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.

Discipline-specific and free elective studies

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 three parts: Part A. Core studies (90 points), Part B. Discipline-specific elective studies (18 points) and Part C. Free elective studies (36 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. Core studies (90 points)

You must complete:

• BMS1111 Cells to systems: Foundations of biology and scientific practice (12 points)

• BMS1121 Biomedicine and global challenges

• BMS1132 The molecular life of cells (12 points)

• BMS1142 Biomedical data and population health

• BMS2111 Human structure and function (12 points)

• BMS2121 Integrated metabolism: Regulation, disease and therapeutics

• BMS2132 Bugs, drugs and immunity in health and disease (12 points)

• BMS2142 Genetic and biochemical basis of disease

• BMS3111 Biomedical innovations for global health challenges (12 points)

• BMS3122 Biomedical research translation

Part B. Discipline-specific elective studies (18 points)

You must complete 18 credit points of discipline-specific elective study as per the following.

a. Level 1 Discipline-specific elective studies (6 points).

You must complete one of the following units (single degree students only): 

• BIO1022 Life on Earth
• BIO1042 Life in the environment
• CHM1011 Chemistry 1
• CHM1022 Chemistry 2
• CHM1051 Chemistry 1 advanced
• CHM1052 Chemistry 2 advanced
• EAE1011 The Earth system: From the core to the atmosphere
• EAE1022 The Earth system: Changing environments and climates
• CLI1100 Climate change: A wicked problem
• CLI1200 Climate change: Impacts and adaptations
• MTH1020 Analysis of change
• MTH1030 Techniques for modelling
• PHS1011 Classical physics and relativity
• PHS1022 Fields and quantum physics
• PHS1031 Physics for the living world
• ASP1010 Earth to cosmos: Introductory astronomy
• ASP1022 Life in the universe: Astrobiology

b. Level 3 Discipline-specific elective studies (12 points)

Please note that you must complete two Level 3 discipline-specific elective units (12 credit points) if you are a single degree student. You must complete one Level 3 discipline-specific elective unit (6 credit points) if you are a double degree student.

These Level 3 discipline-specific elective units may be chosen from the following units:

• DEV3011 Experimental developmental biology and disease modelling
• DEV3022 Developmental and anatomical basis of human health and disease
• DEV3032 Stem cells in development, disease and regeneration
• DEV3990 Action in anatomy and developmental biology research project
• BCH3021 Cellular organisation: Organelle structure and function in health and disease
• BCH3031 Functional genomics and molecular medicine
• BCH3042 Cell signal transduction: Role in cancer and human disease
• BCH3052 Protein biology: From sequence to structure and disease
• BCH3990 Action in biochemistry research project
• MIC3011 Molecular microbiology
• MIC3022 Molecular virology and viral pathogenesis
• MIC3032 Pathogenesis of bacterial infectious diseases
• MIC3041 Medical microbiology
• MIC3990 Action in microbiology research project
• PHA3011 Principles of drug action
• PHA3021 Drugs in health and disease
• PHA3032 Neuro and endocrine pharmacology
• PHA3042 Modern drug development
• PHA3990 Action in pharmacology research project
• PHY3111 Sensory and cognitive neuroscience
• PHY3171 Cardiovascular physiology and disease
• PHY3181 Reproductive physiology
• PHY3072 Exercise physiology
• PHY3202 Nutrition, metabolism and body weight
• PHY3012 Integrative neuroscience
• PHY3990 Action in physiology research project
• BME3030 Integrative biomedical science practical
• BME3082 Fetal and neonatal development
• BMS3990 Action in biomedical science minor research project
• BME3032 Introduction to the health system
• PBH3002 Infectious disease prevention and control
• PBH3009 Chronic disease prevention and control
• PBH3011 Biostatistics for health
• PBH3010 Health data in practice
• PBH3003 Environmental determinants of health and disease
• PBH3008 Global and public health
• PBH3013 Social media and health
• IMM3031 Molecular and cellular immunology
• IMM3042 Clinical immunopathology
• IMM3051 Principles of applied immunology
• IMM3062 Clinical and research laboratory immunology
• IMM3990 Immunology in action research project
• HUP3011 Human pathology 1: Understanding disease processes
• HUP3022 Human pathology 2: Pathology of human diseases
• HUP3990 Human pathology in action research project
• GEN3030 Molecular, cellular and developmental genetics
• GEN3040 Genomics and its applications
• GEN3051 Medical and forensic genetics
• GEN3990 Genetics in action research project

Part C. Free elective studies (36 points)

You must complete 36 credit points of free elective study.

Elective units can be chosen to deepen your knowledge of the biomedical sciences, to sample disciplines from across the University or to explore potential careers (provided you have met the required prerequisites and there are no restrictions on enrolment into the units).

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 three free electives (18 credit points) are to be completed from Level 1.

Scholars program electives

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
• BME3990 Biomedical science education 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