Physiology

The Physiology major will teach students how the body works. Students will learn about the ways in which cells, organs and the whole body function in an integrated way. By understanding normal function, students will investigate disturbances in whole body systems such as those relating to the endocrine, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, developmental and neural control systems. The experimental bases of physiology are emphasized and students will use contemporary techniques to examine questions in physiology. Discoveries in physiology have a broad impact upon health and medicine, environmental science, industry, nutrition, exercise and reproductive biology. Many of the discoveries from the human genome project rely on physiology to understand their impact on the human body.

Students completing this major should have:

• understood how the functional properties of cells and tissues determine the integrated responses of human organ systems including musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, nervous and reproductive systems;
• developed an understanding of the process of designing and conducting biomedical research, including the generation of experimental hypotheses, and analysis and interpretation of data derived from experiments;
• gained experience in the critical evaluation and appreciation of the scientific literature; and
• learned how physiology is able to provide functional and "real life" significance to on-going discoveries of genetic and molecular biological research.

Completion of 50 points of study at Level 3.

Core subject

Plus one of

Plus two electives selected from

An elective may also be selected from the range of biomedical science subjects (requires approval of the major coordinator)

This major is available to new generation Bachelor of Science students (B-SCI) and Bachelor of Biomedicine students. It is also available to Bachelor of Science students who commenced prior to 2008. The published structure of this major includes subjects available in the current year. Pre-2008 Bachelor of Science students who completed one or more Level 3 science subjects towards this major prior to 2010 should contact the Science Student Centre for advice on appropriate subjects to complete this major.