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Department of Biology & Biochemistry Programme Catalogue 2013/14


USBB-AFB03: BSc (hons) Biology

Leading to the award of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY

Mode of attendance: Full-time

arrowYear 1 arrowYear 2 arrowYear 3

Year 1

Click here for further information NFAAR-UG assessment regulations:
  • This programme year does not have a DAP.
  • Main assessment regulations: Appendix 11 PDF format -requires Acrobat Reader to view; Supplementary assessment regulations: Appendix 12 PDF format -requires Acrobat Reader to view.
  • Part 1 Stage 1 of this programme contributes 0% towards the final award classification


Semester 1: Part 1 Stage 1

Compulsory Units:
BB10001 Skills & techniques 1 (basic laboratory & communication skills) 3 Credits
BB10005 Cell biology 6 Credits
BB10012 Ecology & evolution 1 6 Credits
BB10089 Biochemistry 6 Credits
BB10147 Human & animal physiology 6 Credits
BB10200 The life of Earth 1 6 Credits

Semester 2: Part 1 Stage 1

Compulsory Units:
BB10006 Cell & molecular biology 6 Credits
BB10007 Genetics 6 Credits
BB10201 The life of Earth 2 6 Credits
BB10205 Ecology & evolution 2 6 Credits
BB10206 Skills and techniques 2 for biologists 3 Credits

Year 2

Click here for further information NFAAR-UG assessment regulations:
  • This programme year does not have a DAP.
  • Main assessment regulations: Appendix 19 PDF format -requires Acrobat Reader to view; Supplementary assessment regulations: Appendix 20 PDF format -requires Acrobat Reader to view.
  • Part 2 Stage 2 of this programme contributes 32% towards the final award classification

Students must select units totalling 60 credits during Year 2 of this programme.

Academic Year: Part 2 Stage 2

Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1 units from the following list:
Students must select 48 credits from the options available in Year 2 of this programme.
PS10086 Mind and behaviour 12 Credits

Semester 1: Part 2 Stage 2

Compulsory Units:
BB20152 Practice of science 6 Credits
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 units from the following list:
Students must select 48 credits from the options available in Year 2 of this programme.
BB20023 DNA (making, breaking & disease) 6 Credits
BB20024 The dynamic cell 1 6 Credits
BB20030 Plant physiology & biochemistry 6 Credits
BB20032 Plant symbiosis & pathology 6 Credits
BB20040 Concepts in evolution 6 Credits
BB20149 Molecular genetics of vertebrate development 6 Credits
BB20202 Microbial cells and genomes 6 Credits
MA20201 Modelling the dynamics of life 1 6 Credits

Semester 2: Part 2 Stage 2

Compulsory Units:
BB20153 Data interpretation 6 Credits
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 units from the following list:
Students must select 48 credits from the options available in Year 2 of this programme.
BB20025 Practical molecular biology 6 Credits
BB20027 Infection and immunity 6 Credits
BB20028 Molecular and cellular neuroscience 6 Credits
BB20031 Plant biotechnology 6 Credits
BB20041 Field course 6 Credits
BB20154 Introduction to functional genomics 6 Credits
BB20160 The dynamic cell 2 6 Credits
BB20173 Behaviour & ecology 6 Credits
BB20203 Microbial interactions with their host and environments 6 Credits
MA20202 Modelling the dynamics of life 2 6 Credits

Year 3

Click here for further information NFAAR-UG assessment regulations:
  • This programme year does not have a DAP.
  • Main assessment regulations: Appendix 27 PDF format -requires Acrobat Reader to view; Supplementary assessment regulations: Appendix 28 PDF format -requires Acrobat Reader to view.
  • Part 3 Stage 3 of this programme contributes 68% towards the final award classification

Students must select units totalling 60 credits during Year 3 of this programme but may take no more than 12 credits of units from Group B.

Semester 1: Part 3 Stage 3

Designated Essential Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1 units from the following list:
Students must select BB30163 in either Semester 1 or Semester 2. Students may be able to take BB30042 (Final year project A) instead of BB30163 by special arrangement with the Director of Studies.
BB30163 Final year project B 18 Credits
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 6 units from the following list:
Group A
BB30063 Vaccines and other health interventions 6 Credits
BB30167 Genomes 6 Credits
BB30208 Evolutionary quantitative genetics 6 Credits
BB40117 Microbial evolution - from the laboratory to nature 6 Credits
BB40125 Plant reproductive biology 6 Credits
BB40128 The evolution of genetic systems 6 Credits
BB40134 Molecular phylogenetics and evolution 6 Credits
PS20108 Cognitive psychology 6 Credits
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 2 units from the following list:
Group B: Students may take no more than 12 credits of units from Group B across both semesters
BB30123 Biological ethics 6 Credits
BB30168 International field course: experimental field ecology 6 Credits
BB40124 Human developmental disorders 6 Credits

Semester 2: Part 3 Stage 3

Designated Essential Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1 units from the following list:
Students must select BB30163 in either Semester 1 or Semester 2. Students may be able to take BB30042 (Final year project A) instead of BB30163 by special arrangement with the Director of Studies.
BB30163 Final year project B 18 Credits
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 6 units from the following list:
Group A
BB30067 Advanced developmental genetics 6 Credits
BB30138 Plant-microorganism interactions 6 Credits
BB30156 Conservation biology 6 Credits
BB30161 Systems and developmental neurobiology 6 Credits
BB30169 Concepts in systems biology 6 Credits
BB40139 Pathogenesis and immune evasion by microbes 6 Credits
BB40140 Plant biotechnology & the environment 6 Credits
PS20106 Biological psychology 6 Credits
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 2 units from the following list:
Group B: Students may take no more than 12 credits from Group B across both semesters
BB30131 Evolution in deep time 6 Credits
BB30132 Sexual conflict 6 Credits
BB40118 Current topics in gene regulation and cell differentiation 6 Credits
BB40133 Plant responses to abiotic stress 6 Credits

Notes:
* This programme catalogue is applicable for the 2013/14 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2014/15 and beyond should not assume that later years of a programme will be in the format displayed here for 2013/14.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.