Human Health Sciences

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1 Human Health Sciences WITH PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY DISCOVER MORE If you would like to visit Plymouth and meet our staff, then why not come along to one of our open days. Human Health Sciences WITH PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE For more information or to book a place visit For further information on this course visit or contact us via telephone on +44 (0) or via at admissions@plymouth.ac.uk This publication went to print June 2012 which may be more than two years before the start of your course. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. However, as our courses and services are regularly reviewed and updated, some details may change. The University is committed to the promotion of equality and diversity. If you require this publication in an alternative format, please contact us on the number above.

2 Human Health Sciences Understanding and applying the science that underpins human health is an exciting, challenging and fast-moving area. We offer degree courses in biomedical science, nutrition, exercise and health and healthcare science that are accredited by professional bodies (human biosciences recognition in progress) and provide exciting opportunities for careers in research, industry, healthcare, the NHS, medicine and dentistry. Courses accredited by professional bodies Develop practical skills, critical thinking and professional competence New teaching and research laboratories and state-of-the-art systems biology facilities (including next generation sequencing and proteomics) provides practical research experience Teaching is directly enriched by the world class research activities of staff within the school Enhanced by links with healthcare professionals and the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry Personal development supported by a personal tutor Our ethos is to assist you in acquiring the confidence, skills, attributes and critical thinking necessary to choose and make the most of specialist topics within this rapidly expanding field. Optional work placements (integrated work placements on BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science) and international study Optional research internships

3 BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE Biomedical science profoundly influences our understanding of human health and disease. This course provides a high quality, research-informed, scientific education that highlights current developments in biomedicine and examines how these influence clinical and diagnostic practice. Provides a strong foundation in a wide range of research-informed biomedical subjects and promotes an understanding of how to utilise this knowledge in a range of professional settings. Ability to study specialist areas of laboratory diagnostics. Emphasis on practical skills. Optional placement year. Modules focus on the scientific understanding of pathological processes. Taught components are directly enriched by the research activities of the staff within the school. Teaching enriched by NHS professionals. Course accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). The first two years provide founding knowledge and practical skills associated with the core biomedical disciplines. Modules cover fundamental aspects of human anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, haematology, cellular pathology and genetics. Students also develop the ability to work independently, critically evaluate scientific literature and communicate information in an appropriate manner. These skills are then employed in the final year personal research project and research focused modules. Students are taught by internationally recognised researchers who are active in a variety of fields relevant to the course. Areas include vaccine development, non-invasive diagnostics, cancer, inflammation, immune dysfunction and metabolic disorders. Students are encouraged to become actively involved in our research during their final year project and also through the availability of university research placements and internships. Our graduates can enter a wide range of exciting career pathways. They possess the attributes and skills necessary to seek employment as a biomedical scientist in pharmaceutical and academic research laboratories and many graduates go on to study for higher degrees in these settings. The award also offers a route to NHS laboratory diagnostic practice after a suitably administered and assessed period of workplace learning. The emphasis on pathological processes and disease studies also provides a good grounding for those who wish to enter postgraduate medicine or dentistry. The transferable skills obtained throughout the course will also prepare you for careers in health service management, secondary and primary school teaching, commerce and other public laboratories. I chose BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences because I find human health and disease extremely interesting. The modules offered were varied and very attractive. I already had an inkling that I wanted to work in a laboratory and I decided that this course would give me the wide range of skills necessary to follow that path. Holly Hardy 3rd year BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences, 2012

