Honours course
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Honours program: 1 February to 30 November 2011
Conferred degree: BSc Honours or BBiomed Honours (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Department of Medical Biology in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences of the University of Melbourne).
Students who hold a BBiomed conferred by the University of Melbourne will be conferred a BBiomed Honours. Students who hold an undergraduate degree conferred by any other university will be conferred a BSc Honours, including those who hold a BBiomed from another university.
Total number of points required: 100
Honours advanced coursework: 25 points
Honours research project: 75 points
1. The Honours advanced coursework (25 points consisting of the following two subjects)
1.1. Approaches to medical research (worth 12.5 points)
Introductory lectures to biomedical research incorporating experimental design, statistical analysis and one of three modules offered by Faculty members in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology under "Advanced Studies in Biochemistry A and B."
The subject will lay the basis for successful conduction and completion of an Honours project in biomedical science.
(A) Lectures in experimental design and statistics, held February to May (10 contact hours).
Assessment: One written examination, 2 hours duration, worth 50 per cent.
(B) A choice of three modules of lectures. Modules change from year to year and offer molecular biology, protein biochemistry, structural biology, proteomics and genomics (9 contact hours).
Assessment: One written assignment (up to 5,000 words), worth 50 per cent.
1.2. Postgraduate Lectures in Medical Biology (worth 12.5 points)
Lectures in specialised areas of biomedical research relevant to research in particular in the areas of immunology, cancer biology, haematology, molecular biology, immuno-parasitology, developmental biology, and mammalian genetics.Postgraduate Lecture Series taught weekly from March to August, presented by internal and external invited speakers tailored to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Honours program and incorporating new developments in science and technology and clinical translation seminars (20 contact hours).
Assessments:
- One written assignment (not exceeding 2,000 words), worth 75 per cent
- One oral examination, 1 hour, after one of the key lectures, worth 25 per cent.
2. The Honours research project (75 points)
Each student will conduct an original research project in a research laboratory under supervision of a research scientist at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute from February to November. The student will be introduced to current literature and techniques in specialised areas.
The research project will form part of a larger project or the basis of an expanded project. In both cases the work is anticipated to culminate in an original research publication.
Assessments:
- Oral overview of thesis project and literature, presented in June, worth 15 per cent
- A written report (thesis) of up to 10,000 words, due in November, and an oral defence of the thesis, together worth 65 per cent
- Oral presentation of thesis results and response to questions, in November after written thesis submission, worth 15 per cent
- Supervisor's input into Honours project assessment, worth 5 per cent