Course specification for BIO1103

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BIO1103 Pathology Studies

Semester 1, 2020 Online
Short Description: Pathology Studies
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
School or Department : School of Health and Wellbeing
Student contribution band : Band 2
ASCED code : 060113 - Pathology
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Rationale

BIO1103 Pathology Studies provides an introduction to haematology, histopathology and clinical biochemistry for students wishing to undertake further studies in these major disciplines of pathology. Pathology Studies also prepares students for a clinical placement in a pre-analytical pathology setting by providing an overview of specimen collection and handling and the work health and safety issues, patient confidentiality considerations and professional responsibilities associated with working in a pathology laboratory.
BIO1103 Pathology Studies also provides an introduction to pathophysiology and medical laboratory procedures for students of Biomedical Science.

Synopsis

This course introduces students to the pathologic basis of disease and explores the roles of the pathology laboratory and medical laboratory scientist in the healthcare system. BIO1103 pathology studies investigates the relationships between alterations in cell and tissue function, cell and tissue morphology, body fluid composition and the clinical signs and symptoms of disease. The course is delivered as three separate modules; Haematology, Histopathology and Clinical Biochemistry and provides an introduction to the theory and practice of these three disciplines of pathology.

Objectives

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. define the roles of the pathology laboratory and the medical laboratory scientist in patient care and describe basic haematology, biochemistry and histopatholgy techniques;
  2. describe the morphology and function of blood cells and recognise important indicators of haematological disease;
  3. describe normal tissue structure and function, define cellular adaptation and recall the major changes associated with inflammation and neoplasia;
  4. recognise the relationship between specific homeostatic disturbances and measurable alterations in the composition of body fluids;
  5. demonstrate developing scientific literacy;
  6. demonstrate an awareness of the work health and safety issues, patient confidentiality considerations and professional responsibilities associated with working in a pathology laboratory.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Introduction to pathology and the role of medical laboratory scientists in healthcare 4.00
2. Haematology module:
The normal composition of blood and the formation, morphology and normal function of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets
12.00
3. Introduction to the clinical haematology laboratory: phlebotomy, specimen processing and routine haematology tests 4.00
4. The pathogenesis and laboratory investigation of anaemia, leukaemia, lymphoma and haemorrhagic disorders 16.00
5. Introduction to blood groups and transfusion science 4.00
6. Histopathology module:
Introduction to histopathology and the histology of epithelial, muscle, nervous and connective tissues
12.00
7. Histology of inflammation and neoplasia, cellular adaptation, cell injury and cell death, and tissue repair 8.00
8. Processing tissues for histological staining and microscopic examination 8.00
9. Clinical Biochemistry module:
The role of the clinical biochemistry laboratory and introduction to analytical variation, sensitivity and specificity
8.00
10. Biochemistry of the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and pancreas and laboratory investigation of hepatic, renal, intestinal and pancreatic diseases 12.00
11. The metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids in health and disease 8.00
12. Work health and safety, quality control and quality assurance in clinical biochemistry 4.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=BIO1103)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

There are no texts or materials required for this course.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Howard, Martin R, Hamilton, Peter J 2013, Haematology, 4th edn.
Kaplan LA & Pesce AJ 2010, Clinical Chemistry: Theory, Analysis & Correlation, 5th edn, Mosby.
Maximilian L Buja, and Gerhard R F Krueger 2014, Netter's Illustrated Human Pathology, 2nd edn, Elseiver.
Rodak, B, Fritsma, G, and Keohane, E 2020, Rodak's Hematology: Clinical principles and Applications, 6th edn, Elsevier, Saunders, St Louis.
Young, B, Lowe, J, Stevens, A & Heath, J 2014, Wheater’s Functional Histology. A Text and Colour Atlas, 6th edn, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Assessments 20.00
Online Lectures 25.00
Online Tutorials 13.00
Private ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 107.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
Quiz 1 32 16 27 Mar 2020
Quiz 2 32 17 08 May 2020
Quiz 3 32 17 05 Jun 2020
Online Exam 100 50 End S1 (see note 1)

Notes
  1. This will be an open examination. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk. The examination date will be available via Uconnect when the official examination timetable has been released.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities such as lectures and tutorials, scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. To maximize their chances of satisfying the objectives of the practical component of the course, students should attend and actively participate in the laboratory sessions in the course.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    To complete each of the assignments satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assignment. To complete the examination satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for the examination.

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the end of semester examination by achieving at least 40% of the weighted marks available for that assessment item.

    Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.

    To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2).

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.

  6. Examination information:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    In a Closed Examination, candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing
    instruments into the examination.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held in week two of Semester 2 of the current academic year.

  8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide.

  2. Students should be aware that the originality of any submitted assignment will be checked by the USQ service, "Turnitin". An originality index must be generated and will be checked - an acceptable Turnitin similarity index is <15%.

Date printed 19 June 2020