M2003 Bachelor of Biomedical Science

The Monash University Bachelor of Biomedical Science, and associated double degrees, provide an interdisciplinary approach to the study of biomedical science. Through completion of the core biomedical/BMS units you will learn about the foundations of biomedical sciences, the body in health and disease, and the role of biomedical sciences in society. Scientific, academic and professional skill development is integrated across the course to prepare you for the workplace or further study. You will be building a foundation for a career in the biomedical and health sciences, with your training beginning on day one with our exceptional learning opportunities and education delivery from leading experts in their field.

Foundations of Biomedical Sciences

You will gain an understanding of core scientific concepts which underpin biomedical science disciplines; including chemistry, biology and physics.

Biomedicine of health and disease

Understanding the structure and function of cells, tissues, organ systems and the body in health and disease across the lifespan is a cornerstone of biomedical science. Through your degree you will learn about these concepts through the contexts of biomedical disciplines such as anatomy, biochemistry, bioinformatics, developmental biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, pharmacology and physiology.

Biomedicine and society

Across your degree you will learn about the impact of biomedical science in society and how it shapes our community. This includes how biomedical research breakthroughs are translated to clinical application and their impact on health policy, the broader societal contexts of health and disease through study of epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, evidenced-based medicine, health care systems and global health challenges.

Research methods and techniques

Interwoven through the core units of this course, you will learn about research methods and participate in highly engaging laboratory practicals in world-class facilities. This includes learning about research design including observational and experimental design, and research and laboratory techniques. Across your degree you will learn how to collect, analyse, interpret and communicate data to targeted audiences. You will also have the opportunity to engage with world-leading researchers and learn about their cutting-edge research.

Personal and professional development

In addition to the scientific knowledge and research skills you will acquire across your degree, you will also have the opportunity to develop employability skills including communication, teamwork and critical thinking; with inclusion and diversity in mind. To further prepare you for the workforce, you will engage in a course-wide professional and personal development program which includes wellbeing, career development, and professionalism.

Elective study

Elective study allows you to supplement the core biomedical science units with additional areas of study you wish to pursue. This will enable you to broaden or deepen your knowledge of aspects of particular biomedical science disciplines, or to select non-biomedical units from across the University in which you are eligible to enrol.

Course progression map

The course progression maps provide guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study:

• Semester 1 intake
• Semester 2 intake

The course comprises 144 points structured in two parts: Part A. Biomedical science studies (96 points) and Part B. Free elective study (48 points).

To remain in the scholars program, students must maintain at least a distinction average (70%) across 48 points in each calendar year.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Biomedical science studies (96 points)

You must complete:

• BMS1011 Biomedical chemistry
• BMS1021 Cells, tissues and organisms
• BMS1031 Medical biophysics
• BMS1042 Public health and preventive medicine
• BMS1052 Human neurobiology
• BMS1062 Molecular biology
• BMS2011 Structure of the human body: An evolutionary and functional perspective
• BMS2021 Human molecular cell biology
• BMS2031 Body systems
• BMS2042 Human genetics
• BMS2052 Microbes in health and disease
• BMS2062 Introduction to bioinformatics
• BMS3031 Molecular mechanisms of disease* (12 points)
• BMS3052 Biomedical basis and epidemiology of human disease (12 points)

*Note: Moodle module 'Allies in Indigenous health' to be undertaken concurrently with BMS3031. 

Part B. Free elective study (48 points)

Within the Bachelor of Biomedical Science you must complete 48 credit points (8 units) of free electives. Elective units can be chosen from across the Faculty and used to deepen your knowledge of the biomedical sciences. This includes those with the prefixes BCH, BME, DEV, GEN, HUP, IMM, MIC, MIS, NUT, PHA and PHY (please note that some of these are prohibited with core BMS units).

Elective units may also be used to sample disciplines from across the University provided you have met the required prerequisites and there are no restrictions on enrolment into the units. The faculties of Arts, Business and Economics, Engineering, Information Technology and Science offer units particularly suitable as electives.

Free electives can also be identified using the browse units tool and indexes of units in the current edition of the Handbook. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.

Electives may be from any level, however, no more than four electives (24 credit points) are to be completed from level 1 and at least two electives (12 credit points) must be completed at Level 3.

If you are in a double degree course, some units required for the partner degree are credited as electives towards the biomedical science degree.

Majors and Minors

Your free electives may be used to study a major (48 points) or minor (24 points) in a non-biomedical science discipline. This is an optional component of the degree. You cannot do a major or minor in the areas of Biochemistry, Anatomy and developmental biology, Genetics and genomics, Human pathology, Immunology, Microbiology, Pharmacology or Physiology, but you may do individual units from these areas.

Scholars program

Students in the scholars program are required to include at least one of the following units in your choice of electives:

• BCH3990 Action in biochemistry research project
• BMS3990 Action in biomedical science minor research project
• DEV3990 Action in anatomy and developmental biology research project
• HUP3990 Human pathology in action research project
• IMM3990 Immunology in action research project
• MIC3990 Action in microbiology research project
• PHA3990 Action in pharmacology research project
• PHY3990 Action in physiology research project