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Unit of Study BIOL1006 - Introduction to Medical Science (2025)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Unit type

    UG Coursework Unit

  • Credit points

    12

  • Faculty/College

    Faculty of Health

  • Placement

    No

  • Enrolment information

    This unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) that requires students to meet mandatory fit to practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit to practice deadline will result in the cancellation of your WIL and you will not be permitted to continue in this unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/health/work-integrated-learning. Please note this unit has assessments scheduled in Week 7 which will require attendance on-campus. Details will be provided closer to the time.

Unit description

This unit provides foundation knowledge and practical skills in medical laboratory science. Sub-disciplines including biochemistry, haematology, histology and cytology, genetics, microbiology, immunology, transfusion science, and research are introduced. Analytical methods, instrumentation, physics, mathematics and statistics are integrated as they pertain to medical science.

Unit content

  1. Foundations of medical science
  2. Quantitative and qualitative skills for medical professionals
  3. Laboratory safety and regulation
  4. Collection, handling, and processing of clinical specimens
  5. Quality and precision in the medical laboratory
  6. Clinical interpretation and professional ethics

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term3
Term3

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

recognise the significance of the various sub-disciplines within medical laboratory science and explain their purposes and differences.

apply mathematical and chemical calculations for practical use in medical science.

describe laboratory safety and regulation procedures, including the basics of quality management in a medical laboratory setting.

select and demonstrate the appropriate pre-analytical and analytical methods used in various applications in the medical science laboratory

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • The following items must be purchased and students must wear them at each laboratory class:

    • Shoes – fully enclosed non-absorbent shoes made from leather, rubber or vinyl. Shoes must have a sturdy sole and fully covered heel, sides, top of foot and toes. If you are unsure of appropriate footwear, please see further information on the Lab Safety video available on the Blackboard site or you can check with Lab technical staff at your campus.
    • Safety glasses – Safety glasses must be worn when performing experiments that involve the use of chemicals or bodily fluids. If you wear prescription glasses, you must purchase safety glasses that fit over your prescription glasses.
    • Plastic-covered notebook and display folder – students should acquire these for collecting, writing up, and presenting their experimental data.
    • Laboratory manual – this is available on the MySCU unit site and is required for laboratory classes. Students should print the laboratory manual for each lab class and present it in their plastic-covered display folder.
    • Gloves and laboratory coats are provided and must be worn during laboratory activities. Students must watch the Lab Safety video, available on the MySCU unit site, and obtain 100% on the quiz relevant to the video. Students who do not meet the OH&S and vaccination requirements will not be admitted to the laboratory.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.