Neuroscience and Physiology Specialisation
Neuroscience and Physiology Specialisation - Overview
Offered By: |
ANU Joint Colleges of Science |
Academic Contact: |
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Areas of Interest: |
Biology, Neuroscience, Physiology, and Psychology |
Corequisite majors: Biology or Psychology
Description:
Physiology is a key science underpinning health and disease: it is the study of functional life processes at all levels of biological organisation from the cellular and molecular to tissues and organs. The study of the most complex of these organs: the brain and nervous system occurs in the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience. This single organ controls body activities ranging from movement, to circulation and respiration, and to emotion, learning, and memory. The scientific study of physiology and neuroscience requires the skills of many different disciplines including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering. The specialisation in Neuroscience and Physiology exposes students to the fields of cellular and systems neuroscience and physiology through a variety of courses. Introductory courses discuss fundamental physiological processes in both health and disease. Areas of study can include human physiology, cellular physiology, and cellular biochemistry. The cellular and sensory neuroscience courses build on and expand from the physiology courses to investigate the complexity of the nervous system. The specialisation is designed to provide knowledge and conceptual understanding in neuroscience and physiology. Students will gain theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience with modern techniques, and will have the opportunity to work in research labs, be involved in scientific discussions with current researchers and will develop their ability to critically evaluate and communicate recent advances within these disciplines.
Learning Goals:
Students completing the specialisation in Neuroscience and Physiology will be able to:
- Build on a foundational knowledge and key concepts of cellular and systems neuroscience and physiology to further their professional and research pursuits.
- Integrate approaches from various science disciplines to formulate a more global understanding of complex neuroscience and physiology phenomena.
- Apply practical skills and theoretical understanding to the methodological approaches that underpin neuroscience and physiology.
- Evaluate and critically analyse primary scientific literature to extend their knowledge in the field.
- Combine their information literacy, oral and written communication skills to convey/explain neuroscience and physiological concepts to both science and non-science literate audiences.
Requirements
This minor requires the completion of 24 units, which must include:
A maximum of 12 units to be chosen from the following 2000 level courses
BIOL2103 Human Physiology
BIOL2171 Biochemistry and Nutrition
BIOL2174 Cellular Physiology in Health and Disease
A minimum of 12 units to be chosen from the following 3000 level courses
BIOL3101 Cellular Neuroscience
BIOL3112 Sensory Neuroscience
BIOL3208 Biology Research Project
Advice to Students:
Prerequisites:
In conjunction with Biology major: BIOL2174 Cellular Physiology in Health and Disease is a pre-requisite for BIOL3101 Cellular Neuroscience and BIOL3112 Sensory Neuroscience, all other pre-requisites are met through the Biology major.
In conjunction with Psychology major: 6 units of chemistry and PSYC2007 Biological Basis of Behaviour are required to meet all pre-requisite requirements for the Neuroscience and Physiology specialisation.
Students undertaking the Neuroscience and Physiology specialisation must take 12- 18 units from:BIOL3101 Cellular Neuroscience (6 units)BIOL3112 Sensory Neuroscience (6 units)BIOL3208 Research Project (6 units)*
*The research project must be in the field of physiology or neuroscience.
The remaining 6- 12 units must be chosen from:BIOL2174 Cellular Physiology in Health and Disease (6 units)BIOL2103 Human Physiology (6 units)BIOL2171 Biochemistry and Nutrition (6 units)
Students should seek further course advice from one of the academic conveners of the Neuroscience and Physiology minor.
The information published on the Study at ANU 2012 website applies to the 2012 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2011 website.