4 HEALTHCARE SCIENCES Programmes tailored to the Modernising Scientific Careers agenda to educate the future clinical workforce in clinical physiology and clinical laboratory science. Degrees incorporate work training placements within professional healthcare specialising in human pathophysiology for cardiovascular, respiratory and sleep physiology or within clinical laboratories specialising in human blood, cellular or infection science. Accredited by Medical Education England and the National School of Healthcare Science allowing graduates to apply to be registered by an appropriate professional body for their career path. Core foundation modules focusing on professional practice, biomolecular science, genetics and development, infection and immunity, anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, pharmacology and therapeutics. Specialist modules within cardiovascular or respiratory and sleep physiology (clinical physiology) or within blood, cellular or infection sciences (life sciences). Workplace training in professional practice to consolidate learning for periods of 10 weeks (year one), 15 weeks (year two) and 25 weeks (year three). Students will specialise in year two and year three within their chosen discipline.* Healthcare science degrees focus on physiology or pathobiology of normal and disease processes. Students will gain expertise from specialist tutors and NHS workplace educators to allow merit in professional competencies required within modern and future healthcare practice. The first year introduces foundation knowledge and integrates rotational placement within core disciplines. Students will specialise within the second year gaining knowledge in applied, complex and advanced investigations and apply their learning to a research project in the final year. Students are taught by internationally recognised researchers active in fields ranging from cardiovascular signalling, malignant haematology, diabetes and metabolism, cellular crosstalk in inflammation. Research informed teaching promotes the latest developments within healthcare diagnostics and treatment. Graduates will be qualified Healthcare Science Practitioners through the National School of Healthcare Science and Medical Education England enabling employment within the NHS and associated clinical areas of expert healthcare provision. Graduates wishing to take the opportunity of further education will be eligible for direct entry onto the Scientist Training Programme. This degree programme is not only intellectually stimulating but it allows opportunities for real-life clinical exposure and provides a lot of patient interaction. This allows me to combine my social skills with my love of science. Ali Wong BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences) The interaction between academic learning and clinical exposure has created a more dynamic and challenging learning environment. Jamie Walton BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences) Studying this course provides an invaluable insight into the vital science that underpins medicine. Clinical placements provide a unique opportunity to see and run diagnostic tests, as well as providing us with the opportunity to make life-long contacts within the field of healthcare and biomedical sciences. Neil Marshall BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Life Sciences) * please note these courses run over an extended academic curricula similar to nursing and midwifery or medical degrees.

5 HUMAN BIOSCIENCES Will gene therapy become an established treatment for cancer? What are the ethical issues associated with the use of stem cells? Human biosciences focuses on the scientific basis of human health and disease by developing an understanding of how we function at the molecular, cellular and physiological levels and considers how advances in this exciting field impact on society. Strong foundation in the core human bioscience disciplines of cellular and molecular biology, genetics, immunology, physiology, biochemistry and microbiology and their relationship with health and disease. Opportunities to include elements of psychology. Explore themes of personal interest at all stages including a range of in-depth final year option modules focussed on the latest scientific developments. A substantial final year research project chosen from a diverse range of relevant topics offered by academic staff. Benefit from close links with the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry. Optional placement opportunities provide students with relevant work experience. Personal development and support afforded by a personal tutor in individual and small group meetings. Graduates are expected to have a thorough knowledge, understanding and practical experience of human biosciences. Subject specific skills will be complemented by a suite of generic skills. Emphasis is placed on developing the ability to work independently, to design and analyse studies, and to write and present results. We aim to produce graduates who are critical, rational and creative thinkers with the skills and confidence to shape and achieve their career goals and aspirations. Students are taught by internationally recognised researchers active in fields directly related to this programme. Current staff interests include antenatal diagnosis, bacterial pathogenicity, bone cell biology, cardiac physiology, cell signalling, dietary interventions, hyperbaric oxygen therapies, mitochondrial dysfunction, mucosal immunology, mutagenicity, neuroscience and pain, post genomic technologies, and toxicology among others. The balance between breadth and depth in this degree opens up many opportunities. An increasing number of human biosciences graduates have gone on to study medicine or dentistry, gaining admission via a graduate entry programme. Others have opted for a career in the teaching profession. Many progress onto postgraduate study either to enhance their knowledge in a more specialised area (eg cancer therapeutics) via an MSc, or to research for a PhD with the aim of following a research career. There is a wide range of careers in biomedical and public health laboratories, health counselling, the leisure industry, pharmaceutical sales and marketing, health product development, medical laboratory technology, environmental agencies, the cosmetics industry, food quality control and scientific publishing. The transferable and analytical skills developed can also be applied to careers outside science in commerce, management and administration. BSc (Hons) Human Biosciences allows you to study a wide and varied selection of subject areas without restricting you to any one in particular. This gives you more freedom and choice when it comes to final year research, postgraduate study and career opportunities. Lorna Chapman BSc (Hons) Human Biosciences, 2006 My three years at Plymouth University finished far too soon. The University has been wonderful, the city is lovely, and despite being hard work my course has been fun. The passion my lecturers have for the subject and their own research has rubbed off on me. I hope to go on to do a PhD - something I never would have dreamed of before coming to Plymouth. Annie Knight BSc (Hons) Human Biosciences, 2012

