The exciting Biology of Infectious Disease BSc (Hons) undergraduate degree will introduce you to the subject of infectious disease, developing the skills you need to become a talented biologist capable of analysing, processing and innovating in this increasingly important field. Special highlights of the course include work-related learning, the chance to create your own unique third year project and access to our state-of-the-art Science Centre.
The science of infectious diseases is a modern, cutting-edge topic. Our Biology of Infectious Disease BSc will provide you with a broad knowledge base and deep understanding of the scientific basis of health and disease including the causes and public health impacts of infectious disease, host responses and diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.
You’ll have 12 hours of contact time per week with our research-active academic staff in the form of lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops and practicals. The teaching team and specially invited guest lecturers will build your competencies in a range of specialist areas including immunology and virology, pathology and toxicology. This will be integrated with both experimental and theoretical work in computing skills and ethics.
There will also be the opportunity to undertake a work-related placement module, enabling you to gain practical experience in your field. Combined with the earlier theoretical work, this will help you develop transferable skills.
In your third year, you’ll work on a unique project where you can analyse your own experimental data in our fully-equipped, state-of-the-art Science Centre with specialist labratories. You’ll also have access to the extensive collection of scientific books and online materials in our library to aid you in your studies.
Assessment
Your theoretical knowledge will be assessed through problem solving exercises, in-class tests, data analysis, practical reports, case studies, extended essays, examinations, a research project interim report, an oral examination and a dissertation.
Your practical skills will be assessed through coursework assignments, including those in the Final Research Project module, while your data handling skills will be assessed by practical reports, problem solving exercises, oral presentations and examinations.
Formative assessments will include group activities in tutorial classes, mini-tests and project workshops.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2018/19 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 1 modules include:
- Anatomy & Physiology (core, 30 credits)
- Biochemistry (core, 15 credits)
- Cell & Molecular Biology (core, 30 credits)
- Chemistry (for Biosciences) (core, 15 credits)
- Laboratory Science (core, 30 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
- Human Immunity (core, 15 credits)
- Infection Science (core, 30 credits)
- Molecular Biology (core, 15 credits)
- Parasitology (core, 15 credits)
- Tissue Science (core, 30 credits)
- Ethics for Science (option, 15 credits)
- Metabolism (option, 15 credits)
- Work Placement (option, 15 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
- Advanced Infection & Tissue Science (core, 30 credits)
- Fundamentals of Biotechnology (core, 15 credits)
- Infection Control (core, 15 credits)
- Project (core, 30 credits)
- Applied Immunology (option, 15 credits)
- Systems Pathology (option, 15 credits)
- Toxicology (option, 15 credits)
- Virology (option, 15 credits)
After the course
This is a new course at London Met. As a graduate of this degree, you’ll be equipped for employment in the medical and allied research institutes, health agency laboratories, bioanalytical medical genetics and forensic units, health and safety and information services, science education and the wider pharmaceutical industry. Graduates from related courses such as Biological Science BSc have gone on to work for organisations such as the Royal Society of Biology.
The analytical, numerical and communication skills you’ll have developed are also in demand in non-science-based careers, such as those in the financial services sector, marketing and company administration.
