UDSCICFY - BSc (Hons) Sciences (including foundation year)

The course promotes a fundamental understanding of subject areas allied to human sciences, and is designed to allow students to progress to any of a wide range of subjects at level 4 within the broad areas of bioscience, chemical and pharmaceutical science, nutrition, dietetics, and sports. Knowledge and understanding is summatively assessed by time-constrained unseen examinations and by coursework comprising elements such as essays, practical reports, progress tests, poster presentations and seminar presentations completed during the course of the module. Coursework and online tests are also used to provide formative feedback. Formative diagnostic assessment of knowledge and understanding is carried out, particularly during the initial stages of the course. Utilisation of the University’s VLE, WebLearn has become an invaluable tool with which to disseminate information and to support and assess student learning. Online progress tests will be used to provide students with feedback on their progress. Exams in several modules are delivered as online exams. Feedback will be delivered on line and through provision of tutorial questions and answer sessions and other formative exercises.
Practical skills exercises at each level are used to monitor proficiency at experimental work. Assessment of Data handling skills are embedded in practical reports, problem solving exercises, information abstracting and reviewing exercises, poster presentations and seminar presentations. The level 6 Research Project provides the ultimate measure of experimental and other practical skills. The excellent science centre also provides an unrivalled facility in which to carry out the level 6 Research Project module. BSc project assessment will culminate in the presentation of a dissertation and a poster presentation exam, designed to allow the student to demonstrate their depth of knowledge and understanding.
Students have access to the North campus library which has recently been comprehensively refurbished. It provides specific group study areas as well as access to a comprehensive and regularly reviewed range of textbooks, journals and online learning resources. In addition, there are newly fitted ‘all access’ areas on the ground floor of the Tower building and the green lounge at Benwell Road. These areas come with comfortable seating and IT facilities.

This four year course includes a Foundation Year (level three) which introduces students to the fundamentals of science to enable them to study on one of a wide range of courses within the School of Human Sciences at level four. It makes no assumptions about prior scientific study. Students will gain a solid grounding in biology, chemistry, numeracy and laboratory skills relevant to these subject areas.

The course has been designed to produce graduates with extensive knowledge and understanding of the scientific basis of health and disease together with skills and competence in the associated technical and transferable skills. The analytical, numerical and communication skills developed by graduates are also in demand in non-science-based careers such as those in the financial services sector, marketing and company administration.
Students will be provided with the requisite subject knowledge, understanding, skills and competencies fit for pursuit of a scientific career. The course will develop understanding of the research interface, its impact and potential. We will enhance employability awareness, professional performance and transferable evaluative skills, problem solving skills and communication skills.

The course aims to promote a good knowledge-skills balance enhancing the professional practice of the students. These aims are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications for Biosciences (2015).

By the end of the course the student is expected to have developed:

1. an appreciation of the fundamental concepts in biology, chemistry, and numeracy;
2. fundamental laboratory-based skills including awareness of relevant health and safety issues;
3. competence in accessing and evaluating information independently and making effective use of paper-based and electronic sources of scientific information and data;
4. the capacity to communicate a subject clearly and accurately orally, and/or in writing;
5. an ability to analyse information and make reasoned judgements;
6. an ability to employ a range of responses to well defined but often unpredictable or unfamiliar problems;
7. a sense of responsibility for quantity and quality of output.

Module Title Module Code

Scientific Studies PR3001
Biology PR3002
Chemistry PR3003
Biochemistry PR3007
Nutrition & Sports Science PR3006 and PR3008

Learning Outcomes LO1 - LO7

Biosciences (2015)

Students are assessed through a variety of methods including problem solving exercises, in-class test, data analysis, practical reports, case studies, oral presentations, extended essays, examinations, research project interim report, oral examination and dissertation. The choice of assessment instrument chosen to test the specified learning outcomes and to support students’ different learning styles. These methods are aligned with the School assessment strategy and the assessment is the responsibility of the academic staff delivering the module. Assessment is part of the learning process and confirms the outcomes of the learning process. It also provides formative feedback on curriculum design and delivery and, via the on-going iterative process of module monitoring, makes a significant contribution to the continued development and improvement of the courses that links in with the School learning and teaching strategy. In light of this a variety of assessment methods will be used (see syllabi) including unseen written examinations, individual and group assignments.
Practical skills are summatively assessed through coursework assignments, including those in the project module. Data handling skills are summatively assessed by practical reports, problem solving exercises, oral presentations and examinations.
Formative assessments include group activities in tutorial classes, mini-tests and project workshops. Laboratory and computer based investigations, poster and oral presentations and a level 6 project giving students the opportunity to show the knowledge understanding and skills they have developed.

The course includes the option to take either a 15 credit Work Placement module at level 5 or a 30 credit Sandwich Placement module between level 5 and level 6. Students are not allowed to register for both these modules.

The cores for the Preparatory Year are listed in Section 22. For intermediate awards, any combination of the modules from the course specification would be appropriate, such that for a Preparatory Certificate, 60 credits have been awarded, and for a Preparatory Diploma 120 credits have been awarded and the student is not continuing with study at the university.

Please refer to course handbook for table showing preparatory year module requirements for Level 4 entry into relevant courses for students starting in September.

Students will need to pass all four modules with marks >40% in order to progress to level 4. Two courses (Dietetics and Nutrition; Biomedical Science) will require students to achieve marks well in excess of 40% in named modules prior to being able to progress onto the course; Dietetics and Nutrition will additionally require students to pass an interview. The precise criteria will be agreed between the leader of the BSc Sciences (with Foundation Year) course and the course in question, and will be disseminated to students at the start of level 3. Those students wishing to progress onto these courses, who achieve passes in their four modules but do not achieve the required higher grades (or who fail any required interview), can progress on to other courses.

During the induction phase of the programme students will be introduced to structured reflection on their development of Undergraduate Skills which constitute much as the substance of personal development planning. Students will undertake to produce their personal development plan (PDP) during their undergraduate career or in the workplace. PDP can include other activities outside of the academic aspect of university life.
At levels 4-6 students will progressively develop their PDP which will culminate in a CV and graduation statement. Students will take part in tutorials at all levels designed to facilitate discussion on what has been learnt in order that reflective learning will contribute to identifying objectives, success criteria, and action plans that can be included in PDPs.
PDP is designed to allow students to articulate the skills developed during their undergraduate career and encourages them to critically reflect on their learning experience, to set new personal and academic goals and evaluate progress made in achieving those goals.
The option exists for students to undertake an additional 30 credit module Sandwich Placement module to enhance employability. This would normally be undertaken between level 5 and 6, this would extend the period of study to four years. For part-time students in appropriate employment they can complete the module over an extended period during their degree rather than take a year out. Progress with Undergraduate Skills will be articulated to students as the programme progresses through feedback from tutors and peers enabling them to reflect on their progress based on the evidence available. This process assists students in developing as independent learners, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. This will be of benefit throughout their future career.

Successful graduates on this four year programme will have wide employment opportunities, depending on the route taken; for example in the pharmaceutical industry, hospital laboratories, sports injury clinics, research laboratories, or as dietitians.