Programme Specifications

With Integrated Year in Industry

Biosciences

August 2024

Students will develop their interest and knowledge in the biological sciences with specialisation in Zoology.

The scheme will develop the intellectual and practical skills of the student in preparation for employment in the zoological sciences and the wider range of disciplines open to the graduate biologist.

It will provide the skills necessary to allow students to adapt and respond to change, to engage in life-long learning, and to think creatively.

The scheme will develop in students an appreciation of the social responsibilities of graduates in biological sciences in general, and in the zoological sciences in particular.

The overall aim of the scheme is to provide graduates with the skills and knowledge to meet and exceed the generic standards given in the QAA Biosciences Benchmark Statement, with a particular focus on the subject specific statements relating primarily to organisms but also including statements from ecology and environmental biology. Additionally, the aim of the four-year version of this degree will be to develop graduate level skills, related to the industry.

A1 Describe, discuss and understand the key biological concepts and phenomena relevant to Zoology confidently, accurately and in detail, using appropriate terminology.

A2 Be aware of the full breadth of Zoology, from molecular to cellular, and from organism to ecosystem, encompassing the full diversity of taxonomic groups.

A3 Engage with literature to develop insight into Zoology and its specialised sub-disciplines.

A4 Appreciate the contribution of Zoology to the innovations that characterise the modern world, and the potential of Zoology graduates from this field to develop sustainable solutions to current and future challenges.

A5 Stay up to date with advances in Zoology, its subdisciplines, and related fields, including aspects of sustainability, and appreciate the fluid nature of knowledge that evolves as new findings emerge.

Learning and Teaching
Lectures; tutorials; student-led seminars; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; laboratory practicals; literature-based research; computer-assisted learning; research leading to a dissertation.

During their integrated year in industry students will embed themselves within a working environment, allowing for the development of a range of transferable and life skills commensurate with the above. Furthermore, students on this scheme will have the potential to utilise the knowledge and skills associated with other outcomes developed in years 1 and 2. This will be in part dependent on the nature of the organisation in which their position is based.

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: Unseen examination, essays, multiple choice questions and short answer examinations, exercise-based and essay assignments, project work, practical laboratory reports, posters, the Research Project, and seminar presentations.

Students on the integrated industrial year will be required to register for the module BRS0060. During the integrated Year in Industry, students will be required to submit an Introductory Report (worth 30% of the Industrial Year mark) on the organisation that they are working for, its structure, aims and operation; and a Workplace investigation, to investigate a technical aspect of the work that they are doing (worth 40% of the Industrial Year mark). Finally, there will be an AU staff assessment of the final student self-evaluation and employer’s report. These will be marked to assess the student’s achievement of learning outcome 10.1 above as well as the other learning outcomes of their scheme.

10.2.1 Intellectual Skills

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:

B1 Recognise the relationships and interfaces between Zoology and other subjects (both scientific and outside of the sciences), such that they are able to operate effectively in a multidisciplinary environment.

B2 Apply ethical awareness to working in the Biosciences generally, and Zoology specifically, appreciate the historical context of the subject and the societal impacts of advances in the Biosciences.

B3 Demonstrate experience of working in a professional environment.

Learning and Teaching
Student development towards these outcomes is promoted through a range of teaching activities. These include: small group tutorials, laboratory practical classes, one-to-one tutoring for the Research Project, lectures and problem-based learning scenarios. Additionally, feedback from assessments, literature-based research and computer-assisted learning also support the teaching and learning of these outcomes.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Written examinations and coursework to include: Unseen examination, essays, multiple choice questions and short answer examinations, exercise-based and essay assignments, project work, practical laboratory reports, posters, the Research Project, and seminar presentations.

10.2.2 Professional practical skills / Discipline Specific Skills

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:

C1 Apply knowledge and understanding of biological systems and methodologies to design experiments and to solve theoretical and practical problems, with awareness of appropriate controls, possible bias, ethics, and sustainability.

C2 Describe, document and enact safe working practices in terms of managing biological, chemical, laboratory or field-based risk, through knowledge-based risk assessments and practical activities.

C3 Select and carry out appropriate quantitative and qualitative practical (laboratory, field or computational) techniques to solve problems relevant to Zoology, including consideration of the theoretical basis and limitations of various techniques.

C4 Complete independent open-ended investigative work through a project/research-based assignment relevant to Zoology. This could be a laboratory or field-based project, an evidenced-based review, and/or collecting and evaluating data from a variety of sources.

C5 Collect qualitative and quantitative data from investigations relevant to Zoology and analyse and interpret these data to allow testing of hypotheses, contextualising of findings, presentation of findings, and suggestions for further lines of investigation.

C6 Applying principles, methods, approaches, concepts, skills and/or theories appropriate to the relevant biological sciences scheme in a professional context, as well as understanding the challenges of working in a professional environment.

Learning and Teaching
The teaching and learning of these skills are promoted during laboratory practical classes, small group tutorial classes, feedback from assessments, lectures, tutorials, student-led seminars, problem-based learning scenarios and case studies, literature-based research, computer-assisted learning and experimental research during the Research Project.

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Discipline-specific skills are assessed by a variety of methods throughout the degree scheme. Depending upon the module and the nature of the specific assessment, they are assessed using essay assignments, project work, practical laboratory reports, the Research Project, seminar presentations, seen examination essays, unseen examinations essays and unseen short answer examinations.

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:

D1 Acquire skills in research and data analysis.

D2 Deploy mathematical and statistical concepts, processes and tools, such as the manipulation of equations and graphical and statistical analysis, to solve problems or evaluate data.

D3 Develop problem-solving and creative thinking skills.

D4 Develop a thorough grounding in information technology skills and use appropriate databases, computational techniques and tools to aid further understanding of and insight into biological processes.

D5 Demonstrate the ability to work independently.

D6 Demonstrate time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines.

D7 Develop the ability to express ideas and communicate effectively, in both written and oral forms, selecting appropriate content, media and methods for the audience, purpose and subject.

D8 Demonstrate self-motivation and self-reliance.

D9 Collaborate and work successfully and inclusively in a group environment, contributing positively and flexibly to team outputs.

D10 Act professionally, with due regard for legal, ethical and societal responsibilities, modelling good practice that promotes positive, sustainable and inclusive perceptions of the Biosciences and of Bioscientists.

D11 Demonstrate professionalism and an understanding of commercial pressures.

Learning and Teaching

Transferable/key skills are incorporated within modules and related to relevant assessments as appropriate. Students learn and develop skills through student and tutor-led seminars; problem-based learning scenarios; self-directed learning, oral presentations and experimental dissertation work. Students will be encouraged to undertake work experience, including access to the Year in Employment Scheme. Students will also have access to an optional study exchange programme which will also develop transferable skills of communication, personal development and career planning.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

The skills listed above are assessed using exercise-based and essay assignments, project work, practical laboratory reports, the Research Project, seminar presentations, unseen examinations essays and unseen short answer examinations.