Human Biology and Physiology
Contents
Introduction
The Human Biology and Physiology group is responsible for teaching and research in the biomedical sciences that inform contemporary knowledge of the working of the body in health and disease. It is no exaggeration to say that the great increase we have seen in life expectancy in Australia in the past 100 years is directly attributable to applications of the explosive growth of knowledge in these fundamental sciences. Welcome to the fascinating world of the body.
At this site you will find information on courses and units that address these sciences at all levels from basic to advanced. You will find that here at UNE, we are passionate and very experienced at presenting these courses and units in ways that recognise and honour the differing needs of students of the body. Our students may be enrolled in programmes in the sciences, the arts and the professions of medicine, nursing and health science but regardless of their background we carefully tailor our courses and units to diverse career outcomes. At UNE we do not believe that one size fits all. We offer flexible delivery modes including internal and external but regardless of the mode of study we offer a relaxed, friendly, responsive and collegial studying environment often missing at metropolitan campuses. Over the years our units and courses have ranked highly for student satisfaction and graduate career prospects are excellent.
Why study Human Biology and Physiology at UNE?
Staff in this group teach in Histology Immunology, Microbiology, Nutrition, Physiology and Pharmacology and well supported and highly regarded majors are available for study in many of these areas in the award of Bachelor of Science. In addition staff teach in these biomedical areas in the recently launched Bachelor of Biomedical Science award.
Our lecturing staff all have doctoral qualifications and extensive research experience in their areas of expertise. Many of our teaching staff are at the cutting edge in research and scholarship in these and other areas and therefore are able to offer interesting and innovative research projects for students planning further study toward the BSc Honours degree and higher degrees such as the MSc and PhD.
Our teaching and research laboratories are well equipped and we offer our students (both external and internal) hands-on practical experience in the basic techniques underlying these biomedical sciences. Although we make full use of the latest computer assisted learning (CAL) techniques appropriate to our disciplines, we believe that learning in virtual environments should complement rather than supplant practical benchtop laboratory science.
Over many years, staff in this area have developed innovative and well regarded integrated bioscience service units delivered as part of professional programmes to medical students (Bachelor of Medicine), nursing students (Bachelor of Nursing) and to other students enrolled in complementary therapies and paramedical and allied health disciplines (Bachelor of Health Science, Bachelor of Applied Health). Our teaching services these degree programmes run from the Faculty of the Professions.
The discipline is also responsible for teaching human bioscience units into streams of UNE's Bachelor of Arts degree. Staff in the discipline group have initiated a new major, the Bachelor of Arts (Human Biology) which is offered from 2008 as a single major or as part of a double major particularly but not exclusively to Arts students studying Psychology and Sociology. In addition staff have an input into the new forensic science unit (FSC102) in the Bachelor of Criminology degree.
At present we are developing exciting new programmes in Sports Science, Exercise Science and Pharmacy.
