Course overview

Human Physiology is the scientific study of whole body systems and cell physiology. Physiologists continue to play a vital role in our understanding of how the body functions. In fact many key findings have been considered so important that a Nobel Prize was created to acknowledge these achievements.

Within the field physiological scientists provide a large number of specialised skills, expertise and knowledge, spanning across some 50 scientific disciplines which include health sciences, biology, physiology, clinical engineering, health informatics and technology development.

This course will provide the opportunity to develop and investigate areas such as applied systems human biology, health and disease prevention, cardiology, respiratory disease and allergy and neurobiology of sleep, learning, memory and reorganisation.

Course content

During your first year you develop practical skills alongside your academic studies and will join other first year students for core subjects. We will examine current trends in sciences and will discuss the reasons and theories behind the purpose of ageing and theory of human origin.

Year One

Units offered in year one are:

• Anatomy and Physiology: this unit is designed to provide you with a thorough understanding of human anatomy and physiology and is examined in relation to all body systems.
• Biological Cell and Systems Chemistry: this unit will provide you with an understanding of biomedical sciences applied to the whole body and will include biochemistry, cell biology and genetics and will be applied to health and disease.
• Academic skills: this unit will develop the academic skills and approach that underpins a BSc (Hons) Human Physiology. Students will develop an academic awareness including critical thinking, critical reading and critical writing, as well as sincere curiosity for others perspectives. At the same time students will acquire the actual skills required as part of their academic journey.
• Health and Disease Prevention: examines key health concerns, health trends, and health determinants in the UK and worldwide in both developing and developed countries. Students will consider the meaning of being healthy and the range of physical, emotional, spiritual, geographical, social, cultural and economic influences on health and the challenges to healthcare delivery in the 21st century.
• Applied Systems Human Biology  introduces further understanding of key body systems. The unit will explore the technology used to assess physiological function. Students will be provided with  knowledge and practical skills to be able to identify normal and abnormal physiology. The unit provides an introduction to a range of normal physiological examination, investigation and recording techniques used to inform health, research and other scientific fields about the physiological functions of the body in health disease.
• Fundamental Topics in Human Physiology: encourages students to think about the way normal physiological changes affect health and the individual. Students will also be encouraged to think about what health means in physiological terms and how public views of health are influenced by media.

Years two and three

Having developed a broad foundation in the physiological and instrumentation sciences in the first year, your second and third years will be spent developing and specialising. You will also have the opportunity to undertake an elective in year two. We continue to develop debating and exploring more complex topics in the field of physiology through seminars and tutorials.

Units offered in year two are:

• Altered physiology: in this unit students will apply their understanding of physiology and develop an ability to examine  the pathological processes in a range of pathologies.
• Clinical Examination & Assessment in Patients with Altered Physiology: this unit of study seeks to explore and develop student knowledge, understanding, and application of pathological processes, how they present in different patient groups and how they should be assessed and managed.
• Environment Physiology and Health: builds on the knowledge gained during the unit Health & Disease Prevention. Students will consider physiological manifestations of environmental factors such as stress, housing conditions, climate, exposure to environmental toxins, nutrition, exercise, tobacco abuse and alcohol abuse on the human body.
• Cardiology (optional): this optional unit examines the cellular and electrophysiology of the cardiac system in health and disease. Students will be able to examine a range of diagnostic procedures used to examine the cardiovascular system and willlook at a range of clinical interventions employed to treat cardiac disease.
• Research Methods: you will develop the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to plan and carry out your dissertation in year three. The unit will examine research proposal design, literature evaluation, ethics and other related issues.

In your final year you will be looking at  key areas of allergy, sleep, neurobiology and disease surveillance. You will study current literature and examine your emerging scientific data. You will conduct an individual dissertation project,in an area of your choosing  choice which can take many forms. The project is usually related to the interest area of your supervisor.

Units offered in year three are:

• Biology of the Mind: you will have the opportunity to explore the importance of effective communication, gain a broad understanding of a number of psychological disorders and appraise the effect of disease on the psychology of the individual.
• Respiratory Disease and Allergy: you will apply knowledge and understanding of the role of diagnostics in the detection of disease. You will develop the ability to analyse a range of highly specialised diagnostic procedures used to identify,  treat and manage disease.
• Dissertation: In this unit (40 credits) you will be able you to implement skills gained throughout your time on the course to carry out a research project in your area of interest.
• Disease Modelling & Surveillance: offers an opportunity to further build up  a range of skills in a simulated laboratory environment in detail. Your progress will require you to review, develop, design and implement a number of laboratory investigations and review and evaluate your finding in context of the current literature.
• Neurobiology of Sleep, Learning, Memory and Reorganisation: In this last unit you will concentrate on the current theories on sleep, memory, learning and reorganisation following injury. You will explore a range of the latest techniques used in research in the evaluation and the development of  the human body in health and disease.

Teaching and assessment

A variety of teaching methods are used on the course including lectures, laboratory and experimental work, group work, seminars, independent learning and web-based learning. You will be assigned a personal tutor who will support you thoughout the course in developing your academic and career management skills.

You will study several units during each academic year so it is important that you are able to manage your time and learning. Assessment takes place at the end of each unit of study or at the end of the academic year. Each unit will be assessed in various ways and may include coursework, problem solving, examinations, critical appraisal, presentations, laboratory practice assessments, critical analysis and project work.

In addition to the University's well-resourced Library and extensive IT facilities, you will be taught in state-of-the-art science laboratories, where you will have access to modern equipment.

The course team is made up of individuals specialising in the fields of physiology, physical and health sciences. A number of the team have experience as health professionals or professional researchers. In addition, we have members of the Institute of Physics, the Physiological Society and other clinical professional groups.

We have well-established links with a range of external lecturers who provide specialist support and bring additional expertise to this course.

 

Career prospects

Careers advice is embedded throughout the course and there is a unit in year two devoted to the development of career and professional skills. Completion of this degree offers the potential for a rewarding career in many different fields including healthcare, research, disease prevention and other scientific settings.

Examples of career paths that directly relate to studying a physiology degree include clinical science, technology development, medical sales, research science, journalism, education, health promotion, public health, clinical research, life and physiological sciences and other health professions.

Successful completion of this degree may also lead to the potential for application for entry to higher degrees such as MPhil, MSc, medicine, law and PhD.

Facilities and features

In order to facilitate your learning, you will have access to the facilities in the Centre for Simulation in Healthcare, which enhances students' learning and experiences through the use of innovative learning technologies such as hi-fidelity human patient simulators, simulated ward and theatre, mobile simulators, electronic voting systems and the eye-tracker device. This approach allows a safe and effective teaching and learning experience within which your practical competence can be assessed and developed. We also have a well resourced library with extensive IT facilities for all students to use.

Entry requirements

View all the entry requirements for BSc (Hons) Human Physiology for the academic year 2013/14 (opens in new window).