Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science)

Description:
Biomedical Science is the study of Life Science subjects that underpin our understanding of how the human body works. Students will learn about the structure and function of the human body from the level of organs and tissues to the molecular level, as well as how drugs are used to treat disease. You will major in one of the following biomedical science subjects; Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or Physiology. The programme promotes small-group learning throughout the course, allowing students to work as a team and to interact with academic staff in an informal manner.

Entry Requirements Overview:
CAO Code:                                         GY303

Course Level:                                      8

Duration:                                             4 years

Entry Requirements:                           Minimum HC3 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at H or O Level in
                                                         the Leaving Certificate including: Irish, English, Mathematics, a laboratory science
                                                         subject (i.e. Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint) or Agriculture
                                                        Science) Physics with Chemistry (joint) or Agricultural Science) and any two other
                                                        subjects recognised for entry purposes.

Minimum Entry Points 2009:              465

Median Entry Points 2009:                 485

Average Intake:                                  50

Modules:
Year One

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Biomedical Science (including seminars, essays, computer and information literacy and Wikis)

Year Two

• Two of the following subjects:
  • Anatomy
  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology
• One other Biomedical module
  • Plus one semester of another of the above
• Biomedical Science II (includes Biomedical Science seminars and a Community Knowledge Initiative programme)

Year Three

• One of the following subjects:
  • Anatomy
  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology
• Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
• One other module depending on which major subject is chosen
• Research Methods in Biomedical Science

Year Four

• One major subject from:
  • Anatomy
  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology
• Biomedical Science modules (Choose two from Toxicology, Immunology, Advanced Anatomy, Advanced Technologies for Biologists)
• In fourth year, you will work on a laboratory research project in your chosen subject under the direction of experienced researcher.

Special Features:

• Computer and Information Literacy Module:  In this module, students gain experience in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Web design and on how to search for scientific literature.
• Community Knowledge Initiative: students work as a group to liaise with a school or voluntary body to find out if they have needs that the students can help with, for example helping students with a Young Scientist project or designing a healthy living programme for teenagers.
•  Research Methods in Biological Science:  Students are given data from real experiments and learn how to analyse it and do statistical tests to see if there is a significant difference between results.
•   Mini Project: In third year students will undertake a mini-project to design their own experiment, then do the experiment and use the skills from the Research Methods in Biological Science module to write a report on the findings.
•  Research Project: In fourth year students complete a research project that will take up one Semester.

What our Students Say:
My experience studying Biomedical Science has been very positive. The small class size provided me with the opportunity to get to know everyone straight away. It also enabled me to have more one-on-one contact with my lecturers which I found very encouraging. In first year the subjects were quite general, giving me a strong basis in general science and so I was able to decide which area I was most interested in before committing to it.
Aoife Nolan — BSc (Biomedical Science)

Careers:
The areas that our graduates enter include: post-graduate study in the life sciences (PhD in Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology, Microbiology), MSc in Biomedical Science to qualify to work in a hospital laboratory as a Medical Laboratory Technologist, MSc in Physiotherapy, or Dietetics, professional course in Pharmacy, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and Law.  Graduates also enter the workforce directly and are working in Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Abbott laboratories.  Some go into marketing, for example if you major in Pharmacology you might work with a drug company selling new therapies to Doctors, or in Regulatory Affairs (getting a new drug licensed).  Others are working as technical sales representatives in companies that sell laboratory equipment to Universities and Research Institutes, including teaching Science at second level.

Enquiries:

Dr Maura Grealy
Course Director, BSc Biomedical Science Lecturer
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
National University of Ireland, Galway
Galway
Ireland

Phone: +353-91-493012
Email: biomedicalsciencenuigalway.ie

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