Courses
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Biomedical Science
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor honours
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Postgraduate
Graduate Certificate in Science
Graduate Diploma in Science
Master of Scientific Studies
Postgraduate research
Master of Science
Doctor of Philosophy
Units
Year 1
HBIO110 Human Biology 1
HBIO120 Human Biology 2
HHSC146 Fundamentals of Health Science 1
HHSC147 Fundamentals of Health Science 2
FSC102 Fundamentals in Forensic Science
Year 2
HHSC233 Homeostasis – The Dynamic Balance of Health
HHSC243 Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Disease
HHSC246 Health Science 1
HHSC247 Health Science 2
HSNS284 Medical/Surgical Nursing and Health Science II
HSNS285 Medical/Surgical Nursing and Health Science III
HUMN240 Issues in Human Nutrition I
MICR220 Introductory Microbiology
PHAR222 Pharmacology
PSIO210 Introductory Physiology I
PSIO220 Introductory Physiology II
Year 3
ANAT310 Anatomy and Histology
HSNS321 Professional Clinical Practice
HHSC343 Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Disease
HHSC383 Stress and Stress Management Physiology
HHSC384 The Biology of Human Ageing
HHSC398 Special Topic in Human Health Bioscience
HUMN340 Issues in Human Nutrition II
MICR350 Clinical Microbiology and Virology
PSIO331 Advanced Physiology I
PSIO332 Advanced Physiology II
BCHM310 Proteins- The Machines of Life
BIOP320 Biomedical Applications of Biophysics
ZOOL327 Ecological and Comparative Physiology
HS403 Current Issues in Skin Biology
Honours
HBIO400 Honours in Human Bioscience
HHSC400 Human Biology Honours
HUMN400 Honours in Human Nutrition
MICR400 Honours in Microbiology
PSIO400 Honours in Physiology
Postgraduate
ANAT510 Anatomy and Histology
HHSC498 Special Topic in Human Health Bioscience
HHSC583 Stress and Stress Management Physiology
HHSC584 The Biology of Human Ageing
HHSC585 Environment and Health (not offered in 2009)
PSIO531 Advanced Physiology I
PSIO532 Advanced Physiology II
Careers
Students enrolled in units and programmes under the purview of the discipline have enjoyed and continue to enjoy excellent prospects for employment in a diverse range of satisfying and rewarding careers. Science students with good undergraduate records often complete a fourth year science Honours degree and go on to enrol in Masters and PhD programmes which prepare them for an independent research career in academia, medical research institutes, hospitals or business. Science students with a straight science pass degree often go on to work as research assistants or as laboratory technicians in these areas. With further study at UNE or elsewhere, students enrolled in our science units may go on to pursue careers in medicine, dentistry, nursing, dietetics and nutrition, pharmacy, exercise science and forensic science to mention just a few. Some students decide to combine a science degree with a law degree and gain employment as, for example, patent lawyers in the lucrative biomedical business sphere. Other students combine a science degree with a teaching degree. Some students will use the knowledge gained in their degree to become presenters and popularisers of biomedical science in various media and as advisers to government and industry on policy directions in these areas.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Medicine (BMed) degree into which most of our staff contribute in terms of delivery of fixed resource sessions (FRS) and problem based learning tutorials (PBL) as part of the joint medical programme (JMP) with the University of Newcastle is accredited through the Australian Medical Council (AMC).
The innovative Bachelor of Nursing award (BNurs) with multiple entry and exit points into which the input of our staff is critically important has recently achieved accreditation with the NSW nurses and midwives board.
Partnerships, networks and industry links
Queensland Institute of Medical Research
John Curtin School of Medical Research
Australian Society of Medical Research
Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Australian Physiological Society
Australian Society for Microbiology
Human Genetics Society of Australasia
The Body website
The John Tonge Centre of Forensic Science
Australian Society for Biophysics
Australian Medical Council
NSW Nurses and Midwives Registration Board
Mediherb Australia
Blackmores Australia
Research
Staff in the discipline are actively engaged in research and publication addressing a range of areas of concern to human health, including cancer research, the neurobiology of behaviour, endocrinology, reproductive physiology, stress proteins and human ageing, free radicals and human ageing, and the impact of plant extracts (particularly but not exclusively those used in traditional Australian Aboriginal medicine) as bioactive modulators. As active researchers, staff always welcome postgraduate students to pursue honours, masters and doctoral programmes under their supervision.
Research activity is supported by external research grants from both government and industry including most recently a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
The discipline enjoys the input of 13 academic staff and is supported by general and technical staff. The discipline has good access to advanced equipment and infrastructure required in both teaching and research in the biomedical sciences.
Prize
Staff prize in Microbiology donated by Professor Ken Watson ($200)
Contacts
Assoc Prof Graham Jones
Convenor of Human Biology and Physiology
Email: gjones2@une.edu.au
Phone: +61 2 6773 3274
Assoc Prof Jim McFarlane
Convenor of Physiology
Course Coordinator Biomedical Science
Course Coordinator Sport and Exercise Science
Email: jmcfarla@une.edu.au
Phone: +61 2 6773 3201
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