Educational aims
This degree aims to provide a broad grounding in health sciences as a foundation for progression to a higher-level qualification (postgraduate) or further specialist training, and provides evidence of your ability to study at a higher level. Your studies will:
- introduce you to a range of concepts, data and terminology relevant to the health sciences
- expose you to different lines of evidence and key debates relating to topics in the health sciences and an appreciation of the limits of scientific knowledge
- present health topics in their wider personal, cultural and social contexts
- enable you to engage with evidence-based practice and scientific method and where appropriate apply your understanding of health sciences in your own professional role
- enable you to develop skills in written and computer-based communication, and information literacy, using a variety of text-based, graphical, numerical, audio-visual and online sources, generating, presenting and interpreting data and using a computer to support your learning and practice
- foster enthusiasm and confidence in studying and working in the health sciences and provide a framework that will equip you with the study skills necessary for independent learning and further study.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
On completion of this degree, you will have knowledge and understanding of:
- the essential concepts, principles, theories and current issues in the health sciences
- the structure and function of systems, organs, cells and processes in the human body and their interaction with external factors
- the scientific basis of human physical and mental health, disease and disability and the use of diagnosis, screening and interventions in defined health conditions
- a selected area of health science at a more detailed level, informed by research and/or literature at the forefront of the discipline.
Cognitive skills
On completion of this degree, you will be able to:
- use your knowledge and understanding of essential health sciences facts, concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, and/or in the deployment of routine materials, techniques and practices in the health sciences
- gather, analyse and interpret information and data from a range of different sources, including texts, tables, graphs, diagrams, numerical data and visual and interactive media
- critically evaluate information from different sources and recognise the potential uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of information and knowledge in the health sciences.
Practical and/or professional skills
On completion of this degree, you will be able to:
- use a range of practical and professional science skills, including designing, conducting and reporting on health science investigations or practical tasks, and demonstrate an awareness of relevant ethical and business/commercial issues in the health sciences
- review and manage your own personal and professional development and/or career plans and be able to identify and articulate to others your personal attributes, knowledge and skills
- use skills that support life-long learning, including reflecting on your progress and using feedback from others to identify your strengths and weaknesses and improve your performance.
Key skills
On completion of this degree, you will be able to:
- use appropriate knowledge and techniques to identify and solve problems and discuss issues associated with the health sciences
- collect, process, interpret and present data using appropriate quantitative (numerical) and qualitative (descriptive) methods
- comprehend health sciences information and communicate it accurately and effectively using written, visual, and numerical forms in a style and language appropriate to your purpose and audience
- use digital (IT) tools and resources effectively to find, use, create, analyse and communicate scientific information and data
- plan and organise tasks effectively, recognising the necessity for personal responsibility and initiative
- work with others to enhance your learning or achieve joint outcomes.
Teaching, learning and assessment methods
You’ll acquire knowledge and understanding throughout each stage of the degree by studying specially prepared teaching materials and using a variety of learning approaches, which could include:
- web-based resources
- computer-aided learning packages
- online forums
- reference texts
- directed reading (this may be wholly online for some modules)
- self-assessment questions.
You’ll work independently with the teaching materials, supported by your tutor in a variety of ways. You’ll also be encouraged to form study groups with fellow students, where you can talk in online forums, over the telephone or by email.
You’ll further develop your understanding of the acquisition, interpretation and analysis of data and scientific papers through practical work and the independent project work at Stage 3. Practical skills are an important component of health sciences – we’ll introduce you to a range of scientific methods. Some modules will be more practically oriented than others are and offer more opportunities to interact with other students.
Assessment will be by a combination of tutor-marked assignments (with problem-solving responses or answers ranging from short to essay-length and to project reports) and computer-marked assignments. Written tutor feedback on assignments will provide you with individual tuition and guidance. Each module will conclude with a final examination or end-of-module assessment.