Master of Science (Biomedical and Health Sciences)

Course MC-SCIBHS (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Year and Campus: 2010 - Parkville
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Duration & Credit Points: 200 credit points taken over 24 months full time. This course is available as full or part time.

Coordinator

Melbourne Graduate School of Science


Contact

Faculty of Science
The University of Melbourne

Tel: + 61 3 8344 6404
Fax: +61 3 8344 5803
Web: http://graduate.science.unimelb.edu.au
Course Overview: The Master of Science (Biomedical and Health Sciences) is one of the research training streams of the Master of Science. The research training streams give students the opportunity to undertake a substantive research project in a field of choice as well as a broad range of coursework subjects including a professional tools component, as a pathway to PhD study or to the workforce.
Objectives:

The objectives of this course are to provide students with skills in:

  • conducting research in biomedical and health sciences;
  • designing experiments;
  • taking responsibility for managing a research project;
  • preparing and giving an oral and written presentation of the results;
  • expressing intellectual, scientific arguments; and
  • assimilating and critically evaluating existing knowledge within a scientific paradigm.
Course Structure & Available Subjects:

Students undertaking the Master of Science (Biomedical and Health Sciences program) must complete 200 points comprising:

between 50 and 100 points of discipline subjects;
between 25 and 37.5 points of Professional Tools subjects; and
a 75 point minor research project or a 125 point research major research project.

Discipline Subjects (50 - 100 points)

Depending upon the choice of research project (see below), between 50 and 100 points of discipline subjects must be completed. Students may select approved subjects relevant to the proposed research project from those within the Master of Science programs, in particular from the Master of Science (Biotechnology) https://app.portal.unimelb.edu.au/view/2010/R05-PB , Master of Science (Genetics program) https://app.portal.unimelb.edu.au/view/2010/R05-RG , Master of Science (Zoology program) https://app.portal.unimelb.edu.au/view/2010/R05-RZ and, subject to eligibility and pre-requisites, Masters by coursework programs offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (http://www.mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/disciplines). A maximum of two discipline subjects can be taken at 3rd year level.

Professional Tools (25 - 37.5 points)

Students must complete between 25 and 37.5 points from the following list:

  • 615-505 Critical Analysis in Science
  • 615-668 e-Science
  • 600-618 Ethics and Responsibility in Science
  • 600-614 Business Tools: Money, People & Projects
  • 600-619 Scientists, Communication and the Workplace
  • 600-616 Science in Context
  • 600-617 Systems Modeling and Simulation
  • 600-615 Thinking and Reasoning with Data

Research Project (75 or 125 points)

Students must complete a research project under the supervision of a staff member of a School, Department or affiliated institute of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. Depending on supervisor and project availability, research may be undertaken in a range of areas including:

  • Anatomy and Cell Biology
  • Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital/Western Hospital and St Vincent's Hospital)
  • Neurosciences
  • Nursing
  • Oral Biology (Dental Science)
  • Otolaryngology (Hearing Sciences)
  • Opthalmology (Eye Research)
  • Paediatrics
  • Physiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Surgery (Austin Hospital, Royal Melboure Hospital/Western Hospital and St Vincent's Hospital)

Students will choose between a 75 point minor research project or a 125 point major research project.

Minor Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences (75 points)

Subject to supervisor approval, students may enrol in a combination of of research project subjects as indicated below, over their two years of full-time study or over their four years of part-time study, to ensure they have completed a total of 75 points for the minor research project by the end of their course.

  • 510-624 Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences Minor - 50 points
  • 510-625 Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences Minor - 37.5 points
  • 510-626 Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences Minor - 25 points
  • 510-627 Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences Minor - 12.5 points

Major Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences (125 points)

Subject to supervisor approval, students may enrol in a combination of of research project subjects as indicated below, over their two years of full-time study or over their four years of part-time study, to ensure they have completed a total of 125 points for the major research project by the end of their course.

  • 510-675 Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences Major - 50 points
  • 510-673 Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences Major - 37.5 points
  • 510-672 Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences Major - 25 points
  • 510-671 Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences Major - 12.5 points
Entry Requirements: Bachelor degree with a major in an appropriate discipline with at least an H3 (65%) average in the major or equivalent.
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the University’s programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.
Further Study: The Research Training programs offer a pathway to a PhD.
Graduate Attributes:

Graduates will:

  • have the ability to demonstrate advanced independent critical enquiry, analysis and reflection;
  • have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship;
  • have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s);
  • reach a high level of achievement in writing, research or project activities, problem-solving and communication;
  • be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning;
  • be able to examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines;
  • have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment; and
  • be able to initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces.


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