HONOURS GENETICS
GEN4HNB
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.
School: Molecular Sciences (Pre 2022)
Credit points: 60
Subject Co-ordinator: Ivan Poon
Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: No
Subject year level: Year Level 4 - UG/Hons/1st Yr PG
Available as Elective: No
Learning Activities: N/A
Capstone subject: No
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: Must be enrolled in SHBIS or SHS or SHMES or SHSWCB or SHAVB
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: N/A
Equivalent subjects: BCH4HNB OR MED4HNB
Quota Management Strategy: N/A
Quota-conditions or rules: N/A
Special conditions: This subject of study represents one semester of a year-long Honours program comprising GEN4HNA and GEN4HNB. 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 requirement: N/A
Assumed knowledge: N/A
Career Ready
Career-focused: No
Work-based learning: No
Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A
Entire subject or partial subject: N/A
Total hours/days required: N/A
Location of WBL activity (region): N/A
WBL addtional requirements: N/A
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
Graduate Capabilities
Intended Learning Outcomes
Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Week 28-46, Day
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Ivan Poon
Class requirements
ExaminationWeek: 44 - 44
Two 4.00 hours examination per study period on weekdays during the day from week 44 to week 44 and delivered via face-to-face.
Each student is examined (oral) by a thesis committee (on the content of Thesis) 20 min
Independent ResearchWeek: 28 - 43
Five 7.00 hours independent research per week on weekdays during the day from week 28 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
Students would be expected to spend 35 hours a week in the lab.
SeminarWeek: 28 - 43
Two 1.00 hour seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 28 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
About 24 seminars per semester
SeminarWeek: 44 - 44
Two 4.00 hours seminar per study period on weekdays during the day from week 44 to week 44 and delivered via face-to-face.
Each student gives 1x15min seminar + 5 min questions (introductory seminar week 46)
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 the 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 | 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 thesisThe 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. | N/A | N/A | No | 8 | SILO1, SILO4 |
Final seminar 3,000-words equivalent)The oral exam takes place after the final seminar and reports have been assessed. The exam (up to 20 minutes) will consist of questions directed by the examination committee about the research project. One or more 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 |