Medical Sciences major
The Medical Sciences single major will encompass a wide range of disciplines within the health and medical sciences. This major will focus on mechanisms of health and human disease. Specifically, this major will provide students the background knowledge across all the pre-clinical scientific disciplines including, anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology and public health. These disciplines will be integrated within the four Level 3 units encompassing Body Systems and Disease.
Further, communication and research skills for the health professional will be presented throughout the major. The major will include studies on aspects of Australian society and culture, including Aboriginal health and migrant and refugee health.
This major is only available to students on direct pathways to the Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine or Master of Pharmacy courses, and those offered specific entry at time of admission.
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) explain basic body plan, organisation, histology, physiology, cell communication and cell biology; (2) explain basic chemistry, biochemistry, genetics and human heredity; (3) integrate knowledge on metabolic function and nutrition, cell cycle and signaling and disregulation causing cancer; (4) discuss aspects of public and population health, epidemiology, Aboriginal, migrant and refugee health, healthcare systems and resource allocation in Australia; (5) explain basic body defences, including immune system structure and function, microbials and infection; (6) integrate knowledge on blood and blood pathologies, drug delivery and metabolism and associated pharmacological aspects; (7) discuss the importance of appropriate communication in the health profession,; (8) demonstrate an understanding of religious, social and cultural differences within Australia; (9) demonstrate basic research skills, including medical research design, evidence and association and statistical analyses; (10) demonstrate knowledge of human embryology and development, the human genome and aetiology of disorders associated with genetic abnormalities; (11) explain generic principles of clinically relevant normal and abnormal human structure, function, behaviour, development, and outline the classification, epidemiology, aetiology, pathophysiology, common clinical and pathological manifestations, natural history, diagnostic principles and therapeutic principles for some specified medical conditions in the skin and musculoskeletal; nervous and neurological; cardiovascular; respiratory; gastrointestinal; renal; endocrine, haematological and immunological systems; and (12) explain generic principles of clinically relevant normal and abnormal human structure, function, behaviour, development, and outline the classification, epidemiology, aetiology, pathophysiology, common clinical and pathological manifestations, natural history, diagnostic principles and therapeutic principles for some specified medical conditions in the reproductive system, and discuss human life course changes.
Broadening guidelines
All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
Prerequisites
(1A) Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher; or
(1B) MATH1720 as a bridging unit
(2A) Chemistry ATAR or equivalent; or
(2B) CHEM1003 as a bridging unit
Medical Sciences can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
BP006 Bachelor of Biomedical Science
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Overview of unit sequence
Medical Sciences is a degree-specific single major comprising:
- four Level 1 units
- four Level 2 units
- four Level 3 units
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2 |
Students without WACE or ATAR Chemistry are required to successfully complete CHEM1003 in first year. Students who do not have ATAR Mathematics Applications or equivalent or higher, are required to sucessfully complete MATH1720 in their first year.
Level 1
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | IMED1001 | Form and Function |
|
| S1 | IMED1002 | The Facts of Life |
|
| S2 | IMED1003 | Cell Survival and Communication | |
| S2 | IMED1004 | Health and Society |
Take units if applicable:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | CHEM1003 | Introductory Chemistry |
|
| S1, S2 | MATH1720 | Mathematics Fundamentals |
|
Level 2
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | IMED2001 | Body Defences | |
| S1 | IMED2002 | Blood and Drugs | |
| S2 | IMED2003 | Medical Sciences Research Methodologies | |
| S2 | IMED2004 | Human Development and Genetics |
Level 3
Choosing your degree-specific major
Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music
You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course. (You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.)
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
This comprehensive degree does not require you to choose a degree-specific major.
General degrees
You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.
To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .
To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.
The following example illustrates how the Medical Sciences degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.
There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .
Choosing a second major
You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.
The following example illustrates how the Medical Sciences degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .