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.

On completion of the Physiology major students should have:

• Developed knowledge of Physiology as a research-intensive multidisciplinary science across a broad range of fields.
• Applied skills in the critical evaluation of scientific literature, physiological data and experimental design.
• Developed the capacity to understand and apply practical skills and technologies in the solution of scientific problems, and to interact with a variety of technological approaches for measuring physiological parameters.
• Developed the skills to communicate the results of Physiological studies concisely and unambiguously to both lay and scientific audiences.
• Gained an appreciation of the historical background and evolution of scientific concepts across a range of scientific cultures.
• Developed a sense of intellectual curiosity and a desire for lifelong learning, and a capacity to be creative and innovative.
• Applied the scientific understanding developed through the degree to current issues facing mankind.
• Collated information from a broad range of sources and applied that knowledge to contentious current issues.
• Developed skills related to problem solving, teamwork, analytical reading, self assessment, and assessment of peers.

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.

A quota has been applied to 3 optional subjects in this major.