available to students enrolled in Medical Science stream.
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 major core units
(iii) 6 credit points of 3000-level core interdisciplinary project unit
(iv) 18 credit points of 3000-level disciplinary selective or interdisciplinary project selective units
This major is only available to students enrolled in Medical Science program.
First year
Core to Major: BIOL1XX7 From Molecules to Ecosystems, MEDS1X01 Human Biology
Core to Stream: CHEM1XX1 Chemistry 1A
The program in Medical Science begins in first year with an introduction to biology that takes you from molecules to ecosystems and positions human health and disease in this context, as well as human biology. You will also learn chemistry relevant to the life sciences. These subjects are foundational knowledge in medical sciences.
Second year
Core to Major: MEDS2004 Microbes, Infection and Immunity, MEDS2005 Human Anatomy and Histology
Core to Stream: MEDS2003 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Core to Program: MEDS2001 Key Concepts in Physiology, MEDS2002 Key Concepts in Pharmacology
In the second year of the Medical Science program you will learn the breadth of medical sciences, gaining a strong foundation in physiology, anatomy and biochemistry, and other essential medical sciences such as pharmacology, microbiology, pathology, immunology and infectious diseases.
Third year
Core to major: MEDS3888 Medical Science Interdisciplinary Project
Selectives: 18 credit points from a selection of: AMED3X01 Cancer, AMED3002 Interrogating Biomedical and Health Data, AMED3003 Diagnostics and Biomarkers, ANAT3X07 Visceral Anatomy, ANAT3XX4 Cranial and Cervical Anatomy, ANAT3X08 Musculoskeletal Anatomy, ANAT3X09 Functional Systems Histology, BCMB3X01 Gene, Genome and Regulation, BCMB3X02 Protein Function and Engineering, BCMB3X03 Biochemistry of Human Disease, BCMB3X04 Beyond the Genome, CPAT3X01 Pathogenesis of Human Disease 1, CPAT3X02 Pathogenesis of Human Disease 2, HSTO3003 Cells and Development: Theory, HSTO3004 Cells and Development: Practical (Adv), IMMU3X02 Molecular and Cellular Immunology (Advanced), IMMU3202/IMMU3903 Immunology in Human Disease, INFD3012 Infectious Diseases, MICR3X11 Microbes in Infection, NEUR3X03 Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience, NEUR3X04 Integrative Neuroscience, NEUR3X05 Functional Neuroanatomy, NEUR3X06 Neural Information Processing, PCOL3X11 Toxicology, PCOL3X12 Drug Design and Development, PCOL3X22 Neuropharmacology, PHSI3X09 Frontiers in Cellular Physiology, PHSI3X10 Reproduction, Development and Disease, PHSI3X12 Physiology of Disease, VIRO3X01 Virology, VIRO3X02 Medical and Applied Virology, SCPU3001 Science Interdisciplinary Project.
To achieve the Medical Science major as part of the Medical Science program, you can select from the range of third year units of study which you will undertake alongside the project unit MEDS3888. You may select a range of units from different medical sciences disciplinary areas, or choose to do three units in a particular disciplinary area. This flexibility provides a distinctive opportunity for students seeking a broader exposure to medical sciences.
In your third year you must take MEDS3888 as the designated project unit. Students may also elect to undertake an industry and community project in SPCU3001 as one of their selectives.
Fourth year
The fourth year is only offered within the Bachelor of Advanced Studies course.
Advanced coursework
The Bachelor of Advanced Studies advanced coursework option consists of 48 credit points, with a minimum of 24 credit points at 4000-level or above. Of these 24 credit points, you must complete a project unit of study worth at least 12 credit points.
Contact and further information
Address:
School of Medical Sciences
Anderson Stuart Building F13
University of Sydney NSW 2006
Professor Philip Poronnik
E
T +61 2 9036 3207
Associate Professor Tina Hinton
E
T +61 2 93516954
Learning Outcomes
Students who graduate from Medical Science will be able to:
- Exhibit a broad and coherent body of knowledge of the principles in core areas of medical science, including anatomy, biochemistry, histology, infectious diseases, microbiology, pharmacology and physiology.
- Exhibit a deep understanding of concepts and principles in at least one disciplinary area in the medical sciences and integrate these with knowledge in other disciplinary areas contributing to the medical sciences.
- Safely and effectively perform appropriate experimental protocols in the biomedical sciences.
- Source, collate, synthesise and critically evaluate information in biomedical science from a range of relevant sources.
- Collate, analyse, describe, interpret and present primary research data in biomedical science.
- Communicate concepts and findings in biomedical sciences through a range of modes for a variety of purposes and audiences, using evidence-based arguments that are robust to critique.
- Critically evaluate research literature dealing with a diverse range of medical science topics and apply this knowledge to address complex issues in biomedical and medical research.
- Integrate knowledge of the core medical sciences to normal structure and function and to a diverse range of disease states.
- Define a biomedical problem, formulate a hypothesis and carry out an investigation, using appropriate practical and/or theoretical techniques or tools.
- Develop creative and innovative approaches to problem solving in medical science research and work effectively, responsibly and safely in individual and collaborative contexts.
- Address authentic problems in biomedical science, working professionally and ethically within collaborative, interdisciplinary teams.
- Examine and evaluate contemporary issues in biomedical sciences from a range of ethical and cross-cultural perspectives.