Major Overview
- Description
This discipline concerns the testing, diagnosis, treatment, management and prevention of human disease. As a diagnostic specialty, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine can be considered the basis of modern scientific medical knowledge and plays a critical role in evidence-based medicine. This major will provide you with a thorough understanding of the scientific basis of diagnosing, treating and preventing human disease, as well as an appreciation of how medical research forms new insights into disease every day.
Students should be aware that this major does not provide a pathway to an Honours.- Outcomes
Students are able to:
- describe the fundamental processes of cellular growth and differentiation, cell injury, inflammation, repair, immunopathology and neoplasia
- explain how genetic, developmental, environmental and infectious factors contribute to initiation, perturbation, and resolution of human disease
- explain how changes in cells or tissues are measured to detect and monitor human disease
- integrate and apply the principles of pathology and laboratory medicine to specific human organ and body systems including cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, reproductive, nervous, neuromuscular, immune and endocrine diseases
- perform assays to investigate the molecular and cellular drivers of, and response to, human diseases
- apply descriptive and quantitative statistical methods to analyse and interpret laboratory data
- identify, retrieve and critically evaluate evidence obtained and tested through use of the scientific method
- synthesise and communicate scientific knowledge for a range of audiences
- demonstrate skills in collaboration, leadership and collegiality.
- 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
Student who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Chemistry or equivalent, are required to successfully complete CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry in their first 48 points of study in their course.
Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Mathematics Applications or equivalent or higher, will need to successfully complete MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals in their first 48 points of study in their course.
Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Human Biology or ATAR Biology or equivalent will need to successfully complete ANHB1101 Human Biology I or BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology or IMED1001 Form and Function in their first 48 points of study in their course. IMED1001 is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedicine or Biomedical Engineering [MJD-EBMEG].
- Courses
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
Example Study Plan
See study plans for more information.
Units
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
Level 1
Degree-specific major units
Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Human Biology or ATAR Biology or equivalent will need to take ANHB1101 or BIOL11030 or IMED1001 in their first semester to meet prerequisites for SCIE1106. IMED1001 is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedicine or Biomedical Engineering [MJD-EBMEG]. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Chemistry or equivalent will need to take CHEM1003 in first semester to meet prerequisites for SCIE1106:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | ANHB1102 | Human Biology II: Being Human | None |
| S2 | SCIE1106 | Molecular Biology of the Cell |
|
Bridging units
Students are required to take up to three units, 18 points, as required.
Bridging units must be successfully completed within the first 48 points of study. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1720. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete CHEM1003 as a prerequisite for SCIE1106. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Biology ATAR or Human Biology ATAR or equivalent are required to complete one of ANHB1101 OR BIOL1130 OR IMED1001 as a prerequisite for SCIE1106. IMED1001 is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedicine or Biomedical Engineering [MJD-EBMEG].
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ANHB1101 | Human Biology I: Becoming Human | None |
| S1 | BIOL1130 | Frontiers in Biology | None |
| S1, S2 | CHEM1003 | Introductory Chemistry |
|
| S1 | IMED1001 | Form and Function |
|
| S1, S2 | MATH1720 | Mathematics Fundamentals |
|
Level 2
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Students who commenced this major prior to 2024, complete the following units: PATH2220 Introduction to Human Disease; PATH2210 Fundamentals of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; PATH2211 Molecular Medicine; and MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | PATH2221 | Principles of Human Disease |
|
| S2 | PATH2222 | Pathology of Body Systems |
Level 3
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | MICR3305 | Immunobiology and Immune Diseases | |
| S1 | PATH3305 | Medical Genetics | |
| S2 | PATH3308 | Biotherapeutics and Regenerative Medicine |
|
| S2 | PATH3309 | Cancer Pathology |