6 NUTRITION, EXERCISE & HEALTH It is clear that diet and physical inactivity are important contributing factors to many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancers and diabetes. This course examines how nutritional changes and exercise affect human physiology and metabolism. It will enable you to investigate interventions for lifestyle change and will equip you with practical experience and skills for careers in this field. Accredited with the Association for Nutrition allowing graduates to apply directly to be a Registered Associate Nutritionist. A strong foundation in major disciplines underpinning nutritional and exercise sciences physiology, biochemistry, genetics, psychology. A large and varied practical component including investigations with human volunteers such as dietary assessments, energy expenditure and body composition measurements, fitness testing, blood glucose responses to meals. Develops critical awareness and proficiencies required for professional competence. An optional Level 3 Personal Trainer certificate may be undertaken to enhance employability. Interdisciplinary teaching that benefits from strong links with the Faculty of Health, Education and Society and the School of Psychology. An optional work placement may be taken. We aim to develop a strong scientific understanding of the effect of diet and exercise patterns on human metabolism and physiology. The first year focuses on the core aspects of human biology, metabolism, psychology and nutrition. The second year modules address the more applied effects of nutrition and exercise on health and disease. Students also develop skills for professional practice, practical investigations, communicating scientific findings and evaluating evidence in the literature. In the final year students apply their learning to a research project in a chosen area and evaluate nutritional and exercise interventions in public health and for athletes. Students are taught by nationally and internationally recognised researchers. Staff research interests include dietary interventions for children, obesity management, exercise and appetite regulation and the use of probiotics. Staff endeavour to draw on their own research and that of others, to inform their teaching keeping you up to date with the latest developments in the field. After graduating you will be well equipped to work in a range of areas within the nutrition, health and fitness fields. This could be within health promotion for local authorities or the NHS, community initiatives in health and lifestyle education, or with the food industry or health charities. As an Associate Registered Nutritionist you will be able to apply for jobs requiring a registered nutrition professional. With the Level 3 Personal Trainer certificate you could work as a lifestyle advisor in the fitness/leisure industry or become self-employed. Our graduates have also taken opportunities for further education through masters programmes in related areas. The transferable and analytical skills developed can also be applied to other careers such as teaching and medical/health writing. Studying at Plymouth University has been an absolute pleasure, with great teaching staff and modern facilities. The course has provided me with a solid grounding in nutrition and exercise science. It has also highlighted the huge problems faced by the UK regarding diet-related disease and physical inactivity, and opened my eyes to possible effective solutions. I have not only acquired knowledge but developed essential skills which I will take into my future career. Alex Mateus BSc (Hons) Exercise, Nutrition and Health, 2012 Studying this course at Plymouth University has provided lots of opportunities to learn and develop practical skills. Sessions with real clients were excellent ways to learn about nutritional assessment and exercise physiology in a practical setting. The course provided a lot of opportunity for interaction with staff due to some small class sizes. Learning with a handson approach has been a particular advantage of this course which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Katherine Palmer BSc (Hons) Exercise, Nutrition and Health, 2012