bch4hna honours in biochemistry
HONOURS IN BIOCHEMISTRY
BCH4HNA
2020
Credit points: 60
Subject outline
The full Honours program lasts approximately nine months and starts early February. This course is available to students who have fulfilled the requirements of a Bachelor of Science degree and Biomedical Science degree, provided that their previous academic record is of sufficient standard. The Honours program consists of an individual research project under supervision, a research essay on the area of the research project, two seminars on the topic of the research project and its findings, attending biotechnology lectures aimed at exposing students to cutting-edge biotechnology techniques, production and presentation of a research poster, a thesis written at the completion of the research project and an oral examination. Potential students should contact the Honours co-ordinator the Department of Biochemistry and Genetics for a full and comprehensive list of available research projects and interview with potential supervisors to discuss placement and research projects.
SchoolMolecular Sciences
Credit points60
Subject Co-ordinatorIvan Poon
Available to Study Abroad/Exchange StudentsNo
Subject year levelYear Level 4 - UG/Hons/1st Yr PG
Available as ElectiveNo
Learning ActivitiesN/A
Capstone subjectNo
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites Must be enrolled in SHBIS or SHS or SHMC or SHMES or SHAVB
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsN/A
Equivalent subjectsGEN4HNA
Quota Management StrategyN/A
Quota-conditions or rulesN/A
Special conditionsThis subject of study represents the first semester of a year-long program. Students must complete BCH4HNA and BCH4HNB in the one academic year. Students are eligible if they meet the following requirements: (1) Achieve an average mark of at least 70 in biochemistry, molecular genetics and/or biomedical science subjects constituting at least 50 per cent of third year (2) Achieve an average mark of at least 60 across all third-year subjects (4) Pass MED3LAB, MED3PRJ and/or GEN3LAB (3) Obtain approval of a research supervisor
Minimum credit point requirementN/A
Assumed knowledgeN/A
Career Ready
Career-focusedNo
Work-based learningNo
Self sourced or Uni sourcedN/A
Entire subject or partial subjectN/A
Total hours/days requiredN/A
Location of WBL activity (region)N/A
WBL addtional requirementsN/A
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
Graduate Capabilities
Intended Learning Outcomes
Subject options
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Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Week 06-24, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorIvan Poon
Class requirements
Independent ResearchWeek: 6 - 24
Five 7.00 hours independent research per week on weekdays during the day from week 6 to week 24 and delivered via face-to-face.
Students would be expected to spend 35 hours a week in the lab.
SeminarWeek: 6 - 6
Two 8.00 hours seminar per study period on weekdays during the day from week 6 to week 6 and delivered via face-to-face.
LIMS induction course covers 2days (week 6). Students from GEN4HNA, CHE4HNA, PHY4THA and Masters courses (SGBB, SMBB & SMBM) also attend, so venue must accommodate at least 70 people.
SeminarWeek: 13 - 13
Two 5.00 hours seminar per study period on weekdays during the day from week 13 to week 13 and delivered via face-to-face.
Each student gives 1x15min seminar + 5 min questions (introductory seminar week 13). These are also attended by postgraduate students and staff in the department (who mark the talks) so the venue must accommodate >100 people (ideally LIMS1-101). Need 5h per day on consecutive days.
SeminarWeek: 6 - 24
Two 1.00 hour seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 6 to week 24 and delivered via face-to-face.
These are also attended by postgraduate students and staff in the department so the venue must accommodate >100 people.
Assessments
Assessment element | Category | Contribution | Hurdle | % | ILO* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Literature Review and literature seminar (4,500-words equivalent) Students will write a literature review describing the existing literature in their field of research. Equivalent to 3500 words. Students will present a 15 minute seminar summarising the literature and project aims and answer 5 minutes of questions. (Equivalent 1000 words). In the Honours program assessments are continued over two semesters. | N/A | N/A | No | 8 | SILO1, SILO2, SILO4 |
1.5h internally-administered exam (1,500-words equivalent) Students will undertake classes in advanced techniques in biotechnology. Students will sit an internally invigilated 1.5 hr exam (equivalent to 1,500 words). In the Honours program assessments are continued over two semesters. | N/A | N/A | No | 10 | SILO1, SILO3, SILO4 |
Weekly Departmental seminar quiz (1,000-words equivalent) Students will attend a simple quiz following selected Departmental seminars In the Honours program assessments are continued over two semesters. | N/A | N/A | No | 1 | SILO1, SILO4 |
Poster presentation (3,000-words equivalent) The poster presentation involves the creation of a A0-sized poster describing the aims, background and outcomes of their research for a general audience (equivalent to 2500 words), and a verbal presentation of the posters contents to assessors (equivalent to 500 words). Prior to the assignment there will be a 1 hour workshop covering tips and tricks for good posters. In the Honours program assessments are c | N/A | N/A | No | 8 | SILO1, SILO4, SILO5 |
Laboratory performance (supervisor's mark) (5,000-words equivalent) A supervisor mark is given at the end of the research work and is based on the students performance in the lab and work ethics. In the Honours program assessments are continued over two semesters. | N/A | N/A | No | 10 | SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO5 |
Thesis (15,000-words) Prepare a research thesis The final written report covers introduction, methods, results, discussion, and figure/ table legends but does not include abstract, table of contents, abbreviations, references or acknowledgements. In the Honours program assessments are continued over two semesters. | N/A | N/A | No | 40 | SILO1, SILO3, SILO4, SILO5 |
Final seminar (2,000-words equivalent) Students will present a 15 minute seminar describing the outcomes of their research year. There will be 5 minutes of question time. Assessment encompasses both the students presentation skills and also the research undertaken by the student throughout the Honours year. Therefore this final seminar warrants a word-equivalent conversion twice times that of a regular seminar (ie a 20min oral exam is equivalent | N/A | N/A | No | 8 | SILO1, SILO4, SILO5 |
Oral examination (3,000-words equivalent) The oral exam takes place after the final seminar and reports have been assessed. The exam (up to 20 mins) will consist of questions directed by the examination committee about the research project. Multiple questions on other basic concepts pertinent to the project may be asked. The exam will be conducted in the presence of the examination panel and a moderating committee. The supervisor will be present. | N/A | N/A | No | 15 | SILO1, SILO3, SILO4, SILO5 |