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SL30071: Pharmacology dissertation for Natural Sciences (PA30222)

[Page last updated: 26 October 2023]

Academic Year: 2023/24
Owning Department/School: Department of Life Sciences
Credits: 12 [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 240
Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: DS 80%, OR 20%
Assessment Detail:
  • PA30222 Written Dissertation (DS 80%)
  • PA30222 Oral Presentation (OR 20%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: When the students have completed the unit, they should be able to: use methods of searching for information on a pharmacologically related topic in a library and other information sources, critically review this information and assess the reliability and importance of individual pieces of information according to their source and relevance to the topic, construct an organised, well argued and concise dissertation (approx 5000 words) using this information, give a short oral presentation (15 minutes total) based on the dissertation material.


Aims: The aim of the unit is that the students gain skills in conducting a literature survey on a chosen topic, collating and reviewing their findings and presenting them both as a short oral mini-lecture and in a well-organised piece of writing.

Skills: Planning and organisation (T/F/A)
Study skills (F)
Information and communication technology (T/F/A)
Written communication (T/F/A)
Oral communication (T/F/A).

Content: A topic related to the science of pharmacology will be chosen by each student from a list provided. A tutor will be assigned to each student to monitor progress, give advice and assess the dissertation and oral presentation. An introductory lecture will be given to all the students to give general guidance on planning library and electronic database work, assessing the quality and relevance of data and writing the dissertation. Three tutorials will be given by the tutors to assigned groups of students; in these tutorials, the student will be given further guidance and their progress will be monitored.

Course availability:

SL30071 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Chemistry
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Biochemistry stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Biochemistry stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Biochemistry stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Biology stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Biology stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Chemistry stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Chemistry stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Chemistry stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.